Kam's Movie Kapsules for 4-1-16

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

For movies opening April 1, 2016

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Collide (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexuality and drug use) Action thriller about a couple of American tourists (Nicholas Hoult and Felicity Jones) backpacking across Europe who end up on the run from drug smugglers in Germany. With Anthony Hopkins, Ben Kingsley and Nadia Hilker.

Meet the Blacks (R for sexuality, violence, drug use and pervasive profanity) Horror parody of The Purge revolving around a nouveau riche family which unwittingly moves from the ghetto to Beverly Hills on the annual holiday when crime is legal. Ensemble cast includes Mike Epps, Zulay Henao, Mike Tyson, George Lopez, DeRay Davis, Charlie Murphy and Perez Hilton and Paul Mooney.

Miles Ahead (R for drug use, nudity, sexuality, brief violence and pervasive profanity) Don Cheadle produced, directed, co-wrote and stars as Miles Davis in this impressionistic biopic chronicling the highs and lows of the legendary jazz trumpeter's troubled life and checkered career. With Ewan McGregor, Michael Stuhlbarg, Keith Stanfield and Emayatzy Corinealdi.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Catching the Sun (Unrated) Green economy documentary extolling the efforts of entrepreneurs in the U.S. and China to capitalize on the race to solar energy

Francofonia (Unrated) World War II drama giving a cinematic tour of the Louvre while explaining how the museum managed to prevent plunder of its collection during the Nazi occupation of France. Co-starring Vincent Nemeth, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing and Benjamin Utzerath. (In French, German, Russian and English with subtitles)

God's Not Dead 2 (PG for mature themes) Courtroom drama revolving around a public high school teacher's (Melissa Joan Hart) fight for her career and her First Amendment rights after being suspended for having a classroom discussion of Jesus. With Jesse Metcalfe, Robin Givens, Ernie Hudson, Pat Boone and Senator Fred Thompson.

Marinoni: The Fire in the Flame (Unrated) Reverential documentary chronicling the career of champion cyclist-turned-master bike maker Giuseppe Marinoni.(In English, French and Italian with subtitles)

Natural Born Pranksters (R for crude humor, dangerous stunts, and for pervasive profanity and sexuality) Practical joke comedy highlighting the work of such Youtube sensations as Roman Atwood, Vitaly Z and Dennis Roady.

Pandemic (Unrated) Sci-fi thriller revolving around a research doctor (Rachel Nichols) who represents the last hope for a cure after a virus wipes out New York City and threatens to decimate what's left of humanity. With Mekhi Phifer, Missi Pyle and Alfie Allen.

Sold (Unrated) Adaptation of Patricia McCormick's best seller of the same name chronicling the real-life ordeal of a 13 year-old Nepalese peasant (Niyar Saikia) sold to Indian sex traffickers. Supporting cast includes Gillian Anderson, David Arquette and Seema Biswas.

Standing Tall (R for profanity and some sexuality) Coming-of-age drama about a juvenile court judge (Catherine Deneuve) and a special ed teacher (Benoit Magimel) who join forces to rehabilitate a teen (Rod Paradot) in trouble with the law since being abandoned by his mother at the age of 6. With Sara Forestier, Diane Rouxel and Elisabeth Mazev. (In French with subtitles)