Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

12 Rounds (PG-13 for intense violence). Crime thriller, set in New Orleans, about a police detective (John Cena) who finds his fiancée (Ashley Scott) kidnapped by a revenge-minded escaped-con (Aidan Gillen) whose own girlfriend had been accidentally killed during their apprehension for a multi-million dollar heist.

Adventureland (R for profanity, sexuality, and drug use). Retro romantic comedy, set in Pittsburgh in 1987, revolving around the plight of a grad school-bound virgin (Jesse Eisenberg) forced by his family’s financial woes to take a minimum-wage job at an amusement park the summer before he’s supposed to start at Columbia. Ensemble includes Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, and Kelsey Ford.

The Class (PG-13 for profanity). Junior high school teacher Francois Begaudeau plays himself in this uplifting drama based on his memoir about a year spent trying to inspire an ethnically-diverse class of poor kids from a rough Parisian neighborhood. In French with subtitles.

Dragonball Evolution (PG for intense action and brief adult language). Sci-fi martial arts adventure, based on the Akira Toriyama novel about a young warrior (Justin Chatwin) who, with a handful of friends, sets out on a quest to save the planet from an evil king (James Marsters) bent on world domination. Cast includes Chow Yun-Fat, Emmy Rossum, Texas Battle, and Ernie Hudson. (In English and Japanese with subtitles).

Duplicity (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality). Clive Owen and Julia Roberts co-star in this espionage thriller as corporate spies working for competing companies who decide to double-cross their respective bosses (Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti) when their mutual attraction blossoms into love.

Fast & Furious (PG-13 for violence, sexuality, profanity, drug references, and intense action sequences). Fourth installment of the popular muscle car series, featuring a reunion of the original’s principal cast, revolves around a couple of unlikely buddies, a cop (Paul Walker) and a fugitive ex-con (Vin Diesel), who team up to infiltrate and bring down an L.A. heroin cartel. With Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, and Laz Alonso.

Gomorrah (Unrated). Episodic Mafia saga, set in Italy, takes an unromantic look at today’s Cosa Nostra from the diverging perspectives of five mob families. Cast includes Salvatore Abruzzese, Italo Renda, and Vincenzo Altamura. (In Italian, Mandarin, and French with subtitles).

The Great Buck Howard (PG for suggestive language and a drug reference). Road comedy about a law school dropout (Colin Hanks) who takes a job as the assistant to an over-the-hill mentalist (John Malkovich), much to the chagrin of his mortified father (Tom Hanks). Cast includes Tom Arnold, Griffin Dunne, Steve Zahn and Ricky Jay with cameos by Conan O’Brien, George Takei and Martha and Jon Stewart.

Hannah Montana: The Movie (G) Musical adventure about a teenage pop star (Miley Cyrus) overwhelmed by sudden fame who follows her father’s (Billy Ray Cyrus) advice by retreating to her tiny, Tennessee hometown in order to get a fresh perspective about what really matters most in life. With Vanessa Williams, Barry Bostwick, and Emily Osment.

The Haunting in Connecticut (PG-13 for intense terror and disturbing images). Haunted house tale, based on a true story, recounts the host of supernatural horrors visited upon a family which unsuspectingly moved into a recently-renovated Victorian mansion that had been a mortuary where unspeakable acts had transpired. Principal cast features Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Elias Koteas, and Amanda Crew.

I Love You, Man (R for pervasive profanity and crude sexual references). Raunchy romantic comedy about a bride-to-be (Rashida Jones) whose friendless fiancé (Paul Rudd) goes on a series of man-dates in search of a buddy (Jason Segel) to serve as Best Man at their impending wedding. With Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressley, J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg, and Jane Curtin.

Knowing (PG-13 for disaster sequences, disturbing images, and brief profanity). Nicolas Cage stars in this sci-fi thriller about a professor whose son (Chandler Canterbury) digs up a time capsule buried in 1958 containing a coded scroll accurately predicting not only every disaster for the past 50 years but also an imminent cataclysmic event.

The Last House on the Left (R for violence, nudity, rape, disturbing images, profanity, and drug use). Remake of the 1972 revenge flick about two young women (Melanie Lyskey and Sara Paxton) kidnapped and assaulted by a gang of escaped convicts who find the tables turned when they attempt to take refuge in the home of the parents (Monica Potter and Tony Goldwyn) of one of their victims.

Monsters vs. Aliens (PG for sci-fi action, crude humor, and mild epithets). Animated adventure about a young woman (Reese Witherspoon) turned into a 50 foot-tall giant by a meteorite who is called upon by the President of the United States (Stephen Colbert) to defend the planet against an army of invading aliens with the help of a rag-tag team of monsters. Voice cast includes Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, and Renee Zellweger.

Observe and Report (R for graphic nudity, pervasive profanity, sexuality, violence, and drug use). Raunchy comedy about a bi-polar security guard (Seth Rogen) determined to win the heart of a cute cashier (Anna Faris) and to catch the flasher (Randy Gam-bill) ruining the ambiance of the mall where he works. With Ray Liotta, Michael Pena and John and Matt Yuen.

Race to Witch Mountain (PG for action, violence, mature themes, and frightening situations). Sci-fi adventure, based on the Alexander Key children’s best seller, about a cabdriver (Dwayne Johnson) who goes on the ride of a lifetime after picking up a couple of runaway teens (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) with paranormal powers. Cast includes Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, and Garry Marshall.

Shall We Kiss? (Unrated) French flashback farce in which a couple of strangers (Julie Gayet and Michael Cohen) who meet en route to Paris and spend a long evening together there weighing the pros and cons of sharing an illicit farewell kiss. (In French with subtitles).

Sunshine Cleaning (R for profanity, sexuality, disturbing images, and drug use).Offbeat comedy about a single-mom (Amy Adams) who gets more than she bargained for after starting a crime scene cleaning business with her slacker sister (Emily Blunt) in order to be able to send her son (Jason Spevack) to private school. Cast includes Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn, and Paul Dooley.

Taken (PG-13 for profanity, violence, sexuality, disturbing themes, and drug references). International action thriller about a former CIA Agent (Liam Neeson) who comes to the rescue after his 17-year-old daughter (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped in Paris by brutal sex-traffickers. With Famke Janssen and Leland Orser. In French, Arabic, Albanian, and English.

Two Lovers (R for profanity, sexuality, and drug use). Romance drama, set in Brooklyn, about a suicidal bachelor (Joaquin Phoenix) who lands in a love triangle with his equally unstable neighbor (Gwynneth Paltrow)) and the supportive friend (Vinessa Shaw) of the family whom his parents (Isabelle Rossellini and Moni Moshonov) would prefer him to date.

Watchmen (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity, and graphic violence). Science fiction thriller, based on the graphic comic book series of the same name, about a group of vigilantes determined to avenge the murder of a crime-fighting superhero. Cast includes Jackie Earle Haley, Billy Crudup, Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman, and Patrick Wilson.

Return to Cinema Review | Return to Top