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 April 18, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

88 Minutes (R for profanity, disturbing violence and brief nudity) Al Pacino stars in this revenge thriller, set in Seattle, as a forensic psychiatrist with only 88 minutes to find out who’s behind the death threat leveled at him on the eve of the execution of a serial killer (Neal McDonough) he helped convict. Cast includes Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman and Alicia Witt.

The Forbidden Kingdom (PG-13 for martial arts action) Jet Li and Jackie Chan co-star in this time-travel fantasy about an American teenager (Michael Angarano) who finds an Oriental artifact which teleports him back to ancient China where he embarks on an adventure with a kung fu master (Chan) to free a fabled king (Li) unfairly imprisoned by an evil warlord (Collin Chou).

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (R for profanity, sexuality and graphic nudity) Romantic comedy about a depressed slacker (Jason Segel) who goes to Hawaii to get over being dumped by a famous actress (Kristen Bell) only to discover that she’s staying at the same resort with her new, rock star boyfriend (Russell Brand). Supporting cast includes Mila Kunis, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and Steve Landesberg

Pathology (R for violence, nudity, profanity, drug use, gruesome images and graphic sexuality) Grisly horror flick about a med student (Milo Ventimiglia) who joins a conspiracy with classmates competing to execute the perfect crime only to realize that he might be the next victim on the hit list. With Alyssa Milano, Keir O’Donnell and Michael Weston.



INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Anamorph (R for profanity, violence and disturbing grisly images) Psychological thriller about a couple of detectives (Willem Dafoe and Scott Speedman) who think they’re on the trail of a copycat serial killer, until they begin to suspect that it might somehow be the work of the same sicko pronounced dead five years ago. With Clea Duvall, Peter Stormare, Michael Buscemi (Steve’s brother), Tandy Cronyn (daughter of Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn) and ex-pro wrestler Mick “Mankind” Foley.

Constantine’s Sword (Unrated) Former Catholic priest James Carroll traces the link between religion and violence in this provocative documentary examining faith-based fanaticism from the days of the Crusades right up to America’s present involvement in the Middle East.

Expelled (PG for mature themes, disturbing images and brief smoking) Snobby intellectual Ben Stein stars in this pro-Creationism documentary which finds the Nixon speechwriter-turned actor-turned eponymous game show host making the case for teaching Intelligent Design in public schools as a credible alternative to the scientific community’s generally-accepted Theory of Evolution.

Four Minutes (Unrated) Homo-erotic drama about the sexual tension which arises between a spinsterly piano teacher (Monica Bleibtreu) and the promising young inmate (Hannah Herzsprung) she gives classical piano lessons to behind bars. (In German with subtitles)

Glass (Unrated) Retrospective chronicles the musical career of Philip Glass, the prolific modern classical composer, who now in his seventies remains as driven as ever to crank out his experimental operas, symphonies, movie and dance scores and more.

The Life Before Her Eyes (R for violence, profanity, drug use and disturbing content) Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood co-star in this psychological drama about a housewife whose idyllic suburban bliss turns into a neverending nightmare when painful memories surface on the 15th anniversary of the Columbine-style tragedy which took the life of her best friend.

Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? (Unrated) Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) directs this Roger & Me homage in which he perambulates the Middle East, speaking with Muslims around the Arab World, while searching for the harder to find than Waldo religious fanatic who masterminded the 9/11 attack.

Zombie Strippers (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality and graphic violence) Futuristic, horror comedy about a government-created virus which unwittingly turns the women working at an underground gentleman’s club in a conservative Nebraska community into a powerfully-seductive race of super zombie strippers. Cast includes Robert Englund, Jenna Jameson and Roxy Saint.