Kam Williams Reviews Movies Opening Dec. 12, 2014

PHOTO: Still of Wes Bentley and Jason Isaacs in After The Fall


BIG BUDGET FILMS

Exodus: Gods and Kings (PG-13 for violence and intense images) Biblical epic recreating the perilous escape from the pharaoh (Joel Edgerton) to freedom undertaken by 600,000 slaves led by the prophet Moses (Christian Bale). With John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver and Aaron Paul.

Inherent Vice (R for profanity, violence, sexuality and graphic nudity) Five-time Oscar-nominee Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood, Boogie Nights and Magnolia) wrote and directed this adaptation of the Thomas Pynchon best-seller of the same name about a private eye’s (Joaquin Phoenix) attempt to solve the mysterious disappearance of an ex-girlfriend (Katherine Waterston) and her billionaire boyfriend (Eric Roberts). Ensemble cast includes Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, Maya Rudolph, Benicio del Toro and Jena Malone.

Top Five (R for sexuality, nudity, crude humor, pervasive profanity and drug use) Chris Rock wrote, directed and stars in this star vehicle about a standup comic trying to become a serious actor. With Gabrielle Union, Tracy Morgan and Rosario Dawson.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

After the Fall (R for violence and some sexuality and profanity) Character study of a desperate family man’s (Wes Bentley) spiraling out of control when he turns to a life of crime after losing his job. With Vinessa Shaw, Haley Bennett, Audrey Walters and Jason Isaacs.

The Captive (Unrated) Oscar-nominee Atom Egoyan (for The Sweet Hereafter) wrote and directed this crime thriller about the search for a missing teen (Alexia Fast) who vanished without a trace eight years earlier when momentarily left in a car by her father (Ryan Reynolds) while he stepped into a diner. With Rosario Dawson, Scott Speedman and Mireille Enos.

The Color of Time (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity and drug use) James Franco plays C.K. Williams in this retrospective covering 40 years in the life of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Supporting cast includes Mila Kunis, Zach Braff, Jessica Chastain and Bruce Campbell.

Free the Nipple (Unrated) Social satire revisiting the passionate women’s movement to decriminalize female nudity. Featuring Lola Kirke, Monique Coleman and Casey LaBow.

Isn’t It Delicious (Unrated) Dysfunctional family dramedy about a dying woman (Kathleen Chalfant) who decides to reconcile with her estranged children (Alice Ripley, Nick Stevenson and Jonah Young) and husband (Keir Dullea) after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. With Malachy McCourt, Mia Dillon and Robert LuPone.

A Little Game (Unrated) Unlikely-buddies drama, set in Manhattan, about the friendship forged between a grief-stricken, 10 year-old (Makenna Ballard) and a curmudgeonly chess master (F. Murray Abraham) she meets in Washington Square park. Cast includes Ralph Macchio, Janeane Garofalo, Olympia Dukakis and Rachel Dratch.

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (PG-13 for suggestive images, nudity, smoking and brief profanity) Reverential biopic examining Welles’ extraordinary genius.

We Are the Giant (Unrated) Moment of truth documentary relating the stories of a trio of individuals transformed by the decision to participate in the Arab Spring Movement. (In Arab and English with subtitles)