Rating: 
Summary: Truly Surprised Me
Review: I did not think I would like this film. Before I finally saw it, there was just something about it that reeked of pretension. Not sure why, but that's how I felt. When I finally did get around to seeing it, I was blown away. So tragic in a stupid, senseless, pridefull way that it really hit me hard. Entertaining - not really. Riveting -yes. The performances here are amazing. A real actors' film - similar to the way I reacted to Mystic River. It made me angry, depressed, sad - and I could not stop watching it. The biggest win for me was the fact that all of the characters were in a way stupid or blinded by their experiences, the environment, the timing of the situation, laziness - all of that and more. In fact, I did not and could not root for anyone, but I still understood them all. Pride, tradition, self-destruction, sloth, and anger all add up to tragic consequences. Not a movie I would watch again for entertainment value - but it packs a punch.
Rating:
Summary: A Dark Tale Of The American Dream Turned Nightmare
Review: Vadim Perelman, in his directorial debut, has created an extraordinarily powerful drama with "The House Of Sand And Fog." Award-winning actors Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley give truly great performances in this dark and tragic film of the American Dream turned nightmare. Shohreh Aghdashloo, as Kingelsy's wife Nadi, and Jonathan Ahdout as his teenage son Esmail, are also superb. And cinematographer Roger Deakins stunning photography sets the mood throughout the film.
Persian immigrant, Massoud Amir Behrani, (Ben Kingsley), is a former colonel in the late, deposed Iranian Shah's air force. He is an intelligent, well educated man, who used to be respected in his native country as a person of position, power, and means. Behrani's former life, with all his efforts to build it, seems like it was constructed on a sea of shifting sand. He came to America with his wife, son, and daughter with limited funds, and has spent almost all of his money setting his family up in the manner to which they had been accustomed. One of the primary reasons for doing this was to marry his daughter to a member of their former social class. He is now reduced to working as a common laborer by day and a convenience store manager by night in order to provide for his family. His co-workers are men he would have given alms to in his native land. Angry and humiliated at how far he has fallen, Behrani decides to invest his remaining funds in a house that has been put up for auction at a Sheriff's Sale, because the owner had not paid property taxes. He wants to make improvements on the house and sell it at a large profit, which he hopes will enable him to provide his family with their former lifestyle, and restore some of his lost dignity. Kathy Niccolo is a disaster waiting to happen. She is a depressed, quietly self-destructive, recovering alcoholic and addict. Her house, in the California hills overlooking the Pacific, was bequeathed to her and her brother by her beloved father. It is all she has. She is adamant in her refusal to give-up her home because of a bureaucratic error. She was evicted for failing to pay a tax she never should have been charged in the first place. However, with her usual carelessness, she ignored a number of correspondences and warnings from the local tax board. Sheriff Lester Burdon, (Ron Eldard), delivers the eviction papers to Kathy. She confides in him and he becomes obsessed with helping her fight for justice. Lester finds himself falling in love with Kathy, although he is married with two children and much personal baggage of his own. The contested ownership of the house is the fulcrum of the intense plot. Two people compete with increasing desperation, for the title to one small bungalow, which has a different meaning for each of them. The tragedy lies in their inability to communicate and understand one another. Part of the movie's incredible power is the difficulty one has in deciding which party to side with, as both are at once sympathetic and worthy of censure. The film is absolutely riveting and the tension builds to a surprising climax. To say that "The House of Sand and Fog" is not upbeat entertainment is a major understatement. So, although I give the movie my highest recommendation, I do so with reservations. Prospective viewers should be cautioned that the grim intensity of this piece will stay with you for a very long time. Definitely not a films to see twice.
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: Great solid Performances
Review: Jennifer connelly and Ben Kingsley give amazing performances in this emotional and touching drama about a woman(Jennifer Connelly) who gets evicted from her home by not paying her taxes. Her house is auctioned off and bought by Ben Kingsley who is an Iranian military officer. One of the local police officers reaches out to jennifer connelly and wants to start a new life with her. I won't give out the ending but it is not a happy one. Infact the last 20 minutes is the most emotional and disturbing part of the movie. Overall the house of sand and fog has great solid performances and a good story line. This movie is deff. not for everyone especially if you only like happy endings. Deff. worth renting though!
Rating: 
Summary: Not A Repeat Performance For Me
Review: Although this film had great acting and great production, I found it eerie and troublesome.
I will definitely not watch it again. Nothing personal in regards to the film, it just isn't my kind of movie.
Rating:
Summary: heartbreaking and beautiful
Review: all i can really say about this movie is that it is beautiful and so sad. the last scenes just about killed me, especially because of the reason why it turned out this way.
i would recommend this to anyone who likes to watch sad endings, not sappy ending, i mean real hardcore depression.
the movie in general is beautiful and angering all at once.
Rating:
Summary: Tragedy of the American Dream
Review: As we Americans see home owning as such an important aspect of our lives, this movie is appropriate in its highs and lows and shows what extremes we go to fulfill our dreams in spite of their actual value to us. This film starkly poses the question: do we ever really own anything and what does it mean if we do? The answer is anticipated but a solid answer is never fully reached. It is a solidly depressing and tragic film that is shot beautifully and the actors portray their roles quite well. Though the story boarders on the absurd at times it is compelling. This is a film that you will most likely want to watch intently and if you do it will rattle around your head for a long time.
The film ends very tragically and I don't want to give away one iota of the plot. The one thing that struck me about this film is that we watch the characters from more of a voyeuristic stance rather than a sympathetic one. We peer into the lives of the characters like we are at the windows of their homes: we look in from a close angle but we aren't intimate with them or their feelings. While we all want to own a home and know first hand the emotions that attend our desire for ownership, we can not sympathize with any of the character very well at all. The original owner of the house takes no responsibility for herself or her family's home until it is two late, and while we do feel for the plight and hopes of the Arabian family we have to admit that they are altogether stubborn. The most despicable character is the policeman who leaves his family for the girl.
This is one of those films that will leave you thinking for a while and though the ending is far fetched it makes a point upon reflection. I condone the making of films that do not always resolve themselves happily and this film certainly does that. As the imagined security and tranquility of home ownership is not able to be fulfilled all of the characters reach a less than perfect end. I really liked this film and like that it poses questions that attack the gross materialism and selfishness of postmodern America. With this film we can all examine our selves. This movie has lasting value and deserves all of the acclaim it has received.
Ted Murena
Rating: 
Summary: I cannot reccommend this film
Review: Yes, superb acting. Yes, beautiful scenery. But this film disturbed me so much, especially the last 20 minutes, that I wouldn't wish viewing it on any of my friends or family.
Rating:
Summary: A modern Greek tragedy.
Review: "House of Sand and Fog" is Vadim Perelman's heart-wrenching adaptation of the Andre Dubus novel. Jennifer Connelly is Kathy, a self-destructive alcoholic whose husband has abandoned her. She has nothing except the house that she inherited from her beloved father. Because of a misunderstanding, the house is taken away from her for non-payment of taxes. The new owner is Colonel Behrani, a proud Iranian expatriate played unforgettably by the towering actor, Ben Kingsley. Soon Kathy and Behrani become adversaries, and they enter upon a collision course for possession of the house.
Kathy is joined in her quest by a police officer named Lester who leaves his wife and children for her. The director explores their relationship as well as that of Behrani and his beautiful and devoted wife, played touchingly by Shohreh Aghdashloo. Behrani has suffered a loss of dignity with his family's move to America, and he has no intention of giving up his dream of regaining his former stature. Jennifer Connelley is outstanding as a lost soul whose self-esteem has been eroded by years of drinking and dissolution.
Adding to the movie's aura of doom are the fog-laden cinematography by Roger Deakins and the evocative original score by James Horner. Although the ending is too protracted and melodramatic, "House of Sand and Fog" has undeniable power. It is a compelling allegory about the foolishness of putting material possessions above one's humanity.
Rating:
Summary: With a star for the acting.
Review: The acting in thie film is superb. At least 3 Oscar-worthy performances (especially Ben Kingsley), and the rest were close as well. That alone is reason to watch this. However as a film, while it's more then compelling -- you need to know how things will wrap up -- it also has an unrealistic/semi-fantastic side that ultimately injures the plot permanently. Not something to watch if you're easily depressed, for sure.
Rating:
Summary: "I want them out of my house"
Review: After watching this movie with my wife I reached a very clear conclusion: this is not a film for everyone. Those of you that can stomach sadness and suffering will be able to admire all the wonderful elements this production presents, from the actors to the settings. However, if dramatic situations spoil the moment for you, you may be able to appreciate the quality of the production, like my wife did, but will probably end up with a bitter taste in your mouth.
Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connoly) is a young widow that is being thrown out of her property for owing a ridiculously low amount of money in property taxes. But right from the start, we know that the ending of this story will not be all joy and happiness, since we catch a glimpse of the future. In this vision, Nicolo appears to be in shock outside of her house, surrounded by police and paramedics that are carrying dead people away from the scene. Following this revelation, we are presented with a collection of scenes that pique our curiosity: a young colonel (Ben Kingsley) cutting down trees that obstruct the view from his new house towards the Caspian Sea, an older colonel Behrani in the luxurious wedding of his daughter, and finally the same Behrani working with a crew on a highway and dreaming of buying a house that he finds in the classified adds.
Behrani and his wife go through the effort of making everyone believe that they have money and a high economic status, with not even their kids being aware of the deceit. However, Nicolo's house presents a great opportunity for Behrani, since he is planning to buy it, make some improvements and then sell it at a handsome profit. When he achieves his goal of purchasing the property, he is in heaven, but everything comes tumbling down when Kathy's lawyer begins with his attempts for trying to repossess the house. That is when the hostilities begin and matters get complicated with other events, like a crooked police officer getting involved in the conflict.
Firmly supported by a good performance by Connoly and an amazing job by Kingsley, which should have placed him as a serious candidate for the Oscar for Best Actor, this movie has all the required characteristics to provide a valuable experience. The plot is extremely engaging and it does not lack tense moments and its fair share of suspense. As I mentioned before, only those that are very sensitive to sad situations and suffering should stay away. For the rest of you, this should be a highly rewarding film.
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