Kam's Movie Kapsules for 1-10-14

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening January 10, 2014

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Her (R for profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Oscar-nominee Spike Jonze (for Being John Malkovich) directed this romance drama revolving around a lonely letter writer (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with the voice (Scarlett Johansson) on his computer’s operating system. With Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Bill Hader and Olivia Wilde.

The Legend of Hercules (PG-13 for sensuality and intense violence) Mythological saga, set in ancient Greece, revolving around a demigod (Kellan Lutz) torn between pursuing true love and fulfilling his destiny by toppling a tyrannical king (Scott Adkins). With Gaia Weiss, Roxanne McKee, Liam Garrigan and Luke Newberry.   

Lone Survivor (R for graphic violence and pervasive profanity) Adaptation of Marcus Luttrell’s (Mark Wahlberg) memoir recounting his harrowing ordeal as a member of a team of Navy SEALs ambushed by the Taliban while on a mission in the mountains of Afghanistan. With Eric Bana, Ben Foster and Emile Hirsch.  

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 

The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (PG for violence, adventure, peril and brief smoking) Fantasy adventure about an intrepid teenager (Aneurin Barnard) who follows clues on a perilous trek inside a hidden realm after the members of his family mysteriously disappear. With Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Sheen, Sam Neill, Lena Headey and Keeley Hawes.

Banshee Chapter (R for violence, profanity, drug use, brief nudity and disturbing images) Found-footage suspense thriller, purportedly based on actual events, about an investigative journalist’s (Katia Winter) search for a missing friend (Michael McMillian) rumored to have ingested a chemical being tested on civilians by the CIA. With Ted Levine, Monique Candelaria and Chad Brummett.

Black Coffee (PG for mild epithets, sexual references and mature themes) Romantic comedy revolving around a recently-fired and just-dumped dude (Darrin Dewitt Henson) who subsequently meets his soul mate (Gabrielle Dennis) only to have her ex-husband (Lamman Rucker) and his ex-girlfriend (Erica Hubbard) resurface. Cast includes Tiffany Hines, Christian Keyes and Brely Evans.

Cold Comes the Night (R for profanity and violence) Seeing-eye thriller about a blind career criminal (Bryan Cranston) who forces the owner (Alice Eve) of a seedy motel and her daughter (Ursula Parker) to help him retrieve a stash of cash stolen by a crooked cop (Logan Marshall-Green). With Leo Fitzpatrick, Erin Cummings and Robin Taylor.   

Divorce Corp. (Unrated) Legal system expose’ highlighting how more money flows through the divorce courts annually than through all other U.S. courts combined, thereby taking a toll on the litigants in the way of home foreclosures, bankruptcy, suicide and violence. Featuring Gloria Allred, Wendy Archer and Alexandra Borg.

Dumbbells (Unrated) Kitchen sink comedy about a former college basketball star (Brian Drolet) who forges an unlikely friendship with a guy (Hoyt Richards) trying to shoot a reality show in the gym where he works.  Ensemble cast includes Jaleel “Steve Urkel” White, Tom Arnold, Mircea Monroe, Jay Mohr and Fabio.

The Great Flood (Unrated) Historical documentary, featuring black-and-white archival images set to music, revisiting the 1927 flood of the Mississippi River which led to the Great Migration north by millions of displaced African-American sharecroppers. 

In Bloom (Unrated) Coming of age drama, set in Tbilisi in 1992, revolving around a couple of desperate 14 year-old friends (Lika Babluani and Mariam Bokeria) who opt to ignore traditional social pressures in order to escape from their dysfunctional families. With Zurab Gogaladze, Data Zakareishvili and Ana Nijaradze. (In Georgian with subtitles)

The Rocket (Unrated) Laotian road trip about a 10 year-old lad (Sitthiphon Disamoe) who leads the relocation of his family and friends to the outback after their village is condemned to make room for a dam. Support cast includes Loungnam Kaosainam, Sumri Warin and Bunsri Yindi. (In Lao with subtitles)

Truth (Unrated) Homoerotic suspense thriller about a gay guy (Rob Moretti) who has no idea that his online blind date from hell (Sean Paul Lockhart) is hiding some serious demons. With Rebekah Aramini, Blanche Baker and Angel Brazier.

The Truth about Emanuel (Unrated) Psychological thriller about a troubled young woman (Kaya Scodelario) who offers to babysit for the mysterious new neighbor (Jessica Biel) that’s a dead ringer for her late mother (Gabriela Dias). Featuring Alfred Molina, Frances O’Connor and Aneurin Barnard.