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 June 13, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Happening (R for violent and disturbing images) M. Night Shyamalan directs this sci-fi thriller about a teacher (Mark Wahlberg) who escapes to the Pennsylvania countryside with his estranged wife (Zooey Deschanel) in an effort to avoid the airborne toxin which has been causing people in cities to commit suicide. With John Leguizamo, Ashlyn Sanchez and Spencer Breslin.

The Incredible Hulk (PG-13 for action violence, frightening sci-fi images, and brief suggestive content) Edward Norton replaces Eric Bana as the Marvel Comics superhero in a screen adaptation which totally overhaul’s the cast from Ang Lee’s 2003 production while also ignoring the original’s plot. Here, the Hulk seeks a cure for the condition which causes him to morph into a giant green monster when stressed. New ensemble includes Liv Tyler, William Hurt, Tim Roth, Robert Downey, Jr. and Tim Blake Nelson, with cameos by the character’s creator Stan Lee and TV originator Lou Ferrigno.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Beauty in Trouble (Unrated) Romance drama, set in Prague, revolving around a housewife (Anna Geislerová) struggling to provide for two kids who is tempted to leave her jailbird husband (Roman Luknár) for the financial security offered by the rich, elderly sugar daddy (Josef Abrhám) whose car he stole. (In Czech with subtitles)

Chris & Don (Unrated) Gay-themed bio-pic chronicles the 30-year, love relationship of American portrait artist Don Bachardy and late British writer Christopher Isherwood (Cabaret), lifemates who met on Valentine’s Day in 1953 when the former was only 18 while the latter was already 49.

Encounters at the End of the World (Unrated) Visually-captivating nature documentary directed by environmentalist Werner Herzog (Rescue Dawn), shot during summertime, explores the underwater and surface landscapes of Antarctica around Ross Island, home to a base of the National Science Foundation where over a thousand hardy researchers are stationed.

Kicking It (Unrated) Colin Farrell narrates this soccer documentary profiling 7 players participating in the 2006 Homeless World Cup, staged in South Africa, where 48 national teams comprised of 500 desperate hobos with nothing left to lose gathered for a change of scenery while representing their respective countries in the quest for the championship.

Love Comes Lately (Unrated) Romance drama based on a trio of short stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer, revolving around the sexploits of a retired writer (Otto Tausig) with a jealous girlfriend (Rhea Perlman) and a vivid imagination. The virile octogenarian envisions himself wooing a next-door neighbor (Tovah Feldshuh), a former student (Barbara Hershey), a widow (Caroline Aaron) and a Latino cleaning lady (Elizabeth Pena).

My Winnipeg (Unrated) Guy Maddin wrote and directed this surreal, semi-autobiographical docudrama about himself (Darcy Fehr) whle simultaneously serving up a cinematic postcard of his Canadian hometown.

Red Roses and Petrol (R for profanity and sexual references) Dysfunctional family drama, adapted from the Joseph O’Connor stage play of the same name, examines the machinations inside an Irish clan gathering in Dublin for the funeral of its beloved patriarch (Malcolm MacDowell).