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OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules -- Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening August 11, 2006
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Pulse (R for violent and disturbing images) Fright maven Wes Craven wrote the script for this horror flick about an evil computer virus which proceeds to terrorize some cute college coeds after the suspicious suicide of their hacker pal (Jonathan Tucker) who might have warned the world about this impending wireless menace.
Step Up (PG-13 for mature themes, brief violence and sexual innuendo) Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan co-star in this love across the tracks romance about a prima ballerina from a privileged suburban background who finds the perfect partner in a break-dancer who perfected his moves on the mean streets of Baltimore. Supporting cast includes Oscar-nominee Rachel Griffiths, rapper Heavy D (sans "The Boyz").
World Trade Center (PG-13 for profanity, disturbing images, and intense and emotional content) Oliver Stone's take on 9-11 approaches the terrorist attacks from the perspective of the two NYC transit police (Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena) who were the last people pulled alive from the wreckage at Ground Zero. Cast includes Maggie Gyllenhaal, Stephen Dorff, Maria Bello, William Mapother and Nicholas Turturro.
Zoom (PG for brief rude humor, mild epithets and acton) Tim Allen stars in this family comedy as a retired superhero coaxed out of retirement to train a ragtag team of private school kids as the next generation of intrepid crusaders. With Chevy Chase, Courteney Cox, Rip Torn and Cornelia Guest.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Conversations with Other Women (R for sex and expletives) Second chance drama about ex-lovers (Aaron Eckhart and Helena Bonham Carter) reunited by chance after 20 years at a wedding reception where their flirtatious behavior leads to a night of play, passion and reflection in a hotel room, despite the fact that she's married and he's currently in a relationship.
Half Nelson (R for sex, expletives and drug use) Inner city drama chronicles the unlikely friendship forged between a crack-addicted, white school teacher (Ryan Gosling) and one of his students (Shareeka Epps), a precocious13 year-old who is aware of his problem. Cast includes Anthony Mackie as a dirty drug pusher.
Hamilton (Unrated) Slice-of-life drama, set in Baltimore, examines 48 hours in the troubled relationship of a teen mom (Stephanie Lizzi) and the 20 year-old (Christopher Myers) who accidentally impregnated her.
House of Sand (R for graphic sexuality) Three generation drama, opening in Brazil in 1910, traces the ordeal of a woman (FernandaTorres) dragged to a barren desert by an abusive husband who promptly dies, leaving his wife behind to spend the next 60 years trying to escape a dreary existence amidst the dunes. With Fernanda Montenegro as the widow's mother. (In Portuguese with subtitles)
The Ordeal (Unrated) Belgian horror flick about an itinerant saloon singer (Laurent Lucas) whose car breaks down in the woods where he finds shelter at a secluded inn run by a psycho (Jackie Berroyer) intent on subjecting his guest to a series of unspeakable horrors. (In French with subtitles)
Satellite (Unrated) Modern fable, set in New York City, about the whirlwind romance of two strangers (Stephanie Szostak and Karl Geary) who meet on the street in midtown Manhattan and fall so in love over the course of a weekend that they impulsively to quit their jobs, sell all their possessions, and promise to never lie to each other. Trouble is they soon need to steal to survive, plus she's hiding a big secret which could wreck the relationship.
The Trouble with Men and Women (Unrated) Battle-of-the-sexes melodrama revolves around the recovery of a young guy (Joseph McFadden) just dumped by his girlfriend (Neve McIntosh) who dates a lot of losers till his best friend's (Matthew Delamere) girl (Kate Ashfield) drops a hint that she's looking for someone more romantic.
