Kam's Movie Kapsules for 5-3-13

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening May 3, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Iron Man 3 (PG-13 for intense violence and brief sensuality) Latest installment of the Marvel Comics franchise finds the brilliant billionaire-turned-intrepid superhero (Robert Downey, Jr.) teaming with a precocious, prepubescent sidekick (Ty Simpkins) to take on a new nemesis, Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), the maniacal madman behind a recent string of terrorist bombings. Cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Jon Favreau.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Aroused (Unrated) Revealing documentary featuring revealing interviews with 16 of the world’s most successful, female porn stars as they shed their clothes in preparation for a fancy photo shoot. Cast includes Misty Stone, Ash Hollywood, Asphyxia Noir, Belladonna, Kayden Kross, Lisa Ann, Katsuni, Lexi Belle and Brooklyn Lee.

Desperate Acts of Magic (Unrated) Romantic comedy about a bored computer programmer/aspiring magician (Joe Tyler Gold) and a pickpocket/street performer (Valerie Dillman) who fall in love after they meet as entrants in the annual Brotherhood of Magicians Competition. With Jonathan Levit, Sacha Alexander and John Getz.

Generation Umm… (Unrated) Tawdry tale of sex, drugs and denial chronicling a day in the life of an escort service chauffeur (Keanu Reeves) as he shuttles a couple of self-destructive call girls (Adelaide Clemens and Bojana Novakovic) around Manhattan. Supporting cast includes Daniel Sunjata, Sarita Choudhury and Jake Hoffman.

Greetings from Tim Buckley (Unrated) Followed footsteps drama about the launch of Jeff Buckley’s (Penn Badgley) musical career after a performance of his late father Tim’s folk songs at a 1991 tribute concert, only to meet his own untimely demise in a drowning accident a few years later.   

The Happy House (Unrated) Horror comedy about a Brooklyn couple in crisis (Khan Baykal and Aya Cash) vacationing at a country bed & breakfast to work on their relationship who find themselves cooped up in an old mansion with a motley crew of colorful characters including a demented serial killer with a .44 Magnum. Featuring Marceline Hugot, Mike Houston and Oliver Henzler.

The Iceman (R for sexuality, gruesome violence and pervasive profanity) Grisly biopic recounting the real-life exploits of elusive Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon), the sociopathic hit man who murdered hundreds for the mob over several decades before his apprehension in 1986. With James Franco, Winona Ryder, David Schwimmer, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans and Stephen Dorff.

Kiss of the Damned (R for nudity, profanity, drug use, gory violence and graphic sexuality) Erotic thriller about a handsome scriptwriter (Milo Ventimiglia) and beautiful vampire (Josephine de La Baume) whose star-crossed love affair becomes imperiled when her troublemaking sister (Roxane Mesquida) makes an unexpected visit. With Anna Mouglalis, Michael Rapaport and Riley Keough.

Love Is All You Need (R for nudity, profanity and brief sexuality) Romance drama set at a wedding in Italy where the recently-abandoned, cancer-survivor mother (Trine Dyrholm) of the Danish bride (Molly Blixt Egelind) falls for the British groom’s (Sebastian Jessen) father (Pierce Brosnan), a lonely widower in need of help getting over the loss of his wife. Support cast includes Kim Bodnia, Paprika Steen and Bodil Jorgensen.

Unmade in China (Unrated) Big Brother documentary highlighting the frustrations felt by American film director Gil Kofman while trying to shoot an action thriller on location in Communist China under the watchful eye of incessantly-interfering government censors.    

What Maisie Knew (R for profanity) Dysfunctional family drama about an unfortunate little girl (Onata  Aprile) caught in the middle of a bitter custody battle between her selfish, immature parents (Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan). With Alexander Skarsgard, Emma Holzer and Joanna Vanderham.