Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK

by Kam Williams

For movies opening August 24, 2007


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Illegal Tender (R for violence, profanity and sexuality) Rick Gonzalez and Wanda De Jesus co-star in this graphic revenge saga about a college student who chooses to defend his family’s honor after a ruthless gang kills his father and forces his mother to flee for her life.

The Last Legion (PG-13 for intense violence) The Fall of the Roman Empire is revisited by this elaborate costume drama, set in 476 AD, which revolves around the reign of Romulus Augustus (Thomas Sangster) Ensemble cast includes Sir Ben Kingsley, Colin Firth and Aishwarya Rai.

Mr. Bean’s Holiday (PG for mild epithets) Rowan Atkinson reprises his role as the incomparably accident-prone bumbling Brit for a slapstick-driven misadventure meandering from London to Paris to Cannes during which he is suspected of kidnapping, creates havoc on a movie set, and finds romance with a beautiful young actress (Emma de Caunes).

The Nanny Diaries (PG-13 for profanity) Sacrlett Johansson handles the title role in this romantic comedy, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, about a college grad nanny for a wealthy Manhattan family who finds herself having to put up with the parents’ (Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti) dysfunction and the demands of their precocious son (Nicholas Art) until hope arrives in a relationship with a well-heeled, handsome Harvard alumnus (Chris Evans) from Park Avenue.

War (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity and graphic violence) Revenge thriller about an FBI Agent (Jason Statham) intent on tracking down the assassin (Jet Li) who murdered his partner (Terry Chen).


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS


The Bothersome Man (Unrated) Mysterious adventure about a forty year-old amnesiac (Trond Fausa Aurvaag) who arrives in an otherworldly city with no memory of how he got there or of the wife (Petronella Barker), home and job awaiting him. (In Norwegian with subtitles)

Dedication (R for profanity and sexuality) Romantic comedy about a neurotic, NYC children’s book author (Billy Crudup), depressed by the demise of his longtime collaborator (Tom Wilkinson), who gets a new lease on life after he’s pressured by his publisher (Bob Balaban) to team with an attractive, aspiring young illustrator (Mandy Moore).

Deep Water (PG for mature themes, mild epithets, and smoking) Narrated by Tilda Swinton, this seafaring documentary revisits the events of a disastrous, solo yacht race around the world in 1968, specifically focusing on the unethical, ill-fated antics of one entrant, a practically-bankrupt amateur named Donald Crowhurst.

Hannah Takes the Stairs (Unrated) Office romance is the theme of this relationship drama about a recent college grad (Greta Gerwig) who breaks up with her unemployed boyfriend (Mark Duplass) only to develop crushes on two of her co-workers (Andrew Bujalski and Kent Osborne) at a Chicago production company.

The Hottest State (R for sexuality and profanity) Ethan Hawke adapted his own novel and directed this romance drama about an aspiring actor from Texas (William Harding) who finds himself falling in love with a sultry singer/songwriter (Catalina Sandino Moreno). Cast includes Sonia Braga as her mother, Laura Linney as his mom, and Michelle Williams as his ex.

Kamp Katrina (Unrated) Post-disaster documentary examines the efforts of one New Orleans resident, a flamboyant character called Ms. Pearl, to assist in the recovery by converting her yard temporarily into a tent city for suddenly homeless survivors.

Naming Number Two (PG for smoking, sensuality, mature themes, mild epithets, and brief violence) Set in the Fiji islands, this intergenerational drama stars Ruby Dee as an aging, widowed matriarch who has summoned her dispersed relatives together for a family reunion and a traditional feast during which she plans to pick her successor.

Resurrecting the Champ (PG-13 for violence and brief profanity) Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett co-star in this buddy flick about a struggling sports reporter who befriends a homeless boxing legend and in the process learns an important lesson about life which inspires him to reexamine his relationship with his young son (Dakota Goyo). Cast includes Teri Hatcher, Alan Alda and Kathryn Morris.

Right at Your Door (R for disturbing violence and pervasive profanity) Apocalyptic adventure about the struggle to survive in Los Angeles after the declaration of martial law due to the detonation by terrorists of several dirty bombs. Ensemble cast includes Mary McCormack, Rory Cochrane and Tony Perez.

September Dawn (R for graphic violence) Jon Voight and Dean Cain co-star in this fact-based Western which revisits the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a real-life incident which transpired in Utah in 1857 when Mormons slaughtered 140 recently-arrived setters from Arkansas.

Skid Row (Unrated) Down-and-out documentary follows former member of The Fugees Pras as he masquerades as homeless for nine days to see what it’s like to live on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

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