Kam's Movie Kapsules for 1-23-15

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening January 23, 2015

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

The Boy Next Door (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and violence) Psychological thriller about a young man (Ryan Guzman) who becomes obsessed with his recently-divorced neighbor (Jennifer Lopez) after they share a one-night stand. Cast includes John Corbett, Kristen Chenoweth, Hill Harper and Ian Nelson.

Mortdecai (R for profanity and sexuality) Screen adaptation of the Kyril Bonfiglioli best-seller of the same name about a globetrotting art dealer’s (Johnny Depp) search for a stolen painting containing clues leading to a missing Nazi gold fortune. With Olivia Munn, Ewan McGregor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany and Jeff Goldblum.  

Strange Magic (PG for action and scary images) Animated musical, inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, revolving around a battle among elves, goblins, fairies and imps over a powerful potion. Voice cast includes Meredith Anne Bull, Kristen Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Alfred Molina and Maya Rudolph.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 

Against the Sun (PG for mature themes and mild epithets) World War II survival saga recounting a trio of airmen’s (Tom Felton, Jake Abel and Garret Dillahunt) real-life ordeal in a lifeboat after ditching their plane over the Pacific Ocean. Featuring Nadia Parra. 

Big Muddy (Unrated) Nadia Litz and Justin Kelly co-star as mother and son operating on the wrong side of the law in this remarkable neo noir reminiscent of Red Rock West from debut director Jefferson Moneo. Cast includes David La Haye, Stephen McHattie and James Le Gros.

Black Sea (R for violence, graphic images and pervasive profanity) Buried treasure adventure starring Jude Law as a submarine captain who goes rogue to search for a sunken ship supposedly loaded with gold. With Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn and Jodie Whittaker.

Cake (R for profanity, substance abuse and brief sexuality) Poignant character portrait starring Jennifer Aniston as a woman who befriends the just-widowed husband (Sam Worthington) of a suicidal member of her chronic pain support group (Anna Kendrick). Ensemble cast includes Adriana Barrazza, William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman, Lucy Punch, Mamie Gummer and Chris Messina. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

The Duke of Burgundy (Unrated) Romance drama revolving around a lesbian couple’s (Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D’Anna) sadomasochistic relationship. With Eugenia Caruso, Fatma Mohamed and Monica Swinn.

The Humbling (R for profanity, sexuality and brief violence) Oscar-winner Barry Levinson (for Rain Man) directed this adaptation of the Philip Roth best-seller of the same name about an aging actor (Al Pacino) whose life is turned upside-down when he embarks on an ill-advised affair with a considerably-younger lesbian (Greta Gerwig). Support cast includes Dianne Wiest, Charles Grodin, Mandy Patinkin and Kyra Sedgwick.

Manny (PG-13 for violence and bloody images) Pugilism biopic, narrated by Liam Neeson, about Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao. Featuring commentary by Mark Wahlberg, Jeremy Piven and Jimmy Kimmel. 

Miss Hill: Making Dance Matter (Unrated) Reverential biopic about Martha Hill (1900-1995), the visionary founding director of Juilliard’s Dance Division.  

Mommy (R for violence, sexual references and pervasive profanity) ADHD drama chronicling a grieving widow’s (Anne Dorval) frustrations while raising her violent, teenage son (Antoine-Olivier Pilon) alone. With Suzanne Clement, Patrick Huard and Alexandre Goyette. (In French and English with subtitles) 

Red Army (PG for mild epithets and mature themes) Cold War documentary highlighting the exploits of the Soviet Army’s hockey team, the most successful sports dynasty in history. (In English and Russian with subtitles)

Salvation Army (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama, set in Casablanca, about a gay teen’s (Said Mrini) search for identity in a society in denial about the existence of homosexuality. With Amine Ennaji, Karim Ait M’Hand and Frederic Landenberg. (In French and Arabic with subtitles)

Son of a Gun (Unrated) Cat-and-mouse crime caper, set in Perth, about a 19 year-old petty thief (Brenton Thwaites) who, against his better judgment, becomes the protégé of Australia’s Public Enemy #1 (Ewan McGregor) after the two stage a daring jailbreak. With Alicia Vikander, Matt Nable, Tammie West and Jacek Koman.   

Song One (PG-13 for sexuality and brief profanity) Romance drama about a woman (Anne Hathaway) who falls in love with a local musician (Johnny Flynn) after returning to Brooklyn to care for her comatose brother (Ben Rosenfield). With Mary Steenburgen, Li Jun Li and Gideon Glick.

We’ll Never Have Paris (R for sexuality and profanity) Romantic comedy revolving around a contrite guy (Simon Helberg) who ventures from New York to Paris to propose to his ex-girlfriend (Melanie Lynskey) after sabotaging their relationship. Cast includes Maggie Grace, Alfred Molina, Zachary Quinto, Jason Ritter and Judith Light.