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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2015)
Arts & Entertainment Kam’s Kapsules: Movies Opening This Friday, August 21 BIG BUDGET FILMS American Ultra (R for graphic violence, perva- sive profanity, drug use and some sexuality) Ac- tion comedy about a sleep- er agent masquerading as a small town stoner (Jesse Eisenberg) whose training kicks in when he suddenly fi nds himself targeted by as- sassins. Cast includes Kris- ten Stewart, Topher Grace, John Leguizamo, Connie Britton and Bill Pullman. Hitman: Agent 47 (R for profanity and graphic vio- lence) Rupert Friend plays the title character in this crime thriller as a geneti- cally-engineered assassin who teams up with a young woman (Hannah Ware) to take on an army of killers dispatched by a mega-cor- poration with a diabolical agenda. Featuring Zachary Quinto, Ciaran Hinds and Thomas Kretschmann. Sinister 2 (R for profan- ity, graphic violence and disturbing images) Horror sequel to the 2012 sleeper revolves around an overpro- tective single-mom (Shan- nyn Sossamon) who unwit- tingly moves with her twin sons (Robert and Dartanian Sloan) into a country home marked for death. With James Ransone, Lea Coco and Tate Ellington. INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 6 Years (Unrated) Ro- mance drama about a couple of childhood sweethearts (Ben Rosenfi eld and Tais- sa Farmiga) whose long- term relationship is tested when he’s offered a dream job with a record company. With Joshua Leonard, Lind- say Burdge and Peter Vack. After Words (Unrated) Romantic romp revolving Kam’s Capsules Movie Reviews by Kam Williams around a lonely librarian (Marcia Gay Harden) hav- ing a midlife crisis who travels to Costa Rica where she gets her groove back with the help of a handsome young hunk (Oscar Jaena- da). Support cast includes Jenna Ortega, Ron Canada and Jackie Torres. Beltracchi (Unrated) Amusing expose’ about con man Wolfgang Beltracchi, the art forger who fooled museums and collectors for decades, passing off his fakes as originals by a vari- ety of different masters. (In German, French and En- glish with subtitles) Digging for Fire (R for profanity, drug use, sexual references and graphic nu- dity) Mumblecore move- ment maven Joe Swanberg directed and co-wrote this intriguing whodunit about a young couple (Jake John- son and Rosemarie DeWitt) with a toddler (Jude Swan- berg) whose marriage is shaken by the discovery of a gun and a bone buried in their backyard. Ensemble includes Anna Kendrick, Orlando Bloom, Sam Elliott and Brie Larson. Guidance (Unrated) Out-of-the-closet comedy about an alcoholic guidance counselor (Pat Mills) deep in denial about his sexuali- ty whose unhealthy coping mechanisms prove popular with students seeking his advice. Featuring Alexan- dria Benoit, Jen Goodhue and Tracey Hoyt. . Rose (John Leguizamo) and Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg) in American Ultra. Grandma (R for profanity and drug use) Lily Tomlin handles the title role in this road comedy about a heart- broken lesbian who drives around town to help her cash-strapped granddaugh- ter (Julia Garner) come up with some urgently-needed cash before sundown. With Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, John Cho, Sam El- liott and Elizabeth Pena. Sarita Choudhury and Sa- mantha Bee. Mateo (Unrated) Gringo biopic about America’s fi rst white Mariachi singer, Mat- thew Stoneman, an ex-con who taught himself to sing in Spanish after developing a love for Mexican music while behind bars. The Mend (Unrat- ed) Dysfunctional family dramedy about a couple of long-estranged brothers (Josh Lucas and Stephen Plunkett) who attempt to reconcile while sharing an apartment in Harlem. With Lucy Owen, Mickey Sumner, Cory Nichols and Louisa Krause. Searching for Home, Coming Back from War (Unrated) Multi-generation- al documentary offering an intimate look at combat vet- erans’ adjustment to civilian life after serving in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. See MOVIES on page 7 The Iron Ministry (Unrat- ed) Infrastructure documen- tary chronicling the recent transformation of China’s railway system into the largest locomotive network in the world. (In Mandarin with subtitles) Learning to Drive (R for profanity and sexuality) Ro- mantic dramedy, set in Man- hattan, about the unlikely friendship which blossoms between an acerbic book critic (Patricia Clarkson), just dumped by her hus- band (Jake Weber), and the patient cabbie (Ben Kings- ley) she hires to teach her to drive. With Grace Gummer, August 19, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 5
