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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2016)
Page 6 The Skanner May 18, 2016 Arts & Entertainment Kam’s Kapsules: Movies Opening Friday, May 20, 2016 BIG BUDGET FILMS The Angry Birds Mov- ie (PG for action and rude humor) Animated adventure, inspired by the video game series of the same name, set on an island inhabited by a flock of flightless birds with anger management issues whose patience is suddenly tested by an overwhelming pig inva- sion. Voice cast includes Jason Sudeikis, Kate McKinnon, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Sean Penn, Keegan-Michael Key, Pe- ter Dinklage, Hannibal Buress and Bill Hader. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (R for crude sex- uality, brief graphic nu- dity, pervasive profanity and drug use) Teensploi- tation sequel finds young marrieds Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) expecting their second child just as the out of control fraternity next door is replaced by a sorority full of party animals. With Zac Efron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Selena Gomez and Lisa Kudrow. The Nice Guys (R for Kam Williams Kam’s Kapsules Movie Reviews violence, profanity, sex- uality, nudity and brief drug use) Unlikely-bud- dies crime comedy, set in L.A. in ‘77, about a pair of private eyes (Ryan Gos- ling and Russell Crowe) who grudgingly join forces to investigate a fading porn star’s appar- ent suicide. Support cast includes Kim Basinger, Keith David, Matt Bomer, Yaya DaCosta and Hanni- bal Buress. INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS Art Bastard (Unrated) Reverential biopic about maverick artist Robert Cenedella, an inveterate iconoclast who has man- aged to enjoy an endur- ing career without com- promising his rebellious spirit. Hard Sell (Unrated) Dysfunctional family dramedy, set on Long Is- land, about a poor, prep school student (Skyler Gisondo) who comes to the aid of his unstable single-mom (Kristin Chenoweth) by fleecing spoiled-rotten rich kids with the help of a debu- tante classmate (Katrina Bowden) With Kevin Kil- ner, Amy Rutberg and Hannah Marks. Holy Hell (Unrated) Mind control documen- tary revisiting The Bud- dhafield, an ill-fated, reli- gious sect located in L.A. in the Eighties which was run by a charismatic cult leader called Michel. Ma Ma (R for some nudity and brief sexu- al references) Charac- ter-driven drama, set in the Canary Islands, re- volving around a young mother (Penelope Cruz) recently diagnosed with cancer who forges a friendship with a soccer scout (Luis Tovar) who just lost his wife and daughter in a car acci- dent. With Asier Etxean- dia, Teo Planell and Anna Jimenez. (In Spanish with subtitles). Maggie’s Plan (R for profanity and sexuality) Greta Gerwig plays the ‘Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising’ title character in this ro- mantic comedy about a woman who has second thoughts about having a baby with a married professor (Ethan Hawke) three years after stealing him from his wife (Juli- anne Moore). Support cast includes Travis Fim- mel, Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph. A Moment of Silence (Unrated) “A Man of the People” documentary re- visiting the 2005 election of Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first President of indig- enous extraction. (In Spanish with subtitles) Marsalis’ big band. (In Urdu with subtitles) The Other Side (PG for mature subject matter and mild epithets) Polit- ical science documenta- ry examining how the American people have become more Balkanized than ever before. Weiner (R for profani- ty and sexuality) Warts- and-all documentary chronicling disgraced Congressman Antho- ny Weiner’s second fall from grace when caught sexting during the 2013 campaign for Mayor of New York. Featuring Weiner’s wife Huma Abedin, his spokesper- son Barbara Morgan, and his text message recipi- ent, aspiring porn star Sydney Leathers. Song of Lahore (PG for mature themes, smok- ing and violent images) Cross-cultural docu- mentary chronicling the musical collaborations of a Pakistani classical orchestra and Wynton FILM REVIEW: ‘Money Monster’ a High-Octane Hostage Thriller By Kam Williams For The Skanner News K yle Budwell (Jack O’Connell) was a working-class guy from Queens who never had enough cash in the bank to play the market until his moth- er died and left him $60,000. Against his bet- ter judgment, the rough- edged truck driver put every penny of that in- George Clooney and Julia Roberts in ‘Money Monster’ heritance into Ibis Clear Capital, a security being bursed their $800 million in losses. promoted by TV money guru Lee Gates Meanwhile, the police descend on as “safer than a savings account.” the set, led by patient Captain Powell Gates is the glib host of “Money Mon- (Giancarlo Esposito) who summons a ster,” an investment advice show on the hostage negotiator. During the ensu- mythical FNN Network. The clownish ing standoff, the truth about Ibis slowly character played by George Clooney emerges in front of millions of viewers, was obviously inspired by bombastic and the company’s CEO, Walt Camby Jim Cramer of CNBC’s “Mad Money.” (Dominic West), becomes implicated in Anyhow, in less than a month, Gates’ a shady manipulation of his stock. “stock pick of the millennium” goes So unfolds “Money Monster,” a bust, leaving Kyle frustrated, broke high-octane thriller directed by Jodie and at the end of his rope. Next thing Foster. This movie is also a modern mo- you know, he shows up at the television rality play which levels some serious station with a gun looking for answers. accusations at Wall Street. Credit goes He crashes the set of Money Monster to George Clooney and Julia Roberts during a live airing, and proceeds to for committing fully to a production place a vest filled with explosives on resting on a farfetched premise that Lee. Producer Patty Fenn (Julia Rob- could’ve very easily proved unconvinc- erts) gives in to Kyle’s demand that the ing in less talented hands. show continue to broadcast. A riveting thriller featuring classic Finger on the trigger, he proceeds to screen chemistry coming courtesy of grill Lee about the stock collapse while bankable Clooney and Roberts! ranting and raving about how “The sys- tem is rigged!” Kyle’s sure that Gates Excellent HHHH must have been aware that the stock Rated R for pervasive profanity, brief was going to tank, and he demands that violence and some sexuality all of the Ibis shareholders be reim-
