Friday, September 7, 2007

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

by Kam Williams

For movies opening September 14, 2007

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Brave One (R for profanity, sexuality and graphic violence) Shades of Charles Bronson’s Death Wish in this revenge flick about a radio DJ (Jodie Foster) out for retribution after a brutal attack which left her seriously wounded and took the life of her beloved fiance’. Directed by Oscar-winner Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) and co-starring Terrence Howard as the NYPD detective on the trail of this vigilante who’s taking the law into her own hands.

Dragon Wars (PG-13 for intense violence) Based on a Korean legend, this sci-fi adventure revolves around a reporter (Jason Behr) determined to save Los Angeles from a giant, flying serpent with the help of a beautiful young woman (Amanda Brooks) stricken with a mysterious illness.

Eastern Promises (R for nudity, profanity, gruesome violence and graphic sexuality) David Cronenberg directs this crime thriller about a midwife (Naomi Watts) who finds herself on the run from a Russian crime family after delving into the diary of a teenager who died during childbirth. Cast includes Viggo Mortensen, Victor Cassel and Sinead Cusack.

Mr. Woodcock (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, mature themes, a drug reference and crude humor) Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role of this comedy about the return of a best-selling author (Seann William Scott) to his hometown where he discovers, to his horror, that his mother (Susan Sarandon) is engaged to the sadistic gym teacher who’d made his life miserable all through high school. With Amy Poehler and Ethan Suplee.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Across the Universe (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, nudity, drug use and violence) Beatles-based musical, set against the backdrop of the turbulent Sixties, revolving around the romantic relationship of a dockworker (Jim Sturgess) from Liverpool and the rebellious refugee (Evan Rachel Wood) from suburbia he meets in Greenwich Village while searching for his long-lost father.

December Boys (PG-13 for nudity, teen smoking, underage drinking and premarital sexuality) Coming-of-age costume drama, adapted from the Michael Noonan novel of the same name, examines the exploits of four orphans (Daniel Radcliffe, Christian Byers, James Fraser and Lee Cormie), raised in a Catholic convent in the Australian Outback, who compete to be adopted by a childless couple they meet while vacationing at the seashore.

Great World of Sound (R for profanity) Slice-of-life satire, set in Charlotte, NC, chronicles the exploits of a couple of salesmen (Pat Healy and Kene Holliday) employed by a fly by night music producer relying on a shady scheme designed to fleece naïve wannabes by signing them to bogus recording contracts.

Ira and Abby (Unrated) Chris Messina and Jennifer Westfeldt handle the titular roles in this romantic comedy written by the latter about a couple of thirty-somethings who come to rethink their impulsive decision to marry within hours of meeting each other. Ensemble cast includes Jason Alexander, Robert Klein, Judith Light and Fred Willard.

King of California (PG-13 for profanity, mature themes and drug references) Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood co-star in this dysfunctional family comedy about a recently-released mental patient who’s trying to convince his 16 year-old daughter that there’s a 17th Century Spanish explorer’s buried treasure of gold still hidden somewhere in their suburban community. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

Moving McAllister (PG-13 for sexual references, drug use and crude humor) Ben Gourley stars in this road comedy about a recent law school grad who agrees to drive a moving van cross-country from Miami to L.A. with his new boss’ (Rutger Hauer) attractive but off-limits niece (Mila Kunis) four days before the bar exam.

Silk (R for nudity and sexuality) Costume drama, set in 19th Century France, about a silkworm smuggler (Michael Pitt) who cheats on his wife (Keira Knightley) with a geisha girl (Sei Ashina) while in Japan on business. (In Japanese and English with subtitles)

Toots (Unrated) Reminiscence-driven documentary profiles the career of Toots Shor, the larger than life NYC restaurateur whose trendy saloon was frequented in the Forties and Fifties by such luminaries as Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason.

No comments: