Kam’s Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun, September 22, 2010

For movies opening October 1, 2010

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Case 39 Renee Zellweger stars in this psychological thriller about a naive social worker who rescues an abused 10 year-old (Jodelle Ferland) from her parents (Callum Keith Rennie and Kerry O’Malley) only to discover that the girl isn’t as innocent as she looks. Case 39 is rated R for violence, terror and disturbing images.

Hatchet II Revenge-fueled, fright sequel features scream queen Danielle Harris reprising her lead role of Marybeth with the survivor returning to the swamps of Louisiana assisted by an army of hunters in the search for the bayou butcher (Kane Hodder) behind the slaughter of her family. Cast includes Tony Todd, John Carl Buechler and Tom Holland. Hatchet II is Unrated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7CWmC2vr78

Let Me In Remake of Let the Right One In, the Swedish horror flick about a bullied, 12 year-old boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who discovers that his new friend (Chloe Moretz) and her mute father (Richard Jenkins) are hiding a big secret. With Elias Koteas, Cara Buono and Seth Adkins. Let Me In is Unrated.

The Social Network David Fincher directs this bio-pic about billionaire Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), the wunderkind who founded Facebook in 2004 while still a student at Harvard. Ensemble cast includes Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Max Minghella, Andrew Garfield, Brenda Song, Mara Rooney and Joseph Mazzello. The Social Network is rated PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, and drug and alcohol use.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Barry Munday (R for sexuality and profanity) Castration comedy about a wannabe ladies man (Patrick Wilson) who awakens in a hospital with his testicles missing after being attacked in a movie theater. To add insult to injury, the newly-neutered eunuch learns he’s being sued for paternity by a woman (Judy Greer) he can’t even remember sleeping with. Cast includes Chloe Sevigny, Billy Dee Williams, Cybill Shepherd, Malcolm McDowell and Colin Hanks.

Chain Letter (R for profanity, brief nudity and pervasive sadistic violence) Gruesome horror flick about six teenagers being stalked by a sicko (Michael Bailey Smith) threatening to kill those who refuse to forward his chilling text and email messages. With Nikki Reed, Keith David, Brad Dourif, Bai Ling, Matt Cohen, Noah Segan and Brian Tee.

Douchebag (Unrated) Sibling rivalry comedy about a groom-to-be (Andrew Dickler) who, at the suggestion of his fence-mending fiancee (Marguerite Moreau), embarks on a road trip with her and his estranged brother (Ben York Jones) in search of the latter’s childhood sweetheart so he can have a date for the wedding. With Nicole Vicius, Amy Ferguson and Wendi McLendon-Covey.

Freakonomics (PG-13 for violence, sexuality, nudity, drug use and brief profanity) A half-dozen directors contribute segments to this pop culture documentary illustrating a variety of the unorthodox economic ideas contained in Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s best seller of the same name exploring the “Hidden Side of Everything.”

The Hungry Ghosts (Unrated) The Sopranos’ Michael Imperioli makes his directorial debut with this East-meets-West drama revolving around an eclectic group of New Yorkers’ quest for sensual and spiritual fulfillment. Ensemble includes Aunjanue Ellis, Emory Cohen, Steven Schirripa, Nick Sandow and Sharon Angela.

Inspector Bellamy (Unrated) Crime caper, directed by the recently-deceased Claude Chabrol, revolving around Paris’ Police Commissioner (Gerard Depardieu) whose quiet vacation with his wife (Marie Bunel) at their country home is disturbed by the arrival of his ne’er-do-well stepbrother (Clovis Cornillac) and a mysterious stranger (Jacques Gamblin) in need of protection. (In French with subtitles)

Ip Man (Unrated) Historical bio-pic, set in the late Thirties, about the Chinese martial arts master (Donnie Yen) who first introduced the discipline known as Wing Chun to Japan. With Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan and Ka Tung Lam. (In Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese with subtitles)

Leaving (Unrated) Romance thriller, set in the South of France, revolving around a happily-married psychotherapist (Kristin Scott Thomas) who recklessly risks her bourgeois lifestyle by embarking on a passionate affair with her ex-con handyman (Sergi Lopez). (In French, Catalan and English with subtitles)

S&Man (Unrated) Peeping Tom documentary explores the voyeuristic nature of mainstream horror films via an examination of snuff, bondage and other fetish films.

Speed-Dating (Unrated) Urban-oriented comedy about a trio of players (Wesley Jonathan, Chico Benymon and Leonard Robinson) who devise the ultimate scheme to seduce women while simultaneously making money. Supporting cast includes Mekita Faiye, Chris Elliott, Esther Baxter and Chingy.