Before it runs off course into excess, this brilliantly acted film version of the 1999 novel by Andre Dubus III moves with a stabbing urgency. Ben Kingsley gives one of his greatest performances as Behrani, a former colonel in the air force of the Shah of Iran. Now living in Northern California, where he supports his wife, Nadi (Shohreh Aghdashloo), and their teenage son, Esmail (Jonathan Ahdout), by doing menial jobs, Behrani thinks he's hit pay dirt by buying a house at auction. One hitch: The house formerly belonged to Kathy (Jennifer Connelly, wan and wounded), a junkie who lost the place, unfairly, for nonpayment of taxes. Kathy and Behrani engage in a legal battle that speaks to issues of race and class.

Vadim Perelman, a Ukrainian-born director of commercials, makes a smashing debut in features, showing a keen eye for imploding emotions. On a visit to her former house, Kathy encounters Nadi, who offers her surprising sympathy. Aghdashloo, an Iranian actress, has a face of elegant beauty on which emotions register with startling expressiveness. She is spellbinding, whether serving tea or struggling to stop her world from falling apart. This is acting that cuts quietly to the heart.

There is nothing quiet about the rest of the film, as Behrani is threatened by Lester (Ron Eldard), a married cop who takes up with Kathy, and events spiral into tragedy. Prepare for an emotional wipeout.

“(We're Not) The Jet Set”

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."