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Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews, January 27, 2011, That Make Choosing a Film Fun

By Kam Williams  

For movies opening February 4, 2011

The Roommate (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, menacing, violence and teen partying) Psychological thriller about a naïve, college freshman (Minka Kelly) who moves into her dorm having no idea that she's been assigned a roommate (Leighton Meester) with a killer personality. With Billy Zane, Cam Gigandet and Alyson Michalka.

Sanctum (R for profanity, violence and disturbing images) 3-D action thriller set in the South Pacific where a team of divers exploring a series of underwater caves suddenly find themselves in a struggle for survival after becoming trapped by a flash flood. Ensemble cast includes Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhys Wakefield and Alice Parkinson.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

American Grindhouse (Unrated) Film fan documentary chronicling the history of cheesy exploitation flicks from the early days of cinema to the present. Featuring appearances by John Landis, Fred Williamson and Robert Forster.

Cold Weather (Unrated) Mumblecore whodunit, set in Portland, Oregon, and revolving around an aimless, forensics school dropout (Cris Lankenau) who gets a chance to play amateur sleuth when his ex-girlfriend (Robyn Rikoon) mysteriously disappears. With Trieste Kelly Dunn, Raul Castillo and Jeb Pearson.

Dressed (Unrated) Inspirational bio-pic about Nary Manivong, the Laotian-American designer who overcame a challenging childhood marked by poverty and homelessness to realize his dream of launching his own clothing line in New York City during Fashion Week.

How I Ended This Summer (Unrated) Psychological drama set at a weather station on a desolate island in the middle of the Arctic Ocean where a recently-arrived college grad (Grigory Dobrygin) is reluctant to break the bad news that the wife and child his new boss (Sergei Puskepalis) left behind in civilization have just perished in a tragic accident. (In Russian with subtitles)

Into Eternity (Unrated) Eco-exposé, directed and narrated by Michael Madsen (Celestial Night), calculating the long-term risks associated with the storage of nuclear power plant waste which remains radioactive for 100,000 years. Includes interviews with scientists and government bureaucrats involved with the construction of a repository facility located in Olkiluoto, Finland.

Mooz-Lum (PG-13 for violence and mature themes) Dysfunctional family drama about a devout Muslim-American (Roger Guenveur Smith) who emotionally alienates his wife (Nia Long) and kids (Evan Ross and Kimberley Drummond) by forcing them to follow orthodox religious practices and dress codes. With Danny Glover, Dorian Missick and Summer Bishil.

The Other Woman (R for profanity and sexuality) Natalie Portman stars in the title role of this bittersweet dramedy, based on Ayelet Waldman's novel "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits," about a mistress-turned-trophy wife's strained relationship with her 8 year-old stepson (Charlie Tahan) in the wake of her husband's (Scott Cohen) messy divorce from a vindictive witch (Lisa Kudrow).

Waiting for Forever (PG-13 for violence, mature themes and brief profanity) Romance drama about a famous TV actress (Rachel Bilson) who rekindles a friendship with a lifelong admirer (Tom Sturridge) when she returns to her hometown to care for her ailing father (Richard Jenkins). With Blythe Danner, Jaime King and Nikki Blonsky.

Kam Williams is a syndicated film and book critic who writes for 100+ publications. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Online, the African-American Film Critics Association, and the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committee. Contact him through NewsBlaze.