Kam's Movie Kapsules for 7-4-14

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening July 4, 2014

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Deliver Us from Evil (R for graphic violence, grisly images, profanity and pervasive terror) Screen adaptation of Beware the Night, Ralph Sarchie and Lisa Collier Cool’s supernatural thriller about an NYPD street cop (Eric Bana) who joins forces with a renegade exorcist (Edgar Ramirez) in response to the alarming increase in cases of demonic possession occurring around the city. With Olivia Munn, Dorian Missick and Joel McHale.   

Earth to Echo (PG for action, peril and mild epithets) Kid-friendly sci-fi, reminiscent of E.T. (1982), about a trio of adolescents (Astro, Teo Halm and Reese Hartwig) who surreptitiously come to the aid of a homesick alien stranded on Earth. Supporting cast includes Ella Wahlestedt, Cassius Willis, Jason Gray-Stanford and Drake Kemper.

Tammy (R for profanity and sexual references) Melissa McCarthy plays the title character of this road comedy about a just-fired fast-food clerk who embarks with her foul-mouthed grandmother (Susan Sarandon) on a rip-roaring road trip from North Carolina to Niagara Falls after catching her philandering husband (Nat Faxon) in bed with a neighbor (Toni Collette). Ensemble includes Kathy Bates, Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd and Gary Cole.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 

America (PG-13 for violent images) Revisionist documentary co-directed by John Sullivan and Dinesh D’Souza speculating about what the country would look like if the Minutemen had lost the Revolutionary War to England.

Beyond the Edge (Unrated) Historical drama chronicling Sir Edmund Hillary (Chad Moffitt) and Tenzing Norgay’s (Sonam Sherpa) historic, 1953 ascent of Mount Everest. With Daniel Musgrove, Joshua Rutter and John Wraight.

Gabrielle (R for sexuality) Romance drama about the unlikely love affair between two members (Alexandre Landry and Gabrielle Marion-Rivard) of a choir for mentally-challenged individuals. Support cast includes Benoit Gouin, Sebastien Ricard and Marie Gignac. (In French and English with subtitles)

The Girl on the Train (R for profanity and violence) Crime thriller about a documentary filmmaker (Henry Ian Cusick) whose chance encounter with a mysterious passenger (Nicki Aycox) aboard a commuter train headed from Grand Central Station to upstate New York leaves him a suspect in the eyes of skeptical detective (Stephen Lang). With Charles Aitken, James Biberi and John Fugelsang.   

Heatstroke (Unrated) Crime thriller about the girlfriend (Svetlana Metkina) and daughter (Maisie Williams) of a research scientist (Stephen Dorff) who are forced to survive by their wits after he is murdered in an African desert by ruthless arms dealers. Support cast includes Peter Stormare and Andrew Roux.

Life Itself (R for profanity, sexual images and brief nudity) Reverential tribute to legendary film critic Roger Ebert featuring commentary by his wife, Chaz, colleague A.O. Scott, and film directors Martin Scorcese, Errol Morris, Werner Herzog and Ava DuVernay.

Marius (Unrated) Romance drama, set in Marseille, where the seafaring son (Raphael Personnaz) of a tavern owner (Daniel Auteuil) finds himself torn between the love of a woman (Victoire Belezy) and the lure of a life on the ocean. With Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Marie-Anne Chazel and Nicolas Vaude. (In French with subtitles)

Me and You (Unrated) Oscar-winner Bernardo Bertolucci (for The Last Emperor) directed this beguiling bildungsroman about the forbidden friendship secretly forged between a 14 year-old introvert (Jacopo Olmo Antinori) and the troubled, 25 year-old half-sister (Tea Falco) he shares the basement with when she comes to town in need of a place to stay. With Sonia Bergamasco, Veronica Lazar and Pippo Delbono. (In Italian with subtitles)

Premature (R for profanity, drug use, crude humor and pervasive sexuality) Coming-of-age comedy, reminiscent of Groundhog’s Day, revolving around a high school senior (John Karna) forced to relive over and over again the day he loses his virginity to the girl of his dreams (Carlson Young). With Alan Tudyk, Katie Findlay and Zoe Myers.

   

School Dance (R for crude humor, graphic sexuality, underage drug use and pervasive profanity) Nick Cannon makes his directorial debut with this musical dramedy about a teenager’s (Bobb’e J. Thompson) attempt to impress the cute classmate (Kristinia DeBarge) who doesn’t even know he exists by winning a spot on their high school’s dance team. Ensemble cast includes Kevin Hart, George Lopez, Katt Williams, Amber Rose, Patrick Warburton and Luenell.  

Wrinkles (Unrated) Animated adventure revolving around the eccentric antics of the rebellious residents of a retirement home. Voice cast includes Martin Sheen, Matthew Modine and George Coe.