Wednesday, March 12, 2008

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 March 21, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Drillbit Taylor (PG-13 for bullying, sexual references, profanity, crude humor and partial nudity) Owen Wilson handles the title role in this revenge comedy as a down on his luck soldier of fortune hired by three freshmen (Troy Gentile, Nate Hartley and David Dorfman) to protect them from the high school bully (Alex Frost) who has been hassling them.

Meet the Browns (PG-13 for profanity, violence, mature themes, sexual references and drug use) Tyler Perry wrote, directed and reprises his cross-dressing role as Madea in this adaptation of his play about a single-mom (Angela Bassett) who moves relocates her family from Chicago to Georgia for the funeral of the father she never met. Cast includes Rick Fox, Frankie Faison, Jenifer Lewis and Tamela and David Mann.

Shutter (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, terror and disturbing images) English language remake of the Thai horror flick of the same name about newlyweds (Joshua Jackson and Rachael Taylor) honeymooning in Tokyo who start discovering disturbing images in the photographs they take after their car hits a girl in a fatal traffic accident on Mt. Fuji.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, violence and pervasive drug and alcohol use, all involving teens) High attrition-rate horror flick about a 16 year-old blossoming beauty (Amber Heard) invited by classmates intent on taking her virginity to a wild weekend party at a remote ranch in Texas where kids start disappearing one-by-one.

Boarding Gate (R for violence, sexuality, profanity and drug use) International action thriller about a femme fatale who is having an affair with her filthy-rich former pimp (Michael Madsen) while also carrying on with the hit man (Carl Ng) out to kill him.

Fade (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama about the tensions visited upon an already strained marriage when a husband (David Connolly) suffering from an incurable case of insomnia loses not only his ability to communicate with his wife (Sara Lassez) but his grip on reality.

The Grand (R for profanity and drug use) Improvisational comedy about an alcoholic (Woody Harrelson) who enters a $10,000,000, winner take all poker tournament to save his grandfather’s hotel-casino from the clutches of a ruthless real estate developer. Cast includes Shannon Elizabeth, Mike Epps, Dennis Farina, Gabe Kaplan, Ray Romano, Hank Azaria and Jason Alexander.

Irina Palm (R for nudity, sexuality and profanity) Intergenerational drama about an aging British widow (Marianne Faithful) who secretly takes a job as a prostitute at a London whorehouse in order to pay for a life-saving operation for her seriously-ill grandson (Corey Burke).

Love Songs (Unrated) Musical romantic romp revolving around a Parisian couple (Louis Garrel and Ludivine Sagnier) who decide to try spice up their sex life by inviting another woman (Clotilde Hesme) to share their bed only to have an unexpected tragedy lead to even more adventurous liaisons. (In French with subtitles)

Nana (Unrated) Musical melodrama about the relationship which develops between two girls (Mika Nakashima and Aoi Miyazaki) with the same name but very different personalities after they meet by chance. (In Japanese with subtitles)

Planet B-Boy (unrated) Breakdancing is the subject of this acrobatic documentary which examines the evolution and enduring international appeal of this urban art form which started on the streets of NYC in the Seventies.

Shelter (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Homo-erotic romance drama about an art school dropout (Trevor Wright) stuck in a dead end job who finds himself falling in love with a cute surfer boy (Brad Rowe) from the other side of the Malibu tracks.

Under the Same Moon (PG-13 for mature themes) Immigration saga about a nine year-old Mexican boy (Adrian Alonso) who, following the death of his grandmother (Angelina Pelaez), crosses the border into the U.S. to search for his mom (Kate del Castillo) in L.A., unaware that she’s already planning to return home to be with him. Supporting cast includes America Ferrara. (In Spanish and English with subtitles)

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