Town Topics — Princeton's Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946.
Vol. LXIV, No. 51
Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

127 Hours (R for profanity, violence, and disturbing images). James Franco stars in this bittersweet tale of survival recounting the real life dilemma confronted by a mountain climber who had to amputate his own arm after it got pinned under a boulder while he was hiking alone in Utah. Cast includes Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara, Treat Williams, and Kate Burton.

All Good Things (R for drug use, violence, profanity, and some sexuality). New York City crime story, set in the eighties, about the real life case of the son (Ryan Gosling) of a real estate tycoon (Frank Langella) who falls in love with and marries a tenant (Kirsten Dunst) over his father’s objections only to have his wife subsequently disappear under mysterious circumstances. Support cast includes Philip Baker Hall and Kristen Wiig.

Black Swan (R for graphic sexuality, disturbing violent images, profanity, and drug use). Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler) directs this psychological thriller, set in New York City, revolving around a couple of ballet dancers (Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis) competing to land the lead role in a production of Swan Lake. With Vincent Kassel and Oscar nominees Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder.

Burlesque (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, mature themes, and partial nudity). Musical drama about an aspiring singer (Christina Aguilera) from the midwest who moves to Los Angeles where she’s given a big break to perform on stage by the stripper-turned-owner (Cher) of a failing burlesque theater. With Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, and Alan Cumming.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (PG for frightening images and action fantasy sequences). Third installment in the film series based on the C.S. Lewis series of fantasy novels finds Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy Pensie (Georgie Henley), along with their cousin Eustace (Will Poulter), returning to the magical land of Narnia to embark on a dangerous seafaring mission taking them to the edge of the world. Cast includes Simon Pegg and Oscar-winners Liam Neeson and Tilda Swinton.

Due Date (R for profanity, sexuality, and drug use). Robert Downey, Jr. and Zack Galifianakis co-star in this road comedy about an uptight father-to-be who hitches a ride across the country with a wacky slacker in order to make it on time to witness the birth of his baby. With Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Charlie Sheen, and RZA.

Fair Game (PG-13 for profanity). The Valerie Plame affair is revisited by this espionage thriller about a CIA Agent (Naomi Watts) whose cover was ostensibly blown because her diplomat husband (Sean Penn) had publicly questioned the veracity of the Bush administration’s “weapons of mass destruction” rationale for the invasion of Iraq. With Sam Shepard, Bruce McGill, and Ty Burrell.

Faster (R for profanity, drug use, and graphic violence). Crime story featuring Dwayne Johnson as a recently paroled ex-con determined to avenge the murder of his brother who died during the botched bank robbery that landed him behind bars. With Billy Bob Thornton, Mike Epps, Carla Gugino, and Maggie Grace.

The Fighter (R for violence, sexuality, drug use, and profanity). Overcoming the odds biopic chronicling light welterweight boxer “Irish” Mickey Ward’s (Mark Wahlberg) real life journey on the road to redemption with the help of his half-brother trainer (Christian Bale) leading to a shot at the championship title. With Oscar-nominees Melissa Leo and Amy Adams.

Gulliver’s Travels (PG for action, mild epithets and brief crude humor). Overhaul of the Jonathan Swift classic, set in the present, stars Jack Black as an aspiring travel writer, assigned to investigate the Bermuda Triangle, who ends up on the mysterious island of Lilliput where he towers over its diminutive inhabitants. Cast includes Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Amanda Peet, and Billy Connolly.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (PG-13 for intense violence, frightening images, and brief sensuality). First half of the final installment of J.K. Rowling’s series has Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) joining forces to wrest control of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic back from evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his minions. Cast includes Bill Nighy, Richard Griffiths, and Helena Bonham Carter.

How Do You Know? (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality). Three-time Academy Award winner James L. Brooks directs this romantic comedy in which a free spirited 27-year-old (Reese Witherspoon) lands in a love triangle where she has trouble deciding between a major league baseball player (Owen Wilson) and a corporate executive (Paul Rudd) who’s just lost his job. Also featuring Jack Nicholson.

Little Fockers (PG-13 for profanity, drug use, and pervasive sexual humor). Third installment of the series finds overprotective dad (Robert De Niro) questioning whether his underachieving son-in-law (Ben Stiller) will be a good enough provider for his daughter (Teri Polo) and twin grandchildren (Daisy Tahan and Colin Baiocchi). The cast includes Blythe Danner and Oscar winners Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, as well as nominees Owen Wilson, Harvey Keitel, and Laura Dern.

Love and Other Drugs (R for nudity, drug use, pervasive profanity, and graphic sexuality). Academy Award winner Edward Zwick directs a couple of Oscar nominees (Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal) in this romantic comedy based on Jamie Reidy’s memoir Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman about a free spirit who meets her match in a charming ladies man. Support cast includes Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, and recently deceased Jill Clayburgh, a two-time Oscar nominee.

Made in Dagenham (R for profanity and brief sexuality). Female empowerment film, set in London in 1968, recreating events surrounding the 1968 strike staged at a Ford Motor Company factory by machinists demanding equal pay for women. Cast includes Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson, and Bob Hoskins.

Tangled (PG for brief violence). Animated adventure, based on the classic Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale Rapunzel, about an extraordinarily long haired princess (Mandy Moore), imprisoned all of her life in a 70-foot-high tower by an evil witch (Donna Murphy), who finally escapes with the help of a handsome bandit (Zachary Levi). Voice cast includes Brad Garrett, Jeffrey Tambor, and Ron Perlman.

Tiny Furniture (Unrated). Comedy about a rudderless, recent college grad (Lena Dunham) with a degree in film appreciation who moves back into her mother’s (Laurie Simmons) loft in SoHo where she has to settle for an unfulfilling job as a restaurant hostess. With Grace Dunham, Jemima Kirke, and Alex Karpovsky.

The Tourist (PG-13 for violence and brief profanity). English language remake of the French thriller Anthony Zimmer, about an American (Johnny Depp) vacationing in Italy who finds himself falling in love with a manipulative British temptress (Angelina Jolie) being tailed by the police because of her hidden criminal agenda. With Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton, and Paul Bettany.

Tron: Legacy (PG for action violence and mild epithets). Science fiction sequel finds the tech-savvy son (Garrett Hedlund) of a missing video game developer (Jeff Bridges) pulled into a parallel cyber universe where he searches for his father with the help of a fearless warrior (Olivia Wilde). Support cast includes Yaya DaCosta, Bruce Boxleitner, and Michael Sheen.

True Grit (PG-13 for intense violence and disturbing images). Coen Brothers remake of the Western about a U.S. Marshal (Jeff Bridges) who helps a 14-year-old girl (Hailee Steinfeld) track down her father’s murderer (Josh Brolin). With Barry Pepper, Ed Corbin, and Oscar-winner Matt Damon.

Unstoppable (PG-13 for profanity and scenes of peril). Action thriller about a train conductor (Chris Pine) and an engineer (Denzel Washington) in a race against time to prevent a runaway locomotive with a cargo of toxic chemicals from running off the tracks. With Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn, and Elizabeth Mathis.

Yogi Bear (PG for mild rude humor). Combination live action/CGI adventure finds “Smarter than the average bear!” Yogi (Dan Ackroyd) and sidekick Boo-Boo (Justin Timberlake) joining forces with Ranger Smith (Tom Cavanagh) to save Jellystone Park from greedy developers. With Anna Faris, Christine Taylor, and T.J. Miller.

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