Town Topics — Princeton's Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1946.
Vol. LXIII, No. 35
 
Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

500 Days of Summer (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality). Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel co-star in this wry comedy about an incurable romantic falling head-over-heels for a woman who doesn’t even believe in true love. Supporting cast includes Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Sid Wilner.

Adam (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, and mature themes). Bittersweet romantic comedy, set in New York City, about an unemployed electrical engineer (Hugh Dancy) with Asperger’s syndrome who finds the girl of his dreams in his patient next-door neighbor (Rose Byrne) who is willing to put up with his eccentricities.

All about Steve (PG-13 for sexuality). Bradley Cooper stars in the title role of this road comedy as a CNN cameraman who thinks he’s being stalked across the country by a crossword puzzle designer (Sandra Bullock) convinced that they’re soul mates. Supporting cast includes Thomas Haden Church, Keith David, Dr. Ken Jeong, DJ. Qualls, Kerri Kenney, and Howard Hesseman.

Carriers (PG-13 for violence, profanity, and disturbing images). Horror flick about four friends (Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, and Emily Vancamp) who start driving across the desert to escape a deadly virus pandemic threatening the human race with extinction only to discover that they are even more dangerous to each other.

Cold Souls (PG-13 for nudity and brief profanity). Paul Giamatti plays himself in this droll, science-fiction comedy about an off-Broadway actor with performance anxiety who travels from New York to Russia to retrieve his medically extracted soul from the ambitious soap opera actress (Dina Korzun) who borrowed it. Cast includes David Strathairn, Emily Watson, and Katheryn Winnick.

District 9 (R for graphic violence and pervasive profanity). Science fiction adventure about a race of extraterrestrial refugees from a dead planet, caged in a South African slum, whose fortunes change after one of their prison guards (Sharlito Copley) contracts a DNA-changing virus which holds the key to understanding the mysterious aliens. In English and Nyanja with subtitles.

Extract (R for profanity, drug use, and sexual references). Jason Bateman stars in this ensemble comedy about a sexually-frustrated, flavoring factory owner trying to handle a host of personal and workplace woes ranging from incompetent employees to a frigid wife (Kristen Wiig). With Ben Affleck, J.K. Simmons, Mila Kunis, David Koechner, and Gene Simmons.

Final Destination: Death Trip 3D (R for sexuality, profanity, and violence). Horror film about a teenager (Bobby Campo) whose premonition saves his friends from certain death in the collapse of the stands at an auto racetrack only to have them start dying anyway in a series of freak accidents. Cast includes Mikelti Williamson, Krista Allen, Haley Webb, and Nick Zano.

Gamer (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity, and pervasive graphic violence). Sci-fi thriller, set in the near future, revolving around the attempt of a human gladiator (Gerard Butler) to free himself from the clutches of a deadly mind-control game invented by a voyeuristic, reclusive billionaire (Michael C. Hall) which pits people against each other. With Amber Valetta, Kyra Sedgwick, Terry Crews, Keith David, Ludacris, and John Leguizamo.

G-Force (PG for mild action and crude humor). Disney mixes live action with animated characters in this kiddie-oriented adventure about a crack squad of specially trained animals sent on a mission by the FBI to put a stop to a diabolical billionaire (Bill Nighy) bent on world domination. Cast includes Penelope Cruz, Will Arnett, Tracy Morgan, Sam Rockwell, Niecy Nash, Jon Favreau, and Steve Buscemi.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (PG-13 for mayhem and graphic violence). Action thriller about an elite team of gadget equipped military spies who venture to the ends of the earth in search of the international arms dealer (Christopher Eccleston) who is masterminding a diabolical plot to plunge the planet into complete chaos. Supporting cast includes Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Arnold Vosloo, and Sienna Miller.

Halloween II (Unrated). Tyler Mane returns as slasher Michael Myers for a sequel which has the depraved serial killer returning home to Haddonfield, Illinois where a visit to his recuperating sister (Laurie Scout-Compton) leads to a bloody rampage. Supporting cast includes Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Margot Kidder, Howard Hesseman, and Weird Al Yankovic.

The Hurt Locker (R for violence and profanity). Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty co-star in this Iraq War story, set in the summer of 2004, as members of an elite bomb squad assigned to defuse improvised explosive devices, who are alarmed by their reckless new Staff Sergeant’s (Jeremy Renner) utter disregard for military protocol. Support cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, and David Morse.

In the Loop (Unrated). Political satire film, based on the BBC-TV series The Thick of It, and revolving around a President of the United States and a British Prime Minister who conspire to embroil their countries in a war over the objections of their top military advisers. Cast includes James Gandolfini, Tom Hollander, and Chris Addison.

Inglourious Basterds (R for profanity, violence, and brief sexuality). Brad Pitt stars in Quentin Tarantino’s World War II saga about a U.S. Army lieutenant from the south who recruits a squad of Jewish GIs for a bloody mission to hunt down Nazis behind enemy lines. Ensemble includes Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, and Jacky Ido.

Julie & Julia (PG-13 for sensuality and brief profanity). Nora Ephron directs this lighthearted biopic merging the memoir of celebrated chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) with that of her biggest fan, a housewife (Amy Adams) who tried to cook 524 of her idol’s famous recipes over the course of a single year. With Jane Lynch, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Messina.

Ponyo (G) Disney animated adventure about a young mermaid (Noah Lindsey Cyrus) who runs away from home and washes up on shore where she is befriended by a 5-year-old boy (Frankie Jonas) who promises to protect her forever. Voice cast includes Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Lily Tomlin, Betty White, and Cloris Leachman.

Shorts (PG for mild action and crude humor). Modern fairytale about the ruckus raised in a suburban Texas town when a rainbow colored rock found by an 11-year-old (Jimmy Bennett) suddenly starts granting the wishes of anybody holding it. With William H. Macy, James Spader, and Kat Dennings.

Taking Woodstock (R for profanity, sexuality, drug use, and nudity). Oscar-winner Ang Lee directs this lighthearted look at the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair based on Elliot Tiber’s whimsical memoir recounting his pivotal role in mounting the historic three day rock festival. Cast includes Demetri Martin, Emile Hirsch, Henry Goodman, Paul Dano, and Imelda Staunton.

The Time Traveler’s Wife (PG-13 for mature themes, nudity, sexuality, and brief disturbing images). Science fiction fairytale about the frustrations experienced by a woman (Rachel McAdams) in love with a librarian (Eric Bana) born with a genetic disorder which causes him to involuntarily travel in time.

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