Kam Williams Reviews Movies Opening July 10, 2015

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Gallows (Unrated) Harrowing, found-footage horror flick revolving around about a haunted high school's ill-advised decision to mount another production of the same creepy play that cost a student his life onstage a generation earlier. Ensemble includes Cassidy Gifford, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos, Reese Mishler, Alexis Schneider and Price T. Morgan.

Minions (PG for action and rude humor) Animated spinoff of the Despicable Me franchise chronicles the evolution of the tiny title characters from single-celled organisms into selfless yellow creatures capable of undying devotion to a diabolical master. This adventure finds them under the thumb of a female super-villain (Sandra Bullock) who is not only bent on world domination but on the total annihilation of Minionkind. Voice cast includes John Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Carell and Geoffrey Rush.

Self/Less (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and violence) Thought-provoking sci-fi thriller about a terminally-ill cancer patient (Ben Kingsley) who gets a new lease on life by way of an experimental operation in which his brain is transplanted into the body of a healthy young man (Ryan Reynolds). With Derek Luke, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode and Victor Garber.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

10,000 Km (R for profanity, graphic sexuality and brief frontal nudity) Romantic dramedy, set in L.A. and Barcelona, about a couple's (David Verdaguer and Natalia Tena) struggle to maintain a long-distance relationship. (In Spanish, Catalan and English with subtitles)

The Breakup Girl (Unrated) Dysfunctional family dramedy revolving around the stormy reunion of three estranged sisters (Shannon Woodward, Natasha Leggero and Wendi McClendon-Covey) necessitated by the death of their father. With Catherine Bach, Casey Wilson and Mary Kay Place.

Do I Sound Gay? (Unrated) Auditory documentary exploring the question of whether homosexuals have readily-identifiable voices. Featuring commentary by David Sedaris, Tim Gunn, George Takei, comedienne Margaret Cho and relationship advice guru Dan Savage.

Meet Me in Montenegro (Unrated) Romantic comedy, set in Berlin, where a chance meeting has an American filmmaker (Alex Holdridge) falling in love again with the Norwegian dancer (Linnea Saasen) who dumped him in Montenegro several years earlier. Cast includes Jennifer Ulrich, Rupert Friend and Ben Braun. (In English and German with subtitles)

Nowitzki: The Perfect Shot (Unrated) Reverential biopic highlighting the scientific approach to basketball taken by Dirk Nowitzki, as well as the NBA All-Star's long-term relationship with his mentor, German physicist Holger Geschwindner. Featuring appearances by Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban and Steve Nash. (In English and German with subtitles)

SlingShot (Unrated) Eco-documentary chronicling the efforts of Segway inventor Dean Kamen to solve the world's burgeoning water crisis.

Stations of the Cross (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama about a devout, 14 year-old Catholic's (Lea van Acken) attempt to reenact the last days of Christ's life, much to the chagrin of her disapproving mother (Franziska Weisz) and a smitten classmate (Moritz Knapp) with a crush on her. With Michael Kamp, Lucie Aron and Anna Bruggermann. (In German, French and Latin with subtitles)

Strangerland (R for profanity, sexuality and brief nudity) Australian thriller about a couple's (Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes) frantic search for the son (Nicholas Hamilton) and daughter (Maddison Brown) who disappeared just before a dust storm engulfed their desert town. Cast includes Sean Keenan, Meyne Wyatt and Benedict Hardie.

The Suicide Theory (R for profanity, sexuality and graphic violence) Unlikely-buddies drama about a suicidal loner (Leon Cain) who hires a hit man (Steve Mouzakis) to kill him. With Joss McWilliam, Matthew Scully and Todd Levi.

Tangerine (R for frontal nudity, drug use, pervasive profanity and graphic, disturbing sexuality) Gender-bending dramedy, set in Tinseltown, revolving around a recently-paroled, transsexual prostitute (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) who spends Christmas Eve searching for the pimp (James Ransone) who broke her heart. With Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian and Mickey O'Hagan.

Tango Negro (Unrated) Musical documentary, set in Argentina and Uruguay, explores the African roots of the Tango. (In Spanish with subtitles)

What We Did on Holiday (PG-13 for profanity and mature themes) Marital crisis comedy about a British couple (Rosamund Pike and David Tennant) trying to hide their impending divorce while vacationing with relatives in Scotland. Support cast includes Billy Connolly, Ben Miller and Emilia Jones.