Kam's Kapsules: For movies opening April 22, 2011
BIG BUDGET FILMS
African Cats (G) Disney
nature documentary, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, chronicling events in
the lives of a trio of felines running free on the savannah: a little
lion cub learning to imitate its mother, a momma cheetah patiently
teaching her five mischievous newborns how to survive, and a fearless
lion protecting his pride from a rival.
Madea’s Big Happy Family
(PG-13 for profanity, mature themes and drug use) Tyler Perry’s back in
drag for the 6th time as the trash-talking, pistol-packing granny. This
installment of the morality play franchise revolves around a niece
(Loretta Devine) in failing health who has just received a distressing
diagnosis. Ensemble includes Bow Wow, David and Tamela Mann, Cassi
Davis, Lauren London, Cheryl “Pepsi’ Riley, and popular, Old Spice
pitchman Isaiah Mustafa.
Water for Elephants (Unrated) Robert
Pattinson stars in the screen adaptation of Sara Gruen’s Depression-era
novel of the same name about a vet student who drops out of school to
join the circus after his parents perish in a car accident. With Reese
Witherspoon and, Christoph Waltz and Hal Holbrook.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
The
Bang Bang Club (Unrated) South African saga recounting the daring
exploits of a quartet of intrepid combat photographers (Taylor Kitsch,
Ryan Phillippe, Frank Rautenbach, Neels Van Jaarsveld) determined to
document the fall of the country’s Apartheid regime. With Malin Akerman,
Patrick Lyster and Russel Savadier.
Cougar Hunting (R for
nudity, profanity, drug use, crude humor and pervasive sexuality) Buddy
comedy revolving around three losers at love (Robin Blazak, Matt Prokop
and Randy Wayne) who try to improve their odds by dating desperate,
older women at an Aspen resort. With Vanessa Angel, Jillian Murray and
Lara Flynn Boyle.
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Dumbstruck (PG for suggestive humor)
Dummy documentary featuring the highlights of the annual
ventriloquists’ convention staged in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. With
appearances by Bob Ashman, Willie Brown and Jennifer Burdette.
Exodus
Fall (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama, set in Texas in 1974, about
three teenage siblings (Jesse James, Adrien Finkel and Devon Graye)
grieving the death of their father (Christopher Atkins) who decide to
run away from home when their abusive mom (Rosanna Arquette) mistreats
her son with autism. With Dee Wallace, Leo Rossi and Duane Whitaker.
The
Greatest Movie Ever Sold (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality) Morgan
Spurlock (Super Size Me) wrote, produced, directed and stars in this
documentary exposing the widespread corporate financing of movies via
prominent product placements and other forms of advertising.
Incendies
(R for profanity and graphic violence) Oscar-nominated, return to roots
drama about a twin brother (Maxim Gaudette) ands sister (Melissa
Desormeaux-Poulin) born in the middle East who travel from Canada back
to their homeland to fulfill their late mother’s (Lubna Azabal) last
request that they find the presumed-dead father they’ve never met and a
sibling they never even knew existed. With Remy Girard, Allen Altman and
Mohamed Majd. (In French, Arabic and English with subtitles)
Legend
of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (Unrated) Martial arts adventure,
set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai in the Twenties, and revolving around a
mysterious stranger (Donnie Yen) who infiltrates a gang of mobsters in
order to assassinate everyone collaborating with the enemy. With Shu Qi,
Anthony Wong, Huang Bo and Kohata Ryu. (In Mandarin, Japanese and
English with subtitles)
Stake Land (Unrated) High body-count
horror flick about a vampire hunter (Nick Damici) accompanied by an
orphaned teen (Connor Paolo) on a perilous trek across a
post-apocalyptic America in search of a monster-free sanctuary. Cast
includes Danielle Harris, Kelly McGillis and
St. Nick (Unrated)
Survival drama about sibling runaways (Tucker and Savanna Sears) who
take refuge in an abandoned house in the woods to escape from the
elements during harsh Texas winter. With Riley Cole, Monique Byars and
Brooke Devenney.
Tied to a Chair (Unrated) Screwball comedy about
a miserable housewife (Bonnie Loren) who leaves her husband (Richard
Franklin) of 25 years to resume the acting career she gave up to marry
him. The plot thickens at her first audition when she’s left bound to a
chair in a hotel room by a kinky cult film director (Mario Van Peebles)
who subsequently turns up dead. With Robert Gossett, Kim Cristo and
Daniel Farag.
What on Earth (Unrated) Whodunit documentary
examining the mystery of crop circles as debated at an annual convention
in England by scientists, farmers, philosophers and paranoid conspiracy
buffs baffled by the phenomenon.