Town Topics — Princeton's Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946.
Vol. LXIII, No. 25
 
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

Angels & Demons (PG-13 for violence, mature themes, and disturbing images). Tom Hanks reprises his lead role as Dr. Robert Langdon in this sequel to The Da Vinci Code which has the Harvard symbologist traveling to Rome where, with the help of an attractive Italian scientist (Ayelet Zurer) he unearths clues about the identity of the assassin terrorizing the Vatican. Cast includes Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard, and Armin Mueller-Stahl. In English, Italian, and Latin with subtitles.

The Brothers Bloom (PG-13 for violence, sensuality, and brief profanity). Crime caper about a couple of aging con men (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) trying to retire by swindling a fortune from a New Jersey heiress (Rachel Weisz). With Robbie Coltrane, Maximilian Schell, Ricky Jay, Rinko Kikuchi, and Nora Zehetner.

Drag Me to Hell (PG-13 for terror, violence, disturbing images, and profanity). Recession era horror film about an ambitious loan officer (Alison Lohman) looking for a promotion who instead finds herself plagued by a supernatural curse after she forecloses on an old woman (Lorna Raver) begging for another extension on her mortgage payment. With Justin Long, David Paymer, and Dileep Rao.

Easy Virtue (PG-13 for smoking, sexuality, and brief partial nudity). Remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s silent classic adapted from the Noel Coward play of the same name. Set during the Roaring Twenties, this class-conscious comedy chronicles the challenges faced by a proper British aristocrat (Ben Barnes) when he brings his free-spirited American bride (Jessica Biel) home to meet his stuffy, aristocratic parents (Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth).

The Hangover (R for sexuality, nudity, drug and alcohol abuse, and pervasive profanity). “What Happens in Vegas” comedy about three friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) of the groom-to-be (Justin Bartha) who throw a wild bachelor party in a suite at Caesar’s Palace only to have their pal disappear without a trace the day before the wedding. With Heather Graham, Mike Tyson, Jeffrey Tambor and Dr. Ken Jeong.

Imagine That (PG for mild epithets and rebellious behavior). Family comedy about a financial executive (Eddie Murphy) who starts taking investment advice from his seemingly clairvoyant, seven-year-old daughter (Yara Shahidi) when his career suddenly starts to hits the skids. With Nicole Ari Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Bobb’e J. Thompson, and Deray Davis.

Land of the Lost (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, crude humor, and a drug reference). Science fiction comedy abut a trio of explorers (Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, and Anna Friel) forced to survive by their wits after being sucked though a space-time vortex into a parallel universe filled with dinosaurs and other strange creatures. Cast includes Jorma Taccone, Douglas Tait and Bobb’e J. Thompson.

My Sister’s Keeper (PG-13 for profanity, sensuality, mature themes, disturbing images, and underage alcohol consumption). Drama about a girl (Abigail Breslin), conceived as a bone marrow donor for her leukemia-stricken sister (Sofia Vassilieva) who sues her parents (Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric) for medical emancipation when they want a kidney, too. With Alec Baldwin, Joan Cusack, Mary Jo Emily, Deschanel, and Al Quinn.

Night at the Museum II (PG for action, crude humor, and mild epithets). Ben Stiller is back for another round of hijinks with historical figures as the hapless night watchman Larry Daley, with the slapstick taking place this time at the Smithsonian. Star studded cast includes Robin Williams, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Hank Azaria, Eugene Levy, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, Ricky Gervais, and Thomas Lennon.

O’Horten (Unrated). Droll Norwegian movie about a melancholy 67-year-old train engineer’s (Baard Owe) attempt to adjust to a solitary existence after being forced to retire because of his age from the only job he has held for the past four decades. In Norwegian with subtitles.

The Proposal (PG-13 for profanity, nudity, and sexuality). Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds co-star in this romantic comedy about a high-powered book editor who impulsively pressures her long-suffering assistant into pretending they’re engaged in order to prevent immigration officials from deporting her back to Canada. Supporting cast includes Betty White, Michael Nouri, Mary Steenburgen, and Craig T. Nelson.

The Soloist (PG-13 for mature themes, drug use, and profanity). Jamie Foxx stars in this moving biopic about a Los Angeles Times reporter (Robert Downey, Jr.) who is stunned to discover that the homeless man he befriends in the park, who plays the violin, is a Juilliard trained former child prodigy. With Catherine Keener, Stephen Root, and Lisa Gay Hamilton.

Star Trek (PG-13 for action, violence, and brief sexuality). Eleventh installment of science-fiction series features a prequel plotline chronicling the younger years of Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and crew, and the maiden voyage of the Starship Enterprise. Co-starring Zachary Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, John Cho as Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, Karl Urban as Bones, and Simon Pegg as Scotty.

State of Play (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexual references, and brief drug use). Screen adaptation of the B.B.C. mini-series of the same name revolving around a team of reporters who work with the police to solve the murder of a congressman’s (Ben Affleck) mistress. Cast includes Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren, Viola Davis, Robin Wright Penn, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, and Jeff Daniels.

Summer Hours (Unrated). Drama about two brothers (Jeremie Renier and Charles Berling) and a sister (Juliette Binoche) who uncover a few surprises while trying to decide whether to liquidate the family heirlooms they’ve just inherited from a rich uncle. In French and English with subtitles.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R for violence and pervasive profanity). Denzel Washington stars in this remake of the 1974 action thriller as the veteran New York City subway dispatcher who saves the day when a gang threatens to execute the passengers of hijacked train unless paid a mammoth ransom within an hour. With John Travolta, James Gandolfini, John Turturro and Luis Guzman.

Terminator Salvation (PG-13 for profanity and intense violence). Fourth installment in the science fiction series unfolds in a post-apocalyptic scenario where the fate of what’s left of humanity is dependent upon a chivalrous soldier’s (Christian Bale) efforts to organize the resistance against an army of invading cyborgs bent on annihilation. Cast includes Sam Worthington, Helena Bonham Carter, Common, and Bryce Dallas Howard. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back, courtesy of a body double and computer-generated imagery.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13 for violence, profanity, crude behavior, sexuality, and brief drug use). Science fiction sequel features Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox who team with the Autobots for another epic battle against the Decepticons, a race of evil robots returning to Earth with revenge in mind. Cast includes John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Rainn Wilson, Anthony Anderson, Hugo Weaving, and Isabel Lucas.

Up (PG for peril and action). Family-oriented animated comedy about an adventurous 78-year-old (Edward Asner) who finally pursues his lifelong dream of traveling to the wilds of South America by attaching thousands of balloons to his home, unaware that he’s being accompanied by an 8 year-old stowaway (Jordan Nagai). Voice cast includes Christopher Plummer, Delroy Lindo, and John Ratzenberger.

Whatever Works (PG-13 for nude images, sexual situations, frank dialogue, and mature themes). Woody Allen wrote and directed this romantic comedy about a suicidal, grumpy old genius (Larry David) who gets a new lease on life after falling in love with a young Southern Belle (Evan Rachel Wood). Cast includes Patricia Clarkson, Michael McKean and Ed Begley, Jr.

Year One (PG-13 for crude humor, slapstick violence, brief profanity, and sexuality). Buddy comedy about a couple of cavemen (Jack Black and Michael Cera) who embark on an epic journey around the world during Biblical times after being banished from their primitive homeland. Ensemble includes Bill Hader, Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz “McLovin” Plasse, Horatio Sanz, and Vinnie Jones.

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