Snatched

Film Review by Kam Williams


Schumer and Hawn Share Vacation from Hell in Hilarious Farce

Emily Middleton (Amy Schumer) is just having one of those days. First, she's fired from her sales job in a boutique for irresponsibly ignoring customers in order to try on outfits for herself. Second, her boyfriend (Randall Park) callously dumps her on the eve of their planned romantic getaway to Ecuador, stating, "You don't have any direction in life."

Then, she cries on the shoulder of her mother (Goldie Hawn) who only proceeds to rub salt in her wounds with, "Michael was the best you'll ever do." Nevertheless, against her better judgment, Emily invites her on the trip because the pre-paid vacation package is non-refundable. 

 

Trouble is, Linda is also highly-neurotic, a worrier who rarely leaves the house, let alone the country. Plus, she's a helicopter mom, which means she'll be hovering around Emily the whole time, and thus probably preventing her from meeting a new guy. In the end, Linda grudgingly agrees to step out of her comfort zone, and hastily packs for what ought to be an uneventful stay an exclusive resort in paradise, judging from the brochure. 

 

That is the stock setup of Snatched, a screwball comedy far more entertaining than it might read on paper. For, while the script does unfold like a generic "Vacation from Hell" yarn, it's actually way above average, since it's executed by a stellar cast topped by a quartet of consummate comediennes. 

 

The picture co-stars Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn as the aforementioned mother-daughter at the center of the story. It also features a couple of veterans in scene stealers Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack who make the most of their supporting roles. 

 

The plot thickens soon after the protagonists land in Ecuador. First, Emily's swept off her feet by a tall, dark and handsome stranger (Tom Bateman) she meets in a bar. The next morning, he lures them off the safe confines of the compound for what's supposed to be an innocuous adventure of the countryside. 

 

Next thing you know, the Middletons find themselves kidnapped by a ruthless gang led by the bloodthirsty Morgado (Oscar Jaenada) demanding $100, 000 ransom. Trouble is, the U.S. State Department could care less, and Emily's brother Jeffrey (Ike Barinholtz) is an agoraphobic who couldn't be counted on to come to the rescue. 

 

Not to worry. The squabbling mother-daughter put aside their differences and rely on their wits to survive. Schumer, Hawn, Sykes and Cusack, all at the top of their game.

Pound-for-pound, the funniest film to be released in theaters this year!

Excellent (4 stars)
Rated R for sexuality, brief nudity, pervasive profanity and crude humor
Running time: 91 minutes
Production Studio: Chernin Entertainment
Distributor: 20th Century Fox


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

Amirah Vann

The “Underground” Interview

with Kam Williams

Ready for Her Close-Up!

An actress and singer/songwriter from Far Rockaway, Queens, Amirah Vann began performing at a young age. Pursuing her passion for performing, she completed her undergraduate study in acting at Fordham University at Lincoln Center before entering a graduate acting program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. 

 

Soon thereafter, Amirah began working with The Continuum Company under the direction of Jim Calder. She traveled with the company to Florence, Italy, performing in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” while collaborating as a vocalist with Jonathan Batiste (“The Late Show”) to develop original music for the production. She also performed in the company’s popular production of “Pericles.” 

 

Upon graduation, Amirah to participate in a variety of developmental musical workshops, including “Kingdom,” “Holler If You Hear Me,” “Sweethearts of Swing,” “The Lady Killers Love Story” and “Cubamor.” She made her Off-Broadway debut in “Laughing Pictures” at the Flea Theatre, and continued her stage career in “Trouble In Mind,” “The Mountaintop,” “Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike,” “Wax Wings” and “Blueprint.”

She began her television career in roles on “Girls" (HBO), “Believe" (NBC) and "Mozart in the Jungle” (Amazon). Her film credits include Tracers, And So It Goes, Don’t Worry Baby, Once More with Feeling and Three and a Half Thoughts.

Amirah was recently nominated for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in “Underground,” WGN America's critically acclaimed hit series. Here, she talks about her role on the show as "Ernestine."

Kam Williams: Hi Amirah, thanks for the interview.

Amirah Vann: It's my pleasure, Kam. Thank you.

KW: What interested you in Underground?

AV: Misha Green and Joe Pokaski's writing. It's smart, dynamic, and bold!

KW: Congratulations on your character's expanded role during the second season.

AV: Thank you. Ms. Ernestine is such an amazing, complex woman that I was thrilled to get the opportunity to go deeper into her story.

KW: How would you describe her in 25 words or less?

AV: She's like so many women I know: strong, resilient, wise and beautifully flawed.

KW: Has her plight ever struck an emotional chord in you?

AV: Most definitely! These are our ancestors, and what they had to endure is almost unimaginable. But the fact remains that Ms. Ernestine found the courage to get up and face another day. So, it is my duty to share her courage and her humanity.

KW: What message do you want people to take away from the series?

AV: Let's all be soldiers! Join me on the front lines. I am arming myself with a voice that speaks for equality and justice, a spirit of love, and a walk with God.

KW: AALBC.com founder Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read?

AV: "God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man" by Cornelia Bailey. It beautifully reflects both the Gullah Geechee Nation, my African-American father's history, and my mother's stories of Puerto Rico.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

AV: My favorite meal is pollo guisado with arroz con habichuelas and a side salad with avocado, and stewed chicken with rice and beans.

KW: Sherry Gillam would like to know what is the most important life lesson you've learned so far?

AV: Live honoring your truth, not in response to others.

KW: What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

AV: Daring to pursue my dreams. It's not such a crazy idea y'all!

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

AV: Leadership that reflects the diverse citizens they represent.

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

AV: Hmmm... That's tough. I can say I love baggy jeans and a hoodie as much as I do an elegant dress.

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?

AV: Give back! Love doing that and will continue.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to star in?

AV: I would love to be in a remake of Set it Off.

KW: Judyth Piazza asks: What key quality do you believe all successful people share?

AV: They pressed on through the storm.

KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet?

AV: A Metro card. Always ready to jump on the train.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Amirah, and good luck with Underground.

AV: Thank you, Kam.

To see a scene from Underground, featuring Amirah singing "Move, Daniel," visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhvVxVF0JIk

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Film Review by Kam Williams


Anything Goes in Guy Ritchie's Fanciful Reimagining of Classic Medieval Fable



Do you remember what happened to the Sherlock Holmes franchise in Guy Ritchie's hands? The low-key, cerbral sleuth who solved mysteries with his intellect suddenly morphed into a flamboyant, two-fisted superhero as likely to rely on brawn as brains to solve a case.

Well brace yourself for a similar transformation with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Again, Ritchie makes a concession to the attention-deficit demographic in crafting a fanciful reimagining of the beloved epic that plays out more like a frenetic, action-packed video game than a classic medieval tale. 
 
Nonetheless, the good news is that the movie works, if all you're looking for is to be entertained by an overblown summer blockbuster with an A-rating when it comes to state-of-the-art special f/x. And the characters even sport familiar names, from King Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) to Lady Guinevere (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) to Merlin the Magician (Kamil Lemieszewski). But I still defy anyone to make sense of this hyperactive adventure which abandons the British folklore upon which it's ostensibly based in deference to a cinematic mandate for incessant stimulation.

The picture's rudimentary plot unfolds as follows. At the point of departure, King Uther (Eric Bana) is assassinated at the behest of his power-hungry brother, Vortigern (Jude Law). Instead of ascending to the thrown, Arthur grows up a lowly street urchin, utterly oblivious of his royal bloodline until the moment, years later, he manages to pull the magical sword Excalibur out of a stone.

Cognizant of his rendezvous with destiny, with the help of a big bird, an archer (Aidan Gillen), a black knight (Djimon Hounsou) and psychic Guinevere, Arthur embarks on an epic quest to reclaim his birthright. And what an eye-popping spectacle it proves to be!

Guy, I like what you've done with the legend!



Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence, action, suggestive content and brief profanity
Running time: 126 minutes
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures


To see a trailer for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rbPTQIdjmY

A Quiet Passion

Film Review by Kam Williams


Cynthia Nixon Delivers Exquisite Depiction of Poet Emily Dickinson


Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) had less than a dozen of her 1,800 poems published, while she was still alive. Since she was only appreciated posthumously, it makes sense that a movie about her life might revolve around something other than the literary prowess that went unrecognized by her contemporaries.

In bringing her story to the big screen, writer/director Terrence Davies (The Deep Blue Sea) wisely resisted the temptation to pore over the prolific scribe's evocative verses in favor of plumbing the depths of her terribly tortured soul. The upshot of that endeavor is A Quiet Passion, an exquisite costume drama alternately presenting the protagonist as an iconoclastic visionary and as a retiring recluse. 
 
On the macro level, the socially-conscious production subtly suggests that the agnostic, feminist abolitionist was ahead of her time and withdrew from the world in response to being raised in an era when evangelism, slavery and male chauvinism were the order of the day. Meanwhile, on the micro level, the character-driven drama telescopes intensely on a fragile psyche ostensibly further crippled by a cloistered existence. 

As the film unfolds, we find Emily (played in her teens by Emma Bell, later as an adult by Cynthia Nixon) just finishing a frustrating freshman year at Mount Holyoke. She soon decides to drop out due to the pressure being unfairly exerted by the school's president, Mary Lyon (Sara Vertongen), to conform to the outwardly pious practices dictated by the Christian revival movement. Introspective Emily rebels because she sees her relationship with God as a direct and personal matter as opposed to one demanding public displays of devotion at church services. 
 
So, she returns to Amherst, Massachusetts, where she again takes up residence on the grounds of the Dickinson family estate inhabited by her parents (Keith Carradine and Joanna Bacon), brother (Duncan Duff) and sister (Jennifer Ehle). Unfortunately, headstrong Emily proves unable to bite her tongue when visitors like the local pastor (Miles Richardson) or even a potential suitor (Stefan Menaul) come a callin'. 
 
Although she does eventually make trusted confidantes of her sister-in-law Susan (Jodhi May) and the equally-irreverent Mabel Loomis Todd (Noemie Schellens), her preference remains the solitude of the remote, upstairs bedroom which affords her the opportunity to craft her immortal poems in secret. Cynthia Nixon has never been more convincing than conveying the emotional fires simmering just beneath the surface of such a stoic countenance. 
 
A melancholy mood piece for the ages!



Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for mature themes, disturbing images and suggestive material
Production Studio: Hurricane Films
Running time: 126 minutes
Distributor: Music Box Films


To see a trailer for A Quiet Passion, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKJpx8FYp54

Top Ten DVD List for May 9, 2017

by Kam Williams

This Week’s DVD Releases

Heat

Orange Is the New Black: Season Four

Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series: The Complete Game 7

Rake: Series 1

Serial Mom

Divorce: The Complete First Season

Nova: The Origami Revolution

Plants Behaving Badly

Secrets of the Dead: Nero's Sunken City

Fifty Shades Darker

Honorable Mention

PBS Kids: All about Allergies

Bloodrunners

Black Site Delta

Film Review by Kam Williams


Military Misfits Take Shot at Redemption in High Body-Count Splatterfest


Black Site Delta is a micro-budget production most reminiscent of The Dirty Dozen (1967). Like that classic action flick, the action-oriented tale of redemption revolves around the patriotic exploits of a rag-tag team of convicts.

However, given the film's financial constraints, it features a team of 6 instead of 12 protagonists. They are led by Jake (Cam Gigandet), a vet suffering from PTSD who, at the point of departure, lands in a military prison following a bar fight. He soon discovers that the place doubles as a black site kept off the radar of the general public. 
 
His fellow inmates are other disgraced soldiers, such as Simms (Benjamin Charles Watson), a former drone pilot incarcerated for refusing to drop a bomb on a terrorist at a child's birthday party full of kids. Truth be told, the facility has been hijacked to secretly serve as the command center for a treasonous operation employing a weapon of mass destruction.

Apparently, one Colonel Irving (Michael Dale) has gone rogue and is now doing the bidding of an Afghan warlord named Khan (Arash Mokhtar). Once that fact comes to light, Jake recruits Simms, his love interest Vasquez (Teri Reeves), and a few other cellmates with the hope that their heroics might lead to full pardons. What ensues is a spectacular splatterfest worthy of John Woo or Sam Peckinpah.

Thus unfolds Black Site Delta, a gratuitous snuff flick laced with lots of gory kill shots. The movie marks the directorial debut of Jesse Gustafson who does a decent enough job to satiate the bloodlust of fans of the high body-count genre. 
 
A "Dirty Half-Dozen," tailor-made for folks who appreciate scene after scene of incessant slaughter.



Good (2 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 86 minutes
Distributor:.XLrator Media


To see a trailer for Black Site Delta, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgHpgmWFjdc

Kam's Kapsules for movies opening May 12, 2017

 

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun  

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Dead Awake (Unrated) Suspense thriller about a social worker (Jocelin Donahue) who lands in a world of supernatural terror while investigating a series of mysterious deaths where each victim contracted a condition called sleep paralysis. Ensemble cast includes Jesse Bradford, Brea Grant, James Eckhouse and Lori Petty.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (PG-13 for violence, action, suggestive content and brief profanity) Charlie Hunnam plays the title character in this reimagining of the medieval tale which finds the the mythical monarch in a quest to reclaim the crown after being robbed of his birthright by a power-hungry uncle (Jude Law). With Djimon Hounsou, Eric Bana, Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Aidan Gillen.

 (PG-13 for sensuality, profanity, violence, mature themes and brief drug use) Dysfunctional family drama, set in East L.A., revolving around a teenage street artist (Gabriel Chavarria) torn between his need for self-expression and his father (Demian Bichir) and ex-con brother's (Theo Rossi) obsession with cruising around in a custom car that bounces. Featuring Eva Longoria, Melissa Benoist and Cress Williams.

Snatched (R for sexuality, brief nudity, pervasive profanity and crude humor) Action comedy about an uptight, helicopter mom (Goldie Hawn) who joins her recently-dumped daughter (Amy Schumer) for a getaway to a supposed paradise, only to have their exotic vacation turn into a neverending nightmare. Cast includes Wanda Sykes, Joan Cusack and Christopher Meloni.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Absolutely Anything (Unrated) Sci-fi comedy about some advanced aliens from another planet who test the human species' morality by temporarily blessing a Special Ed teacher (Simon Pegg) with superpowers. With Kate Beckinsale, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Rob Riggle and Eddie Izzard. (In English and French with subtitles)

Generation Iron 2 (Unrated) Bodybuilding sequel featuring the perfect physiques of five of the top figures in the field: Kai Greene, Rich Piana, Calujm Von Moger, Iris Kyle and Mamdouh Elssbiay.

Meri Pyaari Bindu (Unrated) Romantic comedy about a best-selling author with writer's block (Ayushmann Khurrana) who returns to his roots to work on a love story about the free-spirited woman (Parineeti Chopra) he just can't get out of his head. Supporting cast includes Aparajita Adhya, Abish Mathew and Malvika Sitlani. (In Hindi with subtitles)

Paris Can Wait (PG for smoking, mature themes and mild epithets) Eleanor Coppola (wife of Francis Ford) makes her directorial debut with this romantic comedy about a miserably-married housewife (Diane Lane) who gets a new lease on life when she embarks on a carefree jaunt from Cannes to Paris with her preoccupied husband's (Alec Baldwin) business partner (Arnaud Viand). With Cedric Monnet, Elise Tielrooy, Elodie Navarre and Pierre Cuq.

Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe (Unrated) Reverential biopic about Stefan Zweig (Josef Hader), chronicling the celebrated Jewish author's years in exile following his fleeing his native Austria for South America in 1936. Featuring Tomas Lemarquis, Barbara Sukowa and Charly Hubner. (In English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and German with subtitles)

The Wall (R for violence and pervasive profanity) Iraq War sniper saga revolving around a couple of American soldiers (John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who find themselves pinned down in the desert with only an unstable wall standing between them and a sharpshooter (Laith Nakli).

The Wedding Plan (PG for mature themes) Romantic comedy about a jilted, Jewish bride-to-be (Noa Koler) who instead of cancelling the wedding, enlists the assistance of matchmakers in her desperate attempt to find another mate in a month. With Dafi Alferon, Oded Leopold, Udi Persi and Ronny Merhavi. (In Hebrew with subtitles)

Whisky Galore (Unrated) Remake of the 1949 farce of the same name about some Scottish pals' plunder of booze from a ship that ran agound in the Outer Hebrides. Ensemble cast includes Eddie Izzard, Naomi Battrick, Ellie Kendrick, James Cosmo and Sean Biggerstaff.