Town Topics — Princeton's Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946.
Vol. LXV, No. 35
Wednesday, August 31, 2011

30 Minutes or Less (Unrated). Comedy loosely based on a real-life incident which transpired in Pennsylvania in 2003 when a couple of crooks (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) strapped a time bomb around the neck of a pizza delivery man (Jesse Eisenberg) in order to force him to rob a bank on their behalf. With Fred Ward, Aziz Ansari, and Michael Pena.

Another Earth (Unrated). Drama about an MIT student (Brit Marling) and an accomplished composer (William Mapother) whose paths cross in tragic fashion on the very same night of the discovery of a mirror planet populated by duplicates of every human on Earth. With Jordan Baker, Flint Beverage, and Robin Taylor.

Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13 for intense violence). Marvel Comics adaptation revolving around the patriotic exploits of a soldier-turned-superhero (Chris Evans) who, with the help of his trusty sidekick (Sebastian Stan), comes to the aid of the Allies during World War II when Hitler’s henchman (Hugo Weaving), who is bent on world domination, develops a top secret weapon. With Derek Luke, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, Natalie Dormer, and Toby Jones.

The Change-Up (R for crude sexuality, pervasive profanity, drug use, and graphic nudity). Body swap comedy about a fatigued family man (Jason Bateman) and a jaded bachelor (Ryan Reynolds) whose prayers are instantly answered when they ask for each other’s lives while relieving themselves in a magical wishing well. With Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, and Alan Arkin.

Columbiana (PG-13 for violence, sexuality, intense action sequences, disturbing images, and brief profanity). Thriller set in Bogota, Colombia about a young girl (Zoe Saldana) who grows up to be a cold blooded assassin after witnessing the murder of her parents. With Michael Vartan, Cliff Curtis, and Callum Blue.

Conan the Barbarian (R for nudity, profanity, and gory violence). 3-D film features Jason Momoa in the title role of a fantasy adventure set in the mythical Hyborian Age about a warrior out for revenge after the murder of his father (Ron Perlman) and the plundering and pillaging of his village. With Rose McGowan, Stephen Lang, and Said Taghmaoui.

Cowboys & Aliens (PG-13 for violence, brief nudity, and a crude reference). Science fiction adventure set in 1875 in the wild west where a mysterious gunslinger (Daniel Craig) forms a posse to defend a desolate desert town after a spaceship from outer space starts abducting people one by one. Directed by Jon Favreau and co-starring Harrison Ford, Abigail Spencer, Keith Carradine, and Sam Rockwell.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, and coarse humor). Comedy about an awkward nerd (Steve Carell) just dumped by his adulterous wife (Julianne Moore) who transforms himself into a suave ladies man with the help of a playboy (Ryan Gosling). Cast includes Kevin Bacon, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, and Josh Groban.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (R for violence and terror). Remake of the 1973 made-for-TV horror film about a 10-year-old girl (Bailee Madison) abandoned by her mother who moves in with her father (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend (Katie Holmes) only to discover that the spooky gothic mansion they’re renovating is haunted by creepy creatures. Supporting cast includes Jack Thompson, Edwina Ritchard, and Garry McDonald.

Final Destination 5 (R for profanity and gruesome violence). Horror film about a group of co-workers’ struggle to survive in the wake of a suspension bridge collapse en route to a corporate retreat. Cast includes Emma Bell, Tony Todd, David Koechner, and Courtney B. Vance.

Fright Night (Unrated). 3-D remake of the 1985 horror comedy about a high school senior (Anton Yelchin) who enlists the assistance of a Las Vegas magician (Victor Tennant) to help make the new next-door neighbor (Colin Farell), whom he suspects of being a vampire, disappear. With Toni Colette, Imogen Poots, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

The Guard (Unrated). Comedy about a quick tempered Irish cop (Brendan Gleeson) who teams with a mild-mannered FBI agent (Don Cheadle) to crack an international drug smuggling ring operating in Galway. With Fionnula Flanagan, Mark Strong, and Liam Cunningham. In English and Gaelic with subtitles.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13 for frightening images and intense violence). Final movie of the J.K. Rowling series finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) searching for the three remaining Horcruxes en route to an epic showdown with merciless Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). With Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Helena Bonham Carter, and Robbie Coltrane.

The Help (PG-13 for mature themes, ethnic slurs, and expletives). Screen adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s poignant bestseller set in Mississippi in the early sixties contrasting the fortunes of privileged white females and their black housekeepers oppressed by Jim Crow segregation on the opposite side of the strictly enforced color line. A-list cast includes Oscar-winners Sissy Spacek and Mary Steenburgen, nominees Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson, along with Emma Stone, Allison Janney, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Aunjanue Ellis.

Midnight in Paris (PG-13 for sexual references and smoking). Romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen about the troubles of a couple (Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams) who find themselves reevaluating their elusive dreams while in France on business. With Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard, Adrien Brody, Alison Pill, Tom Hiddleston, and Carla Bruni.

Our Idiot Brother (R for nudity, sexuality, and pervasive profanity). Paul Rudd stars as the title character of this comedy about an idealistic ex-con’s effort to readjust to civilian life with the help of his three sisters (Emily Mortimer, Zoe Deschanel, and Elizabeth Banks) after serving time in prison for selling pot. With Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, and Steve Coogan.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13 for frightening images and intense violence). Prequel to the Gorillas Gone Wild series, set in San Francisco, pits primates against people after a scientist’s (James Franco) test of an experimental cure for Alzheimer’s leaves millions of chimps with human-like intelligence. Cast includes Andy Serkis, John Lithgow, Freida Pinto, and Brian Cox.

Sarah’s Key (PG-13 for mature themes and disturbing images). Holocaust drama, set in present-day Paris, about an investigative journalist’s (Kristin Scott Thomas) research on the story of how the family of a 10-year-old girl (Melusine Mayance) was torn asunder by the roundup of Jews in occupied France during World War II. With Karina Hin, Sarah Ber, and Kate Moran. In French and English with subtitles.

The Smurfs (PG for action and rude humor). Animated/live action 3-D adventure featuring the arrival of an army of diminutive blue creatures in New York’s Central Park after they are chased through a portal from medieval times to the present by an evil wizard (Hank Azaria). Starring Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays with voiceover work by Katy Perry, George Lopez, Fred Armisen, Jeff Foxworthy, Kenan Thompson, and Paul “Pee Wee Herman” Reubens.

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (PG for mild action and rude humor). 4-D adventure featuring scratch-n-sniff ”aromascope” finds a pair of pint-sized twins (Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook) outfitted with state-of-the-art gadgetry squaring off against a nemesis (Jeremy Piven) bent on world domination. Cast includes Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Jessica Alba, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, George Lopez, Ricky Gervais, and Tony Shalhoub.

The Whistleblower (Unrated). Fact-based drama chronicling the heroic exploits of Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), an American peacekeeper in postwar Bosnia who uncovered widespread corruption, including a United Nations cover-up of the sex-trafficking of young women.

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