Kam's Movie Kapsules for 9-27-13

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening September 27, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Baggage Claim (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality) Paula Patton stars in this romantic comedy about a marriage-minded flight-attendant’s frantic search to find Mr. Right before her younger sister’s (Lauren London) impending wedding. Ensemble cast includes Derek Luke, Jill Scott, Christina Milian, Djimon Hounsou, Taye Diggs, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Adam Brody, Boris Kodjoe, Jenifer Lewis and Trey Songz.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (PG for mild rude humor) Eco-conscious, animated sequel finds Flint (Bill Hader) and friends forced to vacate Swallow Falls by an evil corporation with a diabolical plan to repopulate their idyllic island with a motley menagerie of anthropomorphic food monsters. Voice cast includes Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris, Andy Samberg, James Caan, Terry Crews, Will Forte and Benjamin Bratt.    

Don Jon (R for nudity, graphic sexuality, crude humor, profanity and drug use) Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed and stars in this romantic dramedy, set in New Jersey, about a guy addicted to internet porn who seeks a more satisfying sex life with a real woman only to end up involved with two (Julianne Moore and Scarlett Johansson). With Tony Danza, Rob Brown and Brie Larson.

Rush (R for profanity, nudity, sexuality, disturbing images and brief drug use) Ron Howard directs this fact-based auto racing drama chronicling the cutthroat competition in 1976 between flamboyant, British playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and relatively low-key Austrian Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) to be crowned the Formula 1 world champion. With Olivia Wilde, David Calder and Natalie Dormer. (In English, German, Italian and French with subtitles)   

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS  

As I Lay Dying (Unrated) James Franco directed and stars in this adaptation of the William Falkner novel of the same name about a woman’s (Beth Grant) family’s effort to fulfill her last wish to be buried in a nearby town. With Danny McBride, Tim Blake Nelson and Richard Jenkins. 

Inequality for All (PG for violence, smoking, mature themes and mild epithets) Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich narrates this economic expose’ bemoaning the widening income gap in the U.S. between the haves and the have-nots.

Morning (R for sexuality) Character-driven drama chronicling five days in the life of a grief-stricken couple (Leland Orser and Jeanne Tripplehorn) in the wake of the accidental death of their young child. With Laura Linney, Elliott Gould and Jason Ritter. 

Muscle Shoals (Unrated) Musical retrospective revisiting the legendary, riverside music studio in rural Alabama which provided the unlikely setting for classic recordings by everyone from Aretha to The Rolling Stones to Bob Dylan.    

On the Job ((Unrated) Cat-and-mouse crime thriller, set in the Philippines, about two police officers’ (Joey Marquez and Piolo Pascual) attempt to apprehend a couple of ex-cons (Joel Torre and Gerald Anderson) given reduced sentences in exchange for performing some high-profile assassinations. With Angel Aquino, Michael De Mesa and William Martinez. (In Filipino with subtitles)

Out in the Dark (Unrated) Middle East tale of forbidden love, set in Israel, about a gay love affair between a Palestinian student (Nicholas Jacob) and an Israeli attorney (Michael Aloni). With Jamil Khoury, Alon Pdut and Loai Nofi. (In Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles)

The Secret Life of Dorks (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity and crude humor) Romantic roulette revolving around a nerdy teenager (Vanessa Marano) who has a crush on an equally-geeky classmate (Gaelan Connell) who, in turn, is in love with a cheerleader (Riley Voelkel) who is already dating their school’s football team captain (Beau Mirchoff). Featuring Jim Belushi, Jennifer Tilly and William Katt.

Shepard & Dark (Unrated) Long distance documentary about the pen pal friendship of Sam Shepard and Johnny Dark.  

Wild Style (R for profanity) 30^th anniversary re-release of the hip-hop classic featuring appearances and performances by such seminal rap artists as Grandmaster Flash, Fab Five Freddy and the Rock Steady Crew.