Kam's Movie Kapsules for 9-20-13

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening September 20, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Battle of the Year (PG-13 for profanity and rude behavior) Musical drama about buddies (Laz Alonso and Josh Holloway) who assemble a talented, hip-hop dance team with dreams of bringing the B-Boy trophy back to the U.S. for the first time in 15 years. Cast includes Chris Brown, Josh Peck and Caity Lotz.

Prisoners (R for pervasive profanity and disturbing violence) Hugh Jackman stars in this vigilante crime thriller as a desperate father who decides to take the law into his own hands after being frustrated by the detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) handling the investigation into the Thanksgiving Day kidnapping of his 6 year-old daughter (Erin Gerasimovich) and her best friend (Kyla Drew Simmons). With Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard and Melissa Leo.  

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS  

After Tiller (PG-13 for mature themes and brief profanity) Pro-choice documentary discussing the diminishing number of physicians willing to perform abortions since the assassination of Dr. George Tiller in Kansas in 2009.   

                           

Arise (Unrated) Empowerment eco-documentary, narrated by Darryl Hannah, paying homage to extraordinary Earth Mothers around the world who have dedicated their lives to healing the planet. 

C.O.G. (R for profanity and sexuality) Quixotic character study of a Yale grad and “Child of God” (Jonathan Groff) who takes a job off the grid at an Oregon apple farm where he fails to fit in with his fellow migrant workers. With Denis O’Hare, Casey Wilson and Dean Stockwell. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

The Colony (Unrated) Sci-fi horror flick set at a frigid outpost during an Ice Age in 2045 when a band of beleaguered survivors find themselves not only fighting the elements but a horde of cannibals as well. Starring Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Zegers and Bill Paxton. 

Enough Said (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, slapstick violence, crude humor and partial nudity) Romantic comedy about a divorced massage therapist (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who falls head over heels for a kindred spirit (James Gandolfini) whose embittered ex-wife (Catherine Keener) just happens to be one of her clients. Supporting cast includes Toni Collette, Ben Falcone and Amy Landecker.   

Generation Iron (PG-13 for mature themes and brief profanity) Weightlifting documentary following the world’s top bodybuilders as they train for the Mr. Olympia competition. Featuring commentary by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Mickey Rourke, Michael Jai White and Buster Rhymes.    

Haute Cuisine (PG for brief profanity) Gustatory biopic chronicling the career of legendary French chef Hortense Laborie, who was summoned by President Francois Mitterrand to serve as his personal cook. (In French and English with subtitles)

Ip Man: The Final Fight (R for graphic violence) Martial arts biopic chronicling the later life of the legendary grandmaster (Anthony Wong Chau-Sang) when reluctantly forced out of retirement for a final fight against menacing mobsters from the dangerous underworld of the Triads. With Gillian Chung, Jordan Chan and Eric Tsang. (In Cantonese with subtitles)

Jewtopia (Unrated) Screen adaptation of the Off-Broadway play of the same name about two childhood friends (Joel David Moore and Ivan Sergei) who reunite as adults to help each other land their Ms. Right. Ensemble includes Jennifer Love Hewitt, Nicollette Sheridan, Camryn Manheim, Wendie Malick, Tom Arnold, Rita Wilson and Jon Lovitz.

Men at Lunch (Unrated) Depression Era documentary relating the untold story behind an iconic photograph taken of 11 construction workers sitting on a steel beam dangling high above Manhattan during a break from building Rockefeller Center.

The Muslims Are Coming! (Unrated) Tolerance is the theme of this concert flick featuring Muslim standup comedians as they attempt to combat Islamophobia by making uptight audiences laugh. With commentary by Soledad O’Brien, Russell Simmons, Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black and Janeane Garofalo. 

My Lucky Star (Unrated) Romantic comedy, a prequel to Sophie’s Revenge, about a young woman (Ziyi Zhang) implicated in a diamond heist who falls for a spy (Leehom Wang) trying to save the world. With Yao Chen, Ruby Lin and Ada Choi. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

The Short Game (PG for mild epithets) Golf documentary about a tournament for 7 year-old prodigies hosted by North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort with the hope of spotting future greats. 

A Single Shot (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity, graphic violence and brief drug use) Cat-and-mouse thriller about a hunter (Sam Rockwell) on the run from a gang of criminals after pocketing $100,000 he found next to the body of a teenager (Kelly Reilly) they had just murdered. With Melissa Leo, Jeffrey Wright and William H. Macy.

Thanks for Sharing (R for profanity and graphic sexuality) Recovery comedy revolving around a trio of sex addicts (Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins and Josh Gad) who bond while undergoing treatment in a 12-Step program. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Joely Richardson, Alecia Moore and Patrick Fugit.