Kam's Kapsules for movies opening April 14, 2017

 

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun  

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Fate of the Furious (PG-13 for profanity, suggestive content, and prolonged sequences of violence and destruction) 8th installment in the Fast and Furious franchise finds Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) settling down after their honeymoon only to have a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) seduce him into a criminal betrayal of those closest to him. Ensemble includes Helen Mirren, Tyrese, Ludacris, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and Scott Eastwood (Clint's son).

Spark: A Space Tail (PG for action and rude humor) Kiddie-oriented, animated adventure about a teenage monkey (Jace Norman) that embarks with his BFFs (Jessica Biel and Rob deLeeuw) on a dangerous mission to reconstruct a planet ripped to pieces by an evil overlord (A.C. Peterson). Voice cast includes Susan Sarandon, Hilary Swank and Patrick Stewart).

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Chasing Trane (Unrated) Reverential biopic exploring the musical impact of jazz great John Coltrane (1926-1967). Includes archival footage as well as reflections by Common, Dr. Cornel West, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, Wynton Marsalis and President Bill Clinton.

Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent (R for profanity) Prestige biopic about the celebrity chef who contributed to the creation of New American cuisine. Featuring commentary by contemporaries Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali and Martha Stewart.

Little Boxes (Unrated) Cross-cultural drama chronicling the challenges faced by an interracial couple (Melanie Lynskey and Nelsan Ellis) with a son in the 6th grade (Armani Jackson) when they relocate from Brooklyn to a lily-white suburb in the Pacific Northwest. With Janeane Garofalo, Miranda McKeon and Oona Laurence.

The Lost City of Z (PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, nudity and brief profanity) Fact-based docudrama recounting the real-life exploits of Colonel Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), the British explorer who disappeared in the jungles of the Amazon in 1925 while searching for proof of an ancient civilization. Cast includes Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller and Tom Holland.

Norman (R for profanity) Richard Gere handles the title role in this suspense thriller as a wheeler-dealer whose stature in New York's Jewish community rises after he helps an ambitious politician (Lior Ashkenazi) become prime minister of Israel. With Steve Buscemi, Michael Sheen, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Hank Azaria. (In English and Hebrew with subtitles)

The Outcasts (PG-13 for crude humor, suggestive content, profanity and partying) Revenge comedy revolving around a couple of high school pariahs (Victoria Justice and Eden Sher) who recruit other ostracized classmates to overthrow the popular clique ruining their lives. Cast includes Peyton List, Avan Jogia, Katie Chang and Ted McGinley.

A Quiet Passion (PG-13 for mature themes, disturbing images and suggestive material) Cynthia Nixon plays poet Emily Dickinson in this biopic chronicling the life and times of the posthumously-appreciated recluse. Wiith Jennifer Ehle, Duncan Duff and Keith Carradine.