kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening May 16, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG for violence and epic battle scenes) Based on the second installment of the C.S. Lewis series of kiddie fantasy novels, this sequel sends the four Pevensie siblings (William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley) on another time-traveling adventure to a magical land far, far away, on this occasion to help overthrow an evil king (Sergio Castellitto) so that the exiled, rightful heir (Ben Barnes) might ascend to the throne. Cast includes Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton and Eddie Izzard.

The Midnight Meat Train (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, eroticized graphic violence and grisly images) Gruesome horror flick about a struggling photographer (Bradley Cooper) who ends up putting his and his girlfriend’s (Leslie Bibb) lives in danger after being egged on by a prominent art gallery owner (Brooke Shields) to get grittier shots for his show by following the trail of the serial killer (Vinne Jones) who’s been butchering late-night commuters on the NYC subway.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer (R for sexuality and profanity) Intergenerational comedy about a family matriarch (Lucy Gallardo) who, along with her daughter (Elizabeth Pena) and granddaughter (America “Ugly Betty” Ferrara), experience a sexual awakening over the course of a very eventful summer in a sun-bleached, Arizona border town. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

My Father, My Lord (Unrated) Modern morality tale, ostensibly inspired by the Biblical parable of Abraham, revolves around a respected rabbi (Assi Ayan) in an Orthodox community who is forced by circumstances to balance the competing demands of his faith and his family. (In Hebrew with subtitles)

Paraguayan Hammock (Unrated) Historical drama, set in Paraguay in 1935, revolving around about an anguished elderly couple’s (Ramón del Río and Georgina Genes) interminable wait for their son to return from their country’s bloody war with neighboring Bolivia. (In Guarani with subtitles)

Quantum Hoops (Unrated) David Duchovny narrates this against-the-odds documentary chronicling the effort of California Institute of Technology’s athletically-challenged basketball team of academic eggheads to win its first game in over 20 years.

Reprise (R for sexuality and profanity) Coming-of-age drama, set in Oslo, about the divergent fates of a couple of competitive, 20 year-old best friends (Anders Danielsen Lie and Espen Klouman-Heiner), both aspiring novelists, as they deal with love, depression and career issues with the unbridled passion of youth. (In Norwegian with subtitles)

Sangre de Mi Sangre (Unrated) Undocumented alien saga about a Mexican orphan (Jorge Adrian Espindola) who smuggles himself into the U.S. by tractor-trailer only to have his identity stolen by another illegal immigrant (Armando Hernandez) while en route to NYC to meet the man rumored to be his long-lost father (Jesus Ochoa). (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

Yella (Unrated) Psychological thriller about a battered wife (Nina Hoss) being stalked by her abusive husband (Hinnerk Schoenemann) who flees to West Berlin where she takes a new job with a crafty venture capitalist (Devid Striesow) and gets involved with her boss only to remain haunted by her checkered past. (In German with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening May 9, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Speed Racer (PG for action, violence and epithets) The Wachowski Brothers (The Matrix) wrote and directed this live-action adaptation of the animated, Japanese TV-series from the Sixties. Big-screen version features the car racing phenom (Emile Hirsch) teaming with an ex-rival (Matthew Fox) to take on the ruthless, corporate-sponsored favorite in a big cross-country rally called The Crucible. With Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Richard Roundtree

What Happens in Vegas (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, crude humor and a drug reference) Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz co-star in this romantic comedy about a couple of losers who meet and marry after a night of debauchery in Las Vegas. Their decision to divorce immediately is complicated when greed sets in after he wins a multi-million dollar jackpot with one of her coins.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, violence and pervasive drug and alcohol use, all involving teens) High attrition-rate horror flick about a 16 year-old blossoming beauty (Amber Heard) invited by classmates intent on taking her virginity to a wild weekend party at a remote ranch in Texas where kids start disappearing one-by-one.

The Babysitters (R for profanity, graphic sexuality and drug use, all involving teens) Jailbait drama about a 16 year-old who turns her babysitting service into a call girl ring for married fathers, after she sleeps with one of her clients (John Leguizamo). Cast includes Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Krause and Halley Wegryn Gross.

Battle for Haditha (Unrated) Iraq War documentary reconstructs the events surround the massacre of 24 civilians in Haditha by U.S. Marines ostensibly in revenge for the murder of buddy by a roadside bomb. (In English and Arabic with subtitles)

Before the Rains (PG-13 for sexuality and violence) Cross-cultural romance drama, set in India in the 1930s, about the fallout for a British tea baron (Linus Roache) and his mistress housekeeper (Nandita Das) after their clandestine adulterous affair becomes the talk of the town. (In Malayalam and English)

The Fall (R for violence) Escapist sci-fi saga, set in L.A. in the 1920s, about a little girl (Cantinca Untaru) recovering from a fall who’s befriended by a bedridden hospital patient (Lee Pace) capable of capturing her imagination by spinning a vivid tale mixing fantasy and reality.

The Memory Thief (Unrated) Identity-crisis drama about an aimless tollbooth clerk (Mark Webber) who becomes abnormally obsessed with the plight of the Jewish people after chance encounters with both an anti-Semite and a Holocaust survivor.

Noise (Unrated) Tim Robbins stars in this revenge drama about a NYC attorney turned into a vigilante by the din in Manhattan that’s been driving him crazy. With William Hurt, Billy Baldwin and Bridget Moynahan (NFL QB Tom Brady’s baby mama).

OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (Unrated) Deadpan French satire set in the Fifties and revolving around the exploits of Secret Agent OSS 117 (Jean Dujardin), a hapless cross between James Bond and Austin Powers, who has been dispatched to Egypt to solve the murder of a colleague. (In French with subtitles)

Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (Unrated) Musical horror comedy about a supernatural force which mysteriously turns all the chicken on the menu at a new fast food restaurant into zombie fowl after the franchise was built atop a sacred Native American burial ground. Ensemble cast includes Jason Yachanin, Kate Graham, Joshua Olatunde, Robin Watkins and Khalid Rivera.

A Previous Engagement (Unrated) Romantic comedy about the hijinks which ensue after a Seattle librarian (Juliet Stevenson) with a secret agenda talks her husband (Daniel Stern) into taking a family vacation on the Mediterranean island of Malta with the faint hope of keeping a date she made with her first love (Tcheky Karyo) 25 years earlier.

The Tracey Fragments (Unrated) Ellen “Juno” Page plays a familiar title role in this dysfunctional family drama about a socially-isolated and emotionally-disturbed teenager with a substance-abusing mother (Erin McMurtry), a failure of a father (Ari Cohen) and a missing little brother (Zie Souwand) she’s hypnotized into believing he’s a dog. The guilt-ridden girl roams the city looking for him, totally naked except for the shower curtain she’s wrapped herself in.

Turn the River (R for profanity) Billiards-driven drama about a small town pool shark (Famke Janssen) whose only hope of regaining custody of her young son (Jaymie Dornan) from her alcoholic ex-husband (Matt Ross) rests with hustling $50,000 by beating the best player (John Juback) in Manhattan with the help of her mentor (Rip Torn).

Unsettled (Unrated) Arab-Israeli tensions are the subject of this Middle East documentary about the contrary reactions of several young Jews (a religious filmmaker, two lifeguards and a pacifist whose sister was killed by a suicide bomber) affected by their government’s plans to dismantle settlements and to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. (In Hebrew and English with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening May 2, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Iron Man (PG-13 for intense sci-fi violence and brief suggestive content) Screen adaptation of the Marvel Comics series features Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role as a billionaire industrialist/genius inventor turned crime-fighting superhero intent on saving the planet from evil villains bent on world domination. Cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson and Hilary Swank, with a cameo by the character’s creator, the legendary Stan Lee.

Made of Honor (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality) Romantic comedy about the predicament of a womanizing bachelor (Patrick Dempsey) who decides to propose to his platonic best friend and confidante (Michelle Monaghan) only to have her return from a European business trip already engaged to a rich Scotsman (Kevin McKidd). With Kelly Clarkson, Sydney Pollack and Kadeem Hardison.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Favor (Unrated) Bittersweet drama about a lonely photographer (Frank Wood) who rekindles a romance with the recently-divorced childhood sweetheart (Paige Turco) he hasn’t seen in 25 years only to end up raising her troubled teenage son (Ryan Donowho) alone after she suddenly dies in a car accident.

Fugitive Pieces (R for sexuality) WWII flashback flick, adapted from Anne Michaels’ novel of the same name, chronicles the harrowing tale of survival of a Polish boy (Stephen Dillane) who escapes to Canada by way of Greece after witnessing the slaughter of his parents at the hands of the Nazis.

Hollywood Chinese (Unrated) Documentary examines cinematic portrayals of Asian-Americans from the Silent Film era to the present, revealing Hollywood’s disgraceful history of stereotypes and discrimination.

Mister Lonely (Unrated) Offbeat comedy about a Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) working in Paris who is invited by a Marilyn Monroe look-alike (Samantha Morton) to move into a seaside Scottish castle with her and a host of other celebrity wannabes, including Charlie Chaplin, Madonna, the Pope, the Queen of England, Abraham Lincoln, James Dean, Shirley Temple, Sammy Davis, Jr., Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Stooges. Cast includes magician David Blaine and director Werner Herzog.

Redbelt (R for profanity) David Mamet directs this martial arts saga about an honorable jiu-jitsu master (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who finds himself losing face when forced by financial circumstances to go on the prize-fighting circuit reluctantly in order to pay off his debts. Ensemble cast includes Emily Mortimer, Tim Allen, Joe Mantegna, Rebecca Pidgeon, Alice Braga and Ricky Jay.

Son of Rambow (PG-13 for violence and reckless behavior) Coming-of-age comedy, set in England in the Eighties, about a fatherless boy (Bill Wilner) raised in an Amish-like religious cult who decides to serve as a stunt man in a home movie made by a worldly-wise school bully (Lee Poulter) after being exposed to a pirated copy of Rambo.

Viva (Unrated) Anna Biller wrote, directed and handles the title role of this salacious satire of soft porn, set in the Seventies, revolving around the kinky exploits a couple of bored suburban housewives who opt to join the Sexual Revolution by experimenting with an array of swinging bohemian lifestyles.

XXY (Unrated) Uruguayan melodrama about a sexually-ambiguous 15 year-old hermaphrodite (Ines Efron) who faces some serious psychological and medical questions with the help of her parents (Ricardo Darin and Valeria Bertuchelli) and a plastic surgeon (German Palacio). (In Spanish with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening April 25, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Baby Mama (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, crude humor and a drug reference) Class-conscious comedy about a single career woman (Tina Fey) who wants to have a baby but ends up hiring a crass surrogate mom (Amy Poehler) from the other side of the tracks after learning that she only has a one-in-a-million chance of getting pregnant herself. Supporting ensemble includes Greg Kinnear, Sigourney Weaver, Maura Tierney, Romany Malco and Dax Shepard.

Deal (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and brief drug use) Burt Reynolds is back in this casino caper as an aging poker hustler who comes out of retirement to show the ropes to a cocky college student (Alex Harrison) only to have his young protégé prove to be his stiffest competition in the World Poker Championship. With Shannon Elizabeth, Vince Van Patten and Charles Durning.

Deception (R for sexuality, profanity, brief violence and drug use) Ewan McGregor stars in this whodunit about an accountant who finds himself the prime suspect in both a woman’s disappearance and multi-million dollar heist after he frequents a kinky sex club at the suggestion of his attorney pal (Hugh Jackman). With Maggie Q, Natasha Henstridge and Michelle Williams.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo (R for profanity, sexuality, crude humor and drug references) John Cho and Kal Penn reunite to reprise their title roles for another politically-incorrect adventure. This go-round, the nerdy stoners find themselves on the run after being mistaken for terrorists while aboard an airplane. Cast includes Neil Patrick Harris, Roger Bart, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Beverly D’Angelo.

Rogue (R for profanity and horror violence) Australian horror flick about a sightseeing cruise through an Outback wildlife reserve which turns into a terrifying nightmare after the captain (Radha Mitchell) accepts a dare from an American passenger (Michael Vartan) to steer the boat into unchartered waters where they find themselves stalked by a man-eating crocodile.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Roman de Gare (R for brief profanity and sexual references) Romance mystery about a popular crime novelist (Fanny Ardant) whose best sellers might have been ghostwritten by an escaped serial killer (Dominique Pinon) posing as the fiance’ of a just-dumped hairdresser (Audrey Dana) in need of a beau. (In French with subtitles)


Standard Operating Procedure (R for profanity and disturbing images involving torture and graphic nudity) Oscar-winner for Best Documentary Errol Morris (for Fog of War) Man’s dissects the Abu Ghraib scandal in an effort to make sense of man’s inhumanity to man and the failure of the U.S. military to abide by the Geneva Conventions.

Stuff and Dough (Unrated) Mobster drama about a cash-strapped street punk (Alexandru Papadopol) who agrees to drive a package from Constanta to Bucharest for the neighborhood crime boss (Razvan Vasilescu) only to find himself being shadowed by a mysterious jeep. (In Rumanian with subtitles)

Then She Found Me (R for profanity and sexuality) Helen Hunt makes her scriptwriting and directorial debut and stars in this dramedy about a NYC schoolteacher who, saddened by the death of her adoptive mother (Lynn Cohen) and abandoned by her immature husband (Matthew Broderick), gets a new lease on life when she’s courted by the father (Colin Firth) of one of her students and also tracked down by the birth mother (Bette Midler) she never knew. Featuring a cameo by Salman Rushdie.

Up the Yangtze (Unrated) The effects of the rush to modernization on a rapidly-changing China are examined by this enlightening documentary shot from the perspective of young people employed by a cruise ship on the Yangtze River. (In Mandarin and English with subtitles)

Without the King (Unrated) Swaziland is the subject of this shocking documentary about Africa’s last reigning absolute monarchy. The impoverished nation is ruled by King Mswati III, a despot who treats himself to a lavish style which includes numerous palaces, a fleet of expensive cars, designer wardrobes and 14 wives, while his subjects are suffering from starvation, a 42% AIDS rate and a life expectancy of only 31.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening April 18, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

88 Minutes (R for profanity, disturbing violence and brief nudity) Al Pacino stars in this revenge thriller, set in Seattle, as a forensic psychiatrist with only 88 minutes to find out who’s behind the death threat leveled at him on the eve of the execution of a serial killer (Neal McDonough) he helped convict. Cast includes Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman and Alicia Witt.

The Forbidden Kingdom (PG-13 for martial arts action) Jet Li and Jackie Chan co-star in this time-travel fantasy about an American teenager (Michael Angarano) who finds an Oriental artifact which teleports him back to ancient China where he embarks on an adventure with a kung fu master (Chan) to free a fabled king (Li) unfairly imprisoned by an evil warlord (Collin Chou).

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (R for profanity, sexuality and graphic nudity) Romantic comedy about a depressed slacker (Jason Segel) who goes to Hawaii to get over being dumped by a famous actress (Kristen Bell) only to discover that she’s staying at the same resort with her new, rock star boyfriend (Russell Brand). Supporting cast includes Mila Kunis, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and Steve Landesberg

Pathology (R for violence, nudity, profanity, drug use, gruesome images and graphic sexuality) Grisly horror flick about a med student (Milo Ventimiglia) who joins a conspiracy with classmates competing to execute the perfect crime only to realize that he might be the next victim on the hit list. With Alyssa Milano, Keir O’Donnell and Michael Weston.



INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Anamorph (R for profanity, violence and disturbing grisly images) Psychological thriller about a couple of detectives (Willem Dafoe and Scott Speedman) who think they’re on the trail of a copycat serial killer, until they begin to suspect that it might somehow be the work of the same sicko pronounced dead five years ago. With Clea Duvall, Peter Stormare, Michael Buscemi (Steve’s brother), Tandy Cronyn (daughter of Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn) and ex-pro wrestler Mick “Mankind” Foley.

Constantine’s Sword (Unrated) Former Catholic priest James Carroll traces the link between religion and violence in this provocative documentary examining faith-based fanaticism from the days of the Crusades right up to America’s present involvement in the Middle East.

Expelled (PG for mature themes, disturbing images and brief smoking) Snobby intellectual Ben Stein stars in this pro-Creationism documentary which finds the Nixon speechwriter-turned actor-turned eponymous game show host making the case for teaching Intelligent Design in public schools as a credible alternative to the scientific community’s generally-accepted Theory of Evolution.

Four Minutes (Unrated) Homo-erotic drama about the sexual tension which arises between a spinsterly piano teacher (Monica Bleibtreu) and the promising young inmate (Hannah Herzsprung) she gives classical piano lessons to behind bars. (In German with subtitles)

Glass (Unrated) Retrospective chronicles the musical career of Philip Glass, the prolific modern classical composer, who now in his seventies remains as driven as ever to crank out his experimental operas, symphonies, movie and dance scores and more.

The Life Before Her Eyes (R for violence, profanity, drug use and disturbing content) Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood co-star in this psychological drama about a housewife whose idyllic suburban bliss turns into a neverending nightmare when painful memories surface on the 15th anniversary of the Columbine-style tragedy which took the life of her best friend.

Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? (Unrated) Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) directs this Roger & Me homage in which he perambulates the Middle East, speaking with Muslims around the Arab World, while searching for the harder to find than Waldo religious fanatic who masterminded the 9/11 attack.

Zombie Strippers (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality and graphic violence) Futuristic, horror comedy about a government-created virus which unwittingly turns the women working at an underground gentleman’s club in a conservative Nebraska community into a powerfully-seductive race of super zombie strippers. Cast includes Robert Englund, Jenna Jameson and Roxy Saint.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening April 11, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

College (R for pervasive sexuality and crude humor, nudity, profanity, and drug and alcohol abuse) End-of-innocence comedy revolving around three high school seniors (Drake Bell, Kevin Covais and Andrew Caldwell) who enjoy a wild weekend at a raucous fraternity house during their visit to a prospective college.

Prom Night (PG-13 for violence, terror, sexuality, profanity and underage drinking) Remake of 1980 slasher flick about a group of teenagers who share a dark, childhood secret which comes back to haunt them when a sadistic killer bent on revenge starts stalking them on during their senior prom. Cast includes Brittany Snow, Johnathon Schaech and Jessica Stroup.

Smart People (R for profanity, sexuality, and brief teen drug and alcohol abuse) Dysfunctional family comedy about a widowed professor (Dennis Quaid), raising an emotionally-distant son (Ashton Holmes) and a wisecracking daughter (Ellen Page) alone, whose fortunes change when he crosses paths with a seductive former student (Sarah Jessica Parker) at about the same time his down-on-his-luck brother (Thomas Haden Church) arrives in town unannounced and needing a place to stay.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Body of War (Unrated) Former TV talk show host Phil Donahue makes his directorial debut with this sobering documentary contrasting America’s pre-war patriotic fervor with the ongoing challenges of rehabilitation facing Tomas Young, a 27 year-old soldier paralyzed by a bullet three years ago while fighting over in Iraq.

Bra Boys (R for profanity, violence and reckless behavior) Russell Crowe narrates this Australian documentary about a gang of misunderstood Sydney surfers from a beachside ‘hood unfairly associated with drugs, tattoos, partying, lawlessness and murder.

Dark Matter (R for profanity, brief sexuality and a scene of violence) Meryl Streep stars in this real-life, psychological drama, set at a U.S. university in the Nineties, as the wealthy benefactor of a promising Ph.D. candidate (Liu Ye) from China whose quest for a Nobel Prize is sabotaged by the Astrophysics Department because his controversial discovery is at odds with the conventional wisdom established by his mentor (Aidan Quinn).

Stalags (Unrated) Holocaust documentary explores the eroticized-violence contained in a curious genre of graphic pornography, set in concentration camps during World War II, which became popular in Israel in the Sixties.

Street Kings (R for graphic violence and pervasive profanity) Keanu Reeves stars in this whodunit about a vice cop implicated in the murder of his own partner (Terry Crews) who teams up with a young homicide detective (Chris Evans) to catch the real killers. Cast includes Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Common, Naomie Harris and Cedric the Entertainer.

The Take (R for violence, sexuality, profanity and drug use) Revenge-driven crime drama about an armored car driver (John Leguizamo) obsessed with tracking down the sadistic creep (Tyrese Gibson) who shot him during a holdup. Ensemble includes Rosie Perez, Bobby Cannavale and Roger Guenveur Smith.

Young@Heart (PG for mild epithets and mature themes) Musical documentary chronicles the concerts of a traveling chorus of senior citizens from New England as they entertain audiences all over the world with an eclectic repertoire of songs which ranges from Coldplay to James Brown.

Young and Restless in China (Unrated) Behind the Bamboo Curtain Documentary chronicles four years in the lives of nine young adults affected by the introduction of capitalism to their rapidly changing society. (In English and Mandarin with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening April 4, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Leatherheads (PG-13 for brief profanity) George Clooney directed and stars in this romantic comedy, set in 1925, as the owner/captain of a fledgling pro football franchise who finds himself competing with the decorated World War I hero (John Krasinski) he’s just signed for the affections of a skeptical sports reporter (Renee Zellweger) covering the team.

Nim’s Island (PG for mild action and brief epithets) Fanciful family adventure about a young girl (Abigail Breslin) with an active imagination who enlists the assistance of her favorite author (Jodie Foster) and fictional hero (Gerard Butler) in finding her father, a scientist who has gone missing on a magical island.

The Ruins (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity, graphic violence and gruesome images) Hardcore horror flick about four Americans friends (Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, Jonathan Tucker and Laura Ramsey) vacationing in Cancun who are persuaded by a German tourist (Joe Anderson) to join in the search for his missing brother amidst the ruins of an archaeological dig located in a remote Mexican jungle.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Flight of the Red Balloon (Unrated) Fanciful fairy tale about a 7 year-old boy (Simon Iteanu) who escapes to an imaginary world with his Taiwanese babysitter (Fang Song) while his overwhelmed single-mom (Juliette Binoche) attends to a variety of snowballing obligations. (In French with subtitles)

Jellyfish (Unrated) Female empowerment flick examines the divergent fortunes of three women whose paths cross at a wedding reception in Tel Aviv: the spoiled bride (Noa Knoller), a just-dumped waitress (Sarah Adler), and the deferential Filipino nurse (Ma-nenita De Latorre) of an elderly guest (Zaharira Harifai) with anger management issues. (In Hebrew and French with subtitles)

My Blueberry Nights (PG-13 for violence, smoking, drinking and mature themes)
Grammy-winner Norah Jones makes her screen debut as the star of this road flick about a broken-hearted woman who muses about modern romance while roaming around the country. Cast includes Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman.

Meet Bill (R for sexuality, profanity and drug use) Aaron Eckhart plays the title character in this midlife crisis dramedy about an unhappily-married guy who befriends a beautiful cashier (Jessica Alba) after his wife (Elizabeth Banks) starts cheating on him with a TV news reporter (Timothy Olyphant).

Nana (Unrated) Musical melodrama about the relationship which develops between two girls (Mika Nakashima and Aoi Miyazaki) with the same name but very different personalities after they meet by chance. (In Japanese with subtitles)

Sex and Death 101 (R for profanity and graphic sexuality) Romantic comedy about a reformed ladies man (Simon Baker) whose impending wedding plans are complicated by the arrival of an email naming every woman he’s ever slept with and ever will sleep with. The plot thickens after an encounter with a vengeful femme fatale (Winona Ryder) who targets womanizers. With Mindy Cohn, Sophie Monk and Leslie Bibb.

Shine a Light (PG-13 for smoking, drug use and brief profanity) Martin Scorcese directs this concert flick featuring the Rolling Stones, shot in 2006 at New York’s Beacon Theater before an audience which included Bill and Hillary Clinton. With appearances by bluesman Buddy Guy and pop diva Christina Aguilera.

The Unknown Woman (Unrated) Psychological drama about a mysterious Russian nanny (Kseniya Rappoport) for a rich Italian family who remains haunted by the violence and prostitution which marked her past life in the Ukraine. (In Italian with subtitles)

Water Lilies (Unrated) Coming-of-age flick follows the sexual awakenings of a trio of 15 year-old girls (Pauline Acquart, Louise Blachere and Adele Haenel) during an eventful summer spent chasing boys in the suburbs outside Paris. (In French with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening March 28, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

21 (PG-13 for violence, sexuality and partial nudity) Vegas casino caper recalls the real-life exploits of a quintet of card-counting MIT students who, with the help of their math professor (Kevin Spacey), beat the house for millions in winnings. Cast includes Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Jim Sturgess and Aaron Yoo.

Run, Fatboy, Run (PG-13 for crude humor, profanity, sexuality, nudity and smoking) David Schwimmer makes an impressive directorial debut with this romantic comedy about a chubby loser (Simon Pegg) looking for a second chance to impress the ex-fiancée (Thandie Newton) he’d abandoned at the altar on their wedding day five years ago after getting cold feet because she was pregnant. Supporting cast includes Hank Azaria, Harish Patel and India de Beaufort.

Stop Loss (R for graphic violence and pervasive profanity) Iraq War saga about the emotional toll exacted on an honorably-disharged veteran (Ryan Phillippe) and his family when he is ordered by the Army to return to Baghdad for another tour of duty. With Rob Brown, Channing Tatum and Ciaran Hinds.

Superhero Movie (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, crude humor, slapstick violence and drug references) Leslie Nielsen, Tracy Morgan and Pamela Anderson are among the large ensemble cast in this parody of the superhero genre which satirizes a host of comic book screen adaptations including Fantastic Four, X-Men, Spider-Man and Batman.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Alexandra (Unrated) Man’s inhumanity to man is the theme of this introspective road flick revolving around an elderly Russian woman’s (Galina Vishnevskaya) visit to the army base in Chechnya where her grandson’s (Vasily Shevtsov) battle-hardened unit is stationed. (In Russian and Chechen with subtitles)

American Zombie (Unrated) Horror comedy, directed by Grace Lee (The Grace Lee Project) chronicles the efforts of a couple of filmmakers (John Solomon and Grace Lee) to document the challenging daily lives of four zombies facing discrimination in Los Angeles.

Backseat (Unrated) Buddy road comedy revolving around the male-bonding opportunity afforded when a couple of thirty-something slackers (Robert Bogue and Josh Alexander) opt to drive from NYC to Montreal to try to meet actor Donald Sutherland.

Chapter 27 (R for profanity and sexuality) Grim drama reconstructs events unfolding in the life of assassin Mark David Chapman (Jared Leto) in the days leading up to the killing of John Lennon (Mark Lindsay Chapman). With Lindsay Lohan as an obsessed Beatle fan, Mariko Takai as Yoko, Judah Friedlander as Paul, and Lauren Milberger as Gilda Ratner.

The Cool School (Unrated) Beat Generation documentary revisits the rise of California‘s “Cool School” of modern artists who emerged in the Fifties with the help of the legendary Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles.

Flawless (PG-13 for brief profanity) Crime caper, set in London in 1960, about a disgruntled executive (Demi Moore) at a diamond importer who is enlisted by the company’s about-to-retire janitor (Michael Caine) in a scheme to steal a cache of priceless jewels from their employer.

My Brother Is an Only Child (Unrated) Something must have gotten lost in the translation of the oxymoronic title of this dysfunctional family comedy, set in rural Italy in the Sixties, chronicling the relationship of two siblings, one (Elio Germano), a neo-Fascist, the other (Ricardo Scamarcio), a Communist Party organizer. (In Italian with subtitles)

Priceless (PG-13 for nudity and sexuality) Audrey Tautou stars in this French farce as a scheming gold digger in search of a wealthy sugar daddy who seduces a shy bartender (Gad Elmaleh), mistakenly believing him to be a multi-millionaire. (In French with subtitles)

Shotgun Series (PG-13 for violence, mature themes and brief profanity) The death of a patriarch who fathered seven sons with a couple of different women sparks a bloody family feud between his two warring strains of heirs in this Shakespearean tragedy set amidst the cotton fields of a sleepy, Southern Arkansas town.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening March 21, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Drillbit Taylor (PG-13 for bullying, sexual references, profanity, crude humor and partial nudity) Owen Wilson handles the title role in this revenge comedy as a down on his luck soldier of fortune hired by three freshmen (Troy Gentile, Nate Hartley and David Dorfman) to protect them from the high school bully (Alex Frost) who has been hassling them.

Meet the Browns (PG-13 for profanity, violence, mature themes, sexual references and drug use) Tyler Perry wrote, directed and reprises his cross-dressing role as Madea in this adaptation of his play about a single-mom (Angela Bassett) who moves relocates her family from Chicago to Georgia for the funeral of the father she never met. Cast includes Rick Fox, Frankie Faison, Jenifer Lewis and Tamela and David Mann.

Shutter (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, terror and disturbing images) English language remake of the Thai horror flick of the same name about newlyweds (Joshua Jackson and Rachael Taylor) honeymooning in Tokyo who start discovering disturbing images in the photographs they take after their car hits a girl in a fatal traffic accident on Mt. Fuji.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, violence and pervasive drug and alcohol use, all involving teens) High attrition-rate horror flick about a 16 year-old blossoming beauty (Amber Heard) invited by classmates intent on taking her virginity to a wild weekend party at a remote ranch in Texas where kids start disappearing one-by-one.

Boarding Gate (R for violence, sexuality, profanity and drug use) International action thriller about a femme fatale who is having an affair with her filthy-rich former pimp (Michael Madsen) while also carrying on with the hit man (Carl Ng) out to kill him.

Fade (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama about the tensions visited upon an already strained marriage when a husband (David Connolly) suffering from an incurable case of insomnia loses not only his ability to communicate with his wife (Sara Lassez) but his grip on reality.

The Grand (R for profanity and drug use) Improvisational comedy about an alcoholic (Woody Harrelson) who enters a $10,000,000, winner take all poker tournament to save his grandfather’s hotel-casino from the clutches of a ruthless real estate developer. Cast includes Shannon Elizabeth, Mike Epps, Dennis Farina, Gabe Kaplan, Ray Romano, Hank Azaria and Jason Alexander.

Irina Palm (R for nudity, sexuality and profanity) Intergenerational drama about an aging British widow (Marianne Faithful) who secretly takes a job as a prostitute at a London whorehouse in order to pay for a life-saving operation for her seriously-ill grandson (Corey Burke).

Love Songs (Unrated) Musical romantic romp revolving around a Parisian couple (Louis Garrel and Ludivine Sagnier) who decide to try spice up their sex life by inviting another woman (Clotilde Hesme) to share their bed only to have an unexpected tragedy lead to even more adventurous liaisons. (In French with subtitles)

Nana (Unrated) Musical melodrama about the relationship which develops between two girls (Mika Nakashima and Aoi Miyazaki) with the same name but very different personalities after they meet by chance. (In Japanese with subtitles)

Planet B-Boy (unrated) Breakdancing is the subject of this acrobatic documentary which examines the evolution and enduring international appeal of this urban art form which started on the streets of NYC in the Seventies.

Shelter (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Homo-erotic romance drama about an art school dropout (Trevor Wright) stuck in a dead end job who finds himself falling in love with a cute surfer boy (Brad Rowe) from the other side of the Malibu tracks.

Under the Same Moon (PG-13 for mature themes) Immigration saga about a nine year-old Mexican boy (Adrian Alonso) who, following the death of his grandmother (Angelina Pelaez), crosses the border into the U.S. to search for his mom (Kate del Castillo) in L.A., unaware that she’s already planning to return home to be with him. Supporting cast includes America Ferrara. (In Spanish and English with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening March 14, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Doomsday (R for profanity, nudity, sexuality and graphic violence) Neil Marshall (The Descent) wrote and directed this sci-fi thriller about an elite squad of scientists dispatched to a quarantined hot zone in Scotland to find a cure for a lethal virus which has already claimed millions of lives. Cast includes Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins and Malcolm McDowell.

Horton Hears a Who (G) Jim Carrey provides the voiceover for the title character in this animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss kiddie classic about an elephant determined to come to the assistance of the inhabitants of a tiny planet when he hears cries for help coming from a speck of dust floating through the air. Voice cast includes Steve Carrell, Carol Burnett, Jonah Hill, Jamie Pressly, SNL’s Amy Poehler, Isla Fisher, Will Arnett and Seth Rogen.

Never Back Down (PG-13 for mature themes, intense violence, profanity, teen partying and premarital sexuality) Overcoming-the-odds drama, set in Orlando, stars Sean Faris as the hot-headed new kid in town who starts studying mixed martial arts after being beaten up by a bully (Cam Gigandet) for flirting with his girlfriend (Amber Heard) at a party. Karate Kid-inspired adventure features Djimon Hounsou in the Mr. Miyagi role as the lad’s mild-mannered mentor.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Blind Mountain (Unrated) Sex slave saga, set in the Nineties in China’s Shaanxi Province, chronicles the harrowing ordeal of a college coed (Huang Lu) who is drugged and sold to a mountain man (Huang Degui) as a bride. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

Flash Point (R for graphic violence) Set in the Nineties in pre-annexation Hong Kong, this martial arts saga follows the efforts of a police sergeant (Donnie Yen) and his undercover partner (Louis Koo) to infiltrate and take down a Vietnamese crime syndicate being run by a trio of vengeful brothers (Lui Leung-Wai, Collin Chou and Xing Yu) thirsty for blood. (In Mandarin, Cantonese and English with subtitles)

Funny Games (R for terror, violence and some profanity) German director Michael Haneke’s English language remake of his 1997 thriller of the same name now stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as a couple whose vacation with their young son (Devon Gearheart) is disrupted when their lakeside summer home is invaded by a couple of sadistic psychopaths (Brady Corbet and Michael Pitt).

The Heartbeat Detector (Unrated) Thought-provoking social satire about a psychologist (Mathieu Amalric) at a petrochemical company who comes to be troubled by disturbing parallels he observes between big business tactics and those employed by the Nazis during the Holocaust. (In French with subtitles)

My Father, My Lord (Unrated) Modern morality tale, ostensibly inspired by the Biblical parable of Abraham, revolves around a respected rabbi (Assi Ayan) in an Orthodox community who is forced by circumstances to balance the competing demands of his faith and his family. (In Hebrew with subtitles)

Sleepwalking (R for profanity and a violent scene) Dysfunctional family drama about the bond which develops between an 11 year-old girl (AnnaSophia Robb) and her uncle (Nick Stahl) after her irresponsible mother (Charlize Theron) unexpectedly skips town with her latest boyfriend.

Sputnik Mania (Unrated) Live Schreiber narrates this space race documentary about the USSR’s launch of Sputnik satellite in 1957. Archival footage features Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev along with U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Dwight Eisenhower.

Towards Darkness (Unrated) Crime thriller about the son (Roberto Urbina) of a Colombian banker (Tony Plana) who ends up kidnapped for ransom when he returns home from New York for the Christmas holidays. (In Spanish and English with subtitles)

War Made Easy (Unrated) Narrated by Sean Penn, this anti-war documentary exposes the perils of America’s Military-Industrial Complex which have kept the country embroiled in military conflicts all across the planet over the past half century. With appearances via archival footage by Presidents Bush I and II, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson, and by former Secretaries of Defense Robert McNamara and Donald Rumsfeld.

Wetlands Preserved (Unrated) Flash-in-the-pan documentary laments the closing of Wetlands Preserved, a defunct SoHo nightclub which supported the environment and other social causes between 1989 and 2001 while providing a platform for an eclectic assortment of musical performers ranging from Phish to Dave Matthews to The Roots.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening March 7, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

10,000 B.C. (PG-13 for action violence) Peripatetic prehistoric adventure about a brave young warrior (Steven Strait) who leads a tight-knit band of brothers on an epic journey to the ends of the Earth to rescue the love of his life (Camilla Belle) from the clutches of the warlike tribe who kidnapped her during a raid of their village.

The Bank Job (R for profanity, sexuality, nudity and violence) Jason Statham stars in this action thriller about a struggling car dealer duped by a fetching femme fatale (Saffron Burrows) with a hidden agenda into hatching a plan to burglarize a London bank’s safe deposit boxes containing not only millions in cash and jewelry but a treasure trove of dirty secrets.

College Road Trip (G) Coming-of-age comedy about a high school student (Raven Symone’) whose plans for a girls-only trip visiting prospective colleges are ruined when her overbearing, police chief father (Martin Lawrence) insists on accompanying her instead.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Blindsight (PG for mature themes and mild epithets) Himalayan panoramas serve as the breathtaking backdrop for this mile-high documentary chronicling the daring assault of Mount Everest by a team of blind Tibetan students led by a blind American climber who had previously reached the peak.

CJ7 (PG for mature themes, rude humor, mild epithets and brief smoking) Sci-fi fantasy, set in China, about a cash-strapped widower (Stephen Chow) who gives his son (Xu Jiao) a toy found in a garbage dump, unaware that the mysterious orb is actually an alien with magical powers. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

Fighting for Life (Unrated) Medical miracles are the subject of this documentary presenting the Iraq War from the perspective of American doctors and nurses toiling tirelessly to save the lives of soldiers wounded on the frontlines.

Frownland (Unrated) Edgy comedy, set in NYC, about a stuttering, door-to-door coupon salesman (Dore Mann) going everywhere in a dead end job.

Girls Rock! (PG for mature themes and mild epithets) Female empowerment documentary devoted to the mega-decibel din at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls in Portland, Oregon where pint-sized icons of tomorrow practice, practice, practice power chords on the path to superstardom.

Married Life (Unrated) Romantic triangle thriller, set in the Forties, revolving around a middle-aged adulterer (Chris Cooper) impatient to enjoy his 30 years-younger mistress (Rachel McAdams) who opts to murder rather than divorce his wife (Patricia Clarkson). With Pierce Brosnan as the pal with possibly less than honorable intentions.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (PG-13 for sexual innuendo and partial nudity) Frances McDormand stars in the title role of this romantic comedy, adapted from Winifred Watson’s 1938 novel of the same name, about an unfairly-fired British nanny who tries a new line of work as the social secretary of an American starlet (Amy Adams).

Paranoid Park (R for sexuality, profanity and disturbing images) Psychological crime saga, set in Portland, Oregon, about a teenage skateboarder (Gabe Nevins) who compounds his problems by choosing to cover-up the truth about his involvement in the death of the security guard (John Michael Burrowes) he killed accidentally.

Snow Angels (R for profanity, violence, drug use and brief sexuality) Bifurcated bittersweet drama revolving around a small town’s loss of innocence in the wake of some deadly shotgun blasts. Ensemble cast includes Kate Beckinsale, Amy Sedaris, Griffin Dunne, Sam Rockwell and Nicky Katt.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening February 22, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Be Kind, Rewind (PG-13 for sexual references) Buddy comedy about best a couple of friends who decide to try to re-shoot every movie a loyal customer (Mia Farrow) wants to rent after one (Jack Black) of them accidentally erases all the tapes at the video rental store where the other (Mos Def) works. With Danny Glover, Melonie Diaz and Sigourney Weaver.

Charlie Bartlett (R for profanity, drug use and brief nudity) Romantic comedy about a rich kid (Anton Yelchin) who finds himself falling in love with the principal’s (Robert Downey, Jr.) pretty daughter (Kat Dennings) at his new high school, while playing shrink in the boys’ room where he diagnoses patients and dispenses medication. Cast includes Hope Davis, Tyler Hilton and Megan Park.

Vantage Point (PG-13 for intense violence, disturbing images and brief profanity) Political potboiler examines an attempted assassination of the President of the United States (William Hurt) from the varying perspectives of eight eyewitnesses. Ensemble cast includes Forest Whitaker, Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, Matthew Fox, Eduardo Noriega, Richard T. Jones and Bruce McGill.

Witless Protection (PG-13 for crude and sex-related humor) Larry the Cable Guy stars in this mob comedy about a small-town sheriff in Mississippi who mistakenly kidnaps a woman (Jenny McCarthy) in the witness protection program from the four FBI agents assigned to guard her until trial. Supporting cast includes Joe Mantegna, Yaphet Kotto and Peter Stormare.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Counterfeiters (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity and violence) True WWII tale of survival, set in a Nazi concentration camp, about a master counterfeiter (Karl Markovics) forced to ply his trade to flood the market with the currency of the countries fighting Hitler and thereby devalue their money. (In German with subtitles)

Cover (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, violence, drug use and mature themes) Bill Duke directs this Philadelphia-based flashback flick about a photographer (Aunjanue Ellis) who finds herself accused of murder soon after catching her on the down-low husband (Raz Adoti) naked, in flagrante delicto, with another man. With Vivica A. Fox, Lou Gossett, Jr., Leon. Patti LaBelle, Paula Jai Parker, Clifton Davis, Roger Guenveur Smith and Mya.

The Duchess of Langeais (Unrated) Historical drama, based on the Balzac novel of the same name, chronicles the seduction of a French general (Guillaume Depardieu) by a married noblewoman (Jeanne Balibar) he meets in Paris during the Reformation in the 1820s. (In Feanch with subtitles)

The Signal (R for brief nudity, pervasive profanity and graphic violence) Experimental horror film, shot in three parts by three different directors, about a mysterious cell phone transmission which, on New Year’s Eve, starts turning people in the mythical city of Terminus into mad killers. Plot centers around the efforts of an adulterer (Justin Welborn) to save the woman (Anessa Ramsey) he’s cheating with from her sadistic husband (AJ Bowen).

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening February 15, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Definitely, Maybe (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, smoking and frank dialogue) Flashback flick revolving around a Manhattanite (Ryan Reynolds) in the midst of a messy divorce who decides to reminisce about the three loves of his life so that his curious 11 year-old daughter (Abigail Breslin) can guess which was with her mother. Was she his college sweetheart (Elizabeth Banks), his best friend and confidante (Isla Fisher) or the tough-to-tame free spirit (Rachel Weisz)? Cast includes Derek Luke and Liane Balaban.

Jumper (PG-13 for intense violence, brief sexuality and some profanity) Time-travel sci-fi thriller, based on the Steven Gould novel of the same name, about a genetic anomaly (Hayden Christensen) able to teleport himself anywhere who finds himself embroiled in a war that has been raging for eons between “Jumpers” and their sworn enemies, the Paladins. With Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Bell, Diane Lane, Tom Hulce and AnnaSophia Robb.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (PG for peril, mature themes, frightening images and action violence) Escapist fantasy about twin brothers (Freddie Highmore) who, along with their sister (Sarah Bolger), discover a magical world filled with fairies and scary creatures soon after moving with their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) from New York City to their great, great Uncle Arthur’s (David Strathairn) secluded, rundown country estate.

Step Up 2 the Streets (PG-13 for profanity, suggestive material and brief violence) Foot-stomping sequel features Briana Evigan as an orphaned street-dancer who falls in love with a classmate (Robert Hoffman) from the other side of the tracks at the prestigious Maryland School for the Arts. With only a cameo by the star of the original, Channing Tatum.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

David & Layla (Unrated) Cross-cultural romantic comedy, set in NYC, about a Jewish relationship advice guru (David Moscow) who dumps his kickboxer fiancée (Callie Thorne) for the sensual Muslim dancer (Shiva Rose) he falls in lust with at first sight.

Diary of the Dead (R for pervasive profanity, gore and graphic violence) Latest George Romero screamfest features a motley crew of film students freaked out by real-life zombies while making a low-budget horror flick in rural Pennsylvania.
Cast includes Joshua Close and Michelle Morgan, with audio cameos by Quentin Tarantino, Simon Pegg and Guillermo del Toro..

Ezra (Unrated) Sierra Leone saga about the attempt of a former child soldier (Mamoudu Turay Kamara) to return to life following the civil war which had devastated his country.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening February 8, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Fool’s Gold (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey co-star in this action comedy about a just-divorced couple who rekindle their romance after reuniting to search for a sunken treasure buried aboard a Spanish sailing ship lost at sea in 1715. Supporting cast includes Donald Sutherland, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Brian Hooks.

In Bruges (R for pervasive profanity, graphic violence and drug use) Mob comedy about a couple of hit men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) sent by their boss (Ralph Fiennes) to unwind in Belgium for a couple of weeks after an assignment in London goes horribly wrong.

Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show (R for sexual humor and pervasive profanity) Concert flick chronicles emcee Vince Vaughn presenting four of his favorite comedians, Ahmed Ahmed, John Caparulo, Bret Ernst and Sebastian Maniscalco, as they crisscross the country, performing in 30 cities in 30 days.

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (PG-13 for profanity, crude humor, sexual content and drug references) Martin Lawrence plays the title role in this ensemble comedy about a popular, Hollywood talk-show host who finds himself cut down to size during a family reunion after he travels back to his Georgia roots for his parents’ 50th anniversary. Cast includes Michael Clarke Duncan, Mo’Nique, Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer, Nicole Ari Parker and Joy Bryant.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Bab’Aziz (Unrated) Intergenerational drama about a blind mustic (Parviz Shahinkhou) who ventures into the desert with his free-spirited granddaughter (Maryam Hamid) in search of a sacred convocation of whirling dervishes said to reoccur once every 30 years. (In Arabic with subtitles)

The Band’s Visit (PG-13 for brief profanity) Cross-cultural comedy about the hijinks which ensue when an Egyptian police orchestra gets lost on its way to a concert in Israel and ends up stranded in a tiny town where everybody learns a touching lesson in tolerance. (In Arabic, Hebrew and English with subtitles)

The Hottie and the Nottie (PG-13 for sexuality and crude humor) Romantic comedy about a single guy (Joel David Moore) whose only hope of dating the gorgeous girl (Paris Hilton) of his dreams rests with somehow separating her from her ever-present, ugly duckling best friend (Christine Lakin).

How to Rob a Bank (Unrated) Crime comedy about a bank employee (Erika Christensen) and a customer (Nick Stahl) who find themselves locked in a vault and having to handle the hostage negotiations between the cops and a gang of robbers. Cast includes Terry Crews, David Carradine and Leo Fitzpatrick.

London to Brighton (Unrated) Taut crime thriller, set in London, revolving around a couple of young prostitutes (Georgia Groome and Lorraine Stanley) on the run from their pimp (John Harris) and a ruthless mobster (Alexander Morton) with a thing for underage girls.

A Walk to Beautiful (Unrated) Post-partum documentary traces the road to recovery of a quintet of Ethiopian women each of whom experienced ostracism and a loss of dignity after suffering a devastating injury during childbirth. (In Amharic and English)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening February 1, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Eye (PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing content) Jessica Alba stars in this remake of the 2002 horror flick from Hong Kong about a blind violinist haunted by frightening visions after her sight is restored by a double corneal transplant operation. With Parker Posey, Francois Chau and Chloe Moretz.

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus (G) 3-D concert flick features performances by the phenomenally-popular, 14 year-old, Disney singing sensation, shot in Utah during last year’s, 54-city, Best of Both Worlds Tour.

Over Her Dead Body (PG-13 for sexuality and profanity) Supernatural romantic comedy about a bride (Eva Longoria) who dies on her wedding day only to come back as a ghost to sabotage the budding relationship between her devastated fiancé (Paul Rudd) and the psychic (Lake Bell) he consults at the suggestion of his sister (Lindsay Sloane). Supporting cast includes Stephen Root, Sam Pancake and Jason Biggs.

Strange Wilderness (R for crude humor, sexuality, drug use and non-stop profanity) Steve Zahn and Allen Covert co-star in this over-the-top comedy as the co-hosts of an animal wildlife TV-series who try to prop up the show‘s sagging ratings by mounting an ill-advised expedition to Ecuador in search of the legendary Bigfoot.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Build a Ship, Sail to Sadness (Unrated) Musical mockumentary, shot in black and white, follows a young man (Magnus Aronson) on a moped around the rugged Scottish Highlands as he tries to sell his idea of bringing a mobile disco to the region as a means of eradicating loneliness.

Caramel (PG for mature themes involving sexuality, profanity and smoking) Female empowerment flick explores a variety of concerns of a quintet of Lebanese women employed at a Beirut beauty salon, including religion, infidelity, virginity and sexual orientation. (In Arabic and French with subtitles)

Live and Become (Unrated) Historical drama, set in the Middle East in 1985, examines the adjustment to his new homeland made by a black Christian boy (Moshe Agazai) brought to Israel as part of Operation Moses, an airlift of about 8,000 Ethiopian Jews fleeing religious persecution. (In Amharic, Hebrew and French with subtitles)

Praying with Lior (Unrated) Documentary presents an uplifting portrait of the son of a rabbi about to be bar mitzvahed who was born with Down Syndrome yet has come to be considered a spiritual genius in his tight-knit community.

The Silence before Bach (Unrated) Experimental musical collage, shot across Europe, comprised of a cornucopia of visual images designed to underscore the cultural significance of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. (In German, Spanish and Italian with subtitles)

The Witnesses (Unrated) HIV+ drama, set at the dawn of the AIDS epidemic, examines the initial outbreak of a mysterious new disease among a motley crew of group of friends in Paris in the early Eighties. (In French with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening January 18, 2008


BIG BUDGET FILMS

27 Dresses (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and innuendo) Katherine Heigl stars in this romantic comedy about the frustrations of a perennial bridesmaid who has to bite her tongue when the boss (Edward Burns) she has had a secret crush on falls in love at first sight with her younger sister (Malin Akerman). Cast includes James Marsden, Judy Greer and Brigitte Bourdeau.

Cloverfield (PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images) Sci-fi action thriller chronicles the harrowing ordeal of five young New Yorkers who throw a friend a going-away party the same night a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Ensemble includes Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller and Odette Yustman.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Beaufort (Unrated) Middle East drama, adapted from Ron Lesham’s debut novel about the final months spent by a squad of Israeli soldiers defending a mountaintop lookout in an occupied area of Southern Lebanon, seized from the PLO in 1982, before abandoning the militarily insignificant fort in 2000. (In Hebrew with subtitles)

Cassandra’s Dream (PG-13 for sexuality, violence and mature themes) Woody Allen directs this crime saga, set in London, about two brothers (Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) with money woes who hatch a sinister scheme after becoming embroiled with a femme fatale (Hayley Atwell). All-Brit cast includes Tom Wilkinson, John Benfield and Sally Hawkins.

Day Zero (R for profanity, sexuality, violence and drug use) Patriotic duty is the theme of this drama about the fate of three friends from NYC, a lawyer (Chris Klein), a writer (Elijah Wood), and a cabbie (Jon Bernthal), who have each received a draft notice from the military ordering them to report in 30 days. Supporting cast includes Ally Sheedy, Ginnifer Goodwin and Elisabeth Moss.

Mad Money (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity and drug references) Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes co-star in this remake of Hot Money, a British thriller based on a real-life crime caper, now overhauled as a crime comedy about three employees of the Federal Reserve Bank who conspire to steal millions of dollars in currency about to be destroyed.

Still Life (Unrated) Postdiluvian romance drama chronicles the fates of several citizens’ who return to the Yangtze River village of Fengjie years after a disastrous flood there during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Narratives include a coalminer (Han Sanming) and a nurse (Tao Shao) searching for their spouses. (In Mandarin with subtitles)

Summer Palace (Unrated) Romance drama, about a country girl (Lei Hao) who moves to Beijing to attend college where she falls madly in love with a fellow student (Xiaodong Guo) with whom she proceeds to explores a forbidden world of pleasure and passion. (In Mandarin and German with subtitles)

Taxi to the Dark Side (R for torture, disturbing images and graphic nudity) War on Terror documentary explores of the evolution of the American position on torture and the Geneva Conventions by telescoping in on the case of an innocent cabbie beaten to death while being interrogated at Bagram Air Force base in Afghanistan.

Teeth (R for profanity, drug use and disturbing images involving sex and violence) Horror comedy about a chaste, high school coed (Jess Weixler) who discovers that her private parts have teeth during a sexual assault.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening January 11, 2008

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Bucket List (PG-13 for profanity and a sexual reference) Oscar-winners Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman co-star in this bittersweet end-of-life saga as terminally-ill cancer patients who make a break from the hospital after compiling a checklist of everything they want to do before kicking the bucket. With Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd and Rowena King.

First Sunday (PG-13 for profanity, sexual humor and drug references) Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan co-star in this crime comedy about a couple of ghetto gangstas who end up with more than they bargained for when their attempt to rob a church goes awry. Ensemble cast includes Katt Williams, Regina Hall, Loretta Devine, Keith David, Chi McBride, Clifton Powell and Nicholas Turturro.

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (PG-13 for intense battle sequences) Epic fantasy adventure, based on the video game Dungeon Siege,
stars Jason Statham as a revenge-minded family man-turned-warrior intent on rescuing his kidnapped wife (Claire Forlani) from the evil race of rampaging beasts responsible for the death of their son. Supporting cast includes Burt Reynolds, Leelee Sobieski, Ray Liotta, Ron Perlman, John Rhys-Davies and Brian J. White.

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie (G) Family-oriented, animated adventure about three misfit busboys who dream of ditching their dishrags to appear onstage in their restaurant’s pirate-themed dinner theater only to end up miraculously travel back in time to the 17th C. where they end up embroiled in a real-life seafaring saga.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Business of Being Born (Unrated) In-hospital versus at-home childbirth is debated in this documentary featuring gynecologists and expectant moms (including Ricki Lake) weighing the pros and cons of both options plus intimate footage of the arrival of newborn babies.

Liberty Kid (Unrated) Buddy drama about a pair of pals whose friendship is strained after they lose their dead-end jobs at the Statue of Liberty when the island is closed in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attack. One (Kareem Savinon) decides to deal drugs, while the other (Al Thompson) enlists in the Army only to end up on the front lines in Iraq.

Taxi to the Dark Side (R for torture, disturbing images and graphic nudity) War on Terror documentary explores of the evolution of the American position on torture and the Geneva Conventions by telescoping in on the case of an innocent cabbie beaten to death while being interrogated at Bagram Air Force base in Afghanistan.

Woman on the Beach (Unrated) Romance drama about a movie director (Kim Seung-woo) who invites a friend (Kim Tae-woo) to the beach on the pretext of collaborating on a script, while his real intention is to make a pass at the guy’s girlfriend (Go Hyun-jung). (In Korean with subtitles)

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening January 4, 2008

BIG BUDGET FILMS

One Missed Call (PG-13 for mature themes, frightening images, terror, intense violence and some sexual material) Shannyn Sossamon stars in this remake of Chakushin Ari, a high attrition-rate horror flick from Japan about a traumatized young woman who’s afraid to answer her cell phone after several of her ill-fated friends receive messages accurately predicting exactly when and how they are about to die. With Edward Burns as the detective determined to crack the case.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

A Bloody Aria (Unrated) Appearances can be deceiving in this gruesome examination of bullying about a perverted music professor (Byeong-jun Lee) who kickstarts an escalating roundelay of revenge after making unwanted advances on his pretty protégé (Ye-ryeon Cha) while driving her to an audition. (In Korean with subtitles)

The Killing of John Lennon (Unrated) Chilling bio-pic presumes to get inside the mind of Mark David Chapman (Jonas Ball), the deranged maniac who claimed to be inspired by the Devil and by the book The Catcher in the Rye to murder The Beatles’ John Lennon before then being instructed by God to plead guilty to the senseless killing.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening December 25, 2007


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (R for violence, gore and profanity) There is no peace on Earth this Christmas for the unsuspecting folks in the quiet Colorado town where this sci-fi sequel unfolds pitting the last surviving predator against an army of aliens in a bloody, bestial showdown. With John Ortiz, Steven Pasquale, Shareeka Epps and Reiko Aylesworth.

The Great Debaters (PG-13 for profanity, mature themes, brief sexuality, and the depiction of violence and disturbing images) Denzel Washington directs and stars opposite Forest Whitaker and Kimberly Elise in this fact-based drama, set in 1935, about a professor at a small black college who inspired students to form the school’s first debate team and to challenge Harvard for the national championship.

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (PG for action/peril, mild epithets and brief smoking) Fanciful fable, set during WWII and based on the children’s book by Dick King-Smith, about a lonely Scottish boy (Alex Etel) who finds a magical egg which hatches a curious sea creature he raises till it grows into a towering monster he must release into the Loch Ness where it becomes the subject of an enduring Scottish legend. Cast includes Emily Watson, Brian Cox and Ben Chaplin.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Bucket List (PG-13 for profanity and a sexual reference) Oscar-winners Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman co-star in this bittersweet end-of-life saga as terminally-ill cancer patients who make a break from the hospital after compiling a checklist of everything they want to do before kicking the bucket. With Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd and Rowena King.

Honeydripper (PG-13 for ethnic slurs, brief violence and suggestive material) Danny Glover stars in this historical drama, set in rural Alabama in the Fifties, as the owner of a nightclub struggling to keep his place afloat by catering to the changing musical tastes of his clientele. Ensemble cast includes Charles S. Dutton, Stacy Keach, Sean Patrick Thomas, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Yaya DaCosta, and the film’s director, John Sayles.

Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (Unrated) Expose’ revisits how Hollywood has handled the Holocaust over the past 60 years, from the industry’s initial reluctance to cover the tragedy to its gradually depicting the tragedy’s unspeakable horrors in increasingly explicit fashion. Narrated by Gen Hackman, and with archival footage and commentary by Steven Spielberg, Liam Neeson, Sidney Lumet and Ben Kingsley.

The Orphanage (R for disturbing content) Supernatural suspense flick about a woman (Belen Rueda) who moves with her family into the abandoned, seaside orphanage where she was raised 30 years ago only to discover that the house is haunted when her young son (Roger Princep) is befriended by a ghost. (In Spanish with subtitles)

Persepolis (PG-13 for sexual references, profanity, mature themes, violent images and brief drug use) Feminist animated adventure, set at the dawn of the Iranian revolution in the late seventies, chronicles the resistance to the oppressive, fundamentalist Islamic regime displayed by a defiant young girl (Chiara Mastroianni) followed from the age of 9 to 24. (In French, Persian, German and English with subtitles)

Smiley Face (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Anna Faris stars in this comic misadventure about a day in the life of an aspiring, NYC actress who mistakenly eats a batch of her stoner roommate’s (Danny Masterson) Marijuana-laced brownies before setting out for an audition.

There Will Be Blood (R for violence) Daniel Day-Lewis stars in this adaptation of Oil!, Upton Sinclair’s classic, 1927 novel, a turn of the 20th Century epic chronicling the life of a self-made, California oil tycoon. With Paul Dano, Kevin J. O’Connor and Ciaran Hinds.

Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening December 21, 2007


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Charlie Wilson’s War (R for profanity, nudity, sexuality and drug use) Tom Hanks handles the title role in this bio-pic based on the George Crile best seller about a boozing, womanizing Congressman from Texas who, in the early Eighties, helped secretly fund the covert CIA operation in Afghanistan which led to the demise of the Soviet Union. With Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts and Ned Beatty.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG for mild violence) Nicolas Cage reprises his role as treasure hunter Ben Gates for another globe-trotting, action-oriented adventure. This go-round, his quest is to clear the name of an ancestor implicated in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by finding the 18 pages missing from the diary of John Wilkes Booth’s diary. Talented cast includes Oscar-winners Cage, Helen Mirren and Jon Voight, and nominees Harvey Keitel and Ed Harris.

P.S. I Love You (PG-13 for sexual references and brief nudity) Bittersweet drama adapted from Cecilia Ahern’s debut novel about a grieving widow (Hilary Swank) who deals with her loss with the help of ten monthly messages magically delivered to her posthumously by her late husband (Gerard Butler). Cast includes Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, Kathy Bates and Harry Connick, Jr.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (R for graphic violence) Johnny Depp stars in this adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, set in 19th C. London, about a London barber bent on revenge after being imprisoned for 15 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Directed by Tim Burton, and featuring Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (R for profanity, nudity, sexuality and drug use) Musical parody of the bio-pic genre stars John C. Reilly stars in the titular role as a rock & roll icon who finally settles down with his longtime backup singer (Jenna Fischer) after several failed marriages, sleeping around with over 400 women, fathering 22 children and beating an assortment of drug addictions. With Jonah Hill, Harold Ramis, Morgan Fairchild, Jack Black and Jason Schwartzmann.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The District (Unrated) Animated social satire set in Budapest about a gang of teen who travel back in time to alter evolution so that their turf turns out to be oil-rich when they return to the present. (In Hungarian, Romany and English with subtitles)

Flakes (Unrated) quirky comedy, set in New Orleans, about the laid back proprietor (Aaron Stanford) of a restaurant that only serves cereal who finds his surprising success suddenly threatened when a corporate competitor opens a bistro with a similar menu right across the street. With Zooey Deschanel and Christopher Lloyd.

Steep (PG for sports action and brief profanity) Daredevil documentary chronicles the evolution of extreme skiing from its inception in France during the Seventies to its widespread acceptance today as a legitimate, if seemingly suicidal, sport.