Kam's Movie Kapsules for 11-16-12

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:     
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         
by Kam Williams
For movies opening November 16, 2012


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Anna Karenina (R for sexuality and violence) Keira Knightley plays the title character in this adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic tragedy, set in 19^th Century Russia, revolving around a married aristocrat who embarks on a scandalous affair with a wealthy count (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). With Jude Law, Emily Watson and Olivia Williams.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part II (PG-13 for sensuality, violence partial nudity and disturbing images) Vampire, fantasy franchise finale finds happily-married Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) locked in a fight to the death with a supernatural menace (Maggie Grace) threatening the life of their young daughter (Mackenzie Foy). Ensemble cast includes Taylor Lautner, Kellan Lutz and Nikki Reed.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

16 Acres (Unrated) Ground Zero documentary recounting the decade-long debate over how to rebuild the World Trade Center in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack. With appearances by NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Governor George Pataki, architect Daniel Liebeskind and real estate magnate Larry Silverstein.  

Buffalo Girls (Unrated) Child abuse documentary taking an intimate peek into the boxing careers of 8 year-old Stam Sor Con Lek and Pet Chor Chanachai, female prizefighters who support their families while pursuing Thailand’s Flyweight title. (In Thai with subtitles)

Citadel (Unrated) Primal horror flick about an agoraphobic father (Aneurin Barnard) who enlists the assistance of a vigilante priest (James Cosmo) to rescue his baby daughter from the clutches of the same hooded gang that had murdered his wife (Amy Shiels). With Jake Wilson and Wunmi Mosaku.

Funeral Kings (R for profanity, sexual references, drug and alcohol use, and smoking) Coming-of-age dramedy about a couple of Catholic altar boys (Dylan Hartigan and Alex Maizus) who get more than they bargained for when they decide to play hooky from school after serving at a funeral mass. With Jordan Puzzo, Charles Kwame Odei and Kevin Corrigan.

Generation P (Unrated) Mad Men documentary about the rise of advertising in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. (In Russian with subtitles)   

Happy New Year (Unrated) PTSD drama about a self-destructive Iraq War veteran (Michael Cuomo) who finds himself plagued by guilt and desperation upon return to the U.S. after a tour of duty overseas. Cast includes J.D. Williams, Will Rogers and Jose Yenque.

Hitler’s Children (Unrated) “Sins of the Fathers” documentary examining the fate of the offspring of such notorious Nazis as Herman Goring, Heinrich Himmler and Rudolf Hoess. (In German, Hebrew and English with subtitles)

In the Family (Unrated) Equal rights drama, set in Tennessee, about the legal battle mounted by a grieving gay man (Patrick Wang) to retain custody of his adopted, 6 year-old son (Sebastian Barnes) after his life partner (Trevor St. John), the boy’s biological father, perishes in a car accident. With Lisa Altomare, Susan Kellermann and Conan McCarty.

The Law in These Parts (Unrated) Middle East documentary about the system of military justice administered by Israel for the benefit of Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories. (In Hebrew with subtitles)

Mea Maxima Culpa (Unrated) Scathing expose implicating the pope in a cover-up of widespread pedophilia among priests inside the Catholic Church.      

Price Check (Unrated) Sexual harassment dramedy about a supermarket chain executive (Eric Mabius) with money woes whose marriage ends-up in crisis after he sleeps with his seductive new boss (Parker Posey) to secure a promotion. With Annie Parisse, Edward Herrmann and Cheyenne Jackson.

La Rafle (Unrated) Holocaust drama revisiting the real-life events which transpired in Paris on July 16, 1942 when the French police conducted raids resulting in the arrest of 13,000 Jews who were subsequently deported to Auschwitz. Starring Melanie Laurent, Jean Reno and Gad Elmaleh. (In French, German and Yiddish with subtitles)

Who Bombed Judi Bari? (Unrated) Freedom of Information documentary seeking the truth about the FBI frame-up of cancer-stricken Judi Bari, an environmental activist who was arrested on trumped-up charges back in 1990 while trying to save California’s Redwood forests from the lumber industry buzz saw.