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Kam Williams Special to The Skanner News
Published: 23 March 2012

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Hunger Games (PG-13 for intense violence and disturbing images, at left) Screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' futuristic sci-fi novel about a 16 year-old girl (Jennifer Lawrence) who volunteers to take her unlucky younger sister's (Willow Shields) place in a nationally-televised fight to the death featuring 24 participants picked by a government lottery. Cast includes Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland.   

October Baby (PG-13c for mature themes) Faith-based morality play about a college freshman (Rachel Hendrix) who embarks on a spiritual sojourn of self-discovery upon learning from her adoptive parents (John Schneider and Jennifer Price) that she's an abortion survivor. With Jasmine Guy, Jason Burkey and Joy Brunson.  

 

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

4:44 Last Day on Earth (Unrated) Apocalyptic sci-fi adventure about a Manhattan couple (Willem Dafoe and Shanyn Leigh) coming to terms with the fact that world is ending in 24 hours. With Natasha Lyonne, Paz de la Huerta and Paul Hipp.

All In: The Poker Movie (Unrated) Card shark documentary chronicling the resurgence in popularity of poker as a means of achieving the American Dream.

Brake (Unrated) Political potboiler about a Secret Service Agent (Stephen Dorff) who is kidnapped and tortured in the trunk of a car by bloodthirsty terrorists with a sinister agenda. Cast includes Tom Berenger, Chyler Leigh and J.R. Bourne.

Come on Eileen (Unrated) Bittersweet Brit dramedy about a reformed alcoholic (Finola Geraghy) who falls off the wagon when she starts dating a pot-smoking, ex-cricket player (Stephen Taylor). With Mercedes Grower, Noel Fielding and Felix Malcolm Still.

The Deep Blue Sea (Unrated) Romance drama, set in London in the Fifties, revolving around the self-destructive wife (Rachel Weisz) of a judge (Simon Russell Beale) who embarks on a scandalous affair with a young Royal Air Force pilot (Tom Hiddleston). Support cast includes Karl Johnson, Barbara Jefford and Ann Mitchell.

An Encounter with Simone Weil (Unrated) Biopic about French philosopher Simon Weil (1909-1943), an intrepid social activist who was willing to die for her heartfelt convictions. (In English and French with subtitles)

Losing Control (Unrated) Quirky romantic comedy about a Harvard Ph.D. student's (Amanda Kent) search for a scientific method of discerning which of the many guys she's dating might be Mr. Right. Cast includes Reid Scott, Kathleen Robertson and Theo Alexander.

Musical Chairs (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and a drug reference) Romance drama about a janitor from the Bronx (E.J.Bonilla) who convinces his boss (Lea Pipes) to resume ballroom dancing despite being confined to a wheelchair following a crippling accident. With Priscilla Lopez, Jaime Tirelli and Laverne Cox.

The Raid: Redemption (R for profanity and pervasive graphic violence, above) Gruesome crime thriller, set in Jakarta, about a SWAT team which finds itself trapped in a tenement under the control of a ruthless mobster (Ray Sahetapy) with an army of assassins. Cast includes Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim and Yayan Ruhian. (In Indonesian with subtitles)

The Trouble with Bliss (Unrated) Midlife crisis comedy about an unemployed slacker (Michael C. Hall), living at home with his widowed father (Peter Fonda), whose life starts to unravel when he becomes involved with the 18 year-old daughter (Brie Larson) of a high school classmate (Brad William Henke). With Lucy Liu, Rhea Perlman and Sarah Shahi.

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