Susan Granger’s review of “House of Sand and Fog” (DreamWorks)
In this taut, top-notch psychological thriller, the lives of three fragile yet determined people become inexorably entangled in a relentlessly more volatile – and deadly – dilemma. The story begins as Kathy Nicolo (Jennifer Connolly), a recovering alcoholic, is evicted from her home on the California coast for non-payment of $500 in taxes. The shabby, mist-shrouded bungalow is seized, put up for auction and purchased by a once-wealthy but now hard-laboring Iranian ŽmigrŽ, Col. Massoud Amir Behrani (Ben Kingsley), who views the property as an investment that will secure the American Dream for his long-suffering wife (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and their teenage son (Jonathan Ahdout). Desperate, Kathy enlists the help of a Deputy Sheriff (Ron Eldard) whose loveless marriage has left him ripe for an affair. What begins as a legal battle escalates into a personal confrontation – with devastating results. Based Andre Dubus III’s best-seller, writer/director Vadim Perelman and co-writer Shawn Otto, have cleverly crafted a perfectly cast, character-driven conflict into which the audience is inexorably drawn. Ben Kingsley is an Oscar-worthy marvel, exuding stubborn conviction meshed with pride, dignity and intelligence, while Jennifer Connolly radiates dark vulnerability. However, the writing of her character has a major flaw: while she blames others, she’s clearly the victim of her own stupidity and negligence by not opening her mail. It’s difficult to feel sympathy for someone who’s that self-destructive. Roger Deakins’ cinematography is simple yet evocative, as is Maia Javan’s production design. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The House of Sand and Fog” is a chilling, suspenseful 9. It’s powerful, compelling story-telling.
