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 2, 2009

 

                           

BIG BUDGET FILMS

 

The Invention of Lying (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Romantic comedy set in a mythical world where everyone is truthful and gullible except for the one person (Ricky Gervais) who has learned how to lie his way to fame and fortune while manipulating his way into the heart of the woman of his dreams (Jennifer Garner). With Tina Fey, Jeffrey Tambor, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe and Louis C.K.  

 

More Than a Game (PG for mild epithets and smoking) Overcoming-the-odds documentary recounting the hoop exploits and tight-knit friendship of LeBron James and the four pals he played on the same basketball team with from junior high through high school graduation. 

 

A Serious Man (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and brief violence) Semi-autobiographical comedy set in Minnesota in 1967, written and directed by the Coen Brothers, about a college professor (Michael Stuhlbarg) whose life falls apart when he is left by his wife (Sari Lennick) for one of his colleagues (Fred Melamed).  

 

Toy Story I & II 3D (G) The much-beloved, animated children’s classics return to theaters in 3-D format. With voicework by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzenberger and “Mr Warmth” Don Rickles. 

 

Whip It (PG-13 for sexuality, crude humor, profanity and drug use) Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut and also appears in this adaptation of Shauna Cross’ best seller about a reluctant beauty pageant contestant (Ellen Page) who rebels against her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) by joining a rough-and-tumble roller derby team. Cast includes Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon, Eve, Daniel Stern, Juliette Lewis and Har Mar Superstar.

 

Zombieland (R for profanity and gory violence) Horror comedy about a hardy band of survivors (Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone) who seek sanctuary in an amusement park after America is overrun by man-eating zombies. Supporting cast includes Billy Murray, Amber Heard and Derek Graf.

 

 

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

 

Afterschool (Unrated) Youtube generation drama about an internet-addicted, prep school student (Ezra Miller) who dispassionately videotapes the deaths of a couple of classmates instead of trying to save them after an accidental drug overdose. With Rosemarie DeWitt, Emory Cohen and Addison Timlin.

 

As Seen through These Eyes (Unrated) Holocaust documentary, narrated by Maya Angelou, examines works of art created by Holocaust survivors imprisoned at Auschwitz, including the personal portraitist of Nazi madman Josef Mengele.

 

A Beautiful Life (Unrated) Screen adaptation of the stage play “Jersey City,” a romance drama about a runaway teen Angela Sarafyan) who falls in love with an illegal immigrant (Jesse Garcia) sharing shelter at an L.A. strip club. With Ling Bai, Dana Delany and Debi Mazar. 

 

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 ages has served as a home for everyone from Mark Twain and O. Henry to Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan.   

 

The Horse Boy (Unrated) Road documentary chronicling a Texas couple’s travels by horseback with their two year-old son across Outer Mongolia in a desperate search for a spiritual shaman who could cure the child’s autism miraculously.

 

Intimate Enemies (Unrated) Algerian war saga, set in 1959, focusing on the strained relationship of a battle-hardened sergeant (Albert Dupontel) and an officer (Benoit Magimel) new to the front who is reluctant to participate in any barbaric atrocities or crimes against humanity. (In French, Arabic and Kabyle with subtitles)’

 

St. Trinian’s (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, mature themes, and drug and alcohol use) Sixth installment in the British comedy series set at the famed school for troubled girls finds the mischievous heroines hatching a plan to steal a priceless painting in order to save their financially-troubled alma mater from bankruptcy. With Talulah Riley, Rupert Everett, Gemma Arterton and Juno Temple.