Thursday, May 26, 2011

Kam's Kapsules: For movies opening June 3, 2011

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening June 3, 2011


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Beginners (R for profanity and sexuality) Out-of-the-closet drama about a terminally-ill, 75 year-old widower (Christopher Plummer) who finally summons up the courage to inform his son (Ewan McGregor) about his gay lover (Goran Visnjic). With Melanie Laurent, Lou Taylor Pucci and Mary Page Keller. (In English and French with subtitles)

X-Men: First Class (PG-13 for violence, sexuality and brief profanity) Prequel to the popular Marvel Comics franchise, set in the early Sixties before mutants Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) became archenemies and adopted their respective alter egos, Professor X and Magneto. Cast includes Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, January Jones, Oliver Platt, Zoe Karvitz and Hugh Jackman.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Beautiful Boy (R for profanity and sexuality) Dysfunctional family drama about a couple (Michael Sheen and Maria Bello) contemplating divorce whose marriage becomes further strained by the media circus which envelops them after their only son (Kyle Gallner), a college freshman, embarks on a killing spree on campus before committing suicide. With Meat Loaf, Moon Bloodgood and Deidrie Henry.

Bride Flight (R for sexuality and graphic nudity) Romance drama chronicling the diverging fates of three Dutch refugees: a fashion designer (Anna Drijver), a farm girl (Karina Smulders) and a barren spinster (Elise Schaap), all of whom emigrate from Holland to New Zealand after World War II to enter arranged marriages. (In Dutch and English with subtitles)

Empire of Silver (Unrated) Fact-based flashback flick, set in China at the dawn of the 20th Century, revolving around the disinterested heir (Aaron Kwok) to a banking fortune who only reluctantly follows in the footsteps of his domineering father (Tielin Zhang). Support cast includes Jennifer Tilly, Lei Hao and Jonathan Kos-Read. (In Mandarin and English with subtitles)

Film Socialisme (Unrated) Jean-Luc Godard directed this cinematic symphony in three movements painting a surreal portrait of life from a variety of equally-enigmatic, points-of-view. (In French with subtitles)

The Last Mountain (PG for mature themes and brief profanity) Eco-documentary recounting the protracted effort of a tiny, tight-knit community to preserve the last Appalachian Mountain in Pennsylvania still standing untouched after decades of strip mining by the coal industry.

Love, Wedding, Marriage (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality) Dermot Mulroney directs this romantic comedy about a newlywed shrink (Mandy Moore) forced to reassess her beliefs about relationships after learning about her parents’ (James Brolin and Jane Seymour) impending divorce. With Kellan Lutz, Michael Weston and Richard Reid.

Mr. Nice (Unrated) Crime saga revisiting the rise and fall of drug smuggler Howard Marks (Rhys Ifans), based on the Welsh outlaw’s tell-all autobiography. Cast includes Crispin Glover, Chloe Sevigny and David Thewlis. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

Rejoice & Shout (PG for some smoking and mature themes) Sanctified documentary celebrating the 200-year history of Gospel music features appearances by Smokey Robinson, Mavis Staples and Andrae Crouch.

Some Days Are Better than Others (Unrated) Character-driven drama about the human condition exploring such themes as fulfillment, connection, abandonment and abundance. Ensemble cast includes James Mercer, Carrie Brownstein, David Wodehouse and Renee Roman Nose.

Submarine (Unrated) Coming-of-age comedy about a frustrated 15 year-old (Craig Roberts) with only two things on his mind: losing his virginity before his next birthday and, discouraging his mother (Sally Hawkins) from cheating on his father (Noah Taylor) with a new age guru (Paddy Considine). Supporting cast includes Gemma Chan, Yasmin Paige and Ben Stiller.

Turkey Bowl (Unrated) Gridiron comedy focusing on a bunch of college buddies’ annual reunion to play a game of touch football. Starring Morgan Beck, Adam Benic, Kerry Bishe’, Troy Buchanan, Zeke Hawkins and Zoe Perry.

!Women Art Revolution (Unrated) Female empowerment documentary highlighting the groundbreaking achievements of those women who have transformed the art world since the Sixties. Featuring Miranda July, Yoko Ono, Barbara Kruger, Cindy Sherman, Judy Chicago and The Guerilla Girls.

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