Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

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.

For Colored Girls (R for rape, sexuality, and profanity). Tyler Perry’s adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s feminist stage play explores a variety of themes pertinent to the African-American community, ranging from rape, infidelity. domestic violence, to gays still in the closet. Cast includes Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Kelly Washington, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad, Macy Gray, Anika Noni Rose, and Whoopi Goldberg.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (R for sexuality, brief profanity, and graphic violence). Final installment in the trilogy, based on the posthumously published novels by the late Stieg Larsson, finds the plucky protagonist (Noomi Rapace) recovering from her bullet wounds while awaiting trial for a triple murder and plotting to take revenge on those responsible for her predicament. Cast includes Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, and Annika Hallin. In Swedish with subtitles.

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.

Hereafter (PG-13 for mature themes, disturbing images, and brief profanity). Clint Eastwood directs this otherworldly drama about three haunted souls whose lives serendipitously intersect, an American blue collar worker with psychic powers (Matt Damon), a French tsunami survivor (Cecile De France), and a British schoolboy (Frankie McLaren) grieving over the death of his twin brother (George McLaren). Cast includes Jay Mohr, Richard Kind, and Tex Jacks.

Inside Job (Unrated). The worst recession since the Great Depression is the subject of this documentary chronicling the causes of the global financial meltdown of 2008 which led to over $20 trillion in losses on Wall Street while causing millions to lose their jobs and homes.

Jackass 3-D (R for nudity, profanity, crude humor, and dangerous stunts). Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, and the rest of the stuntmen return for another round of jaw dropping death defying feats, this time in 3-D.

Mao’s Last Dancer (Unrated). Biopic recounts the acrobatic exploits of Li Cunxin (Chi Cao), a peasant plucked from poverty at the age of 11 to train at the prestigious Beijing Ballet Academy and who blossomed into one of the world’s elite dancers. With Joan Chen, Bruce Greenwood, and Suzie Steen. In English and Mandarin with subtitles.

Megamind (PG for action and mild epithets). Animated adventure in 3-D about a hapless, evil villain (Will Ferrell) who decides to align himself with the forces of good after the demise of his longtime superhero adversary (Brad Pitt) when he unwittingly creates a diabolical scoundrel (Jonah Hill) bent on world domination. Voice cast includes Tina Fey, Ben Stiller, and J.K. Simmons.

Morning Glory (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, and drug references). Romantic comedy about an aspiring TV producer (Rachel McAdams) whose hopes to save a struggling news program depend on her controlling the show’s feuding co-anchors (Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford). With Jeff Goldblum, Ty Burrell, Patrick Wilson, and cameos by 50 Cent, Chris Matthews, Lloyd Banks, and Morley Safer. In English and Ukrainian with subtitles.

The Next Three Days (PG-13 for violence, profanity, sexuality, drug use, and mature themes). Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Crash) directs this remake of Pour Elle, a French crime thriller revolving around a desperate college professor (Russell Crowe) who hatches an elaborate plan to spring his wife (Elizabeth Banks) from prison where she’s doing time for a murder he’s convinced she didn’t commit. Cast includes Liam Neeson, RZA, Brian Dennehy, and Olivia Wilde.

Paranormal Activity 2 (R for profanity and brief violence). Horror film about an ill fated family that set up security cameras all around their new home in the wake of what they believed to be a series of break ins. With Katie Featherston and Gabriel Johnson.

Red (PG-13 for intense action sequences and brief profanity). Comical screen adaptation of the DC Comics series about a retired CIA agent (Bruce Willis) who reassembles his old team (Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich) after learning that there’s an assassin on the loose intent on harming him and his woman (Mary-Louise Parker). With Karl Urban, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Emily Kuroda.

Saw 3D (R for profanity, torture, and gruesome violence). This installment in the grisly series finds the survivors of the brutal killer’s (Tobin Bell) reign of terror seeking help from a self help guru (Sean Patrick Flannery) only to discover that he’s hiding a dark secret of his own. Featuring Betsy Russell, Costas Mandylor, Dean Armstrong, and Gina Holden.

Secretariat (PG for mild epithets). Horse racing movie, reminiscent of Seabiscuit, recounting how the inexperienced owner (Diane Lane) of a cash strapped stable somehow miraculously raised the first Triple Crown-winner in a quarter century with the help of a wily horse whisperer (John Malkovich) and a jockey (Otto Thorwarth) in need of redemption. With James Cromwell, Scott Glenn, and Fred Thompson.

Skyline (PG-13 for profanity, intense violence, and brief sexuality). Science fiction thriller about an evil extraterrestrial force which threatens to erase all of humanity from the face of the Earth by emitting mysterious, irresistible light beams which attract people like moths to a flame. Cast includes Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, and Scottie Thompson.

The Social Network (PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, and drug and alcohol use). David Fincher directs this biopic about billionaire Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) who founded Facebook in 2004 while still a student at Harvard. Cast includes Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Max Minghella, Andrew Garfield, Brenda Song, Mara Rooney, and Joseph Mazzello.

Stone (R for violence, graphic sexuality, and pervasive profanity). Crime film about a convicted arsonist (Ed Norton) who has his wife (Milla Jovovich) seduce a member of the parole board (Robert De Niro) in order to secure an early release.

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.

Waiting for Superman (PG for mature themes, mild epithets, and smoking). Oscar winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) directs this documentary exposing the failings of the dropout factories and academic sinkholes comprising America’s public education system. With appearances by Harlem Principal Geoffrey Canada, D.C. School Superintendent Michelle Rhee, and Teachers’ Union President Randi Weingarten.

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