Thursday, October 2, 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 October 10, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Body of Lies (R for pervasive profanity and graphic violence, including torture) Ridley Scott directs this international thriller about a CIA operative (Leonardo DiCaprio) who attempts to infiltrate a Middle East terrorist network with the help of an veteran agent (Russell Crowe) and Jordan’s chief of intelligence (Mark Strong). (In English and Arabic with subtitles)

City of Ember (PG for mild peril and mature themes) Futuristic sci-fi fantasy about a couple of enterprising teenagers (Harry Treadaway and Saoirse Ronan) who try to save the day when their underground metropolis is suddenly plagued by blackouts. Cast includes Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Martin Landau and Mary Kay Place.

The Express (PG for violence, mature themes, ethnic slurs and brief sensuality) Rob Brown handles the title role in this bittersweet bio-pic about college football great and first African-American Heisman trophy-winner Ernie Davis who succumbed to leukemia before having a chance to play in the NFL. Cast includes Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton and Omar Benson Miller.

RocknRolla (R for violence, drug use, brief sexuality and pervasive profanity) Campy crime caper, directed by Guy Ritchie, about a shady Russian billionaire (Tom Wilkinson) whose attempt to corner the London real estate market leads to lots of other mobsters muscling-in on the get rich quick scam. Ensemble cast includes Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven, Ludacris, Idris Elba and Gerard Butler.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Ashes of Time Redux (R for violence) Remake of 1994 samurai saga, set in ancient China, about a broken-hearted hit man (Jacky Cheung) who moves to the desert where he sets up shop as a middleman arranging contract killings by skilled swordsmen. Cast includes Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung and Brigitte Lin. (In Mandarin and Cantonese with subtitles)

Breakfast with Scot (PG-13 for profanity, drug use and mature themes) Three’s a crowd romance drama about a gay lawyer (Ben Shenkman) and his sportscaster (Thomas Cavanagh) life mate whose utopian bliss is ruined when they are awarded custody of the effeminate, 11 year-old son (Noah Bennett) of a recently-deceased friend. With Graham Greene, Megan Follows and Billy Parrott.

Choose Connor (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama about an idealistic 15 year-old’s (Alex D. Linz) loss of innocence after taking a summer job as the youth coordinator for a Congressman’s (Steven Weber) cutthroat, political campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Delwende (Unrated) Female empowerment saga, set in the African nation of Burkina Faso, revolving around the misfortunes of a traumatized, 16 year-old rape victim (Claire Ilboudo) and her mother (Blandine Yameogo) who is run out of town for being the witch behind a rash of mysterious deaths among local children. (In More and French with subtitles)

Good Dick (R for sexuality and profanity) Romance drama about a sexually-traumatized young woman (Marianna Palka) who finds herself being stalked by a geeky, creepy clerk (Jason Ritter) after renting some porno films at the video store where he works. With Tom Arnold, Charles Durning and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Happy-Go-Lucky (R for profanity) Slice-of-life romance drama about a Pollyanna-ish school teacher (Sally Hawkins) who finds her cheery optimism tested when she starts taking driving lessons from a cynical instructor (Eddie Marsan) with anger management issues.

Nights and Weekends (Unrated) Frequent-flyer romance drama exploring the emotional challenges faced by a couple (Greta Gerwig and Joe Swanberg) trying to maintain a long-distance relationship between New York and Chicago.

Quarantine (R for profanity, terror, gory violence and disturbing images) High-attrition horror flick about an L.A. apartment building sealed shut by the Center for Disease Control after blood-curdling start to emanate from inside. When the quarantine is lifted, the only evidence of what transpired is contained on a videotape shot by a TV reporter (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris).

Talento de Barrio (R for violence, pervasive profanity, drug use and brief sexuality) Puerto Rico’s barrios provides the setting for this gritty crime saga about a drug dealer (Daddy Yankee) who finds himself torn between loyalty to his gang and his dream of finding fame as a Reggaeton singer. (In Spanish and English with subtitles)

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