Kam's Movie Kapsules for 5-18-12

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening May 18, 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Battleship (PG-13 for profanity and intense violence) Screen adaptation of the Hasbro board game features an international fleet of ships which comes to the defense of the planet in the wake of an invasion by an alien armada. Starring Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker and Rihanna. 

The Dictator (R for profanity, violent images, crude humor, graphic sexuality and brief male nudity) Sacha Baron Cohen plays the title role in this political mockumentary chronicling the reign of a ruthless Middle East tyrant who’ll stop at nothing to prevent democracy from catching hold in his country. With Megan Fox, Ana Faris, John C. Reilly, J.B. Smoove and Sir Ben Kingsley.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting (PG-13 for profanity, mature themes, crude humor and sexuality) Ensemble comedy examining the trials and tribulations of five couples anticipating the imminent arrival of a bouncing bundle of joy. Principal cast includes Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Anna Kendrick, Dennis Quaid and Elizabeth Banks.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

American Animal (Unrated) Dark comedy about a terminally-ill young man (Jimmy D’Elia) who loses his sanity when he learns that his slacker roommate and constant companion (Brenda Fletcher) has just found a job. Support cast includes Mircea Monroe and Angela Sarafyan.

Beyond the Black Rainbow (R for profanity, drug use, disturbing images, sexuality and graphic violence) Futuristic sci-fi fantasy about a heavily-sedated, mute woman’s (Eva Allan) attempt to escape a mind-control compound being run by a deranged doctor (Michael Rogers). With Scott Hylands, Marilyn Norry and Rondel Reynoldson.

The Color Wheel (Unrated) Dysfunctional family comedy about the sibling rivalry which surfaces during a road trip when a just-jilted, young woman (Carlen Altman) enlists the assistance of her obnoxious brother (Alex Ross Perry) to move her belongings after a bad break-up with her college professor boyfriend (Bob Byington). With Kate Lyn Sheil, Anna Bak-Kvapil and Ry Russo-Young.

Elena (Unrated) Revenge drama about a trophy wife (Nadezhda Markina) who resorts to desperate measures to protect her inheritance when she learns that her ailing, Sugar Daddy hubby (Andrey Smirnov) has decided to leave his entire estate to his daughter (Yelena Lyadova) from his first marriage. With Aleksey Rozin. (In Russian with subtitles)

Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story (Unrated) Bittersweet biopic about the brother of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a Lieutenant Colonel who died leading the 1976 raid in Entebbe, Uganda which resulted in the successful rescue of 103 hijacked airplane passengers being held hostage by Palestinian terrorists.

Hysteria (R for sexuality) Romantic comedy, set in Victorian London, recounting the sexploits of Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), the inventor of the vibrator, who landed in a love triangle with a colleague’s (Jonathan Pruce) daughters (Felicity Jones and Maggie Gyllenhaal) after prescribing a regimen of pelvic massages for his stressed out patients. With Rupert Everett, Gemma Jones and Ashley Jensen.

Lovely Molly (R for nudity, graphic sexuality, drug use, profanity, disturbing violence and grisly images) Haunted house horror flick about a newlywed (Gretchen Lodge) who finds herself spooked by ghosts after being left alone by her truck driver husband (Johnny Lewis) in the home she inherited from her late father. Support cast includes Alexandra Holden, Ken Arnold and Dan Franko.

Mansome (Unrated) Testosterone-level documentary, directed by Morgan Spuirlock, taking a penetrating look at what it means to be a man in today’s less macho age marked by manscaping and metrosexuality. With commentary by Judd Apatow, Jason Bateman, Paul Rudd and Zach Galifianakis.

Never Stand Still (Unrated) Happy feet documentary, shot at the annual Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires, interweaving inspired performances with interviews conducted with legendary choreographers like Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor and Judith Jamison.

Polisse (Unrated) Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize-winner, set in Paris, about a high-strung cop (Joey Starr) who embarks on a steamy affair with an attractive photographer (Maiwenn) assigned to cover his Child Protection Unit. With Karin Viard, Marina Fois and Karole Rocher. (In French, Romanian, Italian and Arabic with subtitles)

The Samaritan (Unrated) Samuel L. Jackson stars in this redemption drama about a recently-paroled murderer whose determination to go straight after 25 years behind bars turns out to be harder than expected when he falls for a troubled woman (Ruth Negga) with a hidden agenda. Cast includes Tom Wilkinson, Luke Kirby and Martha Burns.

Virginia (R for profanity and sexuality) Jennifer Connelly stars as the title character in this skeleton-in-the-closet drama about a single-mom secretly embroiled in a 20-year affair with the town’s very-married, Mormon sheriff (Ed Harris). The incestuous plot thickens when their love child (Harrison Gilbertson) unwittingly takes an interest in the lawman’s lascivious daughter (Emma Roberts). With Toby Jones, Carrie Preston and Amy Madigan.