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 July 11, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (PG-13 for profanity, violence and sci-fi action) Ron Perlman reprises the title role in this horror sequel about a red-horned hellspawn who returns to Earth to save the day when the truce between humanity and the invisible realm is broken by a diabolical demon with an army of marauding creatures.

Meet Dave (PG for action, suggestive humor and mild epithets) Sci-fi comedy starring Eddie Murphy as a human-looking spaceship from outer space which lands in Manhattan where it falls in love with a widowed single-mom (Elizabeth Banks). Cast includes Gabrielle Union, Judah Friedlander, Scott Caan, Kevin Hart and Adam Tomei (Marisa’s brother).

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

August (R for profanity and sexuality) Dot.com bubble drama about a couple of brothers (Josh Hartnett and Adam Scott) struggling to keep their failing financial startup afloat on Wall Street during the month leading up to the 9/11 tragedy. With Rip Torn, David Bowie, Naomie Harris and Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Days and Clouds (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama about a middle-aged housewife (Margherita Buy) living in the lap of luxury in Genoa who finds a job and romance after being belatedly informed by her husband (Antonio Albanese) that they’re in debt because he’s been laid-off for months. (In Italian with subtitles)

Death Defying Acts (Unrated) Fictional romance thriller, set in 1926, revolving around an ill-fated affair between Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) and a Scottish psychic (Catherine Zeta-Jones) intent on fleecing the famed escape artist with the help of her daughter (Saoirse Ronan) during a fake séance.

Eight Miles High (Unrated) Bio-pic about the life of Bavarian Sixties icon Uschi Obermaier (Natalia Avelon), a free-spirited club kid-turned-fashion model-turned drug-addicted groupie who slept with Hendrix and the Stones. (In German, English and Italian with subtitles)

The Exiles (Unrated) Better late than never documentary, shot in the Fifties on a shoestring budget, just being released in theaters for the first time, about a group of young Native Americans just off the reservation adjusting to life in L.A..

Full Battle Rattle (Unrated) Surreal, simulated war games documentary follows an Army battalion training for a tour of duty overseas in a fake Iraqi village located in the middle of the Mojave Desert outfitted with IEDs and actors playing insurgents and innocent civilians.

Garden Party (Unrated) A day in the life ensemble drama about a 15 year-old (Willa Holland) who runs away from home to escape a pervy stepfather only to fall in with a fast crowd of kids under the spell of a sensual, pot-dealing realtor (Vinessa Shaw) with a kinky agenda.

Harold (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, crude humor and underage alcohol use) Spencer Breslin handles the title role in this chrome dome comedy about a teenager afflicted with male-pattern baldness who is helped to deal with being teased by bullies by the janitor (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) at his new high school.

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (PG for intense action and scary scenes) Brendan Fraser stars in this adaptation of the Jules Verne classic about a science professor who discovers a portal to the bowels of the planet while searching a cave for his missing brother.

La France (Unrated) WWI musical drama about a woman (Sylvie Testud) who disguises herself as a man in order to search for her husband (Guillaume Depardieu) on the Western Front after receiving a letter from him ending their relationship. (In French with subtitles)

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (Unrated) Documentary revisits the question of consent surrounding the case of fugitive director Roman Polanski who eluded justice by fleeing America for good following his conviction for drugging and raping a 13 year-old girl. (In English, French and German with subtitles)

The Stone Angel (R for sexuality and profanity) Road saga starring Ellen Burstyn as a fiercely-independent senior citizen who runs away when her son (Dylan Baker) and daughter-in-law (Sheila McCarthy) try to force her to move into a nursing home.