Thursday, August 30, 2007

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

OPENING THIS WEEK

by Kam Williams

For movies opening September 7, 2007


BIG BUDGET FILMS

3:10 to Yuma (R for violence and profanity) Christian Bale and Russell Crowe co-star in this remake of the 1957 classic Western about the dangerous gauntlet across the desert negotiated by a broke rancher out to collect a bounty for escorting an outlaw man to a train waiting to transport the wanted man to justice. Cast includes Gretchen Mol, Peter Fonda and Kevin Durand.

The Brothers Solomon (R for sexuality and profanity) Dysfunctional-family comedy about a couple of romantically-challenged brothers (Will Arnett and Will Forte) in search of a woman willing to mate with one of them in order to fulfill their dying father’s (Lee Majors) wish for a grandson. Supporting cast includes David Koechner, Chi McBride, Jenna Fischer and the film’s director, Bob Odenkirk.

Fierce People (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality, drug use and violence) Dysfunctional family drama about a coke-addicted single-mom (Diane Lane) struggling to survive in NYC who decides to try to get her life back on track by showing up with her 16 year-old son (Anton Yelchin) at the sprawling, suburban estate of a wealthy, elderly client (Donald Sutherland) of hers. With Paz de la Huerta, Kristen Stewart and Chris Evans.

Hatchet (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity and graphic violence) Horror flick, set in New Orleans, where a vacation turns deadly for a group of tourists who find themselves stranded in a haunted swamp. Ensemble cast includes Joel Moore, Tamara Feldman and Deon Richmond.

Shoot ‘Em Up (Unrated) Clive Owen stars in this high-impact adventure about a mysterious loner who teams with a proverbial hooker (Monica Bellucci) with a heart of gold and lactating mammary to protect a stranger’s newborn he’s just delivered from a gang of hit men led by a bloodthirsty mobster (Paul Giamatti).


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Hunting Party (Unrated) Fact-based drama about the return to Bosnia of three journalists (Richard Gere, Terrence Howard and Jesse Eisenberg) five years after the ethnic cleansing to track down the most wanted war criminal (Ljubomir Kerekes) still at-large. (In English and Serbo-Croatian)

The Inner Life of Martin Frost (Unrated) Sci-fi fantasy about a novelist (David Thewlis), unwinding alone at a friend’s country home, who falls in love with the beautiful woman (Irene Jacob) who magically materializes in his bed when he wakes up one morning.

In the Shadow of the Moon (PG for smoking, mild epithets and brief violence) Out of this world documentary revisits all nine NASA missions to the moon, interweaving archival footage with contemporary interviews with all the still surviving Apollo astronauts, including Buzz Aldrin, Eugene Cernan, Jim Lovell and Alan Bean.

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (Unrated) Jeff Garlin wrote, directed and stars in this romantic comedy, set in Chicago, about a just-dumped, overweight, unemployed actor who wants three things: a lifemate, a lead role and to lose weight. Cast includes Bonnie Hunt, Sarah Silverman, Amy Sedaris, Tim Kazurinsky, Elle Fanning and Dan Castellaneta.

Musician (Unrated) Brainiac bio-pic examines the unorthodox musical career of avant garde jazz saxophonist Ken Vandermark, the Chicago-based recipient of a MacArthur genius grant who has released over a hundred albums, about one per month, comprised of non commercial tunes he’s composed, arranged and performed with dozens of different ensembles.

Romance & Cigarettes (R for sexuality and profanity) John Turturro wrote, directed and appears briefly in this musical about an ironworker (James Gandolfini) who’s having a torrid affair behind his wife’s (Susan Sarandon) back with an irresistible, red-headed temptress (Kate Winslet). Ensemble includes Steve Buscemi, Amy Sedaris, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Walken, Elaine Stritch and Aida, Diego, Katherine and Amedeo Turturro.

Salvador Allende (Unrated) Documentary chronicling the life of the socialist Chilean president from childhood to his 1973 suicide following the CIA-assisted coup d’etat which signaled the rise of military strongman Augusto Pinochet. (In Spanish and French with subtitles)

The Unknown Soldier (Unrated) Damning documentary from Deutschland provides shocking photographic and film evidence of widespread participation by Nazi soldiers in war crimes and ethnic cleansing during World War II. (In German with subtitles)

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