Kam's Kapsules: For Movies Opening Aug. 2

BIG BUDGET FILMS   

2 Guns (R for profanity, brief nudity and pervasive violence) Espionage thriller about a DEA Agent (Denzel Washington) and a Naval Intelligence Officer (Mark Wahlberg) tricked into mistrusting each other while infiltrating a drug cartel. With Paula Patton, James Marsden, Bill Paxton and Fred Ward.



The Smurfs 2 (PG for rude humor and action sequences) Animated sequels finds Papa (Jonathan Winters), Clumsy (Anton Yelchin), Grouchy (George Lopez) and Vanity Smurf (John Oliver) teaming up with a couple of human pals (Jayma Mays and Neil Patrick Harris) to rescue Smurfette (Katy Perry) from the clutches of an evil wizard (Hank Azaria). Voice cast includes Jimmy Kimmel, Shaquille O'Neal, Jeff Foxworthy, Fred Armisen, Christina Ricci and J.B. Smoove.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

The Artist and the Model (Unrated) Romantic dramedy, set in Occupied France during the summer of 1943, about an elderly sculptor (Jean Rochefort) whose zest for life is reignited by the attractive refugee (Aida Folch) who agrees to pose naked for him. With Claudia Cardinale, Chus Lampreave and Gotz Otto. (In French, Spanish and Catalan with subtitles)

The Canyons (Unrated) Lindsay Lohan stars in this psychological thriller about a Hollywood actress whose jealous, film producer boyfriend (James Deen) gets bent out of shape after discovering that she's been secretly cheating on him with a former co-star. With Nolan Funk, Gus Van Sant and Amanda Brooks.

Cockneys vs. Zombies (Unrated) Horror comedy, set in London, about a gang of bumbling bank robbers' struggle to survive an invasion by a horde of man-eating ghouls. Starring Rasmus Hardiker, Harry Treadaway and Michelle Ryan.

Drift (R for profanities and drug use) Hang ten drama, set in the Seventies, chronicling the daring exploits of a couple of brothers (Myles Pollard and Xavier Samuel) who helped jumpstart the surfing craze in Australia. With Sam Worthington and Lesley-Ann Brandt. 

Europa Report (PG-13 for action and scenes of peril) Sci-fi thriller about a half-dozen astronauts who find more than they bargained for when they embark on an expedition to Jupiter in search of signs of intelligent life. Ensemble includes Embeth Davidtz, Anamaria Marinca, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Karolina Wydra, Daniel Wu, Christian Camargo, Sharlto Copley and Dan Fogler.

The Machine Which Makes Everything Disappear (Unrated) Bait-and-switch documentary in which aspiring actors answering a casting call are instead merely interviewed about what life is like in the former Soviet bloc nation. (In Georgian with subtitles)

Rising from Ashes (Unrated) Cycling documentary, narrated by Forest Whitaker, about biking legend Jock Boyer's venturing to Rwanda to help train the nation's rag-team of genocide survivors for the 2012 Olympics.  

The Spectacular Now (R for profanity, sexuality and underage alcohol abuse) Screen adaptation of Tim Tharp's novel of the same name about a just-dumped, party animal (Miles Teller) with no plans for college who turns over a new leaf after making the acquaintance of a straight-laced classmate (Shailene Woodley) with no social life. Support cast includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

When Comedy Went to School (Unrated) Borscht Belt documentary revisiting the rise of legendary, Jewish comedians whose careers began at resorts in the Catskill Mountains. Featuring Sid Caesar, Jerry Stiller, Robert Klein, Mort Sahl, Jerry Lewis and Jackie Mason.