I had no expectations of this movie, and was pleasantly surprised with this sensitive story. Jennifer Connelly does a good job as Kathy, the hapless self-destructive beauty who initially loses the house through her own incompetence. Once we get past her astonishing looks, we have little sympathy for Kathy, a black dahlia who corrupts all she contacts.
Easily corrupted is Lester, well played by Ron Eldard. A touch of Kathy's hand is enough to strip the patina of decency and honor from this weak man.
But the master of this epic is Ben Kingsley, as Behrani, the deposed and chastened Iranian colonel trying to recapture former glory for his family (and himself). Basically decent, this complex man is not without his faults. But his flaws pale when compared to the completely unprincipled twosome of Kathy and Lester.
Spoiler Alert!
We are pleased when Lester gets his just deserts, and we mourn the tragedy that befalls the Behrani family, bringing the colonel to his knees in a pride-swallowing resort to his faith.
Honorable mention goes to a gem of a performance by Shohreh Aghdashloo as Mrs. Behrani, whose innate kindness partially serves to bring her family to a tragic end.
Well shot and scored, this is a wonderful, if not uplifting, unique movie.
Easily corrupted is Lester, well played by Ron Eldard. A touch of Kathy's hand is enough to strip the patina of decency and honor from this weak man.
But the master of this epic is Ben Kingsley, as Behrani, the deposed and chastened Iranian colonel trying to recapture former glory for his family (and himself). Basically decent, this complex man is not without his faults. But his flaws pale when compared to the completely unprincipled twosome of Kathy and Lester.
Spoiler Alert!
We are pleased when Lester gets his just deserts, and we mourn the tragedy that befalls the Behrani family, bringing the colonel to his knees in a pride-swallowing resort to his faith.
Honorable mention goes to a gem of a performance by Shohreh Aghdashloo as Mrs. Behrani, whose innate kindness partially serves to bring her family to a tragic end.
Well shot and scored, this is a wonderful, if not uplifting, unique movie.