Kam's Kapsules: For movies opening June 10, 2011

OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam's Kapsules:
Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams
For movies opening June 10, 2011


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer (PG for mild epithets and rude humor) Jordana Beatty stars in the title role of this madcap adaptation of the children’s best seller about a feisty third-grader who finds herself dreading the prospect of spending a boring summer vacation with her annoying little brother (Parris Mosteller) and an awful aunt (Heather Graham) she’s never met. With Kristoffer Ryan Winters, Janet Varney and Jaleel “Urkel” White.

Super 8 (PG-13 for profanity, drug use and intense violence) Fantasy thriller, set in Ohio in 1979, about a group of friends who come to suspect that the train wreck they witnessed wasn’t an accident when the disaster is followed by a series of unexplainable disappearances. Cast includes Elle Fanning, Ryan Lee and Joel Courtney.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Agrarian Utopia (Unrated) Visually-captivating, salt-of-the-earth saga highlighting how peasants farming the rice paddies of Thailand are being exploited by avaricious bankers playing a rigged form of capitalism. Starring Prayad, Sompong and Sai Jumma, and Nikorn and Somnuek Mungmeung, (In Thai with subtitles)

Bride Flight (R for sexuality and graphic nudity) Romance drama delineating the diverging fates of three Dutch refugees: a fashion designer (Anna Drijver), a farm girl (Karina Smulders) and a barren spinster (Elise Schaap), all of whom emigrate from Holland to New Zealand after World War II to enter arranged marriages. (In Dutch and English with subtitles)

Just Like Us (R for profanity) Cross-cultural, comedy flick, shot in both the U.S. and the Middle East, and featuring standup routines by such talented comics as Ahmed Ahmed, Whitney Cummings, Tommy Davidson and Sherif Azab.

One Lucky Elephant (Unrated) Poignant, pachyderm-whisperer documentary examining the end of the relationship of the ailing owner of a traveling circus and the orphaned, 18 year-old elephant he’d rescued in the wild and raised practically from birth.

Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? (Unrated) Endangered species expose’ examining the mysterious decimation of the honeybee population all around the globe, except New Zealand. Includes pontificating by perplexed experts like botanist Hugh Wilson, swarm catcher Jacqueline Freeman and entomologist May Berenbaum.

Reversion (Unrated) Apocalyptic sci-fi drama set in an altered City of Los Angeles where the past, present and future unfold simultaneously, and revolving around a black woman (Leslie Silva) struggling to remain faithful to her man (Jason Olive) in the wake of a genetic mutation which has left her with a lack of morality. Support cast includes Tom Maden, Jason Frost, Indira Wilson and Justin Huen.

The Trip (Unrated) Culinary comedy chronicling character actor Steve Coogan’s sampling of British cuisine while accompanied on a tour of England’s finest restaurants by his best friend/colleague, Rob Brydon.

Trollhunter (Unrated) Scandinavian horror flick about some students investigating a series of bear killings who get the surprise of their lives when they realize that the person responsible is actually a bloodthirsty trollhunter (Otto Jespersen). With Johanna Morck, Knut Naerum and Erik Bach. (In Norwegian with subtitles)

Viva Riva! (Unrated) Congo drama about a smooth operator (Patsha Bay) who masterminds a nefarious plot to pilfer a fortune in petrol when not lavishing attention on his luscious girlfriend (Manie Malone). With Hoji Fortuna, Marlene Longange and Alex Herabo. (In French and Lingala with subtitles)

An Uncaged Eagle (BOOK REVIEW)

An Uncaged Eagle – True Freedom
by Colonel Richard Toliver, USAF (Ret.)
Foreword by Ross Perot
Saguaro Publishing Company
Hardcover, $29.99
512 pages, Illustrated
ISBN: 978-0-9840991-0-8

Book Review by Kam Williams

“This autobiography tells the story of my life while highlighting some of the tremendous people who helped me overcome adversities I faced and become who I am today. The odyssey begins with my family’s escape from the Ku Klux Klan in the backwoods of Louisiana in 1942.
It continues with my boyhood days on dirt streets in Shreveport… It chronicles my Air Force career that included 446 combat missions in Southeast Asia... It is the story of the youngster who earned three dollars a week on his first job and ended up working for billionaire Ross Perot...
This book was written to inspire and motivate those who may still be trapped in an emotional cage of despair and frustration. Hopefully, they will be encouraged to seek the freedom I was blessed to find – the freedom to create, dream, forgive, love, and to pursue the life meant for us by our Creator.”
-- Excerpted from the Introduction (pgs. xii-xiii)

Richard Toliver was born in Bellevue, Louisiana in 1938, a perilous time to be black in the Deep South. When he was just a toddler, his father became embroiled in a boundary dispute with a racist white neighbor who was brazenly stealing land and livestock that had been in the family for generations. Although the social mores of the day dictated that African-Americans were supposed to be deferential in the face of such injustices, Dick’s dad decided to stand up for himself as the provider for a wife and five young kids.
But when word reached the local Ku Klux Klan of the existence in town of an uppity black man, a lynch mob was organized, and the Tolivers barely escaped with the clothes on their backs. In the process, however, they lost the farm and everything else they owned.
Despite the traumatic incident which ruined his family financially, Richard didn’t subsequently become embittered during formative years marked by poverty and Jim Crow segregation. Instead of hating whites or the country which denied him equality, he overcame a host of obstacles via a combination of faith, patriotism and personal intestinal fortitude.
An Uncaged Eagle – True Freedom chronicles Dick’s rise from the humblest of origins in Shreveport, Louisiana to a distinguished, 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force. Here, in a colorful and most entertaining fashion, the highly-decorated retired Colonel recounts the highs and lows of a life well-lived.
Precisely the sort of real role model deserving of accolades during this Memorial Day-Father’s Day season.

Bow Wow: The “Madea’s Big Happy Family” Interview

with Kam Williams

Headline: Bow Wow’s Big Happy Bark Better than His Bite

It was clear from an early age that Shad “Bow Wow” Moss was destined for the spotlight. At just 5, he was discovered by Snoop Dogg and featured on the rap icon’s groundbreaking “Doggystyle” album. Renamed Bow Wow for his solo debut, he teamed up with chart-topping/hit-making producer Jermaine Dupri to release “Beware of Dog” in 2000, the kickoff to a string of platinum and gold albums that spawned a half-dozen #1 singles and platinum songs.
Bow Wow is the “Youngest Solo Rapper to Ever Hit No. 1,” as recognized by the Guinness World Records. All told, he’s sold more than 10 million CDs and 14 million digital assets to date.
Last year, he starred in the hit motion picture “Lottery Ticket,” and he also enjoyed a recurring role on the HBO hit series “Entourage.” His impressive list of screen credits includes: “Hurricane Season” (2009), “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (2006), “Roll Bounce” (2005), “Johnson Family Vacation” (2004) and “Like Mike” (2002).
Here, Bow Wow talks about playing Byron in Madea’s Big Happy Family.


Kam Williams: How you been, Bow Wow?
Bow Wow: I’m alright, Kam, just working.

KW: The last time we spoke, you had all your fans interacting with you on Skype at the same time I was interviewing you about Lottery Ticket.
BW: Yeah, man, that was crazy. I remember it like it was yesterday. We’re right back at it now.

KW: What interested you in Madea’s Big Happy Family?
BW: What interested me was the opportunity to work with Tyler [Perry], which had always been an objective of mine because of his being a top Hollywood director. I remember walking up to him at a Janet Jackson concert and going like, “Yo, man, you gotta put me in one of your movies,” as if he’d be crazy if he didn’t. I thought he’d probably forget, because I have people come up to me trying to talk business all the time, but I guess he kept me in mind. It was like a blessing from God when I heard he wanted me to play Byron.

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier asks: What was it like working with Tyler Perry?
BW: It was dope! I had a lot of fun working with him. He’s a hard worker. And he works extremely fast, which is how I like to operate, because he comes to the set knowing what shots he wants to get. He’s very professional and doesn’t waste any time. I definitely can’t wait to do another Tyler Perry movie, especially since I liked the moral of the story.

KW: What would you say is the movie’s message?
BW: That tomorrow is never promised and that family is very important. So, make sure you tell your family you love them each and every day because you don’t know when it might be your last opportunity.

KW: Tyler certainly has a knack for crafting morality plays which touch folks deeply.
BW: Most definitely. He does a terrific job with those dramatic moments. I think it comes from his own life experiences and from making it after everything he had to overcome.

KW: How was it acting opposite Lauren London who played your girlfriend, Renee, and working with the rest of the ensemble?
BW: I’ve known Lauren for a while, I had just worked with Loretta Devine on Lottery Ticket, and I’d worked with the majority of the cast before, so it was really comfortable for me on set.

KW: Larry Greenberg says: Tyler Perry plays so many parts in this film. Were you worried that he was going to take your role?
BW: [LOL] No, I wasn’t worried about that at all. [Laughs some more]

KW: Brian Stimson says: I’d like to know whether you faced any difficulties making the transition from childhood to adulthood. Most of us not in the spotlight can easily shed those childhood personas, but I wonder if it’s the same for someone who is both a music and film star?
BW: I always say, “It’s all about the work.” That’s one thing I’ve done. I’ve just committed to my work, which I think is what has enabled me to make it over that hurdle that a lot of other child stars don’t. You can become greater than what you already are. That’s what I’m always about.

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks: How has show business changed since you started?
BW: Dramatically! In music, everything’s digital now. But I think change is normal. There’s always a natural progression. Even in Hollywood, where you see many more independent films being shot.


KW: Irene also asks: What achievement in your career makes you proudest?
BW: I’m too young to say at this point in my career. I have way too much more to accomplish.

KW: Irene’s last question: Acting or rapping, which is your preference?
BW: Acting in movies.

KW: Harriet Pakula Teweles says: When you got older, you removed the 'Lil' from your name. As you age and mature, might you shorten it again?
BW: No, I think if I ever changed my stage name again, I’d just start using my real name, Shad.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
BW: That’s crazy! [Chuckles] Yeah, one question people rarely ask me is whether I’m happy doing what I do?

KW: Okay, are you happy doing what you do?
BW: Honestly? Sometimes. When it comes to movies, I love it. No complaints. But with music, I’m only happy 75% of the time because there’s a lot of nonsense you have to deal with in the industry, although I still give it 110%. It’s a constant struggle for artists in the music industry.

KW: Do you ever wish you could have your anonymity back?
BW: In my eyes, I feel like I’m still a regular dude. For instance, I went to the movies last night. I can go to the busiest places and not get noticed, even in Manhattan.

KW: Well, thanks again Bow Wow, and I look forward to speaking to you about your next project?
BW: Definitely, man, definitely!

Tied to a Chair

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Frustrated Housewife Abandons Hubby for Acting Career in Midlife-Crisis Comedy

After 25 years of incessant mental abuse, housewife Naomi Holbroke (Bonnie Loren) has finally had it up to here with being berated by her insufferable husband (Richard Franklin). Not only does the British bureaucrat continually complain about her cooking, but he’s never appreciated the fact that she abandoned her dream of becoming an actress when she married him and moved to England.
Naomi handles her midlife crisis by leaving the creep for the Cannes Film Festival where she attempts to kickstart her career by auditioning for the lead in a film just being cast by Billy Rust (Mario Van Peebles), a one-hit wonder who’s trying to revitalize his own after a long dry spell. Trouble is the role calls for a voluptuous, young ingénue, not a flat-chested cougar who’s looking a little long in the tooth.
Not one to be discouraged easily, Naomi nonetheless persuades Billy to take her up to his hotel room and tie her to a chair as called for by the script’s sadomasochistic theme because “It’s every woman’s fantasy!” (Who knew?) Unfortunately, instead of finding her performance the least bit provocative, blasé Billy merely drifts off into a very deep sleep. Humiliated, Naomi lets herself out somehow still bound, and she subsequently shows up in the States several days later to stalk the director for another screen test.
That is the intriguing enough point of departure of Tied to a Chair, a screwball comedy written and directed by Michael Bergmann. Despite a truth in advertising title which does the best job of living up to its billing since Snakes on a Plane, the picture turns out to be a tad too screwy for its own good.
For, once New York native Naomi arrives in the Big Apple, the movie morphs dramatically from the improbable to the preposterous, starting with Billy’s decapitation. Soon, she’s implicated in the crime, and it’s not long before she’s commandeering a cab and careening around town and running a gauntlet comprised of cops, mobsters and radical Islamists.
Shot between 2007 and 2009, the film feels even more dated than that due to its featuring cartoonish suicide bombers hatching a cockamamie terrorist plot, caricatures which maybe might have worked immediately in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Regardless, the rapid disintegration of Tied to a Chair’s promising plot into nonsense looks like Michael Bergmann might have merely quit directing midway through the movie after having established a compelling premise.
He must have forgotten to include a screenplay in the flick’s budget.

Fair (1 star)
Unrated
Running Time: 95 minutes
Distributor: Process Studio Theatre

Top Ten DVD List for May 31st

by Kam Williams

Headline: Top Ten DVD List for May 31st

Stanley Kubrick: The Essential Collection


Psych – The Complete Fifth Season


Biutiful


Everybody Loves Raymond – The Complete Series


Undertow


True Blood – The Complete Third Season


Prime 9: MLB Heroics


Bands on the Run: The Rubber Band Movie


Ben Bailey: Road Rage and Accidental Ornithology


Hijos del Carnaval – Seasons One & Two



Honorable Mention

Kaboom


Blue: The Complete First Season


Passion Play


Swamp People - The Complete Season One


The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town

Hello Lonesome

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Lovelorn Find Unlikely Bedfellows in Melancholy Mood Flick

Eleanor (Lynn Cohen) is an attractive and active senior citizen who lives alone in a sprawling suburbia where an automobile is critical to maintaining a connection to the rest of civilization. For this reason, she’s beside herself the day the Department of Motor Vehicles refuses to renew her driver’s license on account of her failing eyesight.
Unfortunately, Eleanor compounds the sudden transportation problem by impulsively selling her classic Thunderbird, forgetting how much it still serves as a nostalgic reminder of a lifetime of pleasant adventures alongside her dearly-departed husband. Nevertheless, she manages to continue running her daily errands by relying on the charity of the handsome next-door neighbor (James Urbaniak) she’s barely interacted with before.
Soon, however, the well-preserved widow finds herself leaning on the very-accommodating young man’s shoulder not merely for rides but emotionally, too, subtly hinting at a desire for a degree of intimacy by admitting how much she misses hugging and spooning in bed. And Gary reciprocates by expressing his regret that his icy ex-wife was never inclined to cuddle.
Despite a playful exchange of “I could be your mother!” and “You could be my grandmother!” the acknowledged difference in their ages does nothing to discourage this pair. Thus, it isn’t long before the two lonely hearts are sharing nightly sleepovers, even if perhaps initially more out of convenience than passion.
The same can’t be said about Gordon (Nate Smith) and Deb (Sabrina Lloyd), a couple of strangers who meet on the internet and rendezvous to use each other for what was just supposed to be a wanton, one-night stand of acrobatic carnality. They unexpectedly fall head-over-heels for each other and continue to date, although a fly later lands in their lubricating ointment when a lump in her breast is diagnosed as a cancerous tumor. Will Gordon bail on the budding relationship or stick around to help his terrified partner battle the disease?
While awaiting the resolution of that intriguing scenario, this absorbing triskelion sets up one other storyline. Bill (Harry Chase) has just been dumped by his wife, and his emotionally-estranged daughter is no longer taking his calls. As a voiceover actor working out of his home studio, he’s already been something of a recluse. Now in need of more human interaction, the normally taciturn hermit reaches out to his express package deliveryman (Kamel Boutros) in friendship, but the overture is first mistaken for a romantic pass.
This trio of discrete tales revolving around unlikely bedfellows fuels the fires of Hello Lonesome, a palpably-realistic, melancholy mood flick marking the auspicious script and directorial debut of Adam Reid. Congrats to rookie Reid for crafting such an endlessly-amusing, slice-of-life screenplay, for finding the right cast to execute that vision, and for adding the rest of just the right ingredients to the recipe for a satisfying, cinematic stew best served steamy, sentimental and sobering!

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Distributor: Bodega Studios

Spork

Film Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Ostracized Teen Overcomes Teasing in Coming of Age Musical Comedy

In some ways, 14 year-old Spork (Savannah Stehlin) is your typical adolescent trying to negotiating her way through those awkward years. Her being frizzy-haired, overweight and hailing from the wrong side of the tracks makes her easy prey for Cherry Lane Middle School’s exclusive clique of popular blondes led by the insufferable Betsy Byotch (Rachel G. Fox).
But Spork has considerable additional burdens to bear, being an orphan whose mother died after her father abandoned the family. Since then, she’s been raised in a trailer park by her big brother, Spit (Rodney Eastman). He’s the one who came up with her sibilant nickname inspired by that infernal hybrid of a spoon and a fork, due to the fact that she has both male and female sex organs.
Spit’s publicly outing his sister as a hermaphrodite has only added to her sense of social isolation, as her tormentors have taken to referring to her as everything from “Fagatron” to a “He-She.” Consequently, Spork now hangs with the African-American crowd, basically because of the support of her best friend, Tootsie Roll (Sydney Park). And even though she has no rhythm, with the black kids’ blessing, encouragement and coaching, she decides to enter her school’s Annual Dance-Off Competition.
That, in a nutshell, sets up the eventual big showdown around which Spork revolves, as quirky a coming-of-age comedy as you are ever apt to encounter. Written and directed by J.B. Ghuman, Jr., the picture might be best thought of as a cross of Kick-Ass and Napoleon Dynamite; or better yet as Mean Girls meets The Revenge of the Nerds.
It’s admittedly fun to root for such an abject underdog, although while watching this screwball adventure, I couldn’t help but wonder whether students in junior high are really quite as precocious nowadays as these sexually-active characters. Fair warning: some of the ethnic humor is of questionable taste, like when the white dance team performs in blackface or when a fat Chinese kid is called a “Chunk,” ostensibly a slur emanating from a blend of “Chink” and “chunky.”
Spoiler alert: Spork not only ultimately prevails, but she even manages to win the heart of a cute and sensitive, gender-ambiguous admirer (Michael William Arnold). Proof positive that hermaphrodites are people, deserving of Hollywood endings, too!.

Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 86 Minutes
Distributor: Wrekin Hill Entertainment