Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

2 Days in Paris (Unrated). Romantic comedy about a French photographer (Julie Delpy) and an American designer (Adam Goldberg) living in New York City who decide to vacation in Paris to rekindle the passion in their relationship only to have the plan derailed by her meddling parents and the resurfacing of her still flirtatious ex-boyfriends. In French and English with subtitles.

Arctic Tale (G). Queen Latifah narrates this wildlife documentary from the folks who brought us March of the Penguins. Another nature tale, this film follows the development of Nanu the polar bear and Seela the walrus from birth through adolescence to parenthood.

Balls of Fury (PG-13 for profanity, crude behavior, and sex-related humor). Dan Fogler stars in this revenge comedy as a washed-up ping-pong champion coaxed out of retirement by an FBI Agent (George Lopez) to enter a tournament hosted by the Asian crime lord (Christopher Walken) who murdered his father. Cast includes Maggie Q, Aisha Tyler, Kerri Kenney, David Koechner and Jim Lampley.

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 (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.

Death at a Funeral (R for profanity and drug use). Offbeat British comedy about the relatives of a recently-deceased family patriarch who hope not only to bury the body but also a dark secret about the dysfunctional dearly departed.

Death Sentence (R for graphic violence and profanity). Kevin Bacon stars in this gruesome thriller about a mild-mannered businessman who moonlights as a vigilante after his son is murdered by a brutal gang. Cast includes John Goodman, Aisha Tyler, and Kelly Preston.

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.

Halloween (Unrated). Rob Zombie directs this remake of the 1978 horror classic which started the slasher series about a maniac (Tyler Mane) who embarks on a murderous rampage after escaping from the mental institution where he'd been held since killing his sister. Supporting cast includes Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Adrienne Barbeau, Mickey Dolenz, and Dee Wallace.

Illegal Tender (R for violence, profanity and sexuality). Rick Gonzalez and Wanda De Jesus co-star in this graphic revenge saga about a college student who chooses to defend his family's honor after a ruthless gang kills his father and forces his mother to flee for her life.

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) when they 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 A.D., and revolving around the reign of Romulus Augustus (Thomas Sangster). Ensemble cast includes Sir Ben Kingsley, Colin Firth, and Aishwarya Rai.

Moliere (Unrated). Imaginative bio-pic based on a fictionalized account of 13 undocumented years (1645-1658) in the life of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (Romain Duris), the renowned French actor and playwright who went by the stage name of Moliere. In French with subtitles.

Mr. Bean's Holiday (PG for mild epithets). Rowan Atkinson reprises his role as the incomparably accident-prone bumbling Briton for a slapstick-driven misadventure meandering from London to Paris to Cannes during which he is suspected of kidnapping, creates havoc on a movie set, and finds romance with a beautiful young actress (Emma de Caunes).

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.

The Nanny Diaries (PG-13 for profanity). Sacrlett Johansson handles the title role in this romantic comedy, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, about a college grad nanny for a wealthy Manhattan family who finds herself having to put up with the parents' (Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti) dysfunction and the demands of their precocious son (Nicholas Art) until hope arrives in the form of a relationship with a handsome Harvard alumnus (Chris Evans) from Park Avenue.

No End in Sight (Unrated). Damning documentary examines the ineptitude on the part of the Bush Administration in conducting the War in Iraq.

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 the 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.

Resurrecting the Champ (PG-13 for violence and brief profanity). Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett co-star in this buddy film about a struggling sports reporter who befriends a homeless boxing legend and in the process learns an important lesson about life which inspires him to reexamine his relationship with his young son (Dakota Goyo). Cast includes Teri Hatcher, Alan Alda, and Kathryn Morris.

Rocket Science (R for sex and expletives). Coming-of-age comedy, about a nerdy stutterer (Reece Thompson) who joins his high school's debating team and develops a crush on the team's attractive captain (Anna Kendrick).

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.

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 get the girls of their dreams before they set off in the fall to different colleges.

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.

War (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, and graphic violence). Revenge thriller about an FBI Agent (Jason Statham) intent on tracking down the assassin (Jet Li) who murdered his partner (Terry Chen).

Return to Cinema Review | Return to Top