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Kam Williams, Special to The Skanner News
Published: 30 June 2011

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Horrible Bosses (R for sexuality, crude humor, pervasive profanity and some drug use) Revenge comedy about three friends (Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman and Charlie Day) who conspire to murder the bosses (Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey and Colin Farrell) making their lives miserable. Supporting cast includes Jamie Foxx, Donald Sutherland, Isaiah Mustafa and Bob Newhart.

Zookeeper (PG for rude humor, mild epithets and double entendres) Kevin James stars in the title role of this romantic comedy about a lonely zookeeper who lands the girl of his dreams (Rosario Dawson) with the help of some talking animals. With Dr. Ken Jeong, Joe Rogan and Donnie Wahlberg, and voiceover work by Sly Stallone, Nick Nolte, Adam Sandler, Don Rickles, Maya Rudolph and Cher.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Beats, Rhymes & Life (Unrated) Michael Rapaport directs this reverential rapumentary chronicling the reunion of the pioneering, hip-hop group "A Tribe Called Quest" for a concert tour in 2008. With appearances by Mos Def, the Beastie Boys, Common and Mary J. Blige.   

The Chameleon (Unrated) Impostor drama recreating the real-life case of a French con man (Marc-Andre Grondin) who shaved his body hair to convince the mother (Ellen Barkin) of a Texas teenager missing for three years that he was her long-lost son. With Famke Janssen, Nick Stahl and Tory Kittles. (In French, English and Spanish with subtitles)

Fading of the Cries (Unrated) Horror fantasy about a young man (Jordan Matthews) armed with a magical sword who endeavors to defend a young farm girl (Hallee Hirsch) from a malevolent sorcerer (Brad Dourif) searching for the ancient necklace she inherited from her uncle. With Lateef Crowder, Jessica Morris and Julia Whelan. 

Ironclad (R for graphic violence and brief nudity) Historical epic, set in 1215, highlighting the Knights of Templar's noble defense of Rochester Castle against the onslaught of the forces of King John (Paul Giamatti) as a consequence of the tyrannical monarch's repudiation of the Magna Carta. Cast includes Kate Mara, Brian Cox and Derek Jacobi.  

The Ledge (Unrated) Faith-based thriller in which philosophical differences between a suicidal atheist (Charlie Hunnam) and a Bible-thumping fundamentalist Christian (Patrick Wilson) escalate to a lethal battle of wills played out on the edge of the roof of their apartment building. With Liv Tyler, Terrence Howard and Christopher Gorham.  

Project Nim (Unrated) Primate whisperer documentary about a chimpanzee separated from its mother at birth and raised in captivity inside a brownstone located on Manhattan's fashionable Upper West Side as a study in animal behavior. Directed by Oscar-winner James Marsh (Man on Wire).

Rapt (Unrated) Psychological crime thriller about an abducted business executive (Yvan Attal) who is tortured by his kidnappers while his company debates whether or not to meet their $50 million ransom demand. With Anne Consigny, Andre Marcon and Francoise Fabian. (In French with subtitles)

Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish (Unrated) Overhaul of the Shakespeare classic situates the tragic tale in Williamsburg, Brooklyn where the star-crossed lovers (Lazer Weiss and Melissa Weisz) are now Jewish and members of feuding Orthodox sects. With Mendy Zafir, Eve Annenberg and Solman Wiser. (In English and Yiddish with subtitles)

Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness (Unrated) Cinematic portrait of the legendary Jewish playwright (1859-1916) whose Yiddish tales about a pious milkman served as the basis for the Broadway musical "Fiddler on the Roof." With reflections by Ruth Wisse, Peter Riegert and Hillel Halkin.

Septien (Unrated) Prodigal Son drama about a street hustler's (Michael Tully) surprising return to his family's Tennessee farm 18 years after he mysteriously disappeared, only to be met with a combination of suspicion and elation by his estranged siblings (Robert Longstreet and Onur Tukel). With Rachel Korine, Brian Kotzur and Jeffrey T. Williams.

The Sleeping Beauty (Unrated) Catherine Breillat's reinterpretation of the Charles Perrault fairy tale as a coming-of-age drama about a young princess (Carla Besainou) who experiences pangs of sexual awakening while in a state of suspended animation resulting from an evil witch's (Rosine Favey) curse. With Dounia Sichov, Leslie Lipkins and Camille Chalons. (In French with subtitles)

The Ward (R for violence and disturbing images) John Carpenter directs this psychological thriller about an institutionalized young woman (Amber Heard) haunted by a ghost. Ensemble cast includes Mika Boorem, Mamie Gummer, Danielle Panabaker.

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