by Kam Williams

BIG BUDGET FILMS

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (PG for rude humor) Third installment in the underdog-friendly franchise finds hapless protagonist Greg (Zachary Gordon) hanging out with his portly pal Rowley (Robert Capron) and pretending to be employed at a country club after all his summer vacation plans fall through. With Steve Zahn, Devon Bostick and Rachael Harris.

Total Recall (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, brief nudity and intense violence) Colin Farrell stars in this remake of the Schwarzenegger, sci-fi classic as a factory worker plagued by disturbing nightmares who ends up on the run from the brain police accompanied by a member of the resistance (Jessica Biel) of corporate mind control. Co-starring Ethan Hawke, Bill Nighy, Kate Beckinsale, John Cho and Bokeem Woodbine. 

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

360 (R for sexuality, nudity and profanity) Screen adaptation of La Ronde, Arthur Schnitzler’s class-conscious play exploring the sexual mores of a peripatetic jet set spread out over Vienna, Paris, London, Denver, Phoenix, Rio de Janeiro and Bratislava. Ensemble includes Anthony Hopkins, Ben Foster, Jude Law and Rachel Weisz.

Assassin’s Bullet (R for violence) International thriller about a U.S. Ambassador stationed in Europe (Donald Sutherland) who enlists the assistance of a former FBI Agent (Christian Slater) in order to track down the vigilante killing terrorists on America’s 10 Most Wanted list. With Elika Portnoy, Timothy Spall and Marian Valev. 

The Babymakers (Unrated) Biological clock comedy about a sterile, wannabe daddy (Paul Schneider) who recruits his buddies and an East Indian mobster (Jay Chandrasekhar) to steal the sperm he sold to a fertility clinic years ago so that he might still impregnate his miserably-childless wife (Olivia Munn). With Aisha Tyler, Wood Harris and Noureen DeWulf.    

Celeste and Jesse Forever (R for profanity, sexuality and drug use) On the rocks dramedy revolving around the effort of an almost-divorced couple (Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg) to remain friends while simultaneously pursuing new relationships. Cast includes Elijah Wood, Emma Roberts, Ari Graynor and Eric Christian Olsen. 

Craigslist Joe (Unrated) My brother’s keeper documentary chronicling 29 year-old Joseph Garner’s attempt to survive for a month relying on the kindness of strangers he met on the internet for food, shelter, transportation and companionship.

Dreams of a Life (Unrated) Maudlin post mortem revisiting the unnoticed demise of Joyce Vincent (Zawe Ashton), a British woman of Caribbean extraction whose body wasn’t discovered until several years after she passed away of natural causes while ironically wrapping Christmas presents for family and friends. With Neelam Bakshi, Jonathan Harden and Lee Colley.  

Mosquita y Mari (Unrated) Coming-of-age drama, set in Southern California, about a 15 year-old Latina (Fenessa Pineda) who bonds with a new neighbor (Venecia Troncoso) her age only to be surprised when their friendship blossoms into a lesbian relationship. Support cast includes Joaquin Garrido, Laura Patalano and Dulce Maria Solis. (In Spanish and English with subtitles)

Soldiers of Fortune (R for profanity and violence) Action adventure about wealthy thrill seekers who encounter a lot more than they bargained for after paying to tag along on a military mission led by a former U.S. Special Forces soldier (Christian Slater). Starring Ving Rhames, James Cromwell, Freddy Rodriguez and Colm Meaney.

Sushi: The Golden Catch (Unrated) Raw fish documentary traces the evolution of sushi over the past 30 years from a fast food sold by Japanese street vendors into an international delicacy popular at restaurants all over the world.

You’ve Been Trumped (Unrated) David and Goliath documentary about the legal battle mounted in Scotland by locals to block Donald Trump’s application for a zoning variance that would allow the smug billionaire to turn a picturesque seaside village into a luxury golf resort.