Friday, October 12, 2007

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

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening October 19, 2007


BIG BUDGET FILMS

30 Days of Night (R for profanity and graphic horror violence) Josh Hartnett and Melissa George head an ensemble cast in this high attrition-rate horror flick about a sheriff who, with the help of his estranged wife, confronts a horde of bloodthirsty vampires that descend on a tiny Alaskan town during the pitch black month when the sun slips beneath the horizon.

The Comebacks (PG-13 for drug use, crude humor and sexual content) Spoof of inspirational sports flicks revolves around a down-and-out college football coach (David Koechner) who inspires his rag-tag team of losers to overachieve in their quest for the championship.

Gone Baby Gone (R for violence, drug use, and pervasive profanity) Ben Affleck makes his directorial debut with this crime thriller about a couple of private eyes (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) who end up risking their sanity and their lives to crack the case of a missing four year-old girl (Madeline O’Brien). With Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Karen Ahern.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG for scary images) Disney, digital 3D re-release of Tim Burton’s animated classic about a Halloween Pumpkin King (Chris Sarandon) who decides to try to take control of the Christmas holiday away from Santa Claus. Voice cast includes Catherine O’Hara, Paul “Pee Wee Herman” Reubens and Danny Elfman.

Rendition (R for profanity and violence, including torture) Political potboiler about a CIA Agent (Jake Gyllenhaal) who comes to question the unorthodox methods being employed by the Agency in the war on terrorism while he’s participating in the detention and interrogation of an Egyptian-born engineer (Omar Metwalley) married to an American citizen (Reese Witherspoon). A-list support cast includes Meryl Streep, Alan Arkin, J.K. Simmons and Peter Sarsgaard.

Reservation Road (R for profanity and disturbing images) Revenge flick, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, revolving around an anguished college professor’s (Joaquin Phoenix) desperate search for the driver (Mark Ruffalo) of the car which claimed the life of his 10 year-old son (Sean Curley) in a hit-and-run accident. Ensemble includes Jennifer Connelly, Mira Sorvino and Elle Fanning.

Things We Lost in the Fire (R for profanity and drug use) Oscar-winners Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro co-star in this bittersweet drama about a recently-widowed mother of two young children finds a shoulder to lean on in her husband’s drug-addicted best friend since childhood. With David Duchovny and Alison Lohman in support roles.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Black White + Gray (Unrated) Bifurcated bio-pic examines both the intimate and professional relationships of a couple of art icons from the Seventies, curator Sam Wagstaff and homoerotic photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Via archival footage and present-day interviews, the documentary features reflections by Dominic Dunne, Truman Capote, Henry Geldzahler and rocker Patti Smith.

Fat Girls (R for drug and alcohol use, profanity, and graphic sexual content) Coming-of-age comedy about a couple of ostracized Texas teenage friends, one, just chubby (Ashley Fink), the other, gay (Ash Christian), and dreaming of unleashing his inner diva on Broadway.

Gandhi, My Father (Unrated) Bitter bio-pic chronicles the troubled relationship of India’s spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi (Darshan Jariwala) and his embittered eldest son, Harilal (Akshaye Khanna), who rebelled against his father by becoming an alcoholic and womanizer before converting to Islam. (In Hindi and English with subtitles)

Klimt (Unrated) John Malkovich channels Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) in the titular role of this bio-pic about the iconoclastic Viennese artist and notorious womanizer who fathered 30 children with the models featured in his erotic paintings. With Saffron Burrows, Veronica Ferres and Irina Wanka. (In French, German and English)

Lagerfeld Confidential (Unrated) Uncritical portrait of cultural icon Karl Lagerfeld features commentaries by Nicole Kidman and Princess Caroline of Monaco about the pony-tailed fashion designer.

Meeting Resistance (Unrated) The resistance movement to the American occupation serves as the subject of this documentary shot by a couple of Western photojournalists who spent ten months embedded with Iraqi insurgency in Baghdad. (In Arabic and English with subtitles)

Moondance Alexander (G) Wholesome family drama about a teen horse whisperer (Kay Panabaker) who takes an interest in turning a pony which escaped from its paddock into a champion jumper. Cast includes Don Johnson, Lori Loughlin and Olympic skater Sasha Cohen.

O Jerusalem (R for graphic battle scenes) Historical epic revisits the creation of Israel in 1948 as seen through the eyes of two friends from New York, one a Jew (J.J. Field), the other, an Arab (Said Taghmaoui) who make their way to the Middle East to contribute to their respective causes. Cast includes Sir Ian Holm, Tom Conti and Tovah Feldshuh.

Trigger Man (Unrated) Harrowing thriller, based on a true tale, about a trio of drinking buddies (Reggie Cunningham, Ray Sullivan and Sean Reid) on a hunting getaway in the woods who have the tables turned on them when they find themselves being stalked by a mysterious sharpshooter.

Weirdsville (R for violence, sexual references and drug use) Horror comedy about a couple of slackers (Scott Speedman and Wes Bentley) who, mistakenly believing a friend (Taryn Manning) has overdosed, end up burying her alive in the basement of a movie theater where a satanic cult performs ritual sacrifices.

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