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 24, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Changeling (R for profanity, violence and disturbing content) Clint Eastwood directs this psychological thriller, set in L.A., inspired by events arising in 1928 during a real life case involving a single-mom (Angelina Jolie) whose hopes for the safe return of her kidnapped nine year-old (Gattlin Griffith) were seemingly answered but then dashed when she realized that the boy brought to her was not her son. Cast includes John Malkovich, Amy Ryan and Morgan Eastwood (Clint’s daughter).

High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G) Disney, kiddie-oriented song and dance extravaganza revolves around a couple of high school sweethearts (Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens) and their friends as they face the prospect of graduating and going their separate ways. With Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman.

Passengers (PG-13 for mature themes, sensuality and scary images) Horror flick starring Anne Hathaway as a grief counselor to survivors of a plane crash who falls in love with one (Patrick Wilson) of her patients just before the others start disappearing mysteriously, one by one. Ensemble cast includes Andre Braugher, David Morse, Clea DuVall and Dianne Wiest.

Pride and Glory (R for pervasive profanity, graphic violence and brief drug use) New York City crime saga about a detective (Edward Norton) investigating the murders of four police officers in a routine drug bust gone bad who opens a Pandora’s Box when the trail leads to a couple of cops close to him: his brother (Noah Emmerich) and brother-in-law (Colin Farrell). With Jon Voight, Rick Gonzalez and Wayne Duvall (Robert’s cousin).

Saw V (R for nudity, profanity, torture, and graphic violence) Latest installment of the high attrition-rate, slasher franchise finds a forensics expert (Costas Mandylor) hunting for humans during a deadly rampage aimed at protecting the secret that he has been tapped to carry on the grisly legacy of the infamous Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). With Meagan Good, Julie Benz and Betsey Russell.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Ben X (Unrated) Revenge drama about an autistic teenager (Ben Timmermans) being mercilessly bullied at school who hatches a plan to get even with the help of a girl (Laura Verlinden) he meets online while playing his favorite computer game. (In Dutch with subtitles)

God and Gays: Bridging the Gap (Unrated) Faith-based documentary chronicles the challenges faced by Born Again homosexuals trying to find acceptance as Christians in spite of their religion’s general condemnation of their sexual preference as sinful.

I’ve Loved You So Long (PG-13 for smoking and mature themes) “Debt to society” drama about the readjustment to real life of a recently-paroled ex-con (Krisitin Scott Thomas) with the help of her younger sister (Elsa Zylberstein) after spending 15 years in prison for the murder of her 6 year-old son. (In French and English with subtitles)

Let the Right One in (R for profanity, nudity, disturbing images and graphic violence) Horror flick about 12 year-old boy (Kare Hedebrant) who exacts revenge on his bullies with the help of his beautiful next-door neighbor (Lina Leandersson), a girl his age who just happens to be a bloodthirsty vampire. (In Swedish with subtitles)

Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom (R for sexuality and profanity) Screen adaptation of the gay-themed TV series revolving around the sexploits of four African-American men (Darryl Stephens, Christian Vincent, Douglas Spearman and Rodney Chester) shifts its setting from L.A. to Martha’s Vineyard for a weekend-long celebration during which plenty of kinky hijinks and relationship drama unfold. Cast includes Phoebe Snow, Gary Gray and Gregory Kieth.

Roadside Romeo (Unrated) Disney collaborates with Bollywood to produce this animated adventure about the plight of a pampered family pet dog (Saif Ali Khan) abandoned on the mean streets of Mumbai where he is forced to defend himself from four goons until he falls in love at first sight with the hound (Kareena Kapoor) of his dreams. (In Hindi with subtitles)

Saving Marriage (PG-13 for brief profanity) Same-sex relationships are the subject of this civil rights documentary about the landmark legal decision making gay marriage legal in Massachusetts.

Stranded (Unrated) “Tastes like chicken” documentary recounts the harrowing ordeal of the 16 survivors of a 1972 plane crash who were forced to resort to cannibalism for sustenance until their wish to be home for Christmas came true when they were rescued on December 23rd after being stuck high in the Andes Mountains for 72 days.

Synecdoche, New York (R for profanity, sexuality and nudity) Philip Seymour Hoffman stars in this dramedy about an unhappily-married theater director’s struggle to balance women and work while recreating a replica of New York City in a warehouse as a set for his latest play. Ensemble includes Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Hope Davis, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams (former fiancée of the late Heath Ledger).

The Universe of Keith Haring (Unrated) “Notice me!” documentary revisits the life and times of the attention-grabbing, gay graffiti artist who died of AIDS in 1990 at the tender age of 31.