Kam's Movie Kapsules for 11-15-13

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening November 15, 2013

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

The Best Man Holiday (R for profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Christmas-themed sequel, set 15 years after the original, finds college pals reuniting to reminisce, find romance and revive rivalries. Ensemble includes Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs.

The Book Thief (PG-13 for violence and mature themes) Adaptation of the Mark Zusak novel of the same name, set in Nazi, Germany and revolving around an abandoned 9 year-old girl (Sophie Nelisse) adopted by foster parents (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson) hiding a Jewish refugee (Ben Schnetzer) from the SS. With Kirsten Block, Nico Liersch and Sandra Nedeleff. (In English and German with subtitles) 

Charlie Countryman (R for sexuality, nudity, drug use, pervasive profanity and brutal violence) Shia LaBeouf portrays the title character of this romantic comedy about a tourist traveling to Bucharest who falls in love with the wife (Evan Rachel Wood) of a ruthless Romanian mobster (Mads Mikkelsen). Narrated by John Hurt and featuring Rupert Grint, Melissa Leo and Vincent D’Onofrio. (In English and Romanian with subtitles)

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 

12-12-12 (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity and violence) Satanic possession horror flick about a demonic baby born on 12-12-12 (Double 6-6-6, get it?) who proceeds to murder everyone in his midst. With Sara Malakul Lane, Samantha Stewart and Jesus Guevara. 

Dear Mr. Watterson (Unrated) Reverential retrospective chronicling the career of Calvin & Hobbes comic strip creator Bill Watters. Includes commentary by Seth Green, Berkeley Breathed and Bill Amend.

Faust (Unrated) Adaptation of Goethe’s classic play about a man (Johannes Zeiler) who comes to regret selling his soul to the devil (Anton Adassinsky) for boundless knowledge and worldly pleasures. With Isolda Dychauk, George Friedrich and Hanna Schygulla. (In German with subtitles)

Final: The Rapture (PG-13 for violence) Faith-based drama featuring a quartet of parallel tales revolving around Judgment Day. Starring Jah Shams, Mary Grace a nd Masashi Nagadoi. (In English, Japanese and Spanish with subtitles)

The Great Fallacy (Unrated) Political expose’ highlighting the present plight of Puerto Rico and simultaneously proposing solutions to alleviate the beleaguered island’s host of financial and social woes. (In Spanish with subtitles)

Lion Ark (Unrated) Animal cruelty documentary uncovering Bolivia’s illegal trade in circus lions. Featuring Bob Barker, Jorja Fox and David Kopp.

Nebraska (R for profanity) Road trip drama about a father (Bruce Dern) and son (Will Forte) who travel from Billings, Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska to claim the prize money in a million-dollar sweepstakes. With Stacy Keach, June Squibb and Bob Odenkirk.

Sunlight Jr. (Unrated) Matt Dillon and Naomi Watts co-star in this baby maybe drama about a Florida couple whose struggle to survive on minimum wage jobs is compounded by an unplanned pregnancy. Support cast includes Norman Reedus, Tess Harper and Yvonne Gougelet.