Kam Williams Reviews Movies Opening August 7, 2015

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Fantastic Four (PG-13 for action, violence and profanity) Marvel Comics reboots its beloved film franchise with a riveting, character-driven roots adventure. Co-stars Kate Mara, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell as the titular quartet. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

Ricki and the Flash (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, mature themes and brief drug use) Meryl Streep plays the title character in this musical dramedy as an aging rock star who returns home to make peace with her long-suffering husband (Kevin Kline) and daughter (Mamie Gummer) after years on the road. Supoort cast includes Rick Springfield, Audra McDonald, Charlotte Rae and Sebastian Stan.

Shaun the Sheep Movie (PG for crude humor) Stop-motion, animated adventure about a mischievous lamb (Justin Fletcher) who leads his flock from the the farm to the big city over the course of an exciting day off. Voice cast includes Kate Harbour, John Sparkes and Richard Webber.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Assassination (Unrated) Historical drama, set in 1933, revolving around Korean resistance's plot to kill the military commander of Japan's occupy forces. Co-starring Ji-hyun Jun, Jung-woo Ha and Jung-jae Hee. (In Korean with subtitles)

Call Me Lucky (Unrated) Prestige biopic chronicling the enduring standup career of irreverent, funnyman Barry Crimmins. Directed by Bobcat Golthwait, and featuring commentary by fellow comics Margaret Cho, Kevin Meaney and Patton Oswalt.

Cop Car (R for violence, profanity and brief drug use) Kids do the darndest things thriller about a small-town sheriff's (Kevin Bacon) pursuit of the ten year-old delinquents (James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford) who took his patrol car for a joy ride. With Camryn Manheim. Shea Whigham and Kathleen Bentley.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl (R for profanity, drug use, underage drinking, graphic sexuality and frontal nudity) Coming-of-age saga, set in San Francisco in the Seventies, about a rudderless rebel (Bel Powley) who embarks on an ill-advised affair with her mother's (Kristen Wiig) handsome boyfriend (Alexander Skarsgard). Cast includes Christopher Meloni, Austin Lyon and Abby Wait.

The Gift (R for profanity) Suspense thriller about a happily-married couple (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall) whose life is turned upside-down after a chance encounter with a high school friend (Joel Edgerton) in possession of an unsettling, decades-old secret about the husband. With Busy Phillips, David Denman and Allison Tolman.

Homme Less (Unrated) American Dream deferred documentary chronicling the plight of homeless, former fashion model Mark Reay who keeps up appearances by day, while sleeping on a Manhattan rooftop at night.

The Prophet (PG for mature themes, violence and sensual images) Animated adaptation of Khalil Gibran's epic poem. Voice cast includes Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek, Quvenzhane Wallis and John Krasinski.

The Runner (R for profanity and sexuality) Nicolas Cage handles the title role in this potboiler, set in New Orleans in the aftermath of the BP Gulf oil spill, about an idealistic but flawed politician whose career is ruined by a scandalous affair. With Connie Nielsen, Sarah Paulson, Peter Fonda and Wendell Pierce.

Sneakerheadz (Unrated) Foot fetish documentary examining the explosive popularity of sneaker collecting all around the world.