Town Topics — Princeton's Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946.
Vol. LXIV, No. 32
 
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (PG for animal action and humor). 3-D sequel to Cats and Dogs finds the canines and felines joining forces this go-round after a tabby spy (Bette Midler) goes rogue and hatches a plot to conquer the world. Starring Fred Armisen, Chris O’Donnell and Roger Moore, with voice work by Alec Baldwin, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Joe Pantoliano.

Charlie St. Cloud (PG-13 for profanity, sexual references, sensuality, and a graphic accident scene). Sci-fi fantasy about a grief-stricken, cemetery caretaker (Zac Efron) torn between keeping a promise made to his late brother (Chris Massoglia) and moving on with his life with the girl of his dreams (Amanda Crew). Cast includes Ray Liotta, Kim Basinger, and Donal Logue.

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (R for graphic sexuality and nudity). Romance drama set in Paris in the ’20s about the scandalous affair between a famous French clothing designer (Anna Mouglalis) and the promising classical composer (Mads Mikkelsen) whose penniless refugee family she let live in her villa after they escaped the Russian Revolution. In French, Russian, and English with subtitles.

Despicable Me (PG for mild action and crude humor). 3-D animated comedy set in an idyllic suburban neighborhood where a wicked eccentric (Steve Carell) with a black house and a dead lawn is secretly hatching a diabolical plan to steal the moon with the assistance of an army of minions. Hope for averting the disaster rests with three orphans (Dana Gaier, Miranda Cosgrove, and Elsie Fisher) in need of a father who see some potential for redemption in the evil villain. Voice cast includes Kristen Wiig, Jason Segel, Danny McBride, Will Arnett, Dr. Ken Jeong, Russell Brand, and Julie Andrews.

Dinner for Schmucks (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, crude humor, and partial nudity). English-language remake of The Dinner Game, the French farce about a businessman (Paul Rudd) who invites a naive simpleton (Steve Carell) to a party where a prize goes to the guest who brings along the biggest buffoon. Cast includes Zach Galifianakis, Bruce Greenwood, and Ron Livingston.

Eat, Pray, Love (PG-13 for brief profanity, sexual references, and male rear nudity). Julia Roberts stars in this screen adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir about a miserably-married career woman who quits her job and divorces her husband (Billy Crudup) to embark on a globetrotting journey of self-discovery financed by an advance from the publisher who purchased the rights to her book. With Javier Bardem, James Franco, Viola Davis, and Richard Jenkins.

The Expendables (R for profanity and graphic violence). Sly Stallone wrote, directed and stars in this political potboiler about a team of mercenaries on a mission to overthrow an evil, South American dictator (David Zayas) who discover that they’ve been double-crossed by a traitor in their midst. Cast includes Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Unrated). Screen adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s best seller of the same name about a journalist-turned-amateur sleuth (Michael Nyqvist) who, with the help of a rebellious young computer hacker (Noomi Rapace), tries to solve the mysterious disappearance of a teen heiress which occurred forty years earlier. In Swedish with subtitles.

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Unrated). Action thriller, based on the Stieg Larsson novel, about a computer hacker (Noomi Rapace) who joins forces with a journalist (Michael Nyqvist) to try to crack a sex-trafficking ring, only to end up a fugitive after being accused of murder. In Swedish, Italian, and French with subtitles.

I Am Love (R for nudity and sexuality). Bittersweet love story set in Milan at the turn of the millennium revolving around a Russian socialite (Tilda Swinton) married to an Italian industrialist (Pippo Delbono) who embarks on an ill advised affair with a chef (Edoardo Gabbriellini) she’s introduced to by her son (Flavio Parenti). In Italian, Russian, and English with subtitles.

Inception (PG-13 for pervasive action and violence). Christopher Nolan directs this science fiction thriller about a master thief (Leonardo DiCaprio) capable of hacking into people’s subconscious minds while they’re in the dream state, and who plans to pull off the perfect heist by implanting an idea inside of someone’s head. Cast includes Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The Kids Are All Right (R for nudity, profanity, graphic sexuality, and teen drug and alcohol abuse). Family comedy about the fireworks which ensue when two kids (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) conceived via artificial insemination by a lesbian couple (Julianne Moore and Annette Bening) decide to track down their anonymous, sperm donor father (Mark Ruffalo). Cast includes Yaya DaCosta, Zosia Mamet (daughter of David), Sasha Spielberg (daughter of Steven), and Eric Eisner (son of Michael).

Mademoiselle Chambon (Unrated). Romance drama about a happily married blue-collar family man (Vincent Lindon) whose life gets complicated when he finds himself falling in love after volunteering to help out in the classroom of his son’s (Arthur Le Houerou) sophisticated schoolteacher (Sandrine Kiberlain). In French with subtitles.

Middle Men (R for nudity, profanity, graphic sexuality, violence, and drug use). Luke Wilson stars in this crime comedy, set in 1995, about an entrepreneur who became filthy rich by helping a couple of shady characters (Giovanni Ribisi and Gabriel Macht) streamline their internet porn business. With James Caan, Terry Crews, Kelsey Grammer, Christopher McDonald, Laura Ramsey, and Kevin Pollak.

The Other Guys (PG-13 for profanity, crude humor, sexuality, violence, and drug use). Unlikely-buddy comedy about a couple of grounded NYPD detectives, one (Will Ferrell), a dimwit, the other (Mark Wahlberg), a hothead with an itchy trigger-finger, who do their best to measure up to their highly-decorated idols (Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson) when finally assigned street duty again. With Eva Mendes, Paris Hilton, Michael Keaton, and Anne Heche.

Ramona and Beezus (G). Family comedy based on Beverly Cleary’s best-selling series of children’s novels, revolving around the madcap misadventures of a rambunctious third grader (Joey King) with a vivid imagination who tends to test the patience of her exasperated big sister (Selena Gomez). Supporting cast includes John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Sandra Oh, Josh Duhamel, and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Salt (PG-13 for violence and intense action sequences). Angelina Jolie plays the title character in this espionage thriller about a disgraced CIA agent who goes on the run to try to clear her name after being falsely accused of being a Russian spy. Cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Liev Schreiber, and Zoe Lister Jones.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, stylized violence, and drug references). Michael Cera stars in this romantic comedy based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic comic book series about a bass playing, 23 year-old slacker in a garage band who discovers that he must contend with seven, evil ex-boyfriends before he can win the heart of the girl of his dreams (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Cast includes Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Jason Schwartzman, Ellen Wong, and Brandon Routh.

Step-Up 3-D (PG for profanity). Channing Tatum reprises his lead role in round three of this dance-driven franchise which pits a tight-knit team of New York street dancers against some of the best from the world of hip-hop in a high-stakes showdown. Cast includes Alyson Stoner, Harry Shum, Jr., and Adam G. Sevani.

Toy Story 3 (G). Revival of the animated film series finds Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and the rest of the gang in a daycare center after being accidentally thrown away by the mother (Laurie Metcalf) of Andy (John Morris), their now college-bound owner. Voice cast includes Joan Cusack, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Keaton, Bonnie Hunt, and Jeff Garlin.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (PG-13 for intense violence and some sensuality). Episode three in the fantasy saga opens with high school graduation fast approaching, and Bella (Kristen Stewart) being forced to choose between her love of a vampire (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with a werewolf (Taylor Lautner). Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest again finds itself plagued by a string of mysterious slayings. With Anna Kendrick, Dakota Fanning, and Bryce Dallas Howard.

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