Kam's Movie Kapsules for 6-20-14

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening June 20, 2014

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Jersey Boys (R for pervasive profanity) Clint Eastwood directs this adaptation of the rags-to-riches, jukebox musical featuring Tony Award-winner John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli in the role he originated on Broadway, as well as Erich Bergen, Vincent Piazza and Michael Lomenda as the other members of the Four Seasons. Cast includes Christopher Walken, Freya Tingley and Francesca Eastwood (daughter of Clint and Frances Farmer).   

Think Like a Man Too (PG-13 for profanity, drug use, crude humor, sexual references and partial nudity) The principal cast returns for an eventful sequel, set in Vegas, where the couples convene for bawdy bachelor and bachelorette parties which almost derail Candace (Regina Hall) and Michael’s (Terrence J) wedding plans. Ensemble includes Kevin Hart, Gabriel Union, Michael Ealy, Dennis Haysbert, Meagan Good, Taraji P. Henson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Kelsey Grammer.     

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 

Code Black (Unrated) Adrenaline-fueled documentary offering unprecedented observation of the life-and-death situations handled by doctors on a daily basis inside L.A. County Hospital’s C-Booth, America’s busiest Emergency Room.  

Exhibition (Unrated) Character-driven drama, set in the Chelsea section of London, revolving around a cash-strapped couple of middle-aged artists (Liam Gillick and Viv Albertine) whose careers and relationship are jeopardized when they have to put their house/studio on the real estate market. With Tom Hiddleston, Harry Kershaw and Mary Roscoe.

Fonzy (Unrated) Baby-daddy comedy, set in Paris, about a forty-something former sperm donor (Jose Garcia) with a pregnant girlfriend (Audrey Fleurot) who suddenly finds out he’s the father of 533 children born decades earlier via artificial insemination. Support cast includes Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Gerard Hernandez and Laurent Mouton. (In French with subtitles)

The Last Sentence (Unrated) Historical biopic about Torgny Segerstedt (Jesper Christensen), the Swedish journalist who put his life in jeopardy in the 1930s to warn the world repeatedly about the threat posed by the imminent rise of Adolf Hitler. Featuring Pernilla August, Ulla Skoog and Bjorn Granath. (In Swedish with subtitles)

Miss Lovely (Unrated) Bollywood docudrama, set in Mumbai in the Eighties, chronicling the downfall of a couple of sleazy, sibling film producers (Anil George and Nawazuddin Siddiqui) after one decides to turn his porn star girlfriend (Niharika Singh) into a legitimate actress. With Menaka Lalwani and Zeena Bhatia. (In Hindi with subtitles)

Norte, the End of History (Unrated) Mistaken identity drama about a woman Angeli Bayani) forced to fend for the family while trying to clear her falsely-accused husband (Archie Alemania) who’s been framed for a double murder committed by an embittered law student (Sid Lucero). Support cast includes Soliman Cruz, Miles Canapi and Hazel Orencio. (In English and Filipino with subtitles)

Northern Light (Unrated) Diminished dreams documentary, set in Northern Michigan, examines the plight of three working-class families affected by the economic recession as they prepare to compete in their icebound hometown’s annual snowmobile race.

Third Person (R for profanity, nudity and sexuality) A trio of romance dramas each set in a different city and revolving around a couple in crisis. (1) A recently-separated writer (Liam Neeson) leaves his wife (Kim Basinger) for a rendezvous in Paris with a mistress (Olivia Wilde) hiding a big secret. (2) A NYC socialite (Mila Kunis) suspected of attempted murder fights her ex-husband (James Franco) for custody of the son supposedly she tried to kill. (3) An American (Adrien Brody) in Rome on business falls for a gypsy (Moran Atlas) who says her sister has been kidnapped for ransom. (In English and Italian with subtitles)

Venus in Fur (Unrated) Roman Polanski screen adaptation of the David Ives play of the same name about a director (Mathieu Amalric) who finds himself seduced by an aspiring starlet (Emmanuelle Seigner) auditioning for the lead role in his highly-erotic, upcoming production. (In French and German with subtitles)