Weekly Previews for Movies Opening Jan. 28

BIG BUDGET FILMS

 

Biutiful (R for profanity, nudity, disturbing images, drug use and some sexuality) Bittersweet redemption drama, set in Barcelona, about the effort of a tormented, terminally-ill, career criminal (Javier Bardem) with a couple months to live to reconcile with his philandering, bipolar ex-wife (Maricel Alvarez) and to provide for his kids' care in the wake of his demise. With Hanaa Bouchaib, Guillermo Estrella and Eduard Fernandez. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

The Mechanic (R for profanity, nudity, sexuality and pervasive graphic violence) Jason Statham stars in the title role of this remake of the Charles Bronson classic thriller about an elite assassin who forges an ill-fated liaison with an apprentice (Ben Foster) bent on revenge. Cast includes Donald Sutherland, Jeff Chase and Mini Anden.

The Rite (PG-13 for profanity, sexual references, frightening images and disturbing themes) Religious-themed horror flick about a demoralized seminary student (Colin O'Donoghue) who finds his faith restored fighting demonic forces after he learns to perform exorcisms at the Vatican. With Anthony Hopkins, Rutger Hauer, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones and Alice Braga.

 

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

 

Blackmail Boys (Unrated) Homoerotic thriller, set in Chicago, about a marriage-minded, same-sex couple (Nathan Adloff and Taylor Reed) who hatch a plan to raise the funds for their wedding by blackmailing a closeted cleric (Joe Swanberg) famous for his anti-gay crusades. With Danny Rhodes, Spencer Parsons and Marc Singletary.

From Prada to Nada (PG-13 for sexuality and brief drug use) Update of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" as a romantic comedy, set in L.A., revolving around a couple of spoiled-rotten Latina sisters (Camilla Belle and Alexa Vega) who are forced to live in the barrio with their estranged Aunt (Adriana Barraza) after their father's (Alexis Ayala) sudden death leaves them penniless. With Wilmer Valderrama, Pablo Cruz, Harry Porter and Tina French.

Ip Man 2 (R for graphic violence) Donnie Yen returns as the legendary kung fu grandmaster in this historical drama chronicling the titular character's escape in the Fifties with his family from China to Hong Kong with plans for opening a martial arts academy. Cast includes Lynn Hung, Simon Yam Sammo Hung and Siu-Wong Fan. (In Cantonese, Mandarin and English with subtitles)

Kaboom (Unrated) Sci-fi comedy about a set of sexually-adventurous college students whose days of debauchery come to an abrupt end in the wake of a life-altering apocalyptic development. Ensemble includes Thomas Dekker, Juno Temple, Kelly Lynch, Haley Bennett and James Duval.

Lemmy (Unrated) Rockumentary chronicling the career of the legendary Lemmy Kilmister, lead singer and bassist for the heavy metal group Motorhead since 1975. Film features appearances by such fellow musicians as Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Alice Cooper, Dave Grohl and Dee Snider.

Poetry (Unrated) Deliberately-paced drama about an aging woman's (Jeong-hie Yun) agonizing over her 16 year-old grandson's (Da-wit Lee) participation in a gang rape of a classmate which led to the victim's suicide. With Nae-sang Ahn, Hira Kim and Yong-taek Kim. (In Korean with subtitles)

When We Leave (Unrated) Feminist drama about a woman (Sibel Kekilli) who flees to Germany from Istanbul with her son in tow to escape an abusive marriage only to be met with hostility from most of her Muslim relatives for having abandoned her husband. (In German and Turkish with subtitles)