The Calling
Sony Pictures
Rated R for violence, profanity and disturbing content
Susan Sarandon Stars As Small Town Detective In Adaptation Of Cat-And-Mouse Murder Mystery
Hazel Micallef (Susan Sarandon) was thinking about retiring from the Port Dundas police force because of the herniated disc which left her addicted to both booze and painkillers. But the hobbled detective decided to put those plans on hold the day she stumbled upon the body of an elderly neighbor whose throat had been slit from ear-to-ear by a deranged intruder.
After all, this was her beloved hometown’s first homicide in years, and there’s no way she could leave the investigation on the shoulders of the only other two detectives on the force, veteran Ray Green (Gil Bellows) and newcomer Ben Wingate (Topher Grace). Soon, the three unearth evidence which indicates that the murder might very well be the work of the same serial killer responsible for several other recent slayings elsewhere aroundOntario.
Apparently, the creepy lapsed Catholic was practically taunting the authorities by leaving clues online, which is where he preys on each of his vulnerable victims. The question is whether, with the help of a priest (Donald Sutherland), the police will be able pinpoint the prime suspect’s locale in time to prevent him from striking again.
That is the intriguing setup of The Calling, a multi-layered mystery marking South African Jason Stone’s chilling directorial debut. Based on the Inger Ash Wolfe best seller of the same name, the film unfolds less like a whodunit than a cat-and-mouse caper, given how the perpetrator’s identity is confirmed about midway through the movie.
Still, the picture proves compelling, thanks to a powerful performance on the part of Susan Sarandon. The talented Oscar winner (for Dead Man Walking) is uncharacteristically unappealing playing a familiar archetype, one of those substance-abusing souls in decline who summons up the strength to solve one last case.
Fair warning: the film is tarnished slightly by periodic displays of grisly crime scenes apt to upset audience members averse to gratuitous gore. Otherwise, the picture earns accolades as a taut thriller about a religious zealot on a ritualistic killing spree.
Bless me father for I have slain!
Very Good (3 stars)
Running time: 108 minutes
Second Opinion
Merola Productions
Unrated
Medical Exposé Revisits Cover-Up Of Promising Cancer Cure
If you’ve ever wondered whether the cancer industry is truly interested in developing a cure for the disease, you might want to check out this eye-opening exposé confirming your worst fears. Directed by Eric Merola, the shocking documentary blows the covers off a shameful chapter in the history of Sloan-Kettering hospital, a revered institution long-trusted to have the best interest of its patients at heart.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case back in July of 1974 when one of its top researchers, Dr. Kanematsu Sugiura, announced that an experimental drug named Amygdalin, also known as Laetrile, had proved highly effective in treating certain types of cancers in laboratory mice. Instead of heralding the discovery as a major inroad in the fight against malignancies, the Sloan-Kettering brass, ostensibly at the direction of the American Cancer Society, moved swiftly to discredit Dr. Suguira’s findings.
Not only did they issue a “Second Opinion” disputing the notion that Laetrile might reduce tumors, but they even went so far as to suggest that its side effects were much worse than chemotherapy, which was “an out and out lie.” That is the contention of Dr. Ralph Moss, a colleague of Suguira who was also on the Sloan-Kettering staff at the time.
Moss was so offended by the disinformation being disseminated in the press by his bosses that he eventually decided to turn whistleblower. Truth be told, Laetrile was “better than all the known cancer drugs” then available.
However, Sloan-Kettering came down on Moss like a ton of bricks, too. He was summarily terminated, losing both his job and career in the process.
Furthermore, he was unable to interest any mainstream media outlets in the cover-up, despite the overwhelming data in favor of Laetrile. In fact, the New York Times proceeded to publish a front-page story denigrating the drug.
Dr. Moss’ only satisfaction is that the three hypocritical superiors who fired him, Dr. Robert Good, Dr. Lewis Thomas and Dr. Chester Stock, all MDs, all died of cancer, ironically. Whatever happened to the Hippocratic Oath to “First, do no harm?”
Excellent (4 stars)
Running time: 75 minutes
OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam’s Kapsules:
For movies opening September 5, 2014
But Always (Unrated) Romance drama about childhood sweethearts (Nicholas Tse and Yuanyuan Gao), raised in Beijing, who go their separate ways only to fall in love all over again a decade later when their paths cross in New York City. With Lam Suet, Qin Hao, Du Haitao and Luo Shi. (In Mandarin with subtitles)
Falcon Rising (R for sexuality and pervasive profanity) Michael Jai White stars as the title character of this revenge thriller, set inBrazil, as an ex-Marine suffering from PTSD who travels to the slums ofSao Paulo to find the attackers who left his sister (Laila Ali) for dead. Support cast features Neal McDonough, Lateef Crowder and Hazuki Cato.
Frontera (PG-13 for rape, violence and brief profanity) Neo-Western about a pregnant undocumented alien (Eva Longoria) held for ransom by the corrupt coyotes she hired to sneak her into New Mexico where she hopes to come to the assistance of her murder suspect husband (Michael Pena). With Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Kristen Rakes.
God Help The Girl (Unrated) Musical drama, unfolding in Scotland over the course of the summer, revolving around an anorexic aspiring songwriter (Emily Browning) who escapes from a rural mental hospital to find fame and fortune in the city of Glasgow. Co-starring Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray and Pierre Boulanger.
The Identical (PG for smoking and mature themes) Coming-of-age drama about the diverging fates of twins (Blake Rayne), separated at birth, one of whom becomes a pop star after being raised by their parents (Brian Geraghty and Amanda Crew), while the other fails to fulfill his potential after being adopted by a domineering minister (Ray Liotta) and his deferential wife (Ashley Judd). With Seth Green, Danny Woodburn and Joe Pantoliano.
Innocence (Unrated) Romantic fantasy revolving around a 16-year-old enrollee (Sophie Curtis) at an exclusive, Manhattan prep school run by a coven of witches who preserve their youth by drinking the blood of virgin students. Co-starring Kelly Reilly, Graham Phillips and Linus Roache.
Keep On Keepin’ On (Unrated) Reverential biopic about 93-year-old jazz legend Clark Terry, trumpeter and flugelhorn pioneer who played with everyone from Duke Ellington to Count Basie to Dizzy Gillespie to Quincy Jones.
Kelly & Cal (Unrated) Tale of forbidden love about a middle-aged housewife (Juliette Lewis) suffering from post-partum depression who gets a new lease on life from a secret romance with the paraplegic teen (Jonny Weston) living next door. Cast includes Josh Hopkins, Cybill Shepherd, Lucy Owen and Lusia Strus.
Levitated Mass (Unrated) “How did they do that?” documentary detailing the installation of a dangling 340-ton granite boulder wedged over a walkway in the L.A. County Museum by Michael Heizer as a work of art.
The Longest Week (PG-13 for smoking and sexuality) Romantic dramedy about a spoiled-rotten, 40-year-old playboy (Jason Bateman) who steals his BFF’s (Billy Crudup) girlfriend (Olivia Wilde) after being disinherited and evicted from his posh bachelor pad by his filthy-rich divorcing parents. With Jenny Slate, Barry Primus and Tony Roberts.
Memphis (Unrated) Atmospheric character study about a modern-day pied piper (Willis Earl Beal) who wanders around the city ofMemphis amassing a motley following while singing the blues. Cast includes Constance Brantley, Larry Dodson, Devonte Hull and Lopaka Thomas.
Naked Opera (Unrated) Dying wish documentary about a gay sugar daddy with a terminal illness whose porn star boy-toy helps fulfill his last request by staging an all-nude production of his favorite opera, Don Giovanni. (In German, French, English, Italian and Luxembourgish with subtitles)
The Rule (Unrated) Inspirational documentary about the overachieving students at St. Benedict’s Prep, a Catholic school in Newark, New Jersey, whose mostly black and Latino graduates enjoy a nearly 100 percent college acceptance rate.
Wetlands (Unrated) Romantic dramedy about a sexually-adventurous 18-year-old girl (Carla Juri) who bonds with her male nurse (Christoph Letkowski) after a shaving accident lands her in the hospital. With Marlen Kruse, Meret Becker and Axel Milberg. (In German with subtitles)
