Kam's movie Kapsules for 7-27-12

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening July 27, 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Step Up Revolution (PG-13 for profanity and sensuality) 4^th installment in the hip-hop, street dance series, set in Miami, revolves around the classically-trained daughter (Kathryn McCormick) of a wealthy businessman (Peter Gallagher) who falls in love with a flash mob choreographer (Ryan Guzman) trying to save his ‘hood from a developer’s wrecking ball. With Adam Sevani, Stephen Boss and Chadd Smith.

The Watch (R for violence, graphic sexuality and pervasive profanity) Sci-fi comedy about members of a neighborhood crime watch (Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade) who get more than they bargained for when they find themselves having to defend the planet from an alien invasion. With Rosemarie DeWitt, Will Forte and R. Lee Ermey.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (R for profanity) Bamboo Curtain biopic about Beijing contemporary artist/political activist Ai Weiwei, a controversial democracy and human rights advocate who has been censored for publicly criticizing the Chinese government. Includes appearances by Danging Chen, Ying Gao and Changwei Gu. (In English and Mandarin with subtitles)

Big Boys Gone Bananas (Unrated) Free speech documentary about the legal battle mounted by the Dole Corporation to prevent a pair of filmmakers from airing an expose’ they made about the company’s poisoning of Nicaraguan farm workers. With Alex Rivera, Alfonso Allende, Arvid Jurjaks and Bernt Hermele. (In English and Swedish with subtitles)

Falling Overnight (Unrated) Bittersweet love story about a 22 year-old cancer patient (Parker Croft) who shares a one-night stand with a pretty photographer (Emilia Zoryan) the day before he’s scheduled for brain surgery. Cast includes Jake Olson, Elizabeth Levin and Bubba Ganter.

Killer Joe (NC-17 for nudity, brutality, graphic sexuality and disturbing violence) Oscar-winner William Friedkin (for The French Connection) directs this screen adaptation of Tracy Letts’ play of the same name about a cash-strapped gambler (Emile Hirsch) indebted to the mob who hires a cop (Matthew McConaughey) to murder his mother for her life insurance. With Gina Gershon, Juno Temple and Thomas Haden Church.

Klown (R for profanity, drug use, frontal nudity and graphic sexuality) Unlikely buddy comedy about a daddy-to-be (Frank Hvam) who takes his pregnant fiancee’s (Mia Lyhne) 12 year-old nephew (Marcuz Jess Petersen) on a wild canoe trip to prove himself ready for fatherhood. Featuring Casper Christensen, Mads Lisby and Tina Bilsbo. (In Danish with subtitles) 

The Lion of Judah (PG for mature themes) Faith-based animated adventure about the attempt of a brave lamb (Georgina Cordova) along with his stable mates to avoid the sacrificial altar at Easter time. Voice cast includes Michael Madsen (Virginia’s brother), Scott Eastwood (Clint’s son), Omar Benson Miller and the late Ernest Borgnine.

Planet of Snail (Unrated) Endearing documentary chronicling the day-to-day struggle to survive of deaf and blind Young-Chan and his wife, Soon-ho, who suffers from a debilitating spinal disease. (In Korean with subtitles)

Rites of Spring (Unrated) Payback horror flick about a gang of kidnappers whose plan to kidnap the daughter of a wealthy businessman goes horribly wrong when they have the tables turned on them by a relentless killing machine. Principal cast includes AJ Bowen, Anessa Ramsey, Marco St. John and Hannah Bryan.

Ruby Sparks (R for profanity, sexual references and drug use) Mind-over-matter romantic comedy about a lonely novelist with writer’s block (Paul Dano) who magically materializes the perfect mate for himself by willing one of his character (Zoe Kazan) to life. With Antonio Banderas, Annette Bening, Elliott Gould and Steve Coogan. (In English and French with subtitles)

Sacrifice (Unrated) Screen adaptation of the play “The Orphan of Zhao,” a historical drama, set in ancient China, about the sole survivor (Zhao Wenhau) of a massacre who is raised like a son by an embittered doctor (Ge You) and trained to avenge the murder of their entire clan. With Xueqi Wang, Bingbing Fan and Xiaoming Huang. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

Searching for Sugar Man (Unrated) Flash in the pan documentary about a couple of diehard fans from South Africa who embark on a search for the whereabouts of Sixto Rodriquez, a one-hit wonder from Detroit remembered for the 1967 single, “I’ll Slip Away.”