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Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun, July 15, 2007

by Kam Williams

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Captivity (R for graphic violence, grisly images, profanity, sexuality and torture) Erotic thriller about a famous cover girl (Elisha Cuthbert) and a chauffeur (Daniel Gillies) who fall madly in love with each other while imprisoned in the dungeon of a sadistic serial killer.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (PG-13 for fantasy violence and frightening images) Fifth year at Hogwarts School finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) frustrated that his fellow wizards are in denial about the apparent return of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

The Strangers (R for profanity, violence and terror) Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman co-star in this horror flick about a couple who return to their remote rural home from a wedding to find themselves the target of a trio of masked intruders.

Talk to Me (R for pervasive profanity and some sexual content) Don Cheadle stars in the biopic about Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con turned radio DJ who brought an inspiring sense of social activism to the airwaves in Washington, DC during the turbulent Sixties. Kasi Lemmons directs ensemble cast which includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, and her husband, Vondie Curtis-Hall.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Drama/Mex (Unrated) Acapulco serves as the backdrop for this bifurcated morality play unfolding over the course of one very eventful day. One tale involves a young woman (Diana Garcia) who chooses to cheat on her boyfriend (Juan Pablo Castaneda) with an ex (Emilio Valdes) who forces himself on her. The other plot focuses on a suicidal, middle-aged man (Fernando Becerril) given a reason to live by a 15 year-old prostitute (Miriana Moro) with the proverbial heart of gold. (In Spanish with subtitles)

Hula Girls (Unrated) Fact-based historical drama, set in Japan in the Sixties, about a dying mining town which decides to remake itself as a Hawaiian-themed tourist attraction when faced with the prospect of economic blight park. (In Japanese with subtitles)

Interview (R for sex, expletives and drug use) Steve Buscemi wrote, directed and co-stars opposite Sienna Miller in this intimate drama about a demoted war correspondent assigned to interview a self-absorbed, soap opera starlet who's currently the tabloids' blonde of the moment.

My Best Friend (PG-13 for some strong profanity) Patrice LeConte directs this French farce about a misanthropic art gallery owner (Daniel Auteuil) who hires a cab driver (Dany Boon) he can't stand to pretend to be his pal in order to win a bet with his business partner (Julie Gayet) that he actually has a best friend. (In French with subtitles)

Nice Bombs (Unrated) Filmmaker Usama Alshaibi chronicles his visit to his native Iraq after a quarter century of exile in America.

Shortcut to Happiness (Unrated) "Father of the Year" Alec Baldwin directs and co-stars with Sir Anthony Hopkins in this fantasy about a struggling writer who sells his soul to the Devil in return for fame and fortune. Supporting cast includes Dan Aykroyd, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kim Cattrall and Jason Patric.

Time (Unrated) Romance drama, set in South Korea, about a jealous woman (Je-Yeon Park) who undergoes cosmetic surgery in order to save her relationship with a guy (Jung-woo Ha) with a wandering eye. (In Korean with subtitles)