Thursday, January 5, 2012

Kam's Movie Kapsules for 1-13-12

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening January 13, 2012


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Beauty and the Beast (G) 3-D re-release of Disney’s animated, 1991 adventure about a beautiful young woman (Paige O’Hara) imprisoned in a castle by a hideous monster (Robbie Benson) who turns out to be a prince. Voice cast includes Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach and Jo Anne Worley.

Contraband (R for violence, drug use and pervasive profanity) Mark Wahlberg stars in this remake of Reyjavik-Rotterdam, the 2008 crime caper about a reformed felon who agrees to pull one last heist, a million-dollar job in Panama, to help his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) pay off a debt owed to a ruthless mobster (Giovanni Ribisi). With Kate Beckinsale, J.K. Simmons and Ben Foster.

Don’t Go in the Woods (Unrated) Attrition-rate horror flick about a rock band which retreats with groupies into the forest to write some new songs only to end-up the target of a mallet-wielding maniac. Featuring Bo Boddie, Eric Bogosian, Kate O’Malley and Casey Smith.

The Iron Lady (PG-13 for violent images and brief nudity) Meryl Streep impersonates imperious Margaret Thatcher in this intimate portrait recounting the private life and political career of the former Prime Minister of Great Britain. With Jim Broadbent, Anthony Head and Iain Glen.

Joyful Noise (PG-13 for profanity and a sexual reference) Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton co-star in this musical comedy, set in small-town Georgia, about a widow and single-mom who grudgingly join forces to help their church choir rehearse for a national gospel competition. With Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, Kris Kristofferson and Courtney B. Vance.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Albatross (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama, set on the Isle of Man, about an aspiring writer (Jessica Brown Findlay) who takes a job as a maid at a seaside hotel where she proceeds to have an affair with her boss’ (Julia Ormond) husband (Sebastian Koch) while befriending the couple’s teenage daughter (Felicity Jones). With Peter Vaughan, Angus Barnett and Kenneth Collard.

The Divide (Unrated) Apocalyptic, sci-fi thriller about nine tenants of a NYC high-rise attempt to survive a nuclear attack barricaded in their building’s basement bunker. Ensemble cast includes Rosanna Arquette, Courtney B. Vance and Milo Ventimiglia.

Loosies (PG-13 for violence, profanity and sexuality) Baby daddy dramedy, set in NYC, about a career pickpocket (Peter Facinelli) on the run from the bunko squad who finds himself forced to rethink his line of work after learning that a barfly (Jaimie Alexander) with whom he had a one-night stand is expecting his baby. With Michael Madsen, Joe Pantoliano and William Forsythe.

Man on a Mission (Unrated) Space Camp documentary chronicling computer game inventor Richard Garriott’s fulfilling a lifelong dream by purchasing a $30 million seat aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket launch.

Robinson in Ruins (Unrated) Eco documentary, narrated by Vanessa Redgrave, takes you on a cinematic tour of abandoned castles and factories scattered across Southern England’s landscape in order to illustrate the toll that civilization has taken on the environment.

We Need to Talk about Kevin (R for violence, disturbing behavior, sexuality and profanity) Ezra Miller plays the troubled title character in the screen adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s sobering best seller about a Columbine-style, high school massacre. With Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly and Siobhan Fallon.

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