Kam's Movie Kapsules for 6-21-13

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening June 21, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Monsters University (G) Disney animated adventure, a prequel set about a decade before the events of Monsters, Inc., finds polar opposite Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) pledging the same fraternity and majoring in scaring. Voice cast includes Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Sean Hayes and Bobby Moynihan.

World War Z (PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and frightening horror fare) 

Screen adaptation of Max Brooks’ apocalyptic novel about a globetrotting, United Nations investigator (Brad Pitt) who rises to the occasion in the face of a zombie pandemic that’s toppling governments and threatening humanity with extinction. With Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, David Morse, Matthew Fox and Fana Mokoena.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Attack (R for profanity, violence and brief sexuality) Middle East drama, set in Tel Aviv, revolving around a celebrated Arab surgeon (Ali Suliman) who discovers a shocking secret about his wife (Reymond Ansallem) in the wake of a terrorist bombing. With Evgenia Dodena (In Arabic and Hebrew with subtitles)

The Bling Ring (R for profanity, sexual references, drug use and underage alcohol consumption) Sofia Coppola co-wrote and directed this true tale about a gang of computer-savvy teenagers who embark on a crime spree burglarizing the homes of Hollywood stars by using the internet to monitor the celebrities’ whereabouts. Featuring Emma Watson, Katie Chang, Leslie Mann and Israel Broussard.   

Downloaded (Unrated) Build a better mousetrap documentary exploring the impact that the downloading revolution has had on fans, recording artists and the music industry. With appearances by rocker Henry Rollins, producer Chris Blackwell and attorney Lawrence Lessig.

A Hijacking (R for profanity) Hostage drama about the tension which unfolds when a gang of Somali pirates demands a multimillion dollar ransom after commandeering a cargo ship on the high seas. Starring Pilou Asbaek, Soren Malling and Dar Salim. (In Danish, Swedish and English with subtitles)

Maniac (Unrated) Grisly remake of the 1980 horror flick about a psychotic serial killer (Elijah Wood) who scalps his victims and uses their hair to cover the heads of mannequins in his shop. Support cast includes America Olivo, Nora Arnezeder and Liane Balaban.

Rushlights (R for violence, profanity, sexuality and drug use) Romantic road romp about a couple of young lovers (Josh Henderson and Haley Webb) who travel from California to Texas to file a false claim for a dead friend’s inheritance. With Beau Bridges, Aidan Quinn and Jordan Bridges (Beau’s son). 

This Is Martin Bonner (Unrated) Paul Eenhoorn stars as the title character of this unlikely-buddies drama about a newcomer to Reno, Nevada who forges a friendship with a recent parolee (Richmond Arquette) he helps while volunteering at a non-profit charity. With Sam Buchanan, Robert Longstreet and Demtrius Grosse. 

Three Worlds (Unrated) Good Samaritan drama about the effort of a hit-and-run accident witness (Clotilde Hesme) to inform the victim’s (Rasha Bukvic) widow (Arta Dobroshi) of the identity of the drunk driver (Raphael Personnaz). Ensemble includes Reda Kateb, Alban Aumard and Adele Haenel. (In French with subtitles)

Unfinished Song (PG-13 for crude gestures and sexual references) Bittersweet British dramedy about a grumpy, grieving widower (Terence Stamp) who gets a new lease on life after taking his recently-deceased wife’s (Vanessa Redgrave) place in the church choir. Support cast includes Gemma Arterton, Christopher Eccleston and Anne Reid.