Film Review of House of Sand and Fog
Year: 2003 Reviewer: Chris Docker
A very mainstream film enlivened by Oscar-nominated acting performances. Most people, I suspect, will find it an outstanding film - I think I'm in a minority in being more skeptical.
It focuses on an administrative error that results in low-wager Jennifer Connelly being turfed out of the home she has inherited. The house is sold on at auction before the error is corrected. Her recourse would be to sue, but meanwhile she is homeless. Cue Ben Kingsley as middle-east refugee who has fled to America and worked his fingers to the bone to get enough money to make a property investment and try to get back a fraction of the upper class lifestyle he and his family were accustomed to. He wants to sell the house off after buying it at a fraction of the value. Big moral dilemma(?) - who is in the right?
My skepticism is that the Jennifer Connolly character lives in a wealthy but morally near-bankrupt country (ie the USA) with the social and legal system to boot. I can't feel sorry for her for not staying on the ball. If you play the game, respect the rules. Kingsley's character harkens from an equally morally bankrupt country and culture - he's not really better or worse - just different.
To help us 'solve' the dilemma we are offered a cutesy, predictable love story. Eugh. Still, House of Sand and Fog is ok as low-brain-activity entertainment. (Hated the sentimental, constantly intrusive music too - but my tastes are not everyone's - even the music was Oscar nominated).
Rating: 6/10
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