Arts & Entertainment
Opening This Week — July 27
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Step Up Revolution (PG-13 for profani-
ty and sensuality) 4th installment in the hip-
hop, street dance series, set in Miami,
revolves around the classically-trained
daughter (Kathryn McCormick) of a
wealthy businessman (Peter Gallagher) who
falls in love with a flash mob choreographer
(Ryan Guzman) trying to save his ‘hood
from a developer’s wrecking ball. With
Adam Sevani, Stephen Boss and Chadd
Smith.
K AM ’ S
C APSULES
Movie
Reviews by
Kam Williams
speech documentary about the legal battle
mounted by the Dole Corporation to prevent
a pair of filmmakers from airing an expose’
they made about the company’s poisoning
of Nicaraguan farm workers. With Alex
Rivera, Alfonso Allende, Arvid Jurjaks and
Bernt Hermele. (In English and Swedish
with subtitles)
Falling Overnight (Unrated) Bittersweet
love story about a 22 year-old cancer
patient (Parker Croft) who shares a one-
night stand with a pretty photographer
(Emilia Zoryan) the day before he’s sched-
uled for brain surgery. Cast includes Jake
Olson, Elizabeth Levin and Bubba Ganter.
‘Step Up Revolution’
The Watch (R for violence, graphic sex-
uality and pervasive profanity) Sci-fi come-
dy about members of a neighborhood crime
watch (Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah
Hill and Richard Ayoade) who get more
than they bargained for when they find
themselves having to defend the planet from
an alien invasion. With Rosemarie DeWitt,
Will Forte and R. Lee Ermey.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN
FILMS
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (R for profani-
ty) Bamboo Curtain biopic about Beijing
contemporary artist/political activist Ai
Weiwei, a controversial democracy and
human rights advocate who has been cen-
sored for publicly criticizing the Chinese
government. Includes appearances by Dan-
ging Chen, Ying Gao and Changwei Gu. (In
English and Mandarin with subtitles)
Big Boys Gone Bananas (Unrated) Free
Searching for Sugar Man (Unrated)
Flash in the pan documentary about a cou-
ple of diehard fans from South Africa who
embark on a search for the whereabouts of
Sixto Rodriquez, a one-hit wonder from
Detroit remembered for the 1967 single,
“I’ll Slip Away.”
Killer Joe (NC-17 for nudity, brutality,
graphic sexuality and disturbing violence)
Oscar-winner William Friedkin (for The
French Connection) directs this screen
adaptation of Tracy Letts’ play of the same
name about a cash-strapped gambler (Emile
Hirsch) indebted to the mob who hires a cop
(Matthew McConaughey) to murder his
mother for her life insurance. With Gina
Gershon, Juno Temple and Thomas Haden
Church.
about the attempt of a brave lamb (Georgina
Cordova) along with his stable mates to
avoid the sacrificial altar at Easter time.
Voice cast includes Michael Madsen (Vir-
ginia’s brother), Scott Eastwood (Clint’s
son), Omar Benson Miller and the late
Ernest Borgnine.
Planet of Snail (Unrated) Endearing doc-
umentary chronicling the day-to-day strug-
gle to survive of deaf and blind Young-Chan
and his wife, Soon-ho, who suffers from a
debilitating spinal disease. (In Korean with
subtitles)
Rites of Spring (Unrated) Payback horror
flick about a gang of kidnappers whose plan
to kidnap the daughter of a wealthy busi-
nessman goes horribly wrong when they
have the tables turned on them by a relent-
less killing machine. Principal cast includes
AJ Bowen, Anessa Ramsey, Marco St. John
and Hannah Bryan.
Ruby Sparks (R for profanity, sexual ref-
erences and drug use) Mind-over-matter
romantic comedy about a lonely novelist
with writer’s block (Paul
Dano) who magically
materializes the perfect
mate for himself by will-
ing one of his character
(Zoe Kazan) to life. With
Antonio
Banderas,
Annette Bening, Elliott
Gould
and
Steve
Coogan. (In English and
French with subtitles)
‘Searching for Sugar Man’
vivor (Zhao Wenhau) of a massacre who is
raised like a son by an embittered doctor
(Ge You) and trained to avenge the murder
of their entire clan. With Xueqi Wang, Bing-
bing Fan and Xiaoming Huang. (In Man-
darin with subtitles)
Sacrifice (Unrated)
Screen adaptation of the
play “The Orphan of
Zhao,” a historical
drama, set in ancient
China, about the sole sur-
‘The Watch’
Klown (R for profanity, drug use, frontal
nudity and graphic sexuality) Unlikely
buddy comedy about a daddy-to-be (Frank
Hvam) who takes his pregnant fiancee’s
(Mia Lyhne) 12 year-old nephew (Marcuz
Jess Petersen) on a wild canoe trip to prove
himself ready for fatherhood. Featuring
Casper Christensen, Mads Lisby and Tina
Bilsbo. (In Danish with subtitles)
The Lion of Judah (PG for mature
themes) Faith-based animated adventure
July 25, 2012
The Portland Skanner Page 5