4-26 Kam's Kapsules (FEATURE)

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening April 26, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

The Big Wedding (R for profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Hollywood remake of Mon Frère se Marie, the French farce about a long-divorced couple (Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton) pressured to pretend they’re still happily married at the wedding of their adopted son (Ben Barnes) when his conservative birth mother (Patricia Rae), a devout Catholic from Colombia, unexpectedly decides to attend. Ensemble includes Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace and Katherine Heigl. (In English and Spanish with subtitles) 

Kon-Tiki (PG-13 for violence) Seafaring adventure recreating Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s (Pal Sverre Hagen) 4,000-mile voyage via raft across the Pacific in 1947 proving it was possible that South Americans had migrated to Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. With Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Gustaf Skarsgard and Tobias Santelmann.

Pain & Gain (R for graphic nudity, bloody violence, crude sexuality, drug use and pervasive profanity) Michael Bay directed this action-oriented crime comedy chronicling the real-life exploits of a trio of bodybuilders (Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Mackie) whose scheme to kidnap a wealthy businessman (Tony Shalhoub) for ransom goes horribly wrong. Cast includes Dr. Ken Jeong, Ed Harris, Rebel Wilson and Rob Corddry.  

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Arthur Newman (Unrated) Midlife crisis dramedy about a depressed, recently-divorced man (Colin Firth) who fakes his own death and assumes a new identity  before taking to the road where he becomes beguiled by a kleptomaniac (Emily Blunt) he finds passed out at a seedy motel. Support cast features Anne Heche, Autumn Dial and David Andrews.  

At Any Price (R for profanity and graphic sexuality) Prodigal Son saga about the rebellious offspring (Zac Efron) of a struggling farmer (Dennis Quaid) who’d rather pursue his dream of becoming a race car driver than try to save the family business by following in his father’s footsteps. With Heather Graham, Maika Monroe and Red West.  

Graceland (Unrated) Filipino crime thriller about a corrupt politician’s (Menngie Cobarrubias) chauffeur (Arnold Reyes) forced to take the law into his own hands after ruthless mobsters kidnap his daughter (Ella Guevara) for ransom. With Leon Miguel, Dido De La Paz and Marife Necesito. (In Tagalog with subtitles)

King’s Faith (PG-13 for violence, drug use and mature themes) Christian-themed morality play about the challenges faced by a former gang member (Crawford Wilson) when his troubled past comes to threaten his newfound commitment to faith, family and a better future. Supporting cast includes Lynn Whitfield, James McDaniel, Kayla Compton and Kristen Royal.

Midnight’s Children (Unrated) Screen adaptation of the Salman Rushdie best-seller, set in Mumbai on Independence Day in 1947, following the contrasting fates of babies switched at birth, one (Satya Bhabha), born to a lowly beggar, the other (Siddharth Narayan), to a prominent family. Featuring Shahana Goswami, Rajat Kapoor and Ronit Roy. (In English, Hind and Urdu)  

Mud (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexual references, smoking and mature themes) Mathew McConaughey stars in this fugitive drama set on an uninhabited island in the Mississippi River about a couple of 14 year-olds (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) who try to help a man wanted for murder elude bounty hunters so he can reunite with his the love of his life (Reese Witherspoon). With Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon and Joe Don Baker.

An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (Unrated) Animated romantic comedy revolving around an optimistic artist’s reaction to being stood up by an intriguing young woman he was hoping to date. Voice cast includes Terence Nance, Namik Minter, Chanelle Pearson and Shante Cozier.

Paradise: Love (Unrated) First installment of a trilogy directed by Ulrich Seidl revolving around a 50 year-old, Austrian sex tourist’s (Magarete Tiesel) trip to Kenya where she plans to spend her vacation sleeping with young African men. Co-starring Peter Kazungu, Inge Maux and Dunja Sowinetz.(In German, Swahili and English with subtitles)

The Reluctant Fundamentalist (R for profanity, violence and brief sexuality) Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) directed this adaptation of Moshin Hamid’s novel of the same name about a Pakistani Princeton graduate (Riz Ahmed) working on Wall Street who, in the wake of a hostage crisis, finds himself torn between the American Dream and the call of his homeland. With Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland and Liev Schreiber.

Tai Chi Hero (Unrated) Historical biopic about martial arts master Yang Lu Chan (Yuan Xiaochao) who founded Tai Chi in the 19^th Century. With Qi Shu, Tony Leung and Angelababy. (In Mandarin with subtitles)