Kam's Movie Kapsules for 2-8-13

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening February 8, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS

   

Identity Thief (R for profanity and sexuality) Crime comedy about an account rep’s (Jason Bateman) attempt to wrest control of his name back from the con artist (Melissa McCarthy) 2,000 miles away who stole his identity and went on a spending spree. Ensemble cast includes Amanda Peet, T.I., Jon Favreau, Morris Chestnut, John Cho and Robert Patrick. 

Side Effects (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and violence) Psychological thriller about an anxious young woman (Rooney Mara) whose life starts to unravel soon after she starts taking mood altering medication to deal with the return home of her recently-paroled husband (Channing Tatum) With Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Vinessa Shaw. 

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Caesar Must Die (Unrated) Rehabilitation drama, set in Rome, revolving around maximum-security prison inmates’ preparation for a public performance of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Starring Salvatore Striano, Cosimo Rega and Giovanni Arcuri. (In Italian with subtitles)

Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder (Unrated) Reverential retrospective about painter, beat poet and liberal activist Lawrence Ferlinghetti featuring archival footage of family, friends and colleagues like Allen Ginsburg, Amiri Baraka and Dennis Hopper.

A Glimpse inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (R for nudity and profanity) Charlie Sheen stars in the title role of this romantic comedy about a heartbroken graphic designer who comes to grips about being dumped by his beautiful girlfriend (Katheryn Winnick) by crying on the shoulder of his sister (Patricia Arquette) and a couple of pals (Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman). With Dermot Mulroney, Aubrey Plaza and Marc Coppola.

Lore (Unrated) World War II saga, set in 1945, about a 14 year-old girl (Saskia Rosendahl) who leads her younger siblings (Nele Trebs, Mika Seidel, Andre Frid and Nick Holaschke) on a perilous, 500 mile trek to grandma’s house in Hamburg after their Nazi parents (Hans-Jochen Wagner and Ursina Lardi) are arrested by Allied soldiers. With Sven Pippig, Philip Wiegratz and Kai Malina.

The Playroom (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama, set in the Seventies, revolving around four troubled siblings (Olivia Harris, Ian Veteto, Jonathon McClendon and Alexandra Doke) who escape to their attic while their alcoholic parents (John Hawkes and Molly Parker) are entertaining guests downstairs. Cast includes Jonathan Brooks, Cody Linley and Lydia Mackay. 

A Rubberband Is an Unlikely Instrument (Unrated) Down-and-out documentary about a Brooklyn family’s attempt to keep their head above water while dealing with gentrification and financial woes during the waning days of the G.W. Bush administration.

The Sorcerer and the White Snake (PG-13 for sensuality, violence, action sequences and frightening images) Martial arts fantasy based on an ancient Chinese legend about a sorcerer’s (Jet Li) fight for the soul of a physician (Raymond Lam) who has fallen in love with a 1000 year-old snake disguised as an attractive young  woman (Eva Huang). With Vivian Hsu, Zhang Wen and Charlene Choi. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

Top Gun (PG for action sequences, sexuality and profanity) 3D rerelease of the 1986 Tom Cruise classic chronicling the competition among some daredevil Navy pilots to graduate at the top of their class. With Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis and Meg Ryan.