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 May 21, 2010

 

BIG BUDGET FILMS

 

MacGruber (R for violence, profanity, nudity, crude humor and graphic sexuality) Action comedy starring Will Forte in the title role inspired by the sketch character he originated on Saturday Night Live. Screen adaptation has the hapless soldier of fortune assembling an elite team to track down a madman (Val Kilmer) in possession of a nuclear warhead. With Ryan Phillippe, as well as SNL’s Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph.

 

Shrek Forever After (PG for crude humor, action and brief mild epithets) Fourth and final installment in beloved animated series finds the big green ogre (Mike Myers) separated from fair Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and Far, Far Away Land after being duped into signing a pact with the smooth-talking Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn). Voice cast includes Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Jane Lynch, Meredith Viera, Ryan Seacrest, Larry King, Regis Philbin and Craig Robinson.

 

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

 

After the Cup (Unrated) Overcoming-the-odds soccer documentary recounting the triumph of the multi-ethnic soccer team from an Arab town which won the coveted Israel Cup and the right to represent the country in international competition. (In English, Arabic and Hebrew with subtitles)

 

Holy Rollers (R for brief sexuality, and pervasive profanity and drug content) NYC mobster saga, based on a true story, about a good Jewish boy (Jesse Eisenberg) hailing from a Hasidic community in Brooklyn who was recruited by a neighbor (Justin Bartha) to smuggle Ecstasy into the country for an Israeli drug cartel. With Ari Graynor, Q-Tip and Hallie Kate Eisenberg (Jesse’s sister).

 

John Rabe (Unrated) Historical drama chronicling the real-life exploits of a German businessman (Ulrich Tukur) who saved over 200,000 Chinese lives during the Japanese Rape of Nanking in 1937. Cast includes Steve Buscemi, Fang Yu and Jingchu Zhang. (In Cantonese, German, English, Mandarin, Japanese and Ukrainian with subtitles)

 

Kites (Unrated) Bollywood romantic thriller about a wanted Hindu man (Hrithik Roshan), wounded and left for dead in the scorching Mexican desert, who stays alive by clinging to the hope of a reunion with the love of his life (Barbara Mori) even though they can’t communicate because she only speaks Spanish and is already engaged to somebody else. (In English, Hindi and Spanish with subtitles)

 

Perrier’s Bounty (Unrated) Revenge comedy, set in Dublin, about an Irish mob boss’ (Brendan Gleeson) attempt to avenge the shooting death of one of his enforcers by the girlfriend (Jodie Whittaker) of a guy (Cillian Murphy) who owes him some money. Cast includes Gabriel Byrne, Padraic Delaney and Jim Broadbent.

 

Racing Dreams (Unrated) Coming-of-age documentary traces a trio of tweens, Annabeth Barnes, Joshua Hobson and Brandon Warren, as they struggle with puppy love, dysfunctional family and sponsorship issues when not competing at speeds up to 70 mph to take home the national title at the World Go-Kart Championship.

 

Solitary Man (R for profanity and sexuality) Midlife crisis dramedy about a once- successful Manhattan mogul (Michael Douglas) who lost both his wife (Susan Sarandon) and his car dealership after a series of romantic and business indiscretions. Contrite womanizer has a shot at redemption provided he can control himself when he accompanies his girlfriend’s (Mary-Louise Parker) college-bound daughter (Imgen Poots) on a campus visit to his alma mater.With Danny DeVito, Jesse Eisenberg and Jenna Fischer.

 

Two in the Wave (Unrated) Bifurcated bio-pic examines the turbulent friendship of a couple of legendary French directors from the New Wave Movement, Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut. (In French with subtitles)