Vol. LXI, No. 33
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
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Becoming Jane (PG for brief nudity and mild epithets). Anne Hathaway handles the title role of Jane Austen (1775-1817) in this fanciful bio-pic focusing on the British author's amorous relationship with an Irish rogue (James McAvoy), much to the chagrin of her parents (Julie Walters and James Cromwell) who had hoped their daughter would take an interest in a rich aristocratic suitor (Laurence Fox) more to their liking.
The Bourne Ultimatum (Rated PG-13 for violence and intense action). Matt Damon reprises the titular role as amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne for the third installment of the franchise inspired by the best-selling series of international political potboilers by Robert Ludlum. Our peripatetic hero wanders the planet again, finding himself on the run from inscrutable enemies while still on a relentless quest to determine his own identity. Talented cast includes Oscar-winner Chris Cooper, nominees Joan Allen, David Straithairn, and Albert Finney, plus Julia Stiles and Paddy Considine.
Bratz (PG for mature themes). Based on a popular product line of fashion-oriented dolls, this female empowerment film revolves around the camaraderie between a quartet of inseparable cute freshmen (Nathalia Ramos, Janel Parrish, Logan Browning and Skyler Shaye) who vow to remain best friends for life in the face of the pressures exerted by exclusive cliques at their new high school.
Daddy Day Camp (PG for bodily function humor and mild epithets). Eddie Murphy, Steve Zahn, and the rest of the of the original cast has been replaced for this sequel to Daddy Day Care about the comedy-of-errors which ensue when a couple of fathers (Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Paul Rae) find themselves over their heads trying to maintain order at a summer camp run amok.
Goya's Ghosts (R for nudity, sexuality, disturbing images, and violence). Milos Forman directs this costume drama, set during the Spanish Inquisition, revolving around the relationship of celebrated artist Francisco Goya (Stellan Skarsgard) and his young muse, Ines (Natalie Portman), a nurse arrested for heresy at the behest of a cleric (Javier Bardem) who himself becomes infatuated with the fetching teenager. With Randy Quaid as King Carlos IV.
Hairspray (PG for teen smoking, mild epithets, and suggestive content). Adaptation of the Broadway musical, set in Baltimore in 1962, about the efforts of a light on her feet portly pepperpot (Tracy Turnblad) to integrate a local TV dance show after she realizes the producers don't allow black kids to appear on the program. Star-studded cast includes John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney, and Jerry Stiller.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (PG-13 for fantasy violence and frightening images). Fifth year at Hogwarts School finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) frustrated that his fellow wizards are in denial about the apparent return of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
Hot Rod (PG-13 for crude humor, profanity, violence, and drug use). Andy Samberg stars as the title character of this action comedy about a self-proclaimed stuntman who plans a death-defying motorcycle jump over 15 buses to raise $50,000 to pay for his ailing stepfather's (Ian McShane) heart operation. With Sissy Spacek, Will Arnett, and Isla Fisher.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (PG-13 for nudity, profanity, crude sexuality, and drug references). Adam Sandler and Kevin James co-star in this buddy comedy as New York City firefighters who pretend to be a gay couple in order to qualify for benefits as domestic partners. Supporting cast includes Dan Aykroyd, Jessica Biel, Steve Buscemi, Richard Chamberlain, Ving Rhames, and Nicholas Turturro.
Interview (R for sex, expletives and drug use). Steve Buscemi wrote, directed and co-stars opposite Sienna Miller in this intimate drama about a demoted war correspondent assigned to interview a self-absorbed, soap opera starlet who's currently the tabloids' blonde of the moment.
The Invasion (PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images). Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig co-star in another remake of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) as the DC MDs depended upon to save the day when a space shuttle crash leads to an epidemic among humans triggered by an extraterrestrial force. Cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Jeremy Northam and Jackson Bond.
The Last Legion (PG-13 for intense violence). Fall of the Roman Empire revisited in this costume drama, set in 476 AD, and revolving around the reign of Romulus Augustus (Thomas Sangster) Ensemble cast includes Sir Ben Kingsley, Colin Firth and Aishwarya Rai.
My Best Friend (PG-13 for some strong profanity). Patrice LeConte directs this French farce about a misanthropic art gallery owner (Daniel Auteuil) who hires a cab driver (Dany Boon) he can't stand to pretend to be his pal in order to win a bet with his business partner (Julie Gayet) that he actually has a best friend. In French with subtitles.
No Reservations (PG for mild epithets and some sensuality). Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in this romantic comedy about the master chef at a trendy, Greenwich Village bistro whose need for help in raising her adorable orphaned niece (Abigail Breslin) conveniently dovetails with addition to her staff of a handsome sous chef (Aaron Eckhart) who knows how to relate to kids. With Patricia Clarkson, Bob Balaban, and Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lenny and Lisa Bonet).
Once (R for profanity). Irish love story, set in Dublin, revolving around the whirlwind romance between a street musician (Glen Hansard) and the Czech immigrant (Marketa Irglova) who becomes his collaborator.
Ratatouille (G). Animated adventure from Walt Disney about a rodent (Patton Oswalt) who dreams of becoming a famous French chef. With voiceover work by Brad Garrett, Brian Dennehy, Janeane Garofalo, Ian Holm, and Peter O'Toole.
Rush Hour 3 (PG-13 for nudity, profanity, sexuality, and slapstick violence). Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan are teamed up again for another go-round as mismatched detectives, this time to take on a gang of Chinese mobsters operating in Paris. Cast includes Max von Sydow, Julie Depardieu, Roman Polanski, and Vinnie Jones.
Sicko (PG-13 for brief profanity). The American healthcare system gets the Michael Moore treatment in this documentary which makes much of the fact that 45 million people living in the richest country on Earth have no medical insurance.
The Simpsons Movie (PG-13 for crude humor). Screen adaptation of the long-running TV series. With voicework by regular cast members Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Kelsey Grammer, Joe Mantegna, Pamela Hayden, and Harry Shearer.
Skinwalkers (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, and violence). Horror film follows the efforts of the mother (Rhona Mitra) of an almost 13 year-old boy (Matthew Knight) to protect her half-breed son from the two warring wolf packs coveting the superhuman powers he's about to inherit in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy.
Stardust (PG-13 for fantasy violence and risqué humor). Enchanting fairy tale, based on the Neil Gamain best seller of the same name, revolves around a young man (Charlie Cox) who sets off in search of a shooting star after the prettiest girl (Sienna Miller) in town promises to marry him if he's successful in that quest. Cast includes Oscar-winner Robert De Niro, nominees Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer and Ian McKellen, plus Claire Danes, Ricky Gervais, and Rupert Everett.
Superbad (R for profanity, sexuality, alcohol and drug use, a violent image, and pervasive crude content). Raunchy, coming-of-age comedy about a couple of inseparable, nerdy high school seniors (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) who plan the perfect party in order to end their interminable losing streak and finally get the girls of their dreams before they set off in the Fall to different colleges.
The Ten (R for nudity, profanity, drug use, and pervasive crude sexual content). Blasphemous biblical comedy takes an irreverent look at each of the Ten Commandments in a series of loosely-linked, modern morality plays. Cast includes Jessica Alba, Adam Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Paul Rudd, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol, Winona Rider, Oliver Platt, Ron Silver, Kerri Kinney and Live Schreiber.
Transformers (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, and intense action violence). Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox co-star in this science fiction spectacular about a couple of high school students hoping to save the planet after war breaks out between two races of shape-changing robots. Cast includes Josh Duhamel, Bernie Mac, Tyrese, and John Turturro.
Underdog (PG for action, crude humor, and mild epithets). Disney live-action adaptation of the popular children's cartoon TV series about a watchdog (voiced by Jason Lee) that morphs into a superhero after a lab accident. With Jim Belushi, Peter Dinklage, and Alex Neuberger.
La Vie en Rose (PG-13 for nudity, profanity, sexuality, substance abuse, and mature themes). Marion Cotillard portrays Edith Piaf (1915-1963) in this bittersweet biopic about the tragic life and times of the legendary chanteuse who started as a lowly street performer until she was discovered by the nightclub owner (Gerard Depardieu) who put her name up in lights. In French with subtitles.