Kam's Movie Kapsules for 6-26-15

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:           
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun                 
by Kam Williams
For movies opening June 26, 2015
 
 
BIG BUDGET FILMS     
 

Big Game (PG-13 for profanity, violence and intense action sequences) Political thriller about a hardy, 13 year-old hunter (Onni Tommila) who comes to the assistance of the President of the United States (Samuel L. Jackson) when Air Force One is shot down over Finland by terrorists intent on taking him hostage. With Jim Broadbent, Ray Stevenson and Felicity Huffman. (In English and Finnish with subtitles)

Max (PG for action, peril, violence, mild epithets and mature themes) Man's Best Friend saga about the brother (Josh Wiggins) of a late, Afghan War vet (Robbie Amell) who adopts the dog that served alongside him on the frontlines. Featuring Thomas Haden Church, Jay Hernandez and Lauren Graham.

Ted 2 (R for sexuality, crude humor, pervasive profanity and drug use) Writer/director/producer Seth MacFarlane reprises the title role in this sequel which finds the anthropomorphic Teddy bear marrying his girlfriend (Jessica Barth) with plans for starting a family. Ensemble cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried and Patrick Warburton.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Batkid Begins (PG for mature themes) Make-a-wish documentary recounting how the citizens of San Francisco collaborated to make 5 year-old, cancer patient Miles Scott's dream of becoming Batman a reality.

A Borrowed Identity (Unrated) Middle East drama revolving around a Palestinian teenager (Tawfeek Barhom) attending a prestigious Israeli boarding school in Jerusalem where he lands in hot water for falling in love with a Jewish classmate (Danielle Kitsis). With Razi Gabareen, Ali Suliman and Yael Abecassis. (In Arabic, Hebrew, English and German with subtitles)

Escobar: Paradise Lost (Unrated) Romance thriller, set in Colombia in the summer of 1991, about a Canadian surfer dude (Josh Hutchinson) who is pressured to serve as a hit man after falling for the niece (Claudia Traisac) of drug cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar (Benicio del Toro). Support cast includes Anne Giradot, Carlos Bardem and Brady Corbet.

Felt (Unrated) Semi-autobiographical psychological thriller revolving around a victim of sexual assault's (Amy Everson) attempt to cope with her trauma by disappearing into a number of alter egos. With Alanna Reynolds, Kentucker Audley and Ryan Creighton.

Fresh Dressed (Unrated) Hip-hop documentary revisiting the rise in popularity of urban fashion as a consequence of the simultaneous mainstreaming of rap music in American culture. Featuring appearances by Pharrell Williams, Daymond John and Damon Dash.

A Little Chaos (R for sexuality and brief nudity) Romance drama, set in France during the reign of Louis XIV, where a couple of gifted landscape artists (Kate Winslet and Matthias Schoenaerts) fall in love while sculpting the royal garden at the Palace of Versailles. Directed by Alan Rickman who plays the king, and co-stars Stanley Tucci, Jennifer Ehle and Helen McCrory.

The Little Death (Unrated) Kinky sex comedy, set in Sydney, exploring the fetishes of five suburban couples. Ensemble cast includes writer/director Josh Lawson, Kate Box, Tasneem Roc, Lisa McCune and Damon Herriman.

A Murder in the Park (PG-13 for violent reenactments, disturbing images, drug use and brief profanity) Miscarriage of justice courtroom expose' suggesting that the Innocence Project had inadvertently set free on appeal a death row inmate who was actually guilty all along.

Runoff (R for drug use) Rural tale of survival about a woman (Joanne Kelly) willing desperate to keep a failing, family farm afloat after her husband (Neal Huff) falls ill and they're threatened with foreclosure by heartless bill collectors. With Rashel Bestard, Tom Bower and Drew Cash.

What Happened, Miss Simone? (Unrated) Prestige biopic chronicling the life and times of the legendary Nina Simone. Produced by the late jazz singer and civil rights activist's daughter, Lisa .