Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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 September 25, 2009


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Fame (PG for mature themes, teen drinking, sexuality and mild epithets) Remake of the 1980 classic revolving around the aspirations of students at NYC’s School for the Performing Arts as they prepare for professional careers in dance, music and acting. Ensemble cast includes Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Debbie Allen, Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth and Charles S. Dutton.

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality, crude humor and graphic dialogue) Debauchery comedy about a hedonist (Matt Czuchry) who throws a raunchy bachelor party for a pal (Geoff Stults) only to have the groom-to-be land in hot water with his furious fiancée (Keri Lynn Pratt) and to have his own invitation to the wedding revoked. With Traci Lords, Jesse Bradford and Meagen Fay.

Pandorum (R for profanity and graphic horror violence) Sci-fi horror flick about a couple of stranded astronauts (Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster) with amnesia who gradually realize they’re no longer alone on their spaceship and that the survival of mankind is dependent upon them. With Cam Gigandet, Cung Le and Eddie Rouse.

The Pool Boys (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality and drug use) Titillating teensploit about an enterprising Harvard dropout (Matthew Lillard) who enlists the help of his Harvard-bound cousin (Brett Davern), a recent high school valedictorian, to turn an empty L.A. mansion into an upscale house of ill repute. With George Takei, Tom Arnold and Jay Thomas.

Surrogates (PG-13 for profanity, disturbing images, sexuality, drug use and intense violence) Bruce Willis stars in this futuristic, sci-fi crime thriller as an FBI agent forced to investigate the first murder in what was presumed to be a crime-free, utopian society filled with robotic clones. Supporting cast includes Radha Mitchell, Boris Kodjoe, Ving Rhames and James Cromwell.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Blind Date (Unrated) Stanley Tucci directed and co-stars opposite Patricia Clarkson in this remake of the late Dutch director Theo van Gogh’s bittersweet drama about an estranged couple’s attempt to reconcile by going on a series of blind dates as strangers following the death of their daughter.

The Blue Tooth Virgin (R for profanity and brief drug use) Buddy comedy about a magazine editor (Bryce Johnson) whose friendship with an aspiring scriptwriter (Austin Peck) becomes strained after he offers frank feedback about his pal’s latest screenplay. With Karen Black, Amber Benson and Tom Gilroy.

The Boys Are Back (G-13 for mature themes and sexual dialogue) Clive Owen stars in this adaptation of Simon Carr’s moving memoir about a sportswriter who suddenly finds himself overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising two sons (Nicholas McAnulty and George MacKay) alone after his wife (Laura Fraser) succumbs to cancer.

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (Unrated) John Krasinski wrote, directed and co-stars in this relationship drama about a just-dumped doctoral student (Julianne Nicholson) working on her dissertation in anthropology who decides to conduct a series of tete-a-tetes with strangers in order to understand what makes men tick. Cast includes Timothy Hutton, Ben Shenkman, Will Arnett, Will Forte, Frankie Faison and Bobby Cannavale.

Capitalism: A Love Story (Unrated) Iconoclast Michael Moore examines the toll exacted on the American Dream by the country’s unquestioned allegiance to the free market economic system.

Chelsea on the Rocks (R for profanity, sexuality, drug use and brief violence)
Director Abel Ferrara moved into Manhattan’s Chelsea Hotel for six months to shoot this documentary about the historic artists’ residence which over the years has served as a home for everyone from Mark Twain and O. Henry to Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan.

Coco before Chanel (PG-13 for sexuality and smoking) Audrey Tautou handles the title role in this bio-pic about the rise of Coco Chanel from headstrong orphan to the legendary fashion designer. (In French with subtitles)

In Search of Beethoven (Unrated) Encyclopedic bio-pic takes a comprehensive, chronological look at the life of Ludwig van Beethoven via a blend of his music and his letters. With over 60 performances, including appearances by Emanuel Ax, Juliet Stevenson and Lars Vogt.

Irene in Time (PG-13 for Sexuality and mature themes) Dysfunctional family comedy from legendary indie director Henry Jaglom chronicles how the fallout of a troubled father-daughter relationship subsequently influences the marriage of daddy’s little girl (Tanna Frederick). Cast includes Karen Black, Victoria Tennant and Lanre Idewu.

The Providence Effect (PG for mature themes) Inspirational documentary about Providence St. Mel, a K-12 private school, located in an impoverished, high-crime Chicago neighborhood, with a 30-year record of sending 100% of its graduates to college.

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