Kam's Kapsules for Movies Opening 7-22-16

OPENING THIS WEEK

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Ice Age: Collision Course (PG for mild rude humor, action and scenes of peril) 5th installment in the prehistoric fantasy franchise finds woolly mammoth Manny (Ray Romano), ground sloth Sid (John Leguizamo) and smilodon Diego (Denis Leary) and company on an epic trek to prevent impending asteroid strikes inadvertently triggered by saber-toothed squirrel Scrat's (Chris Wedge) pursuit of that ever-elusive acorn. Voice cast ensemble includes Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Simon Pegg, Michael Strahan, Keke Palmer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Wanda Sykes, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nick Offerman and Adam DeVine.

Lights Out (PG-13 for violence, mature themes, disturbing images, incessant terror and brief drug use) Haunted house horror flick revolving around a family which finds itself preyed upon by a malevolent ghost (Alicia Vela-Bailey) that only strikes in the dark. With Maria Bello, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander DiPersia and Billy Burke.

Star Trek Beyond (PG-13 for action and violence) 13th episode in the intergalactic, sci-fi franchise finds Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and the crew of the USS Enterprise stranded on an uncharted planet after being forced to abandon ship following an alien attack. With Idris Elba as the new nemesis, and Zachary Quinto as Dr. Spock, John Cho as Lt. Sulu, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Zoe Saldana as Lt. Uhuru, Karl Urban as Bones and the late Anton Yelchin as Chekov.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Absolutely Fabulous (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Adaptation of the British TV sitcom revolving around a couple of flamboyant, aging fashionistas (Jennnifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley) who flee London for the French Riviera after creating a media storm by accidentally knocking now-missing supermodel Kate Moss off a balcony and into the River Thames. With Rebel Wilson, Joanna Lumley, John Hamm and Alexa Chung, with cameos by Jerry Hall and Joan Collins.

Don't Think Twice (R for profanity and drug use) Ensemble dramedy about the emotional fallout visited upon a fledgling, improv comedy troupe when one of its members (Keegan Michael-Key) gets a big break on a Saturday Night Live-type TV show. Cast members include Gllian Jacobs, Chris Gethard, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher and the film's writer/director Mike Birbiglia.

Don't Worry Baby (Unrated) "Who's the daddy?" dramedy about a philandering husband (Christopher MacDonald) who unknowingly cheats on his wife (Talia Balsam) by sleeping with the same woman (Dreama Walker) as their son (John Magaro), only to learn that one of them is the father of her daughter (Rainn Williams). With Tom Lipinski, Britt Lower and Phil Burke.

For the Plasma (Unrated) Buddy dramedy, set in Maine, about the friendship rekindled betwen a forest fire lookout (Rosalie Lowe) and the former BFF (Anabelle LeMieux) she hires as her assistant. Support cast includes Tom Lloyd, Ryohei Hoshi and Erica Jennifer Hill.

Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party (PG-13 for violence, mature themes and smoking) Political documentary, written and directed by arch-conservative Dinesh D'Souza, incriminating Hillary Clinton while uncovering shady skeletons in the Democrats' closet. Featuring commentary by D'Souza, Jonah Goldberg and Peter Schweizer..

Madaari (Unrated) Revenge thriller revolving around a grieving widower's (Irfan Khan) search for answers after losing his family and everything he owns in a man-made disaster. With Jimmy Shergill, Vishesh Bansal, Nitish Pandey and Tushar Dalvi. (In Hindi with subtitles)

Quitters (R for sexuality, profanity, and teen drug and alcohol abuse) Coming-of-age dramedy, set in San Francisco, about a troubled teen (Ben Konigsberg) who finds a better family to live with after his parents' (Mira Sorvino and Greg Germann) marriage falls apart. Featuring Kara Hayward, Morgan Turner and Kieran Culkin.

The Seventh Fire (Unrated) Native American documentary, set in Minnesota, about a jaded gang leader (Rob Brown) just sentenced to prison who rethinks his violent lifestyle role while his impressionable teen protege (Kevin Fineday) still dreams of becoming the biggest drug dealer on their Ojibwe reservation.

Summertime (Unrated) Homoerotic romance drama, set in 1971, revolving around the love which unexpectedly blossoms between a feminist Spanish teacher (Cecile De France) and an unassuming farmer's daughter (Izia Hegelin). With Noemie Lvovsky, Jean-Henri Compere and Loulou Hanssen. (In French with subtitles)