Thursday, November 26, 2009

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams
For movies opening December 4, 2009

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Armored (PG-13 for intense violence, disturbing images and brief profanity) Action thriller about employees for an armored car company whose foolproof plan to steal $42 million from one of their own trucks goes horribly wrong when one of the conspirators (Columbus Short) has misgivings after a cop (Milo Ventimiglia) is shot during the heist. With Laurence Fishburne, Matt Dillon, Skeet Ulrich, Jean Reno, Fred Ward and John Cena.

Brothers (R for profanity and disturbing violence) Jim Sheridan directs this dysfunctional family drama about an ex-con (Jake Gyllenhaal) who gets involved with his big brother’s (Tobey Maguire) wife (Natalie Portman) after his sibling goes missing in Afghanistan, only to have a lot of explaining to do upon the decorated veteran’s rescue and return to the States. Cast includes Sam Shepard and Mare Winningham.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Before Tomorrow (Unrated) Final chapter in The Fast Runner trilogy
based on Inuit oral history, with this installment opening in 1840 and chronicling the devastating impact of the arrival of the white man as witnessed by a young boy (Paul-Dylan Ivalu) living with his beloved grandmother (Madeline Piujug Ivalu) in the harsh Arctic wilderness. (In Inuktitut with subtitles)

Big River Man (Unrated) Endurance documentary highlights the exploits of Slovenian swimmer Martin Strel as he attempts to get into the Guinness Book of World Records by swimming the entire 3,375-mile length of the Amazon River.

Breaking Point (R for profanity, drug use, graphic violence and brief nudity) Tom Berenger stars in this crime saga about a defense attorney whose attempt to make a comeback after a struggle with drug addiction is complicated when he takes a murder case which has him wresting with his old demons. Cast includes Busta Rhymes, Sticky Fingaz Frankie Faison and Armand Assante.

Everybody’s Fine (PG-13 for mature themes and brief profanity) Robert De Niro stars in this remake of Stanno Tutti Bene (1990) the Italian drama about a still-grieving widower who embarks on an impromptu road trip against doctors orders in order to reconnect with his grown children (Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell) after they decline his offer to host a family reunion.

Film ist a Movie and a Gun (Unrated) Thought-provoking documentary explores a variety of themes such as sexuality and war via snippets of silent films and talkies made between the 1890’s and the 1940’s, now augmented by a soundtrack exploring the philosophies of Plato, Sappho and other classical thinkers.

The Last Station (R for a scene with sexuality and nudity) Literary bio-pic about Leo Tolstoy’s (Christopher Plummer) later years, highlighting the hedonistic Russian author’s ambivalence about having taken vows of poverty and chastity. With Helen Mirren, Paul Giamatti and James McAvoy.

Loot (Unrated) Buried treasure reality flick about a couple of blind, World War II vets who enlist the assistance of a sighted guide to search for the priceless gems and other contraband they hid over 60 years earlier while stationed in Austria and the Philippines. (In English and German with subtitles)

Mystery Team (R for nudity, profanity, drug use and crude sexuality) Raunchy teensploit about a trio of 18 year-old amateur sleuths (Donald Glover, D.C. Pierson and Dominic Dierkes) who attempt to prove that they’re real detectives by solving a double homicide which has rattled their quiet New Hampshire community.

Serious Moonlight (R for profanity and threatening behavior) Battle-of-the-sexes comedy about a high-powered attorney (Meg Ryan) who duct tapes her adulterous husband (Timothy Hutton) to the toilet to prevent him from leaving her for a younger woman (Kristen Bell) only to have further complications ensue when their home is invaded by burglars. With Justin Long and Andy Ostroy.

The Strip (PG-13 for sexual references) Ensemble comedy, set in an electronics store at a strip mall, where the bored employees break up the monotony with a variety of sophomoric antics. Cast includes Dave Foley, Rodney Scott and Jenny Wade.

Until the Light Takes Us (Unrated) Rockumentary investigating the proponents of Norwegian black metal, an occult subculture associated not only with a bizarre brand of music but with murder and arson.

Up in the Air (R for profanity and sexuality) Jason Reitman directs this screen adaptation of Walter Kirn’s best seller about a peripatetic hatchet man (George Clooney) for a downsizing corporation who suddenly finds himself grounded just when he’s on the brink of accumulating ten million frequent flyer miles and right after he’s also fallen for a like-minded traveler (Vera Farmiga).

1 comment:

Eric Davidson said...

i thought 'Brothers' hit home, both by way of movie quality and the message it was trying to send