Kam Williams Reviews Movies Opening Mar. 18, 2016

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Allegiant (PG-13 for intense violence, mature themes and partial nudity) Third installment in the Divergent series finds heroine Tris (Shailene Woodley) forced to abandon the self-contained city of Chicago for a world where shocking revelations lead to an epic showdown for the salvation of humanity. Ensemble cast includes Theo James, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller, Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Jeff Daniels and Maggie Q.

Midnight Special (PG-13 for action and violence) Sci-fi adventure, set in New Orleans, about a father (Michael Shannon) who goes on the run to protect his superhuman, 8 year-old son (Jaeden Lieberher) from both a cult and a government with designs on the boy. Featuring Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver and Sam Shepard.

Miracles from Heaven (PG for mature themes) Adaptation of Christy Beam's (Jennifer Garner) faith-based memoir of the same name recounting how her 12 year-old daughter (Kylie Rogers) recovered from an incurable illness following a near-death experience. With Martin Henderson, Queen Latifah and John Carroll Lynch.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Confirmation (PG-13 for mature themes) Dysfunctional family comedy about a cash-strapped carpenter's (Clive Owen) attempt to reconcile with his estranged eight-year-old son (Jaeden Lieberher) who's been dropped in his lap while his ex-wife (Maria Bello) is away on a weekend retreat with her new husband (Matthew Modine). Support cast includes Robert Forster, Tim Blake Nelson, Patton Oswalt, Spencer Drever and Stephen Tobolowosky.

Ktown Cowboys (R for sexuality, brief frontal nudity and pervasive profanity) Adaptation of the hit web series of the same name revolving around the antics of a quintet of party animals hanging out in L.A.'s Koreatown. Co-starring Danny Cho, Steve Byrne, Bobby Choy, Herson Chavez and Lee Doud.

My Golden Days (R for profanity, graphic sexuality and frontal nudity) Flashback flick revolving around an anthropologist's (Quentin Dolmaire) reflections upon his adolescence while preparing to return to Paris from Tajikistan. With Mathieu Amalric, Lou Roy-Lecollinet and Dinara Drukarova. (In French, Russian and Hebrew with subtitles)

The Program (R for profanity) Adaptation of "Seven Deadly Sins," investigative journalist David Walsh's (Chris O'Dowd) best-selling book exposing the truth about bicyclist Lance Armstrong's (Ben Foster) use of banned substances while participating in the Tour de France. With Dustin Hoffman, Lee Pace and Edward Hogg.

Sweet Bean (Unrated) Bittersweet drama about the unlikely friendship forged betweeen the manager of a pancake stand and the lonely 76 year-old (Kiki Kirin) he hires as his assistant, half out of pity, half for her yummy jelly recipe . With Kyara Uchida, Miyoko Asada, Etsuko Ichihara and Miki Mizuno. (In Japanese with subtitles)

Take Me to the River (Unrated) Atmospheric mystery revolving around a gay teen (Logan Miller) from California who changes his mind about coming out of the closet at a family reunion in Nebraska when he is suddenly suspected of molesting a 9 year-old niece (Ursula Parker). With Robin Weigert, Richard Schiff and Azura Skye.