Kam's Movie Kapsules for 1-1-16

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

For movies opening January 1, 2016

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Hateful Eight (R for profanity, frontal nudity, graphic gore and a scene of eroticized violence) Quentin Tarantino directed this post-Civil War saga set in Wyoming revolving around a bounty hunter (Kurt Russell) whose stagecoach runs into trouble while bringing an apprehended fugitive (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to justice. Featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Channing Tatum, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth and Zoe Bell.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Anomalisa (R for profanity, graphic sexuality and frontal nudity) Adult-oriented animated adventure about an author (David Thewlis) who is unable to connect with other people until he hits it off with a stranger (Jennifer Jason Leigh) he meets on a business trip. Additional voices supplied by Tom Noonan.

The Himalayas (Unrated) Fact-based drama about Korea's top mountain climber (Jeong-min Hwang) who comes out of retirement to search for the body of the protege (Woo Jung) who disappeared during an expedition on Everest. With Sung-ha Jo, Mi-Ran Ra and In-kwon Kim.

Other People's Children (Unrated) Romance drama about a filmmaker (Diane Marshall-Green) who falls for the homeless subject (Chad Michael Murray) of her latest documentary while grieving the death of her father . Support cast includes Harrison Thomas, Michael Mosley and Alexandra Breckenridge.

Yosemite (R for sexuality, nudity and profanity) Coming-of-age tale, set in Palo Alto in 1985, revolving around the partially-overlapping misadventures of a trio of fifth graders (Everett Meckler, Alec Mansky and Calum John) living in a suburban community with a mountain lion on the loose. Based on the James Franco short story of the same name, and featuring Franco, Henry Hopper, Steven Wiig and Barry Del Sherman.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (INTERVIEW)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

The "Concussion” Interview

with Kam Williams

Gugu Gushes about Working with Will Smith

Born in Oxford in the United Kingdom, Gugu Mbatha-Raw trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her first professional role was in an Open Air production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” as Celia. Following this, she landed roles at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, where she performed in “Antony and Cleopatra” and the title role of Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” opposite Andrew Garfield, for which she was nominated for the Manchester Evening News Award for Best Actress in 2005.


Gugu's other stage credits include the critically-acclaimed “Big White Fog” at the Almeida Theatre and David Hare’s “Gethsemane,” a production at the National Theatre that later toured the UK. She made her West End debut as Ophelia in “Hamlet” opposite Jude Law.


Her British television credits include “M15/Spooks,” “Dr. Who,” “Marple – Ordeal by Innocence,” “Bonekickers,” and “Fallout.” She subsequently starred as Samantha Bloom in the JJ Abrams NBC series “Undercovers,” for which she was nominated for an NAACP award for best actress in a television series.


In 2011, she landed her breakout big screen role in Larry Crowne, directed by Tom Hanks and co-starring Julia Roberts. More recently, she played the title character in Fox Searchlight’s highly-acclaimed period drama Belle, alongside Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson, Miranda Richardson, Sam Reid and Matthew Goode.


Gugu next starred alongside Minnie Driver, Nate Parker and Danny Glover in Beyond the Lights, a love story set in the music world. In February of 2015, she was seen in Andy and Lana Wachowski’s Jupiter Ascending, starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis and Eddie Redmayne. And she is set to co-star opposite Matthew McConaughey in The Free State of Jones, a Civil War action-drama written and directed by Gary Ross which be released next May.


Here, Gugu talks about her latest role playing Will Smith's wife in Concussion, a drama about the National Football League's attempt to discredit Dr. Omalu, the pathologist whose research uncovered the link between hits to the head and the early onset of a host of neurological disorders in football players.

Kam Williams: Hi, Gugu. I'm delighted to have another opportunity to speak with you.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw: Sure! How have you been, Kam?

KW: I really enjoyed Concussion, including your performance. How did you enjoy making the film?

GMR: Oh, it was a really great experience. [Writer/director] Peter Landesman was so passionate about the movie and about Bennet's [Dr. Bennet Omalu] story. And having an opportunity to work with Will Smith was huge, obviously. I was also excited about transforming in this role. And it was fun working in Pittsburgh, the home of the Steelers, since I'd never been there before. And I found the city and its history quite fascinating.

KW: Was shooting in Pittsburgh at all awkward for the production, given how the movie presents the NFL in a bad light.

GMR: No, I never really felt any animosity. I think people were really thrilled that we were making a movie there. While the film raises questions about the ethics of the NFL, it really isn't anti-football. Overall, it's very supportive of the players in the way it discusses the CTE Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. So, we had a great experience in Pittsburgh.

KW: I told my readers I'd be interviewing you, so I want to mix in some of their questions with mine.

GMR: Sure.

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: I really liked your performances in Belle and Beyond the Lights, and I love the soundtrack, especially the song "Blackbird" you sang on the Beyond the Lights soundtrack. How did you prepare to play Prema?

GMR: Well, Prema's very much the emotional, driving force of the film in many ways. She's serves as Bennet Omalu's moral compass. I started with the script, working with Peter. And I got some medical advice from friends of mine and from my parents, who are both medics. It was great to have my mom on standby. [Chuckles]

KW: Did you meet with Prema?

GMR: Yes, but not until the end of the process. She was a little reticent about being involved. So, I wanted to respect her wishes. On the other hand, that meant we could have a little artistic license in creating Prema for the film. I also worked with a dialect coach who helped me with the Kenyan intonations, since Prema's from Kenya. And then we did some rehearsals with Peter and Will prior to shooting.

KW: Will Smith was famous for memorizing his co-star's lines early in his career. If you watch episodes of the Fresh Prince, you can often see him mouthing other actors' lines as they speak. Did he do that with you?

GMR: [LOL] I've heard him talk about that. I can safely say he doesn't do that anymore. [Laughs some more] Will is such a phenomenal actor. Everyone knows his personality as a movie star, but he really transformed himself into Bennet for this film. It was a very powerful, dramatic role for him.

KW: How was it working with him?

GMR: It was really joyful experience. He such a professional. He's very hard-working, but he also has a great sense of humor. So, he was a fun person to be around on the set.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How does Dr. Omalu's battle resonate with you personally?

GMR: Wow! Well, I really respect Bennet, because his journey is a fight for exposing the truth. I really love that kind of David and Goliath story where you see the underdog rise and do what's right. I can really relate to that morality challenge. Also, as an immigrant to the United States myself, I can relate to the journey of being a foreigner in a new country. I think that can be good when you see things from a fresh perspective, since you're not being numbed by the culture you grew up in. You're seeing things anew. If Bennet hadn't grown up in Nigeria, would he have been the person to have identified CTE as so damaging to football players. I don't know. I feel that, sometimes, a fresh perspectives allows for clarity.

KW: Patricia is wondering whether you are going to appear in Star Wars Episode VIII.

GMR: [Laughs heartily] No, that's just a rumor.

KW: She'd also like to know what you think of Simone De Beauvoir's famous quote: "One is not born, but rather becomes a woman."

GMR: I've never heard that quote before. It's very interesting. I think it's about ownership and authenticity. I suppose we all grow into ourselves. I guess it depends on how you define yourself. I love the idea that we all become more ourselves as we go through life. Sometimes, it's about shedding skins to get in touch with who you really are underneath.

KW: Her last question is: What is your opinion regarding women in the movie industry? I know that is a very broad topic which encompasses a lot.

GMR: [Laughs] How much time have you got?

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

GMR: I can't really think of one off the top of my head. 

 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

GMR: Some nice memories of being at my grandmother's house with my mom. My grandmother passed away when I was 3.

KW: What was your very first job?

GMR: I worked for Pizza Hut in Oxford. I got a job there in my summer holidays when I was 16.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

GMR: World peace.

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?

GMR: Oh, gosh! That's tricky. I have so many, and I'm always discovering new designers. Luckily, I have a great stylist who sort of helps me out with that stuff. I really, really love Carolina Herrera and Alexander McQueen. I also love British designers like Burberry.

KW: I thought Burberry only made men's raincoats.

GMR: No, they have a huge range. I've worn a few of their gowns. They even do makeup.

KW: The “Realtor to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan’s question: What’s your dream locale in Los Angeles to live?

GMR: That's hard for me to say. I'm still discovering Los Angeles, to be honest with you. I know certain pockets quite well... the beach ... the Eastside... It would be great to live right by the sea on the beach... on the sand. I know that would be prime real estate, but that would be fun.

KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet?

GMR: Uh... makeup? [Giggles] Yeah, makeup and nice clothes. I'm pretty casual in my day-to-day life.

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?

GMR: I love Ursula from The Little Mermaid, although I don't know if she's really a monster. But she was sort of evil and fabulous. .

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Is there anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

GMR: Am I really famous? I don't really know. That's not something I've ever thought about. I believe you've always got to live life fearlessly. I don't think you should wait to be recognizable to do the things you love.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

GMR: Make your own path. You definitely have to stay true to who you are. Following in someone's footsteps is a nice idea but, ultimately, there's only one you, and you have to make your own way.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

GMR: [LOL] Probably having massages. That's the one thing that seems to help me get over jet lag.

KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet?

GMR: Let me see... Right now I have some South African rands, some American dollars and some British pounds.which probably tells you I've been traveling a lot.

KW: It sure does. Well, thanks again for the time, Gugu, and best of luck with Concussion.

GMR: Thanks very much, Kam. Bye.

To see a trailer for Concussion, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk-1TLVUPZk

The Revenant (FILM REVIEW)

The Revenant Film Review by Kam Williams



Harrowing Tale of Survival Recounts Legendary Explorer's Grueling Ordeal on American Frontier


Hugh Glass (1780-1833) was a legendary frontiersman who explored the American West in the early 19th Century. He's been previously portrayed on the big screen by Richard Harris in Man in the Wilderness (1971) and by Dewitt Lee in Apache Blood (1975). 
 
Glass' life story has also been the subject of several books, most recently, The Revenant, a harrowing tale of survival published by Michael Punke in 2002. That best-selling page-turner has now been adapted by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who won a trio of Academy Awards for writing, directing and producing Birdman, 2015's Best Picture of the Year.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio who just might finally land the Oscar that has eluded his grasp five times before. For, this is a star vehicle featuring the veteran thespian in virtually every scene. And he never disappoints, delivering again and again in a compelling performance which keeps you on the edge of your seat as you pull for his character from beginning to end. 
 
At the point of departure, we are introduced to Hugh and his orphaned, Pawnee son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck), as they escort a hunting party of fur trappers across the Rockies. Along the way, the expedition is tested at every turn, whether by "Injun" ambush, animal attack, frigid weather or the challenging terrain. 
 
Unfortunately, one member of the crew, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), is a cowardly racist with no reservations about cavalierly murdering Hawk and leaving the boy's badly wounded father behind to die in the forest. Instead of perishing, Hugh exhibits an incomparable will to survive, if only to pursue his son's killer to the end of the Earth, or at least back to the fort. 
 
What ensues is a visually-captivating spectacular chronicling our intrepid hero's determination to exact revenge in honor of his dearly-departed offspring. Despite the host of hurdles in his path, Hugh remains resolute as he stalks Fitzgerald across a vast expanse of the Wyoming wilderness in a deliberately-paced game of cat-and-mouse. Credit co-star Tom Hardy for serving up the sort of sniveling villain in the backstabbing Fitzgerald.that an audience just loves to see get his due. That makes it easy to endure the 2+ hour build-up to the fierce finale.


A relentlessly-gruesome, gritty and grim adventure reminiscent of how the West was won.



Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for profanity, graphic violence, gory images, ethnic slurs, brief nudity and a rape
In English, French and Native American dialects with subtitles
Running time: 156 minutes
Distributor: 20^th Century Fox


To see a trailer for The Revenant, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRfj1VCg16Y

Top Ten DVD Releases for 12-22-15

This Week’s DVD Releases

by Kam Williams

Top Ten DVD List for December 22, 2015

Doc Martin: Six Surly Seasons & the Movies

You Can't Take It with You: Collectible Digibook [4K Restoration]

Sicario

The Wiz: Live!

Pawn Sacrifice

Wolf Totem

Secrets of War

War Room

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Enough Already

Honorable Mention

Pan

The Brain That Wouldn't Die

Amorous

Pan (DVD REVIEW)

Pan
DVD Review by Kam Williams



Peter Pan Prequel Speculates about Forever Young Boy's Roots


Everyone's familiar with Peter Pan, the much-beloved children's classic revolving around the magical adventures of a little boy who can fly and won't grow up. In fact, the fanciful character is so deeply woven into the cultural fabric that he has a psychological disorder, the Peter Pan syndrome, named after him, a pathology applied to people seemingly stuck in a state of suspended adolescence. 
 
Created by Sir James Matthew Barrie, Peter Pan was first produced as a play in 1904 and adapted into an illustrated novel seven years thereafter. The enchanting fairy tale made its screen debut as a silent movie in 1924, with assorted remakes, sequels, spin-offs and animated versions being released over the ensuing generations.

Directed by Joe Wright (Anna Karenina), Pan, the latest incarnation, is a prequel very loosely based on the J.M. Barrie plotline. This special f/x spectacular is the brainchild of actor-turned-scriptwriter Jason Fuchs, who ostensibly felt free to speculate wildly about Peter Pan's roots. The film stars Levi Miller as Peter, and features an impressive supporting cast including Hugh Jackman, Rooney Mara, Garrett Hedlund and Amanda Seyfried. 
 
At the picture's point of departure, we witness a newborn baby being very reluctantly deposited by his mother (Seyfried) on the doorstep of the Lambeth Home for Boys, an orphanage run by an order of nuns. Fast-forward a dozen years and we find Peter and his fellow foundlings sharing the misfortune of being under the thumb of a sadistic mother superior (Kathy Burke).

Furthermore, it's the height of the Battle of Britain, and the Luftwaffe's daily fire bombings of London during the Blitz have left the lads terribly traumatized. Obviously, Fuchs' anachronistic screenplay takes a few liberties, such as in setting the story during World War II, well after the source material was already written. 
 
Nevertheless, the tale makes an incredible leap from reality into fantasy the night a flying frigate swoops out of the sky and starts plucking the kids right out of their beds and up into the heavens. Curiously, the ship's captain is not Hook (Hedlund), but Blackbeard (Jackman), the notorious British pirate who roamed the high seas in the early 18th Century. 
 
Unfortunately, Blackbeard is no savior but a kidnapper intent on enslaving the youngsters in Neverland, a lair located in another dimension. However, here, Hook happens to be a benign figure who befriends Peter, along with Indian princess Tiger Lily (Mara) and the ethereal fairy Tinker Bell.

At this juncture, the movie morphs into an overstimulating, kitchen sink extravaganza serving up everything from dazzling, CGI chase scenes to catchy song-and dance tunes (ala "Smells Like Teen Spirit") to swashbuckling derring-do. A riveting roller coaster ride well-designed to enthrall tykes for two hours straight.




Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG for PG for mature themes, mild epithets, action and violence
Running time: 111 minutes

Distributor: Warner Home Entertainment Group

Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Extras: Director's commentary; Never Grow Up: The Legend of Pan; The Boy Who Would Be Pan; The Scoundrels of Neverland; and Wondrous Realms.

To see a trailer for Pan, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1wRv8vTpxo

To order a copy of the Pan Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, visit:

War Room (DVD REVIEW)

War Room

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Power of Prayer Proves Pivotal in Prodigal Husband Parable 

In 2011, Pastor Alex Kendrick produced, directed, wrote and starred in Courageous, a very compelling, action-oriented, faith-based drama. With War Room, he's opted to play only a supporting role in the flick, thereby freeing himself to focus more on his duties behind the camera. 

 

The film revolves around protagonists Elizabeth (Priscilla Shirer) and Tony Jordan (T.C. Stallings), a couple we meet already in the midst of a relationship crisis. Most of their marital woes are of the husband's making, as he is a workaholic who's emotionally and physically unavailable to his wife and their young daughter, Danielle (Alena Pitts). 

 

And that's just the tip of the iceberg, since terribly-flawed Tony proceeds to put both his job and marriage in jeopardy by embezzling funds from his company and dating a colleague when he's away on business. Nevertheless, the lout should thank his lucky stars that instead of leaving him, realtor Liz heeds the advice of Miss Clara ( Karen Abercrombie), a sage, elderly client of hers. 

 

Clara is a devout Christian who believes in the power of prayer. Furthermore, she suggests that Liz ought to love and respect rather than try to fix her philandering hubby. Together, they come up with a “battle plan” to resurrect the relationship, which helps explain the picture's militaristic-sounding title. 

 

In this critic's opinion, War Room is a movie that's way too heavy-handed in its treatment of the material to find much of a mainstream following. That's too bad, since the modern morality play could've just as effectively delivered its valuable message without wearing Jesus on on its sleeve. 

 

Consequently, its appeal is apt to be pretty much limited to Evangelicals with an appetite for incessant sermonizing. This represents an unfortunate step backwards for Pastor Kendrick who had previously demonstrated an uncanny ability to serve up religious fare ever so subtly.

A prayer-ordained, Prodigal husband parable preaching primarily to the choir!

Good (2 stars)

Rated PG for mature themes

Running time: 120 minutes

Studio: Provident Films

Distributor: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Deleted scenes; commentary with director Alex Kendrick and producer Stephen Kendrick; Making of War Room; and 7 other featurettes..

To see a trailer for War Room, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIl-XY9t_Lw

To order War Room on DVD, visit:

Kam's Movie Kapsules for 12-25-15

OPENING THIS WEEK

Kam's Kapsules:

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

For movies opening December 25, 2015

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Concussion (PG-13 for profanity, mature themes and disturbing images) David vs. Goliath saga about the National Football League's attempt to discredit the forensic pathologist (Will Smith) whose research established a link between hits to the head and the early onset of a host of neurological disorders in football players. Cast includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Hill Harper, Richard T. Jones, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Eddie Marsan.

Daddy's Home (PG-13 for profanity, crude humor, suggestive material and mature themes) Dysfunctional family dramedy about the competition between a resurfacing biological father (Mark Wahlberg) and his ex-wife's (Linda Cardellini) new husband (Will Ferrell) for the affection of the kids (Scarlett Estevez and Owen Vaccaro) from the first marriage. With Thomas Haden Church, Alessandra Ambrosio and Cedric Yarbrough.

The Hateful Eight (R for profanity, frontal nudity, graphic gore and a scene of eroticized violence) Quentin Tarantino directed this post-Civil War saga set in Wyoming revolving around a bounty hunter (Kurt Russell) whose stagecoach runs into trouble while bringing an apprehended fugitive (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to justice. Featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Channing Tatum, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth and Zoe Bell.

Joy (PG-13 for brief profanity) David O. Russell wrote and directed this fact-based drama about the cash-strapped single-mom (Jennifer Lawrence) who turned her family's fortunes around by inventing the Miracle Mop. Ensemble cast includes Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Isabella Rossellini, Virginia Madsen, Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Melissa Rivers, Susan Lucci and Drena De Niro.

Point Break (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexuality, mature themes and drug use) Remake of the 1991 thriller about an FBI Agent (Luke Bracey) who infiltrates a gang of globe-trotting, extreme sports daredevils suspected of staging a string of daring, financial market heists. With Edgar Ramirez, Teresa Palmer and Ray Winstone.

The Revenant (R for profanity, graphic violence, gory images, brief nudity and a rape) Adaptation of Michael Punke's tale of survival, set in Wyoming in 1823, about a frontiersman's (Leonardo DiCaprio) harrowing ordeal after being mauled by a bear and left to die in the wilderness by members of his hunting party. Support cast includes Tom Hardy, Domnhall Gleeson and Will Poulter. (In English, French and Native American dialects with subtitles)

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

45 Years (R for profanity and brief sexuality) Marital crisis drama about a couple (Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay) whose 45th anniversary party plans are jeopardized by the discovery of the corpse of his girlfriend missing more than a half-century. With Geraldine James, Dolly Wells and Hannah Chalmers.

TransFatty Lives (Unrated) Bittersweet biopic featuring writer/director Patrick O'Brien filming himself after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Yellow Day (PG for mature themes) Faith-based feature chronicling a day-in-the-life of a sensitive young man (Drew Seeley) searching for spirituality, hope and love. With Lindsey Shaw, Ashley Boettcher and Akeem Smith.