Kam's Kapsules for movies opening May 31, 2019

Kam's Kapsules

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam Williams

For movies opening May 31, 2019

OPENING THIS WEEK

WIDE RELEASES

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (PG-13 for profanity, action, violence and destruction) Latest installment of the big lizard franchise finds members of the cryptozoological agency Monarch facing-off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla. Cast includes Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown and Ken Watanabe.



Ma (R for violent and disturbing material, language throughout, sexual content, and for teen drug and alcohol use) Harrowing horror film revolving around a lonely woman with a secret agenda (Octavia Spenser) who lets an unsuspecting group of teens party at her house. Featuring Allison Janney, Juliette Lewis and Luke Evans.

Rocketman (R for sexuality, drug use and pervasive profanity) Taron Egerton portays Elton John in this warts-and-all biopic of the flamboyant rock star. Co-starring Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

For the Birds (Unrated) Biopic about Kathy Murphy, a woman whose 200 pet ducks, chicken, geese and turkey are putting her at odds with her husband and animal activists.



Leaving Home, Coming Home (Unrated) Reverential portrait documentary of legendary portrait photographer Robert Frank, best known for “The Americans” (1958).

The Fall of The American Empire (R for strong violence, sexual nudity and profanity) Crime comedy about a truck driver (Éric Bruneau) who accidentally stumbles upon a stash of dirty cash. With Maxim Roy and Maripier Marin. (In French and English with subtitles)

Too Late to Die Young (Unrated) Chilean saga surrounding the events unfolding for three young neighbors one New Year's Eve. Co-starring Demian Hernández, Antar Machado and Magdalena Tótoro. (In Spanish with subtitles)

Echo in the Canyon

 

Film Review by Kam Williams

Dawn of Hippie Era Revisited via Rock Music Retrospective

In the wake of Beatlemania exploding across America in 1964, many aspiring musicians were inspired to start their own rock band. Some settled in Laurel Canyon, a low-rent suburb of L.A that resonated with the hippy' philosophy.

Among those flocking to the region were future icons like Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Frank Zappa, Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot. Some of these musicians forged great groups, like The Byrds, The Mamas and the Papas, and CSN&Y, while others became rock gods in their own right.

Now thanks to producer Lou Adler and Dylan's son Jakob, we have a sensational rockumentary revisiting that era. The film features both archival concert footage and interviews with most of the above. What a treat it is to see Ringo Starr reveal how close he and David Crosby were back in the day! And how about Dylan's discussing what it was like growing up in such a rich cultural environment? So, this makes for a magical walk down Memory Lane offering a fun ride for young and old alike.

The film's only flaw rests with performances by several next generation artists like Beck, Jade, and Jakob Dylan who prove to be talented, but inappropriate for a movie focused on that time period. Furthermore, Jakob serves as interviewer of his fellow celebs, a task for which he is woefully prepared.

Otherwise, what a wonderful trip to remind us all of a pivotal moment in U.S. history!

Very Good (3 stars)

Rated PG-13 for suggestive content and drug references

Running time: 82 minutes

Production Companies: Mirror Films

Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment

To see a trailer for Echo in the Canyon, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRVFBQHBUls

 

 

Kam's Kapsules for movies opening May 24, 2019

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun

by Kam William

 

OPENING THIS WEEK

WIDE RELEASES

Aladdin (PG for some action/peril) Mena Massoud stars as the title character in this classic fairytale about a street urchin vying with a power-hungry Grand Vizier for a magic lamp. Cast includes Naomi Scott, Will Smith and Billy Magnussen.



Booksmart (R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking, all involving teens) Buddy comedy about a couple of straight-laced, straight-A student BFF's (Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein) who decide to cram four years of fun into one night on the eve of their high school graduation. Directed by Olivia Wilde, with Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis.



Brightburn (R for horror violence/bloody images, and language) Sinister thriller about an alien child (Jackson Dunn) who crash lands on Earth only to wreak havoc rather than help humanity. Cast includes Elizabeth Banks, David Denman and Matt Jones.



The Tomorrow Man (PG-13 for brief strong language and some suggestive material) John Lithgow stars in the title role as a doomsday prophet preparing for disaster with a girlfriend who is a hoarder (Blythe Danner). With Derek Cecil, Eve Harlow and Katie Aselton.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Diamantino (Unrated) Carloto Cotta plays the title role in this dysfunctional family comedy about a champion soccer player forced to confront his long-estranged, evil twin sisters (Cleo Tavares and Carla Maciel about the meaning of genius. With Chico Chapas, Margarida Moreira and Anabela Moreira.

Funny Story (Unrated) Sobering tragi-comedy about a loving father (Matthew Glave) who unintenionally disrupts his daughter's Big Sur vacation by inviting himself along. With Nikki Limo, Todd Berger and Jessica Diggins

Halston (Unrated) Reverential biopic about the fashion guru of the 70s who created a business empire by taking the biggest gamble of his life. With commentary by Liza Minelli, Marisa Berenson and Alva Chinn.

The Proposal (Unrated)biopic about the efffort to make the work of Mexico's greatest artist available to the public

For photo, visit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6139732/mediaviewer/rm1875927552?ref_=tt_ov_i

Isn't it Romantic

 

Film Review by Kam Williams

Rebel Wilson Headlines Disappointing Romantic Musical Comedy

Natalie (Rebel Wilson) is a dynamic, young professional trying to make her mark on Manhattan. But between a fledgling professional career and a dating life that isn't faring any better, the Australian architect is close to bottoming out.

It's a miracle her optimistic spirit hasn't been crushed, since she was raised by an emotionally-abusive mom (Jennifer Saunders) who said she'd never amount to anything. 

 

She has nevertheless made a few friends since moving to the States, including BFF/colleague, Josh (Adam Devine), as well as hunky Blake (Liam Hemsorth), a billionaire who is one of her company's clients. And her buddies include a motley crew of colorful characters. 

 

Anybody familiar with Rebel Wilson's work knows that she's committed to over-the-top fare as seen in her biggest hit, Picture Perfect. While this offering fails to measure up in terms of generating laughs per minute, it does at least recreate the ambiance of her typical farce. 

 

The movie is directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, a hack who has cranked out a string of mediocre comedies such as Larceny, Naked but Funny and Stevie TV. Not a picture this critic feels comfortable recommending to any demographic. Consider that a fair warning.

Fair (1 star)

Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, and a brief drug reference

Running time: 88 minutes

Production Companies: Netflix / New Line Cinema

Distributor: Warner Brothers

To see a trailer for Isn't it Romantic, visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZwgoVmILQU

Film Review by Kam Williams

Revealing Biopic Chronicles Formative Years Of Legendary Fantasy Writer

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) was a British fantasy novelist best known for “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” After being orphaned at an early age, he attended King Edwards, an exclusive boarding school where he forged close friendships with classmates which would endure over his lifetime.

There, he first referred to this semi-secret association of writers and artists as a “fellowship,” a term which ostensibly influenced the unique lexicon of his fictional work. He was also very sensitive about the pronunciation of his surname to the extent that he even complained about it to the school administration, emphasizing that it was “een” as opposed to “in.”

While at King Edwards, he met and fell head over heels for Edith Bratt (Lily Collins), an attractive classmate who would not only serve as his muse but as the inspiration for a couple of his characters. The lovebirds wed in 1916 but unfortunately their marital bliss would soon be interrupted by his deployment to France in World World I.

Unfortunately, the separation from his wife exacted a further emotional toll on the already traumatized Tolkien. Sadly, it spelled the demise of his confederacy of intellects, too.

Directed by Dome Karukoski, Tolkien is a poignant portrait which reveals its subject to be quite a complicated soul. The title role is capably played by Nicholas Hoult who delivers a piercingly evocative performance, probing the depths of the literary giant's psyche in plausible fashion. 
 
The ethereal plotline drifts back and forth between the sobering and the surreal, unfolding against a war torn landscape of dire proportions. Childhood angst plus wartime trauma yields escapist fantasies for the ages.

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated PG-13 for war violence

Running time: 112 minutes

Production Companies: Fox Searchlight Pictures / Chernin Entertainment

Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

To see a trailer for Tolkien, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ1vn85iQRE

Bolden

 

Film Review by Kam Williams

Overdue Biopic Belatedly Pays Tribute to Jazz Pioneer

Buddy Bolden (1877-1931) was born in New Orleans, where he took up the cornet at an early age. His unique approach to the instrument involved a novel form of improvisation while playing a combination of gospel, blues and ragtime. 
 
Well before the emergence of Louis Armstrong, Buddy was a popular bandleader credited with creating a new genre of music: jazz! Sadly, this genius has mostly been forgotten by history because no recordings or arrangements of his songs survived.

However, thanks to legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis in collaboration with writer/director Dan Pritzker, we now have Bolden, a brilliant biopic painting a poignant portrait of what Buddy's life might have been like. Marsalis composed, arranged and played on the soundtrack, relying on what scraps of his subject's work he could unearth.

Similarly, Pritzker cobbled together a speculative storyline based on the few facts available about Bolden. What we do know is that his career ended in 1907 when he was committed to the mental institution where he would spend the last of his days in obscurity.

Bolden is basically a flashback flick unfolding from the surreal perspective of a patient struggling to make sense of his life. The film stars Garry Carr who delivers a riveting performance as black man whose spirit has been broken by racism and a host of other maladies flowing from that oppression.

Don't miss this overdue tribute to a forgotten jazz pioneer!

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated R for sexuality, graphic nudity, profanity, ethnic slurs, brutal violence and drug use

Running time: 108 minutes

Production Companies: King Bolden LLC

Distributor: Abramorama

To see a trailer for Bolden, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80D1UrXqUsE

The Mustang

Film Review by Kam Williams

Hardened Con Offered Shot at Redemption by Rough-Edged Horse Whisperer

Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts) has too quick a fuse to think before he acts. That's why he's done a dozen years and counting in a maximum-security prison for impulsively delivering a brutal beating that left his victim permanently brain-damaged. 
 
Even while incarcerated, Roman's never learned to control his temper. Consequently, he's voluntarily spent the bulk of his time in solitary confinement. 
 
A shot at rehabilitation finally arrives when Myles (Bruce Dern), a salty, old horse whisperer, offers Roman a spot in his program pairing inmates with wild mustangs. The hope is that each participant will learn to tame his own raging inner soul while bonding with his stallion.

Roman grudgingly accepts the invitation, before being assigned to work with a bucking bronco he names Marcus. Under the watchful eye of the sage trainer, con and colt do gradually take to each other, although not without its share of fits and starts. 
 
Marking Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre's nonpareil directorial debut, The Mustang is a character-driven masterpiece co-starring Matthias Schoenaerts and Bruce Dern. The two generate considerable chemistry in the course of delivering powerful performances against a variety of visually-captivating backdrops, ranging from the vast expanse of a barren, Nevada desert to the claustrophobic confines of one of the State's penal institutions.

An emotionally-engaging meditation on redemption inspired by a real-life program helping inmates turn their lives around.

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated R for profanity, violence and drug use

Running time: 96 minutes

Production Companies: Legende Films / Cine+ / Canal+

Distributor: Focus Features

To see a trailer for The Mustang, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2a-KSOCIeY