Movie finished: House of Sand and Fog

House of Sand and Fog was a slow movie; intense at times. I cried a couple of times; the desperation of Kathy's situation, the soul-grinding determination of Colonel Behrani's familial improvement mixed with despondent nationalism, and the tragedies that ensue from bureaucratic foobar, spousal abandonment, and loss of love.

Jennifer Connelly does well in these broody roles, she plays intensity well and yet carries off the detachment from life that someone in bone crushing day-to-day depression would exhibit (or how I perceive it would). Ben Kingsley is adaptable to so many roles that its not surprising he would have done well as Behrani. It was a nice surprise to see Shohreh Aghdashloo again (fourth season 24 was where I'd initially seen her) - she has a lovely natural sultriness in colouring, accent, and bearing that I also see in Monica Belluci. She's also an amazing actress.

I had a hard time with the believability of the Lester character after he enters the Behrani household. Much as humanity is insane, the actions of this otherwise quiet and calm policeman don't seem to be as solid or ring true as Kathy's or Behrani's behaviour.

It was a slow movie, like the fix-up of county messes or legal trouble. It was enjoyable yet incredibly depressing.