Kam Williams Reviews Movies Opening May 8, 2015

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Hot Pursuit (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, violence and drug use) Road comedy about a straitlaced police officer (Reese Witherspoon) who ends up on the run from mobsters and crooked cops after being assigned to protect the widow (Sofia Vergara) of a recently-deceased drug kingpin. With John Carroll Lynch, Matthew Del Negro and Richard T. Jones.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

5 Flights Up (PG-13 for profanity and naked images) Slice-of-life drama, set in Brooklyn, revolving around the trial and tribulations of a retired couple (Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton) being pressured by their niece (Cynthia Nixon) to sell the rundown home they’ve shared for the past 40 years. With Carrie Preston, Miriam Shor and Alysia Reiner.

1001 Grams (Unrated) Poignant character study about a nerdy Norwegian (Ane Dahl Torp) who is shaken out of her comfort zone after crossing paths with a fellow scientist (Laurent Stocker) while attending a seminar in Paris. Cast includes Stein Winge, Hildegun Riise and Didier Flamand. (In Norwegian, French and English with subtitles)

The D Train (R for nudity, graphic sexuality, profanity and drug use) Unlikely-buddies comedy about a social zero’s (Jack Black) desperate attempt to convince his high school’s boy most likely (James Marsden) to attend their 20th reunion. With Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor and Russell Posner.

Hunting Elephants (Unrated) Israeli crime comedy, set in Jerusalem, about a trio of revenge-minded retirees (Sasson Gabai, Patrick Stewart and Moni Moshonov) who hatch a plan to rob a bank with the help of a precocious 12 year-old (Gil blank). Support cast includes Yael Abecassis, Tzvika Hadar and Moshe Ivgy. (In Hebrew and English with subtitles)

I Am Big Bird (Unrated) Reverential retrospective covering the enduring career of Carroll Spinney, the 81 year-old puppeteer who has played Big Bird on Sesame Street since 1969. Featuring commentary by Frank Oz, Sonia Manzano and the late Jim Henson.

Maggie (PG-13 for profanity, mature themes and disturbing images) Abigail Breslin stars as the title character in this post-apocalyptic thriller, set in the Midwest, as an ill-fated teen whose dad (Arnold Schwarzennegger) stands by her side after she’s infected with the deadly virus sweeping the nation that slowly turns its victims into cannibalistic zombies. Cast includes Joely Richardson, Laura Cayouette and Denise Williamson.

Noble (PG-13 for violence, sexuality and mature themes) Deidre O’Kane handles the title role in this biopic about Christina Noble, the Irish spinster who, in 1989, founded an orphanage in Vietnam for hundreds of homeless kids roaming the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. With Sarah Greene, Gloria Cramer Curtis and Brendan Coyle.

Piku (Unrated) Deepika Padukone plays the tile character in this dysfunctional family drama, set in West Bengal, about an unmarried architect burdened by having to juggle her career and the demands of her hypochondriacal father (Irrfan Khan) Featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Moushumi Chatterjee and Raghuvir Yadav. (In Hindi with subtitles)

Playing it Cool (R for profanity and sexuality) Romantic comedy revolving around a perennial loser at love (Chris Evans) who finally meets the woman of his dreams (Michelle Monaghan) only to learn that she’s already engaged to be married. Supporting cast includes Luke Wilson, Aubrey Plaza, Topher Grace and Ioan Gruffudd.

Preggoland (Unrated) Midlife-crisis dramedy about a 35 year-old single woman (Sonja Bennett) who pretends to be pregnant in order to fit in with girlfriends who are already mothers. Co-starring Laura Harris, James Caan, Danny Trejo and Lisa Durupt.

Saint Laurent (R for frontal nudity, graphic sexuality, profanity and pervasive substance abuse) Warts and all biopic chronicling the turbulence in the life of Yves Saint Laurent (Gaspard Ulliel) during the decadent decade (1967-1976) when the French fashion icon was at the peak of his career. With Jeremie Renier, Louis Garrel and Lea Seydoux. (In French and English with subtitles)

The Seven Five (R for pervasive profanity, grisly images and drug use) Cop gone bad documentary about Michael Dowd, the rogue NYPD officer who robbed drug dealers of cocaine and hundreds of thousands of dollars during a 12-year reign of terror that started in the late Eighties.

Skin Trade (R for nudity, profanity, drug use, pervasive violence and disturbing sexuality) Revenge-fueled action thriller about a NYPD detective (Dolph Lundgren) who ventures to Bangkok to track down the mobster (Ron Perlman) who murdered his wife (Tasya Teles) and young daughter (Chloe Babcook). Featuring Michael Jai White, Tony Jaa and Celina Jade.