Kam's Movie Kapsules for 2-27-15

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:      

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun         

by Kam Williams

For movies opening February 27, 2015

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

Focus (R for profanity, sexuality and brief violence) Will Smith stars in this crime caper about a con man who meets his match when he falls for a femme fatale (Margot Robbie) trying to bilk the same billionaire (Rodrigo Santoro) in Buenos Aires. With BD Wong, Gerald McRaney and Laura Flannery.

The Lazarus Effect (PG-13 for terror, intense violence and some sexual references) Horror flick revolving around medical researchers who come to regret discovering a way to revive the dead after bringing back to life the fiancée (Olivia Wilde) of a grieving colleague (Mark Duplass). Ensemble includes Donald Glover, Evan Peters, Sarah Bolger and Bruno Gunn.  

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 

’71 (R for graphic violence, disturbing images and pervasive profanity) Historical drama, set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, about a British soldier’s (Jack O’Connell) desperate  effort   to survive after he‘s severely beaten during an IRA riot and separated from his unit. With Richard Dormer, Jack Lowden, Sam Reid and Martin McCann. 

Ana Maria in Novela Land (Unrated) Escapist fantasy about a slacker having a really bad day (Edy Ganem) whose fortunes suddenly change when she magically switches places with the star of her favorite TV soap opera after a lightning strike. Featuring Mercedes Mason, Luis Guzman, Sung Kang and Tamara Taylor. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

Bluebird (Unrated) Introspective character study set in a frozen town in Maine where a guilt-ridden, school bus driver (Amy Morton) can’t sleep since making a mistake that led to a tragic accident. Co-starring John Slattery, Louise Krause, Emily Meade, Margo Martindale and Adam Driver.

Deli Man (PG-13 for profanity) Foodie documentary taking a guided look at the history of Jewish delicatessens in the U.S. as seen through the eyes of Ziggy Gruber, 3^rd generation owner of a shop in Houston.

Eastern Boys (Unrated) Homoerotic drama revolving around a young refugee (Kirill Emelyanov) from Eastern Europe who passes himself off as a gay escort in Paris where he’s picked up by an unsuspecting sugar daddy (Olivier Rabourdin) looking for a good time. With Edea Darcque, Camila Chakirova and Bislan Yakhiaev. (In French, English and Russian with subtitles) 

Everly (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, torture and graphic violence) Salma Hayak stars in the title role of this revenge thriller as a prostitute out to bring down the empire of the brutal pimp (Hiroyuki Watanabe) who forced her into the profession. Cast includes Jennifer Blanc, Caroline Chikezie, Uros Certic and Gabriella Wright.

The Hunting Ground (Unrated) “No means no” expose’ chronicling the exponential rise of date rape on college campuses all across America.

Kung Fu Elliot (Unrated) Martial arts documentary about kickboxer-turned-wannabe matinee idol Elliot “White Lightning” Scott’s attempt to become Canada’s first, homegrown action hero, much to the chagrin of his impatient fiancée.

Maps to the Stars (R for profanity, sexuality, graphic nudity, disturbing violence and drug use) David Cronenberg directs this dysfunctional family drama examining a Hollywood dynasty’s desperate quest for fame and fortune, including a TV psychologist (John Cusack) whose stage mom spouse (Olivia Williams) is managing the career of their child star son (Evan Bird). With Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson.

The Widowmaker (Unrated) Chilling tale of greed uncovering the conspiracy of silence surrounding heart disease and the practice of cardiology.

Wild Canaries (Unrated) Brooklyn-based whodunit revolving around a just-engaged couple (Sophia Takal and Lawrence Michael Levine) who suspect foul play when their elderly neighbor (Marylouise Burke) mysteriously drops dead inside her rent-controlled apartment.  With Alia Shawkat, Jason Ritter and Kevin Corrigan.