Kam's Movie Kapsules for 11-1-13

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening November 1, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

About Time (R for profanity and sexuality) Romantic comedy about a 21 year-old bachelor (Domhnall Gleeson) with the ability to time travel who puts his special power to use to land the girl of his dreams (Rachel McAdams). Cast includes Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson and Lindsay Duncan.

Ender’s Game (PG-13 for violence and mature themes) Adaptation of Orson Scott Ford’s sci-fi novel of the same name about a shy but brilliant boy (Asa Butterfield) who is enlisted to by the military to lead the defense of the planet during an impending alien invasion. With Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin and Viola Davis.  

Free Birds (PG for action, rude humor and scenes of peril) Animated family comedy about a couple of squabbling turkeys (Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson) who put aside their differences to travel back in time in order to get turkey taken off the Thanksgiving menu. Voice cast includes Amy Poehler, Keith David and George Takei.

Last Vegas (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality) Buddy comedy about four BFFs who venture to Vegas to throw a bachelor party for the last single guy (Michael Douglas) in their aging rat pack. Co-starring Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, 50 Cent, Mary Steenburgen and Michael Ealy.   

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS  

Behind the Blue Veil (Unrated) War on Terror documentary chronicling the efforts of the son of a Tuareg chief to save his tribe from extinction following the collapse of the government of Mali in the wake of an attack by al-Qaida.     

Big Sur (R for nudity, sexuality and profanity) Beat Generation biopic about Jack Kerouac’s (Jean Marc-Barr) descent into drugs and self-doubt at a retreat in Northern California following the success of his best-selling novel, “On the Road.” With Kate Bosworth, Radha Mitchell and Anthony Edwards.

The Broken Circle Breakdown (Unrated) Romance drama about an atheist (Johan Heldenbergh) and a believer (Veerle Baetens) who fall in love at first sight despite their differences, only to have their marriage later tested when their 6 year-old daughter (Nell Cattrysse) develops an incurable disease. Supporting cast includes Nils De Caster, Geert Van Rampelberg and Robbie Cleiren. (In Flemish and English with subtitles)

Dallas Buyers Club (R for nudity, drug use, graphic sexuality and pervasive profanity) AIDS saga recounting Texas electrician Ron Woodroof’s (Matthew McConaughey) real-life struggle to survive with the help of experimental medications after being diagnosed with HIV and given just 30 day to live. With Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Griffin Dunne and Steve Zahn.

Diana (PG-13 for sensuality, smoking and brief profanity) Naomi Watts plays the title role in this biopic about the Princess of Wales’ clandestine love affair towards the end of her life with a Pakistani heart surgeon (Naveen Andrews). Featuring Douglas Hodge, Geraldine James and Charles Edwards.

Doonby (PG-13 for violence, sexuality and mature themes) Serendipitous fantasy about a mysterious drifter (John Schneider) who gets off a Greyhound bus in a tiny Texas town where he proceeds to touch the lives of everyone he meets. With Ernie Hudson, Joe Estevez and Jennifer O’Neill.

Forced March (Unrated) Re-release of 1989 drama, set in Hungary, about an actor (Chris Sarandon) shooting a film in Budapest who finds himself forced to face the horrors of the Holocaust while playing a poet who perished in a death camp. With Josef Sommer, John Seitz and Renee Soutendijk.   

Mr. Morgan’s Last Love (Unrated) Adaptation of Francoise Dornier’s romance novel, set in Paris, about a suicidal American widower (Michael Caine) who gets a new lease on life when he falls head-over-heels for a young French woman (Clemence Poesy). Featuring Gillian Anderson, Justin Kirk and Jane Alexander.

(In English and French with subtitles)

Mr. Nobody (R for nudity, sexuality, violent images and brief profanity) 

Flashback fantasy, set in 2092, revolving around the reflections of an 118 year-old man (Jared Leto) who had been forced at 9 to pick which of his divorcing parents (Rhys Ifans and Natasha Little) would get custody of him. Support cast includes Toby Regbo, Juno Temple, Sarah Polley and Diane Kruger.

The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology (Unrated) Sequel to The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema finds filmmaker Sophie Fiennes and philosopher Slavoj Zizek now exploring how movies tend to reinforce the status quo.

Running from Crazy (Unrated) Mariel Hemingway is the focus of this documentary about her struggle to understand her family history marked by mental illness and 7 suicides. Featuring archival footage of her late sister Margaux and other relatives.

Sal (Unrated) James Franco wrote, directed and plays the title character in this biopic revisiting the final hours in the life of teen idol-turned-openly gay actor Sal Mineo (1939-1976). With Val Lauren, Jim Parrack and Stacey Miller.

Skinwalker Ranch (R for profanity and violence) Fact-based horror flick revisiting the events surrounding the mysterious disappearance of a cattle rancher’s (Jon Gries) 10 year-old son (Nash Lucas). With Taylor Bateman, Steve Berg and Michael Black.

Sweet Dreams (Unrated) Rwandan reconciliation documentary about a remarkable, all-female drumming troupe comprised of both Tutsi and Hutu survivors of the country’s 1994 genocide. (In Kinyarwanda with subtitles)