Kam's Kapsules for Movies Opening 9-16-16

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Blair Witch (R for profanity, terror and disturbing images) Found-footage horror sequel revolving around a college student (James Allen McCune) who leads a group of classmates deep into a Maryland forest in search of the long-lost sister who disappeared during a similar expedition. Ensemble includes Callie Hernandez, Corbin Reid, Brandon Scott, Wes Robinson and Valorie Curry.

Bridget Jones' Baby (R for nudity, profanity and sexual references) Rene Zellweger reprises the title role in this baby-daddy dramedy which finds the British bachelorette pregnant but uncertain as to whether the father is her ex (Colin Firth) or her new lover (Patrick Dempsey). With Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones and Sally Phillips.

Hillsong: Let Hope Rise (PG for mature themes) Faith-based documentary chronicling the meteoric rise of Hillsong United, the Christian rock band from Australia whose hymns are sung in churches every Sunday by over 50 million people around the world.

Snowden (R for profanity, sexuality and nudity) Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays infamous whistleblower-turned-fugitive Edward Snowden in this cloak-and-dagger thriller directed by Oliver Stone. With Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Nicolas Vage, Shailene Woodley, Tom Wilkinson, Joely Richardson and Rhys Ifans.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week (Unrated) Ron Howard directed this reverential retrospective featuring found footage from interviews and concert performances by the Fab Four recorded between 1963 and 1966. Including commentary by Whoopi Goldberg, Sigourney Weaver and Elvis Costello.

Cardboard Boxer (Unrated) Bum fight drama about a Skid Row hobo (Thomas Haden Church) pressured by some spoiled-rotten teens to box other homeless men. Featuring Terrence Howard, Marlo Thomas, Macy Gray and Boyd Holbrook.

Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? (R for profanity and sexuality) Battle-of-the-sexes comedy, ostensibly by Spike Lee's Chi-Raq and/or Aristophanes' Lysistrata, revolving around a stay-at-home mom (Andrea Anders) who recruits the women in her Texas town to withhold sex from their husbands until they surrender their weapons. With Cloris Leachman, Horatio Sanz and John Michael Higgins.

Mr. Church (PG-13 for mature themes) Eddie Murphy plays the title character in this bittersweet drama about a chef who befriends a little girl (Natalie Coughlin) while cooking meals for her terminally-ill mother (Natascha McElhone). Cast includes Britt Robertson, Lucy Fry and Xavier Samuel.

Silicon Cowboys (Unrated) American Dream documentary about the trio of entrepreneurial BFFs who founded Compaq Computers over brunch at a Texas diner back in 1981.

Wild Oats (PG-13 for sexuality) Buddy comedy about a widow (Shirley MacLaine) who embarks with her best friend (Jessica Lange) on a hedonistic getaway to the Canary Islands after a life insurance company makes a multimillion dollar error in her favor. With Demi Moore, Alan Arkin, Judd Hirsch and Billy Connolly.