Kam’s Kapsules by Kam Williams

9 (PG-13 for violence and scary images). Post-apocalyptic animated adventure about tiny man-made creatures who rise to defend the planet from the fearsome machines that have already decimated humanity and now threaten to wipe out all living things. Voice cast includes Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover, and Elijah Wood.

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 by a crossword puzzle designer (Sandra Bullock) who’s convinced that they’re soulmates. Supporting cast includes Thomas Haden Church, Keith David, Dr. Ken Jeong, DJ. Qualls, Kerri Kenney, and Howard Hesseman.

Amreeka (PG-13 for profanity and teen drug use). Dramatic comedy about a Palestinian single-mother (Nisreen Faour) with a teenage son (Melkar Muallem) and their adjustment to life in suburbia after they move from the West Bank to a tiny town in Illinois. In English and Arabic with subtitles.

The Boys Are Back (PG-13 for mature themes and sexual dialogue). Clive Owen stars in this adaptation of Simon Carr’s moving memoir about a sportswriter who suddenly finds himself overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising two sons (Nicholas McAnulty and George MacKay) after his wife (Laura Fraser) succumbs to cancer.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (PG for mild epithets). Animated adventure inspired by the beloved children’s best seller of the same name about a town where a mad scientist’s (Bill Hader) atmospheric experiment gone horribly wrong leads to food falling from the sky like rain. Voice cast includes Anna Faris, Mr. T, Andy Samberg, Al Roker, and Will Forte.

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.

Fame (PG for mature themes, teen drinking, sexuality, and mild epithets). Remake of the 1980 classic revolving around the aspirations of students at New York Citiy’s School for the Performing Arts as they prepare for professional careers in dance, music, and acting. Cast includes Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Debbie Allen, Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth, and Charles S. Dutton.

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). Science fiction 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) that pits people against each other. With Amber Valetta, Kyra Sedgwick, Terry Crews, Keith David, Ludacris, and John Leguizamo.

I Can Do Bad All by Myself (PG-13 for violence, drug use, smoking, and the sexual assault of a minor). Tyler Perry’s back in drag as Madea for this modern morality play which has the gun-toting granny delivering the trio of orphaned juvenile delinquents she catches burglarizing her home to their only living relative (Taraji P. Henson). With Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, Marvin Winans, Brian J. White, and Hope Olaide Wilson.

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality, crude humor, and graphic dialogue). Comedy about a hedonist (Matt Czuchry) who throws a bachelor party for a pal (Geoff Stults) only to have the groom-to-be land in hot water with his furious fiancée (Keri Lynn Pratt) and to have his own invitation to the wedding revoked. With Traci Lords, Jesse Bradford, and Meagen Fay.

The Informant! (R for profanity). Steven Soderbergh directs this fact-based legal thriller about a corporate executive who becomes a star-witness (Matt Damon) who testifies against his former employer and other agri-business companies in a federal price-fixing case. With Patton Oswalt, Scott Bakula, and Melanie Lynskey.

Inglourious Basterds (R for profanity, violence, and brief sexuality). Brad Pitt stars in Quentin Tarantino’s World War II noindent 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. Cast includes Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, and Jacky Ido.

Jennifer’s Body (R for profanity, sexuality, gory violence, and brief drug use). Megan Fox plays the title character in this horror comedy about a popular high school cheerleader who starts seducing and devouring male classmates after a satanic ritual leaves her possessed by a demon. With Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody, J.K. Simmons, and Amy Sedaris.

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 one year. With Jane Lynch, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Messina.

Love Happens (PG-13 for profanity and sexual references). Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart co-star in this romance drama about a grieving widowed self-help guru who falls in love with an empathetic florist who is attending of one his seminars. With Martin Sheen, Sasha Alexander, and Judy Greer.

My One and Only (PG-13 for profanity and sexuality). Road comedy, set in the fifties based on actor George Hamilton’s (Logan Lerman) teenage remembrance of his and his brother’s (Mark Rendall) accompanying their narcissistic mother (Renée Zellweger) on a cross-country trip in search of a wealthy suitor to replace her philandering husband (Kevin Bacon).

Pandorum (R for profanity and violence) Science fiction horror film about two stranded astronauts (Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster) with amnesia who gradually realize they’re no longer alone on their spaceship and that the survival of mankind is dependent upon them. With Cam Gigandet, Cung Le, and Eddie Rouse.

The Pool Boys (R for nudity, profanity, sexuality, and drug use). Movie about an enterprising Harvard dropout (Matthew Lillard) who enlists the help of his Harvard bound cousin (Brett Davern), a recent high school valedictorian, to turn an empty Los Angeles mansion into an upscale house of ill repute. With George Takei, Tom Arnold, and Jay Thomas.

Sorority Row (R for nudity, sexuality, profanity, partying, and graphic violence). Remake of the gruesome 1983 film about five college juniors (Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Jamie Chung, Rumer Willis, and Audrina Patridge) who agree to cover up the accidental death of a sorority housemate by secretly burying her body only to find themselves stalked by a serial killer a year later during their big graduation party. With Robert Belushi (son of Jim).

Surrogates (PG-13 for profanity, disturbing images, sexuality, drug use, and intense violence). Bruce Willis stars in this futuristic science fiction crime thriller as an FBI agent forced to investigate the first murder in what was presumed to be a crime free utopian society filled with robotic clones. Supporting cast includes Radha Mitchell, Boris Kodjoe, Ving Rhames, and James Cromwell.

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.

Whiteout (R for nudity, profanity, violence, and grisly images). Kate Beckinsale stars in this frosty crime caper about a U.S. Marshal assigned to investigate the first murder in Antarctica three days before winter sets in. With Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, and Tom Skerritt.

Return to Cinema Review | Return to Top