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to him her life is a comfortable and satisfying one compared to her modest upbringing in Russia. Eventually, their friendship crosses a boundary and they share a kiss. Laura, Alan, and
Michael go out to a club one night with a musician Alan works with. Michael attempts to ignite a relationship with Laura, but she rebuffs him. He proceeds to get drunk, and spotting the man who had earlier mistreated Laura, gets into an inebriated fight with him. Laura demands to Alan that they go home. She later gives in to her attraction to Michael and they have a one-night stand at a hotel.
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Over the next few days, Laura and
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Some time later, Alan and Laura are driving at night. Alan wants to make up for his philandering to her but begins to ramble nonchalantly about his business deals, while Laura starts to cry. Alan notices and offers to stop the car, but Laura refuses. He parks and Laura gets out, walking alone on the
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After drinking at a bar, Laura reluctantly accepts a car ride home from a guy who shows interest in her. When she gets home, the man invites himself in and comes onto her. Laura rejects him with a slap, causing the man to get rough with her. After knocking over a lamp, he regains his composure and
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Michael and his wife are about to depart for LA the next day. Before he can leave, Laura asks to speak to him alone. Alan, as well as
Michael's wife, are both aware that something has happened between the two. Laura rebukes Michael about his indecisiveness and asks what he wants to do. He resents
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Michael's wife arrives in
Memphis for a celebration in Alan's honor. During a large outdoor party, Alan makes a toast to Laura. In the speech, he admits being his partner is not easy and proposes marriage to her. Afterwards, he and Laura share a dance. An anguished Michael goes up to the mic to
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The following day, Laura and
Michael are set to have lunch with Alan, but he is running late. The two, who have never met before, engage in conversation as they wait on Alan. Michael reveals he saw Laura come home last night with another guy and implies she is unfaithful, insulting her. Later,
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wrote, "Memphis itself takes on something of the dimensions of a character in the film, insinuating its history and personality into the story and giving it a rough, lived-in texture as well as a musical lilt that helps its sorrows go down a little easier -- at least for the audience."
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Michael apologizes for his behavior and admits he took out his anger on her, which he says is the result of marital troubles with his pregnant wife. Laura tells
Michael that he should confide in his dad about the news of the pregnancy, but he has an estranged relationship with Alan.
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congratulate his father, and in an awkward ramble, says that while Alan was never a great father to him, he is a good man. He then privately says something to Laura, but their interaction is noticed by Alan, who becomes suspicious.
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being questioned and says they must move on from their brief affair, before leaving with his wife in a taxi. Alan finds Laura lying despondent on their bed and does not say anything, but angrily knocks over a table.
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writing, "I despised the character of Alan James so sincerely that I had to haul back at one point to remind myself that, hey, I've met Rip Torn and he's a nice guy and he's only acting." Ruthe Stein of the
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called the film "A naturalistic drama in which naturalism prevails at the expense of some needed drama". Dina Korzun's performance received critical acclaim, with
Felicia Feaster of
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writing "From all outside appearances, Laura is empty and cold, but Korzun assures us there is something profound and aching locked inside." Rip Torn was also praised, with
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apologizes, but Laura kicks him out of the house. The situation is watched from behind a door by
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empty street. Alan honks his horn, but Laura ignores it and continues walking, with the question of whether she remains with Alan or leaves him left ambiguous.
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has an approval rating of 60% based on 52 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "In its portrayal of a woman's awakening and disillusionment,
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music conference. The couple share a young son, Sam. Alan is arrogant, a drunk and a womanizer, while Laura is seen as little more than a
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wrote the film "intricately captures the high end of music society". Feaster added "the film suggests a marriage of
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was placed at #92 on the Best Films of the Aughts list by
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400:is as nuanced as its title would suggest." On
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570:Stein, Ruthe (October 14, 2005).
16:2005 American romantic drama film
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539:"A Triangle Smolders in Memphis"
1491:Films set in Memphis, Tennessee
1481:Films about music and musicians
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515:Ryan, Mike S. (March 6, 2009).
1351:Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
686:"Review: Forty Shades of Blue"
684:Uhlich, Keith (July 8, 2005).
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1471:Films directed by Ira Sachs
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1486:Films set in Tennessee
1456:2005 independent films
660:"Forty Shades of Blue"
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602:"Forty Shades of Blue"
496:"Forty Shades of Blue"
463:Sundance Film Festival
246:Sundance Film Festival
1359:The Birth of a Nation
1176:The Brothers McMullen
1109:The Trouble with Dick
715:"The color of lonely"
1271:Forty Shades of Blue
1168:What Happened Was...
1104:Waiting for the Moon
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398:Forty Shades of Blue
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370:Charles 'Skip' Pitts
175:Forty Shades of Blue
24:Forty Shades of Blue
1231:You Can Count on Me
378:as Man (uncredited)
248:, where it won the
1415:A Thousand and One
973:Keep the Lights On
935:Films directed by
804:. February 7, 2010
776:. January 30, 2005
544:The New York Times
468:In February 2010,
450:The New York Times
273:Memphis, Tennessee
242:Sundance Institute
88:First Look Studios
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1335:Fruitvale Station
1255:American Splendor
1116:Heat and Sunlight
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773:Los Angeles Times
334:Darren E. Burrows
199:Darren R. Burrows
185:film directed by
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806:. Retrieved
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145:Running time
18:
1279:QuinceaƱera
1148:In the Soup
1096:Smooth Talk
1064:Girlfriends
896:QuinceaƱera
780:January 10,
613:February 4,
424:Roger Ebert
328:Dina Korzun
289:Los Angeles
281:trophy wife
221:Family Life
195:Dina Korzun
189:. Starring
180:independent
149:108 minutes
74:Dina Korzun
49:Produced by
29:Directed by
1446:2005 films
1440:Categories
1319:Like Crazy
1080:Old Enough
989:Little Men
752:August 15,
724:August 16,
695:August 16,
669:August 16,
640:August 15,
634:Metacritic
583:August 15,
550:August 16,
455:A.O. Scott
402:Metacritic
372:as himself
345:as himself
178:is a 2005
164:Box office
132:2006-06-30
121:2005-09-28
106:2005-01-21
39:Written by
1227:Girlfight
1124:True Love
949:The Delta
937:Ira Sachs
384:Reception
351:as Duigan
237:Charulata
210:Ken Loach
187:Ira Sachs
167:$ 172,569
136: (UK)
125: (US)
60:Ira Sachs
57:Jawal Nga
52:Mary Bing
42:Ira Sachs
33:Ira Sachs
1383:Clemency
1343:Whiplash
1303:Precious
1005:Passages
855:AllMovie
349:Red West
330:as Laura
322:Rip Torn
269:producer
191:Rip Torn
154:Language
112:Sundance
70:Rip Torn
66:Starring
997:Frankie
868:Awards
664:Variety
453:critic
413:Variety
360:as Shel
203:Memphis
158:English
130: (
119: (
104: (
1426:(2024)
1418:(2023)
1410:(2022)
1402:(2021)
1394:(2020)
1391:Minari
1386:(2019)
1378:(2018)
1370:(2017)
1362:(2016)
1354:(2015)
1346:(2014)
1338:(2013)
1330:(2012)
1322:(2011)
1314:(2010)
1306:(2009)
1298:(2008)
1290:(2007)
1282:(2006)
1274:(2005)
1266:(2004)
1263:Primer
1258:(2003)
1250:(2002)
1242:(2001)
1234:(2000)
1211:(1999)
1203:(1998)
1195:(1997)
1192:Sunday
1187:(1996)
1179:(1995)
1171:(1994)
1163:(1993)
1151:(1992)
1143:(1991)
1140:Poison
1135:(1990)
1127:(1989)
1119:(1988)
1111:(1987)
1099:(1986)
1091:(1985)
1083:(1984)
1075:(1982)
1067:(1978)
1008:(2023)
1000:(2019)
992:(2016)
984:(2014)
976:(2012)
968:(2007)
960:(2005)
952:(1996)
877:Primer
277:Moscow
224:, and
197:, and
110: (
1407:Nanny
889:2005
482:Notes
183:drama
1399:CODA
1200:Slam
833:IMDb
810:2010
782:2022
754:2023
726:2023
697:2023
671:2023
642:2023
615:2023
585:2023
552:2023
315:Cast
260:Plot
853:at
842:at
831:at
447:".
441:'s
410:of
388:On
271:in
234:'s
215:Kes
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