Film Fans @ Avon Free Public Library, CT.

2012-02-01T08:42:00.000-08:00

Hot off the presses the new DVD list for February 2012

50/50    Joseph Gordon-Levitt, , Seth Rogen. Inspired by personal experiences, an original story about friendship, love, survival, and finding humor in unlikely places. Two best friends' lives change when one of them is diagnosed with cancer.

Abduction   Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina. After uncovering a deadly lie, Nathan is propelled on a lethal, no-holds barred mission to learn the truth.

Contagion      Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law. A thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.

Damages (TV series, seasons 1,2,3).     Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Ted Danson. The series revolves around the brilliant, ruthless lawyer, Patty Hewes, her protégée, Ellen Parsons, and the law firm, Hewes & Associates in New York City. Each season features a major case that Hewes and her firm take on, while also examining a chapter of the complicated relationship between Ellen and Patty.

Dolphin Tale      Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., Kris Kristofferson. Inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the compassionate strangers who banded together to save her life. Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun. Without a tail, Winter's prognosis is dire.

The Double      Richard Gere, Martin Sheen. When a US Senator is murdered, the evidence points to a Soviet assassin who was long thought to be dead.

Drive        Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan. A Hollywood stunt driver, who also works as a getaway driver, discovers a contract has been put out on him. Based on the novel by James Sallis.

Eight Crazy Nights   Animated. Voices: Adam Sandler, Jackie Titone, Austin Stout, Kevin Nealon, Rob Schneider. When a small-town, extremely disgruntled guy faces another holiday season in his New England hometown, he does what he always has - he messes up big time and lands in jail.

I Don’t Know How She Does It   Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Christina Hendricks, Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer. A comedy centered on the life of Kate Reddy, a finance executive who is the breadwinner for her husband and two kids. When Kate gets handed a major new account that will require frequent trips to New York, Richard also wins the new job he's been hoping for and both will be spreading themselves even thinner. Based on the book by Allison Pearson.
Jane’s Journey   Jane Goodall, Angelina Jolie, Pierce Brosnan, Mary Lewis, Kofi Annan. A profile of British anthropologist Jane Goodall.

Killer Elite    Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro. Danny, an assassin, retires to the outback, but when his former partner is kidnapped, Danny is forced to take on a group of retired SAS soldiers.

Moneyball     Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill. Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane challenges the system and defies conventional wisdom when he is forced to rebuild his small-market team on a limited budget.

The Office (BBC season 1 & 2).     Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook. Wernham Hogg is a paper company located in a suburb of London. David, a petty, pathetic little man, is worse than your boss. David's yes-man is Gareth, who is extremely irritating. Tim is the apathetic sales rep, who can be quite witty. Dawn, the lovely receptionist, is far more endearing than your back-sassying secretary. Work is a pain, but one man's misery is another man's entertainment.
Police Adjective   Dracos Bucur, Vlad Ivanov. A young undercover cop who undergoes a crisis of conscience when he is pressured to arrest a teenager who offers hash to classmates. Not wanting to ruin the life of a young man, he considers merely irresponsible, he must either allow the arrest to be a burden on his conscience, or face censure by his superior, for whom the word "conscience" has an entirely different meaning.

Whistleblower    Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci, David Strathairn. When Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in post-war Bosnia, she discovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. Risking her own life to save the lives of others, she uncovers an international conspiracy that is determined to stop her, no matter the cost.

2012-01-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

Books into Films January and February

January releases
Coriolanus by Shakespeare starring Gerard Butler and Vanessa Redgrave. A banished hero of Rome allies with a sworn enemy to take his revenge on the city.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and Thomas Horn. Nine-year-old Oskar embarks on an urgent, secret mission to find the lock that matches a mysterious key belonging to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11.

Albert Nobbs (novella The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs by George Moore) stars Glenn Close in this nineteenth-century period drama about a woman disguised as a man in order to obtain work and avoid destitution.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich starring Katherine Heigl as Trenton, New Jersey's one and only tough gal Stephanie Plum. She has just lost her job, bills mounting up and her car is about to be repressed, her cousin offers her a job with his bail-bond business.

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly about how a mother comes to terms with marriage, career, family, parenthood, and her son’s horrific rampage.

February releases:

Big Miracle (Freeing the Whales by Tom Rose) stars Drew Barrymore, John Krasinsky and tells the story the 1988 story of the international effort to free three grey whales trapped in freezing waters outside of Barrow, Alaska.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill starring Daniel Radcliffe a chilling tale about a menacing spectre haunting a small English town.

And later this year The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson in this post-apocalyptic thriller.

2012-01-11T11:52:00.000-08:00

January 2012 DVDs at the Avon Library

The Borgias (season 1) Jeremy Irons, François Arnaud. Rodrigo Borgia, the cunning, manipulative patriarch of the Borgia family ascends to the highest circles of power within Renaissance Italy. When Rodrigo becomes Pope Alexander VI, his two sons, Cesare and Juan, and his scandalously beautiful daughter, Lucrezia, become the most powerful and influential family in Italy.

The Change-Up Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde. Growing up together, Mitch and Dave were inseparable best friends, but slowly drifted apart. While Dave is an overworked lawyer, husband and father of three, Mitch has remained a single, quasi-employed man-child. Both guys seem to think the other has it made. But they were soon to discover that each other's lives are nowhere near as rosy as they once seemed.

Colombiana Callum Blue, Jordi Molla. A child grows up to be a hardcore assassin after she witnesses the brutal murder of her parents in Bogota. Working for her uncle as a professional killer, she remains focused on her ultimate goal: to hunt down and get revenge on the mobster responsible for her parents' deaths.

Cowboys and Aliens Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde. A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand in their way.

The Crash of 1929 (American Experience) Host: David McCullough; Narrator: Philip Bosco. On October 29, 1929 - Black Monday - large and small investors alike lost corporate and personal fortunes when the stock market crashed. This program examines the reasons behind the crash and whether the crash was predictable.

The Debt Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington. In 1997, shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel and Stephan about their former colleague David. These venerated Israel agents know for tracking down Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel, the feared Surgeon of Birkenau, in East Berlin. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team's mission was accomplished - or was it?

Freedom Riders (American Experience) The story of a band of courageous civil-rights activists calling themselves the Freedom Riders and a chapter of American history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth, personal conviction and the courage to organize against all odds.

Friends with Benefits Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis. While trying to avoid the cliches of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan and Jamie soon discover that adding sex to their friendship does lead to complications.

Fright Night Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell. Senior Charley Brewster finally has it all, running with the cool kids and dating the hottest girl in high school. But all hell breaks loose when charming Jerry Dandrige moves in next door.

The Hangover II Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha. Two years after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu's wedding. Stu's plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.

The Help Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer. In 1960s Mississippi, Skeeter, a southern society girl, returns from college determined to become a writer but turns her friends' lives, and a small Mississippi town, upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen, Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper, is the first to open up, to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community.

Justified (season 2) Timothy Olyphant. This series is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is something of a 19th century-style officer in modern times, whose unconventional enforcement of justice makes him a target with criminals and a problem for his superiors in the U.S. Marshals Service.

Ken Burns presents The West Narrator: Peter Coyote. The history of the American West, starting with the first European explorations and ending with the beginning of the 20th century, examines the impact of the white settlers on the lives of the Native Americans and the land, the Gold Rush, the Civil War, the building of the transcontinental railroad, the battle of Little Bighorn, and the massacre at Wounded Knee.

Love Crime Ludivine Sagnier, Kristin Scott Thomas. After a corporate executive uses one of her assistant's ideas as her own, the assistant sets out to destroy the executive's professional reputation and personal life.

Margin Call Demi Moore, Paul Bettany, Stanley Tucci, Zachary Quinto, Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons. Set in the high-stakes world of Wall Street, Margin Call is an entangling thriller involving the key players at an investment fi rm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When an entry-level analyst unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster.

Mildred Pierce Kate Winslet, Guy Pearce. This five-part TV drama is an intimate portrait of a uniquely independent woman who finds herself newly divorced during the Depression years, as she struggles to carve out a new life for herself and her family.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins Jim Carrey, Madeleine Carroll. Tom Popper, a successful businessman who's clueless when it comes to the really important things in life, until he inherits six penguins, each with its own unique personality. Soon Tom's rambunctious roommates turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland, and the rest of his world upside-down.

My Vietnam Your Iraq Tells the stories of Vietnam veterans whose children have served in Iraq. This story will look at the pride, challenges, fears and possible bitterness that parents and children are faced with when one is serving in a war.

Super 8 Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney, Ryan Lee. In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witnesses a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon they suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local deputy tries to uncover the truth, something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.

Terri Jacob Wysocki, Creed Bratton, John C. Reilly. Social outcast Terri is stuck caring for his uncle and trying to survive high school. He feels disconnected until his wildly unconventional Vice Principal inspires him to reach out. Now with the help of beautiful misfit Heather, Terri discovers he doesn't have to fit in to belong.

2011-12-30T08:11:00.000-08:00

The Avon Free Public Library is sponsoring a series of programs around 150th anniversary of the Civil War. A series of five book discussions with Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Professor of History, CCSU and a Lincoln re-in-actor, Howard Wright, have been planned. The first book discussion is scheduled for January 11, 2012 at 7pm at the Avon Congregational Church on Route 44. The book being discussed is March by Geraldine Brooks. The library has added some great DVDs that focus on the Civil War. Check out our book display and DVDs. More information about the series can be found on the library's web site.

Andersonville

The Civil War – Ken Burns

Cold Mountain

The Conspirator

Gettysburg

Glory

Gods and Generals

Gone with the Wind

The Good, Bad and the Ugly

Lincoln

Shenandoah

Untold Story of the Civil War

The West - Ken Burns

2011-12-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

It's getting to look a lot like the holidays. Freezing temperatures, lights on houses, and stores crowded with shoppers are reminders the holidays will be here before we know it. All the hustle and bustle can be tiring, so plan to take a moment and enjoy a holiday film classic without commercial interruptions. The Avon Library has quite a list of some of the best to help you get into the holiday spirit. Stop by and check out some DVDs: Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Holiday Inn, A Christmas Carol, The Bishop's Wife, Joyeus Noel, The Bells of St. Mary and Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Fred Claus, Home for the Holidays as well as a few others. Enjoy!

2011-11-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

Avon Library is scheduled to reopen on Monday, November 28, 2011 at 10am. Come join us and see our new temporary space. The new DVD list is out.

DVD's November and December 2011

Atlas Shrugged part 1 Taylor Schilling, Grant Bowler. A powerful railroad executive, Dagny Taggart, struggles to keep her business alive while society is crumbling around her. Based on the 1957 novel by Ayn Rand.

Bad Teacher Cameron Diaz, Lucy Punch, Jason Segel, Phyllis Smith, Justin Timberlake. Elizabeth, a foul-mouthed, ruthless junior high teacher, can't wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she's dumped by her fiancé, she begins to woo a rich, handsome substitute.

Beginners Ewan McGreggor, Melanie Laurent, Christopher Plummer. Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna only months after his father Hal has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who, following 44 years of marriage, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life.

Captain America Stanley Tucci, Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones. After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into Captain America, a Super Soldier who will wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull.

Crazy, Stupid, Love Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore. A father's life unravels while he deals with a marital crisis and tries to manage his relationship with his children.

Disneynature: African Cats Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, viewers come face-to-face with the majestic kings of the savanna and their true-life love, humor, and determination.

Fabulous Beekman Boys Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Brent Ridge. Two gay men live on a farm together and pursue a new business venture. Season one.

Fast Five Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson. After Brian and Mia break Dom out of jail, they find themselves trapped in Rio de Janeiro and on the run from the law.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson. Harry and Voldemort do battle on the doorsteps of Hogwarts and the fate of the entire magical world hangs in the balance.

Horrible Bosses Charlie Day, Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey. For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers, permanently.

The Hour Dominic West, Romola Garai, Ben Whishaw. The 2011 BBC drama series is England’s Mad Men equivalent Mad Men. A Cold War-era England espionage thriller centers around a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news program.
Ken Burns: Prohabition

Larry Crowne Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts. After losing his job, a middle-aged man reinvents himself by going back to college.

The L’Enfant Jérémie Renier, Déborah François A small-time crook and his young girlfriend have a child, he decides to sell the baby for money. When his girlfriend finds out, she goes into shock. While she recovers in the hospital, he tries to get their son back and redeem himself.

Midnight in Paris Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams. A young engaged couple are forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better. Written and directed by Woody Allen.

Monte Carlo Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester. Get ready for an awesome adventure of a lifetime in Monte Carlo! Grace, a high-spirited high school grad, is mistaken for a wealthy socialite and is whisked away to Monte Carlo for a thrilling week of glitz, glam, and unforgettable fun.

One Day Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Patricia Clarkson, Jodie Whittaker. After one day together, July 15th, 1988, their college graduation, Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew begin a friendship that lasts a lifetime. She's a working-class girl who dreams of making the world a better place. He's a wealthy charmer who thinks the world is his playground. Somewhere over the next two decades, these two very different people realize that the love they've been hoping for has been there for them all along.

Page One: inside the New York Times Gain unprecedented access to The New York Times newsroom and the inner workings of the Media Desk. With the Internet surpassing print as the main news source and newspapers all over the country going bankrupt, see the media industry transform at its time of greatest turmoil. Writers like Brian Stelter, Tim Arango, and David Carr track print journalism's metamorphosis even as their own paper struggles to stay vital and solvent

Pom Wonderful Presents: the Greatest Movie Ever Sold Peter Berg, Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Morgan Spurlock. Morgan Spurlock brings a comedic documentary about branding, advertising, and product placement that is financed and made possible by brands, advertising, and product placement.

Sarah’s Key Kristin Scott Thomas. In modern-day Paris, a journalist finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel d'Hiv round up, which took place in Paris, in 1942. She stumbles upon a family secret which will link her forever to the destiny of a young Jewish girl, Sarah.

Silent Night Linda Hamilton, Cassian Bopp, Michael Elkin. A German mother and her son seek refuge in a cabin during WWII. When her house is invaded by three e American soldiers and three German soldiers, she convinces them to keep the peace on Christmas and share dinner.

Terrorist Next Door Michael Ironside, Kathleen Robertson, Chenier Hundal. A dramatization inspired by the real-life events surrounding the recruitment and capture of Ahmed Ressam - aka the "Millennium Bomber." Ressam was convicted of smuggling a bomb into the United States as part of an Al Qaeda plot to blow up Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve, 1999.

Tree of Life Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain. The impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950's. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father

Water for Elephants Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson. Christoph Waltz. A veterinary student abandons his studies after his parents are killed and joins a traveling circus as their vet.

2011-10-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

Looking for a few scary movies for Halloween. . . .

Here are a few suggestions from our DVD collection

When a Stranger Calls
Paranormal Activity
Sixth Sense
Pet Sematary
Alien
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Silence of the Lambs
The Blair Witch Project
Seven
Jaws
Edward Scissorhands
Rear Window
Nightmare before Christmas
Poltergeist
The Witches of Eastwick
The Mummy
Van Helsing
Twilight and Twilight Saga
Let the Right One In
Scream 2
The Birds
Rosemary’s Baby

2011-10-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Four films you must see. Two in the theaters now, two on DVD.

Moneyball Can statistics really change baseball?

The Ides of March Is politics that evil?

The Company Men The effect of downsizing in corporate America

Nowhere Boy John Lennon as a boy.

2011-10-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

New DVD's for October 2011

Thirty Minutes or Less Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson. A small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collides with the big plans of two wanna-be criminal masterminds

The Bang Bang Club Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman, Taylor Kitsch. As apartheid comes to a violent end in South Africa, four fearless photographers, bonded by their friendship and a sense of purpose, risk their lives to capture the bloody struggle and expose the truth. Based on the book by Greg Marinovich and João Silva.

Bill Cunningham New York Profiles New York Times fashion photographer and columnist Bill Cunningham.

Bridesmaids Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, Jill Clayburgh. Annie's life is a mess. When she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as the maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals.

The Concert Alekseĭ Guskov,Dmitri Nazarov, François Berléand. Thirty years ago, Andrei Simoniovich Filipov, conductor of the Bolshoi orchestra, was fired for hiring Jewish musicians. Now a cleaning man at the Bolshoi, he hears the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris has invited the Bolshoi orchestra to play there. He gathers together his former musicians and a young solo violin virtuoso to perform in Paris in the place of the current Bolshoi orchestra. If they all overcome the hardships ahead, this very special concert will be a triumph.

Dive! Living off America’s Waste Inspired by a curiosity about society's careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, this multi award-winning documentary follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of Los Angeles' supermarkets.

Dream of Life : Patti Smith Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Oliver Ray. Patti Smith is a renowned singer, songwriter, poet and activist. Her music, poetry, and politics are fearless, funny, raw and original. The film traces Patti's punk-poet roots through the trials of daily life, her early days in New York City, her family, and the political causes she champions that have formed her life and art.

Green Lantern Ryan Reynolds, Tim Robbins, Blake Lively. A small but powerful force, the Green Lantern Corps are protectors of peace and justice and are tested when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Hanna Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana. A 16year-old who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, is tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.

Hey, Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brokaw, Anna Quindlen, James McBride, James Patterson, Wally Lamb. Fifty years after winning the Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a Mockingbird remains a beloved best seller and quite possibly the most influential American novel of the 20th century. The film explores the film’s phenomenon and unravels some of the mysteries surrounding Harper Lee.

In a Better World Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen. The film follows two Danish families and the unusual and dangerous friendship that develops between them. Bullied at school, Elias is defended by Christian, a boy greatly troubled over his mother's death. Together they become involved in an act of revenge with potentially tragic consequences.

The Kennedys Greg Kinnear, Katie Holmes, Barry Pepper, Tom Wilkinson. The recent television miniseries that chronicled the lives of the Kennedys during the 1960s. It dramatizes the scandal, tragedy, public greatness and private frailty of America's first "royal" family during one of the most momentous decades in history.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Ian Mcshane, Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush. Jack Sparrow is back! When he crosses paths with a woman from his past, he's not sure if it's love, or if she's a ruthless con artist using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.

Queen to Play Sandrine Bonnaire, Kevin Kline. French chambermaid Hélène comes upon a couple engaged in an intensely sensual chess match and discovers she has a knack for the game. Based on the novel La Joueuse d'Echecs by Bertina Henrichs.

Soul Surfer AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid. Teen surfer Bethany Hamilton loses her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcomes all odds to become a champion again, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith.

Thor Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins. When the arrogant warrior Thor is banished to Earth from his homeworld of Asgard, he must fight to reclaim his lost powers. Pursued by an invasion force sent to destroy him, the fallen God of Thunder must rise to the battle and learn what it takes to become a true hero.

Vidal Sasson: the movie Vidal Sassoon revolutionized the art of hairstyling and left an indelible mark on popular culture. Trace the life of a self-made man whose passion and perseverance took him from an orphanage in London to the absolute pinnacle of his craft.

2011-09-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Some great books will come alive on the silver screen this fall. A lot of hype is preceding Drive, I Don't Know How She Does It and Moneyball.

The novel Drive, written by James Sallis, is about a Hollywood movie stuntman who finds more excitement as a wheel man during robberies. When a heist goes sour, a contract is put out on him and he is trusted into survival mode. The film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn stars Ryan Gosling and has received rave reviews.

I read I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson in 2003 and loved it. The sense of order in her professional life and the sense of disorder in her family life was masterfully handled. The film is directed by Doug McGrath and stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan and Kelsey Grammer. All accomplished actors! I hope they can capture the feeling of the novel in the film.

Moneyball:the art of winning an unfair game, by Micheal Lewis, asks the question of how the Oakland A's, one of baseball's poorest teams, managed to win so many games. Lewis weaves this story around the A's General Manager, Billy Beane, his background and mediocre career while evaluating baseball talent. The film directed by Bennett Miller stars Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

2011-09-02T12:53:00.001-07:00

The new DVD list is out. My best bets are: Barney's Version, Of Gods and Men, and Win Win. Reserve you choices on the library's web site.

Another Year Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville. A married couple who have managed to remain blissfully happy into their autumn years are surrounded over the course of the four seasons of one average year by friends, colleagues, and family who all seem to suffer some degree of unhappiness.

Barney’s Version Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver. Barney Panofsky is a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. With his father, Izzy as his sidekick, Barney reflects on the many highs, and a few too many lows, of his long and colorful life. Not only does Barney turn out to be a true romantic, he is also capable of all kinds of sneaky acts of gallantry, generosity, and goodness when it is least expected. His gloriously full life is played out on a grand scale all the way through the final chapters. Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler.

Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop Filmmaker Rodman Flender’s documentary is an intimate portrait of an artist trained in improvisation, captured at the most improvisational time of his career. It offers a window into the private writers room and rehearsal halls as O'Brien's "half-assed show" (his words) is almost instantly assembled and mounted to an adoring fan base.

Das Boot Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer. The film follows the daring patrol of the U-96, one of the famed German U-boats known as the "gray wolves." The crew is graphically portrayed in a life-and-death struggle, challenging the British Navy at every turn.

Everything Must Go Rebecca Hall, Michael Pena, Will Ferrell. Nick is a career salesman who loses his wife and his job in the worst day of his life. Faced with his life imploding, Nick puts it all on the line, or, rather, on the lawn, as he moves himself and all his possessions to his front yard.

Forks over Knives This documentary "examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods"

Incendies Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette. A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.
Jumping the Broom Angela Bassett, Paula Patton At a weekend wedding on Martha's Vineyard, two African-American families from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds clash during their first meeting before the big event.
Lorna’s Silence Arta Dobroshi, Jérémie Renier. Lorna is a young Albanian women who dreams of opening up a snack bar with her boyfriend. Without the money, she finds herself entwined in a vicious plan devised by mobster Fabio. A false marriage between Lorna and Claudy will allow her to get her Belgian citizenship. She is then expected to marry a Russian Mafioso who is anxious to get his hands on the Belgian identity papers, after Fabio kills Claudy to speed up the second marriage. But can Lorna keep quiet?

Of Gods and Men Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale and Olivier Rabourdin. Under threat by fundamentalist terrorists, a group of Trappist monks stationed with an impoverished Algerian community must decide whether to leave or stay.

Priest Paul Bettany, Brad Dourif. A legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on a quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined by his niece's boyfriend, a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess who possesses other worldly fighting skills.

Something Borrowed Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin. Rachel is a generous and loyal pal to her engaged best friend Darcy. But after celebrating her 30th birthday, perpetual good girl Rachel unexpectedly ends up in the arms of Dex, the guy she's had a crush on since law school, and who happens to be Darcy's fiancé. In the frantic weeks leading up to Darcy's wedding, Rachel finds herself caught between her longtime friendship with Darcy and the prospect of losing the love of her life.

Win Win Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale. Mike Flaherty is a lovable yet long-suffering lawyer and high school wrestling coach. When Mike comes across a teenage runaway who also happens to be a champion wrestler, Mike's luck turns around in spectacular fashion. But his win-win situation soon becomes more complicated than he ever imagined when the boy's family affairs come into play.

2011-07-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Read before your see

July

Monte Carlo, a new film released July 1 stars SelenaGomez, Cory Monteith, Leighton Meester, Andi MacDowell, is loosely based on the book Headhunters by Jules Bass about four middle-aged women from New Jersey who are bored and looking for husbands and decide to vacation in Monte Carlo posing as wealthy women. Wearing rented designer clothes and jewels, they enter the world of the rich and famous and are immediately surrounded by 4 handsome, suave men. Predictably the men are looking the same thing. In the film,however, the characters are 18-year old girls sent to Europe as a graduation gift. The trip soon proves to be disastrous when one of the girls is mistaken for a British socialite and whisked off to Monte Carlo for a charity ball, auction, and the chance for international romance. However, when a million-dollar necklace goes missing, they must scramble to find it before the auction is ruined and their identities are exposed.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan written by Lisa See opens July 15 and stars Bing Bing, Gianna Jun, Vivian Wu, Hugh Jackman. A beautiful book with rich images that tells the story of Lily and Snow Flower and their lives in 19th-century rural China exposing the practice of foot-binding and how women communicated through nu shu, a secret language that helped them deal with the rigid cultural norms imposed on women. While marriage drew them apart, the women remained close exchanging messages written on a fan. In the end, Lily who is 80, has outlived her dear friend, her husband and her children and quietly watches the next generation of women in her home struggle to maintain the intimacy of childhood friendships in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai.

Sarah’s Key written by Tatiana de Rosnay opens July 22 and stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Aidan Quinn Melusine Mayance. The story is told in two time frames. In present day, an American-born journalist is working on a magazine story about the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations of thousands of Jewish families and discovers Sarah, whose family was among those deported to the camps. During this period, the Vichy government, collaborating with the Nazis, arrested 77,000 Jews sending them to the atrocious Velodrome d'Hiver detention facility in Paris then on to Auschwitz. Both the book and the film, through the story of Sarah and her brother Thomas, exposes this little know event called Vel’ d’Hiv Police Roundup.

August

Plant of the Apes, originally written by Pierre Boulle, has been re-released as a film with yet another twist. We all remember the 1968 film staring Charlton Heston about a space ship that landed on a planet inhabited by apes.. The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, scheduled to open Aug 5, stars James Franco and John Lithgow. This version centers around a medical team working on a cure for Alzheimer's. Their first test subject Caesar, a lab ape, undergoes the "cure" that genetically modifies his way of thinking creating a new breed of ape with human-like intelligence. Caesar learns rapidly, but human authority continues to be his nemesis. Breaking free, Caesar releases the cure to the other apes. Millions of apes begin to rally and revolute and soon war breaks out between humans and apes. There is only one who is able to stop the revolution. This is not quite how the original book and film went but it is a modern twist on an old classic.

The Help written by Kathryn Stockett, due out Aug 12, stars Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Mary Steenburgen, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Cicely Tyson and Sissy Spacek. This long await film adapted from the novel is set in Mississippi during the 1960s. When a southern society girl returns home from college determined to become a writer, she turns her friends' lives as well as the town upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families thereby exposing the unspoken code of rules and behavior of the old south.

One Day by David Nicholls out Aug 10 starring Anne Hathaway. Patricia Clarkson, Jim Sturgess. Nichols wrote both the book and the film script about a young couple who spend their college graduation night together, and over the next two decades, key moments of their relationship are experienced over several July 15ths. This long timeline allows us to explore various different pop-culture eras and the thrust of the book is similar to When Harry Met Sally. A working-class girl of principle and ambition dreams of making the world a better place while the wealthy charmer dreams that the world will be his playground. Through friendship and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears they realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along.

2011-07-01T11:14:00.001-07:00

DVD's Summer 2011

The Beaver Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster Plagued by his own demons, Walter Black was once a successful toy executive and family man who now suffers from depression. No matter what he tries, Walter can't seem to get himself back on track...until a beaver hand puppet enters his life.

Biutiful Hanaa Bouchaib, Javier Bardem. A man on the wrong side of the law struggles to provide for his children on the dangerous streets of Barcelona. As fate encircles him, he learns to accept the realities of life, whether good, bad, or biutiful. Based on a story by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Blue Valentine John Doman, Michelle Williams, Ryan Gosling. An honest, moving and uninhibited love story about a young married couple who have grown apart, takes one night away from their daughter to try to save their relationship. (Note: provocative scenes alternately intimate and intense.).

Casino Jack Kevin Spacey, Kelly Preston, Jon Lovitz. High-rolling excess and outrageous escapades are all in a day's work for Jack Abramoff as he goes to outrageous lengths to promote the Indian gambling industry, earning him the nickname 'Casino Jack.' Jack and his womanizing protégé Michael Scanlon enlist a dimwitted business partner for an illegal scheme; they find themselves ensnared in a web of greed and murder.

The Company Men Alan Cumming, Anthony LaPaglia, Denis Leary, Sigourney Weaver. After helping a Russian dancer defect to the United States, an English teacher becomes a C.I.A. agent and for his first mission he is sent to Cuba. There he "starts" the Bay of Pigs invasion, but not before trying to kill Castro first. His next mission is to gather intelligence from a country who didn't know its own name - Vietman.

The Conspirator James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood. The film covers the events in Washington after Abraham Lincoln's assassination as seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, the Vice-President, and the Secretary of State.

Due Date Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx. Expectant first-time father Peter Highman looks forward to his new child's due date five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at his wife's side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when an encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan on a cross-country trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, many friendships and Peter's last nerve.

Exporting Raymond Phil Rosenthal, considered an expert in his country having created one of the most popular television shows of all time, travels to a foreign land to help people who don't seem to want his help. Rosenthal joins forces with Hollywood studio Sony Pictures Television to recreate "Everybody Loves Raymond" for Russian TV audiences as "Everybody Loves Kostya," and finds himself lost in Moscow, lost in his mission, lost in translation. Documentary

Jane Eyre Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Judi Dench. Another recreation of the novel by Charlotte Bronte.

Limitless Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, Anna Friel. Eddie Morra, a burnt-out writer, discovers a top-secret pill that unlocks 100% of his brain's capacity. He instantly acquires mind-bending talents and mesmerizing visions that bring him big money, beautiful women, and limitless success.

The Lincoln Lawyer Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe. Michael 'Mick' Haller is a slick, charismatic Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car. Having spent most of his career defending petty, gutter-variety criminals, Mick unexpectedly lands the case of a lifetime. Based on the book by Michael Connelly.

Miral Hiam Abbass, Freida Pinto. From the director of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly comes Miral, a story of four women whose lives intertwine in the starkly human search for justice, hope and reconciliation amid a world overshadowed by conflict, rage and war in the war-torn Jerusalem of 1948 when an orphanage for refugee children quickly becomes home to 2000 orphans. In 1988 one of the children is 17 year old Miral who arrived at the orphanage 10 years earlier, following her mother's tragic death. On the cusp of the Intifada resistance, Miral is assigned to teach at a refugee camp where she falls for a fervent political activist and finds herself in a personal battle that mirrors the greater dilemma around her.

Morning Glory Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton. For Becky, running a TV show in New York City was the big break she dreamed of, until star co-anchors Mike and Colleen declare an all-out, on-air war. Making the show work with its cast of eccentric characters and outrageous story angles will take a major miracle, but Becky is ready to rise and outshine.

The Music Never Stopped J.K. Simmons, Lou Taylor Pucci. An overly critical father gets a unique opportunity to reconnect with his estranged son, if he can only embrace the music that once divided them in this uplifting family drama inspired by Dr. Oliver Sacks' case study "The Last Hippie."

Nova: Japan’s Killer Quake

The Other Woman Natalie Portman, Lisa Kudrow. A woman whose marriage began as an extramarital affair tries to forge a bond with her stepson after her infant daughter dies unexpectedly.

Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune Over the course of a meteoric music career that spanned two turbulent decades, Phil Ochs sought the bright lights of fame and social justice in equal measure. From youthful idealism to rage to pessimism, the arc of Ochs's life paralleled that of the times, and the anger, satire, and righteous indignation that drove his music also drove him to dark despair. A timely and relevant tribute to an unlikely American hero.

Poetry Jeong-hie Yun, Kim Hi-Ra. A sixty-something woman, faced with a crippling medical diagnosis and the discovery of a heinous family crime, finds strength and purpose when she enrolls in a poetry class. Lee Chang-dong's follow-up to his acclaimed Secret Sunshine is a masterful study of the subtle empowerment - and moral compass - of an elderly woman.

The Resident Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Juliet, a beautiful doctor, has found the perfect New York apartment to start a new life after separating from her husband. It's got spacious rooms, a spectacular view, and a handy, handsome landlord. But there are secrets behind every wall and terror in every room as Juliet gets the unnerving feeling that she is not alone.

The Royal Wedding: William and CatherineSome Mother’s Son Helen Mirren, Fionnula Flanaghan, Aidan Gillen. Based on the true story of the 1981 hunger strike in a Britain prison, in which IRA prisoner Bobby Sands led a protest against the treatment of IRA prisoners as criminals rather than as prisoners of the war.

Source Code Jake Gyllenhaal, Jeffrey Wright, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga. When Captain Colter Stevens wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of an experimental government program called the 'Source Code' that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last eight minutes of his life. Armed with the task of identifying the bomber of a Chicago commuter train, Colter must relive the incident over and over again, gathering clues until he can solve the mystery and prevent an even deadlier second terrorist attack.

South Riding David Morrissey, Anna Maxwell Martin. A PBS miniseries based on Winifred Holtby's novel about a fiery young headmistress Sarah Burton brings her modern ideas to the conservative girls' school in depression-era Yorkshire, sparking conflict — and attraction — with Robert Carne, a stubborn, brooding landowner mired in a troubled past. Sarah inspires her girls to think for themselves, trying to craft a bright future for Lydia Holly, a gifted scholarship student from the squalid slums. Outside of school, she finds an ally in Joe Astell, an advocate of progress and of Sarah. But nothing is so simple in the South Riding, where corruption can taint the greater good and passion can subvert political ideals.

The Tempest Alfred Molina, Helen Mirren, Chris Cooper. This modern retelling of William Shakespeare's final masterpiece is an exciting, mystical, and magical fantasy. Exiled to a magical island, the sorceress Prospera conjures up a storm that shipwrecks her enemies, and then unleashes her powers for revenge.

Unknown January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Liam Neeson, Frank Langella Dr. Martin Harris awakens after a car accident in Berlin to discover that his wife suddenly doesn't recognize him and another man has assumed his identity. He turns to an unlikely ally, plunging furtherto a deadly mystery that has him questioning his sanity, his identity, and just how far he's willing to go to uncover the truth.
Wildest Dream George Mallory was obsessed with becoming the first person to conquer the untouched Mount Everest. He was last seen 800 feet below the summit in 1924, before the clouds rolled in and he disappeared into legend. His death stunned the world. Seventy years later, climber Conrad Anker's life became intertwined with Mallory's, when he found his frozen body with all his belongings intact. The only thing missing was a photograph of his wife, Ruth, which Mallory had promised to place on the summit. Featured voices: Natasha Richardson, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson.

Winter in Wartime Martijn Lakemeier, Yorick van Wageningen. In Nazi-occupied Holland
a thirteen-year-old Michiel is drawn into the Resistance when he aids a wounded British paratrooper. Wartime's harsh reality encroaches on childhood innocence as Michiel confronts good and evil, courage and duplicity, and his own burden of responsibility

2011-06-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

I think I’ll do a Roger Ebert and say two thumbs up for one film and one thumb down for the other. One is a visual feast and a must see on the big screen, while the other, wait for the library to buy the DVD.

From the opening montage of Paris sights filmed by Darius Khondji, set to a wonderful score of jazz classics, Midnight in Paris gets you at bonjour. This romantic comedy examines two young people who are engaged to be married and the different experiences in Paris that change their lives. The film tackles with reverence the thought that life would be different and better if lived in a different time and place. Scenes contrast present day Paris with the dream of a young writer who travels back in time to the sizzling Paris of the 1920s to sip absinthe with Hemingway, dine with Picasso at La Rotonde. and enjoy the salon life of Gertrude Stein. Imagine the conversation! Wouldn’t we all love to live this exact fantasy, living in Paris when it was the center of the artistic universe?

Owen Wilson plays Woody Allen’s alter ego with perfectly halting speak. He plays the believable naive young man who is a highly successful hack Hollywood screenwriter and still young enough to feel pangs over not having seriously tested himself as a novelist. He idealizes the past while his fiancée cares only for the present and their new life in California. Rachel McAdams, Kurt Fuller and Mimi Kennedy and a cast of cameo performances by Adrien Brody as Dali, Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, Marion Cotillard as Adriana, Tom Hiddleston as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Corey Stoll as Hemingway, Marcial Di Fonzo Bo as Picasso, and David Lowe as T.S. Eliot fill out this marvelous cast.

Even if you don’t like Woody, see this film. It’s filed with great footage and cleaver lines. It’s his homage to a beautiful city. After 41 films, I think he made his best film to date.

Bridemaids, on the other hand, received high marks form Entertainment Weekly and Rotten Tomatoes and I looked forward to seeing it. But in my opinion, it was just okay. As in the Mother Goose rhyme about the girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead, when it’s good it’s very, very good, but when it’s bad, it’s horrid. There are many funny scenes and Kristen Wiig, who starred in and wrote the script, is great at physical comedy. Producerd by Judd Apatow of Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin fame, you know where this is going.

Kristen Wiig plays Annie, a woman whose life is spiraling out of control just in time for her best friend's wedding festivities. The bride-to-be Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph, asks Annie to be her Maid of Honor and surrounds herself with a highly amusing diverse set of bridesmaids. When one of the bridesmaids played by Ellie Kemper as the superrich friend, takes charge and overdoes the arrangements, Annie reacts and tries to outdo the overdoer. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals.

There are some great actors and great moments. Look for Chris O’Dowd, a skilled Irish comedian and actor who plays Office Nathan Rhodes. He’s a new kind of leading man, adorable and honest but not particularly handsome, not a Hollywood Adonis. We’ve seen him before in Dinner For Schmuck, Gulliver's Travels and Rumpole of the Bailey.

I adored seeing Jill Clayburgh, a long-time favorite of mine, playing Annie’s hippie-like mother. Most remembered for her Oscar-nominated role in the 1978 film "An Unmarried Woman," Clayburgh was known for portraying strong and confident women with character flaws, an a typical Hollywood image at the time. She died at the age of 66 on November 5, 2010 after battling lymphocytic leukemia for more than 21 years. Some of her best knownfilmswere: Starting Over, I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can. Portnoy's Complaint, Running With Scissors,Love and Other

2011-05-31T07:08:00.001-07:00

DVD's JUNE list is out. Place your reserves today.

The Adjustment Bureau Matt Damon, Emily Blunt. Do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Matt Damon stars in this thriller as a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else.

Arthur Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud. Arthur Bach is very, very rich, and stands to lose his inheritance if he doesn't marry the most boring blonde on Long Island within thirty days. Unfortunately, Arthur has just discovered the girl of his dreams.

The Dilemma Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder. Ronny's world is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees something he should not.

Downton Abbey: Masterpiece Classic Hugh Bonneville, Joanne Froggatt, Maggie Smith. Set in an Edwardian country house in 1912, Downton Abbey portrays the lives of Lord Grantham and the rest of the Crawley family, as well as the servants who work for them.

The Green Hornet Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz. After the death of his father, a rich playboy becomes the crime-fighting hero known as the Green Hornet.

Letters to God Ralph Waite, Robyn Lively, Tanner Maguire. Eight-year-old Tyler is armed with strong faith and courage as he faces a battle against cancer. His prayers take the form of letters he sends to his ultimate pen pal, God.

Mechanic Jason Statham, Tony Goldwyn, Donald Sutherland, Ben Foster. Arthur Bishop is an assassin with a unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professional perfection and he is the best in the business.

Mao’s Last Dance Joan Chen, Kyle Maclachlan, Bruce Greenwood. Based on an inspiring true story, the film recreates the fascinating and epic tale of Li Cunxin, a peasant boy from rural China who beats impossible odds to become a world-renowned ballet dancer.

Mildred Pierce Joan Crawford Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Ann Blyth, Eve Arden, Bruce Bennett. Based on the novel by James M. Cain. Mildred Pierce is a woman who will do anything to satisfy the demands of her spoiled daughter Veda, including divorce, opening her own business, and possibly murder.

No Strings Attached Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher. Emma and Adam are life-long friends who almost ruin everything by having sex one morning. To protect their friendship, they make a pact to keep their relationship strictly 'no strings attached.' The question becomes: who's going to fall first? And can their friendship survive?

The Rite Anthony Hopkins, Colin O'Donoghue. Inspired by true events, this supernatural thriller follows a seminary student sent to study exorcism at the Vatican. Apprentice d with legendary Father Lucas, the young seminarian glimpses a phenomenon science can't explain or control.

A Somewhat Gentle Man Stellan Skarsgård, Jorunn Kjellsby, Bjørn Floberg. Ulrik is a somewhat gentle man, as far as gangsters go. Reluctantly back on the streets following a stint in prison, Ulrik's boss greets him with open arms and a plan to settle an old score. With a demented sense of professional pride, Ulrik's boss sets in motion a plan to right the wrong done to his star employee. The problem is, Ulrik would rather go about his own business, however mundane, than get involved with his ragtag colleagues again.

Somewhere Elle Fanning, Stephen Dorff. A witty, moving and empathetic look into the orbit of actor Johnny Marco, who lives at the legendary Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood where he enjoys life to the fullest. This all changes when his 11-year-old daughter Cleo arrives unexpectedly.

The Way Back Ed Harris, Mark Strong, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess. Inspired by an incredible true story beginning in 1940 when seven prisoners attempt the impossible: escape from a brutal Siberian gulag. Thus begins a treacherous 4,500-mile trek to freedom across the world's most merciless landscapes.

The Wildest Dream Using astonishing visuals to tell the story of George Mallory, the first man to attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and Conrad Anker, the mountaineer who found Mallory’s frozen remains 75 years later. Featured voices: Natasha Richardson, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson.

2011-05-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Watch a movie with your Mom on Mother's Day. Here are a few suggestions.

Postcards from the Edge Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid, Rob Reiner. Suzanne Vale is a wise-cracking, vulnerable actress determined to jump start her failing career. Her mother, an aging movie star, is the definitive portrait of a Hollywood's gutsy glamour queen, offers her daughter only razor sharp humor and searing honesty. Based on the novel by Carrie Fisher about her life in the Hollywood fast lane.

Erin Brockovich Julia Roberts, Albert Finney. A feisty young mother convinces an attorney to hire her and promptly stumbles upon a momumental law case against a giant corporation.

Mrs. Miniver Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon . A story of an average English middle-class family during the summer of 1939. The sun shone down on a happy people, who worked and played, reared their children and tended their gardens in that happy, easy-going England that would soon enter World War II. In the face of regular German bombings Mrs. Miniver's mission is to stay alive, and keep her family together with hope, strength, and dignity.

Steel Magnolias Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Shirley MacLaine. A young diabetic's decision to have a baby may cost her life. This choice leaves her own mother torn between love and anger, while her loyal friends support her and try to deal with their own feelings.

Divine Sisters of the YaYa Sisterhood Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, Maggie Smith, Ashley Judd. Like mother, like daughter. Neither a hard-as-nails New York playwright nor her flaky Louisiana mother will take the necessary steps to mend their long-time rift and it’s up to Sisterhood who stage an outlandish "intervention" to bring them back together again.

A League of Their Own Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell. A washed-up ballplayer is hired to coach in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League while the male pros are at war in 1943, and finds himself drawn back into the game by the heart and heroics of his team.

Where the Heart Is Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing, Joan Cusack. The story of a down-on-her-luck Southern teen who, after gaining 15 minutes of fame for giving birth to "The Wal-Mart Baby," begins to put her life together with the help of the kind, quirky strangers who become her surrogate family.

Throw Momma from the Train Danny Devito, Billy Crystal, Kim Greist, Anne Ramsey, Kate Mulgrew. A student tries to convince his writing professor to exchange murders - he'll murder his teacher's wife, and the prof will murder his student's mom. Based on the Hitchcock film “Strangers on a Train.”

Little Women Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett. Humorous and sentimental fortunes of the four March sisters are chronicled as they grew into young ladies during the harsh times of the Civil war.

The Goodbye Girl Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason. When a woman's ex-husband sublets her apartment right out from under her and she refuses to move, the new tenant, a Chicago actor, moves in, touching off a comic, hate-love relationship.

Mother Anne Reid, Daniel Craig. A newly widowed woman moves to London to be near her family. She soon feels like she is just an invisible old lady until a young man comes into her life.

2011-05-02T10:09:00.001-07:00

DVD's May 2011

All Good Things Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella. A love story and a murder mystery set against the backdrop of a New York real estate dynasty in the 1980s. Based on a real life story.

Animal Kingdom Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Pearce, James Frecheville. Seventeen year-old J is in the process of becoming initiated into a gang of armed robbers, known as the Cody brothers. J quickly comes to believe that he is a player in this world, but soon discovers that the entire situation is far larger and more menacing than he could ever imagine.

Black Swan Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder. Nina, a stunningly talented but dangerously unstable ballerina is on the verge of stardom. Pushed to the breaking point by her driven artistic director and the threat posed by a seductive rival dancer, Nina's tenuous grip on reality starts to slip away...plunging her into a waking nightmare.

Country Strong Leighton Meester, Tim Mcgraw, Gwyneth Paltrow, Garrett Hedlund. Soon after a rising young singer-songwriter gets involved with a fallen, emotionally unstable country star, the pair embarks on a career resurrection tour steered by her husband/manager .

Fair Game Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Sam Shepard. Based on the autobiography of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame, whose covert identity was exposed when her husband, retired Ambassador Joe Wilson, wrote a newspaper article challenging the basis for the claim that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

The Fighter Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo. Micky Ward is a struggling boxer long overshadowed by his older brother and trainer, Dicky, a local legend battling his own demons. Their explosive relationship threatens to take them both down.

Four Lions Riz Ahmed, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay. Follow five clueless buffoons as they plan to strike a blow on their own turf, showing that while terrorism is supposed to be about ideology, it can also be about idiots.

Gasland Documentary. Filmmaker Josh Fox travels the United States along the Marcellus Shale formation to uncover the negative environmental and health effects of fracture drilling as a means of extracting natural gas.

The Green Hornet Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz. After the death of his father, a rich playboy becomes the crime-fighting hero known as the Green Hornet.

Holy Rollers Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Ari Graynor. Sam Gold reluctantly studies to become a rabbi to please his family. His neighbor senses Sam's discontent and propositions him to transport 'medicine' for an Israeli dealer. Exposed to the exciting worlds of Manhattan and Amsterdam nightlife, Sam spirals deeper into that lifestyle. Caught in a double life, he must make a decision that could bring the entire operation crashing down.

How Do You Know Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd, Jack Nicholson. A professional softball player discovers she is in the middle of a love triangle after she falls for two different men and wonders when it comes to love, how do you know?

The King’s Speech Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush. The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.

Little Fockers Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Barbra Streisand, Jessica Alba. Greg Focker has finally begun to earn the respect of his ex-CIA father-in-law, Jack Byrnes, but one important test still lies ahead: will Greg prove that he has what it takes to be the family's next 'Godfocker', or will the circle of trust be broken for good?

Made in Dagenham Andrea Riseborough, Jaime Winstone, Lorraine Stanley, Sally Hawkins. In 1968, the female workers at the Ford Dagenham car plant, walked out in protest against sexual discrimination. Their actions played a major role in the battle for equal pay, both nationally and internationally.

Megamind Voices: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell. Megamind has tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. But each attempt is a colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as 'Metro Man, ' until …..

Rabbit Hole Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart Becca and Howie Corbett are returning to their everyday existence in the wake of a shocking, sudden loss. The journey is an intimate glimpse into two people learning to re-engage with each other and a world that has been tilted off its axis.

A Summer in Genoa Colin Firth, Catherine Keener. A man moves his two daughters to Italy after their mother dies in a car accident.

The Tourist Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie. Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie. During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise, an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.

2011-04-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

Water for Elephants is a big screen movie that keeped true to the book by Sara Gruen. I loved the book and rushed out to see the movie as soon it was released. I was not disappointed. With my training in the fine arts, I tend to examine the sets, the staging and the acting before examining the script. The sets for the film were wonderful. Who doesn’t love a circus? The romance of the traveling circus draws us in. We love the trains that transport them to cities and we love the parades that lead us to the circus grounds. Under Francis Lawrence's sleek direction and Richard LaGravenese script, the love story between Jacob, the circus vet, and Marlena, the circus owner’s wife, emerges. Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz, of Inglourious Basterds fame, offer the perfect triangle to base the story. At first, I was a bit iffy about the casting but they were perfect, particularly Christoph Waltz, who can play sadistic and charming at the drop of a hat. You enjoy watching him because you know something bad is just around the corner. With all the Twilight buzz surrounding him, I didn’t expect Pattinson to be able to act but he can and Witherspoon, an Oscar winning actress, did not over power the cast. Hal Holbrook does a nice job, too, framing the story as he tells the tale of the ill-fated Benzini circus to a modern circus worker. The only thing missing for me was the lack of grittiness and hopeless of the Depression era, the desperate way circus people lived in order to have a job, roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. The roustabouts suffered the most. If the owner couldn’t make money at each stop, he would order several thrown from the train in a practice called “red lighting.” Some would survive the fall but most would not. The Depression was a desperate time! Forget bout the symbolism behind water and train tracks. Just sit back and enjoy as the story unfolds.

2011-04-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Win Win is a winner and Paul Giamatti is a master. Win Win, directed by Tom McCarthy of The Station Agent and The Visitor fame, does not hurry along. Instead you are given time to get to know the characters. Giamatti plays Mike Flaherty, an average man who finds himself struggling economically with a failing legal practice. Trying to keep his head about water, he takes on the difficult task of coaching the local high school wrestling team. He is trying his best, but neither the team nor his finances are getting better. Unethically, he takes on the guardianship of an elderly, but rich client, Leo, in order to receive a monthly stipend. Without family to care for Leo, Giamatti sells this idea to the judge. Enters Kyle, Leo’s grandson, and everything changes. Alex Schaffer as Kyle is new to acting but there is great promise. He exudes Eminem broodiness. An actual high-school wrestling champ in real life, he is convincing as a disillusioned and troubled 16 year old running away for his abusive mother. Everyone loves a winner and everyone loves Kyle once they know what he can do. The ensemble cast of Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, and Bobby Carnavale lend spunk, empathy and humour to the film.

In the world of Hollywood glitz and glamour, how can a short, double chinned, pudgy man with slopping shoulders be so appealing? Giamatti has talent and skill to make you love him.

This movie could be about how loss makes you do things you cannot defend and ultimately regret, but to me it was just about average people, living average lives trying to do the best they can. Yes, you can find fault with this film, but somehow it just draws you in and you stay there. I found myself smiling all the way to the car. See it or borrow it from the library when it’s on DVD.

2011-04-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

WHAT A MESSAGE! The only good things about Limitless: 1. it was not limitless, (running time 1h.45m), and 2. Bradley Cooper’s electric blue eyes. In this sci-fi thriller, Cooper plays a naive writer living on the fringe in NYC dealing with sever writer's block. He falls for the pitch that taking a mind expanding drug will solve all his problems. It did! But created many more. Over more than a year you see Eddie Morra move from the grimy streets of Chinatown, to the slick money-hungry world of high finance, to the halls of the Senate with the potential of becoming a presidential candidate. The film, directed by Neil Burger, based on a novel by Alan Glynn, uses every possible trick including Russian gangsters, corporate mergers and moguls, murder, lost time, addiction and withdrawal along with some interesting visual effects to keep the audience trapped. Robert DeNiro turns in a cool performance as Carl Van Loon and has the best dialogue and message in the entire film. Reviewers have given it a B+ but I say skip it. If you must see it, borrow it from the library and save your money for a good film like Win Win.

2011-04-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

The new April list of DVDs is out.

127 Hours James Franco, Amber Tamblyn. Aron Ralston has a passion for all things outdoors. When a falling boulder traps him in a remote Utah canyon, a thrill-seekers adventure becomes the challenge of a lifetime. Based on the autobiography "Between a rock and a hard place" by Aron Ralston.

Catfish In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel's brother, Nev. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, Catfish is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue.

Cool It Climate catastrophe? The end of civilization as we know it? COOL IT is based upon the book of the same name and lectures by Bjorn Lomborg.

Inside Job Through exhaustive research, and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, Inside Job traces the rise of a rogue industry that nearly resulted in a global financial collapse.

Last Train Home Changhua Zhan, Suqin Chen, Qin Zhang. Every spring, China's cities are plunged into chaos as an astonishing 130 million migrant workers journey to their home villages for the New Year's holiday. This mass exodus is the largest human migration on the planet. Working over several years in classic verite, Chinese-Canadian filmmaker Lixin Fan travels with one couple who have embarked on this annual trek for almost two decades.

Love and Other Drugs Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway Free-spirited Maggie meets her match in a charming Viagra salesman named Jamie. Maggie and Jamie leap into a no-strings-attached affair, but no matter how hard they try to keep things 'casual,' they can't help falling under the influence of the ultimate drug: love!

The Maiden Heist Marcia Gay Harden, Morgan Freeman. Charles, Roger, and George are museum security guards who take their jobs very seriously. But when they learn their favorite artworks are being sent to another museum, they concoct a plan to switch the real masterpieces with fakes.

Morning Glory Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton. For Becky, running a TV show in New York City was the big break she dreamed of, until star co-anchors Mike and Colleen declare an all-out, on-air war. Making the show work with its cast of eccentric characters and outrageous story angles will take a major miracle, but Becky is ready to rise and outshine.

New Tricks: season 3 Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong, James Bolam. Superintendent Sandra Pullman leads the unsolved crimes unit of the Metropolitan Police. Her team includes three aging former detectives lured out of retirement. Can a curmudgeonly trio of crime busters learn new tricks to crack tough crimes? Or are old-fashioned hunches and footwork still best?

The Next Three Days Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Brian Dennehy, Olivia Wilde, Liam Neeson. Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison.

The Switch Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston. An unmarried 40-year-old becomes pregnant from a sperm bank. Seven years later, she reunites with her best friend, who has been living with a secret: he replaced her preferred sperm sample with his own. An unmarried 40-year-old woman turns to a turkey baster in order to become pregnant. Seven years later, she reunites with her best friend, who has been living with a secret: he replaced her preferred sperm sample with his own.

Mademoiselle Chambon V incent Lindon, Sandrine Kiberlain, Aure Atika, Jean-Marc Thibault. Arthur Le Houérou. Jean, his loving wife and son live a simple, happy life. At his son's homeroom teacher Madamoiselle Chambon's request, he volunteers as substitute teacher and starts to fall for her delicate and elegant charm.

Restrepo Sebastian Junger, Tim Hetherington. This documentary chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, Restrepo, named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment.

The Wolfman Anthony Hopkins, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt. Lured back to his family estate Lawrence must investigate the savage murder of his brother by a bloodthirsty beast and confront childhood demons, his estranged father, and his brother's grieving fiancée.

The Tillman Story Pat Tillman, Mary Tillman Pat Tillman chose to walk away from a multimillion-dollar football contract and join the military for no other reason than he felt it was the right thing to do. Documented are the facts surrounding the way the military manipulated his tragic death in the line of duty into a propaganda tool.

2011-03-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, I saw a film that I consider intellegent with gifted actors, a wonderful script, and great staging. It is Barney's Vison. Finally a film without pyrotechniques. A film for adults. A powerful film that moves gently through a man's life, exploring his choices and his relationships. Leonard Cohen soundtrack is a perfect compliment. Based on Mordecai Richler's book of the same name, Canadian director, Robert Lantos spent 10 years trying to get it made, discarding script after script, including two by Richler, until it was just right. Barney Panofsky, played by Paul Giamatti, is a 65 year old, hard-drinking, cigar-smoking, foulmouthed, hockey fanatic and Montreal television producer, reflects on his life's successes and failures as his final years come sharply into focus. Gianatti won a best actor Golden Globe for his performaces. The film is not all about Giamatti, additional convincing performances are turned in by Dustin Hoffman, Rosemund Pike and Minnie Driver. If you missed it in the theaters, reserve the DVD by calling the library 860-673-9712.

2010-09-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

I am so glad summer is over...the heat, the humidity...and most of it all, not many good films. Fall, in all its brilliant color is here, and at last, so are some decent films. Only two films I saw this summer are worth seeing: The Kids are All Right with Annette Benning, Julianna Moore and Mark Ruffalo and Salt with Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber. I liked both; one for its portrait of modern life and the other for its all out unrealistic action and suspense.

Kids was the most talked-about movie at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and the winner of the Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by Lisa Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon) from an original screenplay that she wrote along with Stuart Blumberg (Keeping the Faith). The film is funny and poignant. A richly drawn portrait of a modern family and how bonds of trust and love can be tested.. Benning is outstanding.

Salt, an action adventure film cloaked in mystery and suspense, keeps you guessing nearly to the end. Salt, a victim of another type of family environment, is a CIA agent accused of being a Russian spy . She uses all her skill and training to elude capture and prove her innocence. If you prefer realism this is not for you. If you like action films with implausible plots that only

Hollywood can produce, you'll love it. How could anyone except Jolie withstand such a beating and run away in the end?

If you you missed them in the theater, call in you reserve. I will add them to the collection as soon as they are released. I have seen several cant miss films in September and October which I will write about next time. Hopefully I will be able to post recommendations more regularly as we approach Academy Award season.

2010-09-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

.......... ...................... READ IT ........................THEN ...................SEE IT ........................
A Very Private Gentleman, a 1990 cat-and-mouse thriller by British novelist Martin Booth, was recently released as The American starring George Clooney and Violante Placido. Alone among assassins, Jack is the best. When a job ends badly he vows his next assignment will be his last. In a small Italian village tucked away in the countryside, Jack relishes being away from death. He seeks out the friendship of a local priest and pursues romance with a local woman. Put when next assignment comes, he is soon back in the fray. By stepping out of the shadows, will he be tempting fate!

The Romantics based on the novel by Pankaj Mishra will soon be released starring Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin and Josh Duhamel. Seven close friends reunite for the wedding of two of their friends. Problems arise because the bride and the maid of honor have had a long rivalry over the groom. During the course of the raucous night before the wedding, friendships and alliances are tested and the love triangle comes to a head. A love story that examines the camaraderie of youth.

The Town is a film adaption of the prize-winning book by Chuck Hogan Prince of Thieves which won the 2005 Hammett Prize for excellence in crime writing. The film, starring Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner, will be in theaters soon. Men wearing masks with guns drawn make a bank manager open the vault. Their timing and execution is brilliant. It could be the perfect heist. But as the huge sum of cash is stolen, so is one man's heart, and that man is the Prince of Thieves, the brains behind the tough, tight-knit crew of thieves. The girl who has caught his heart has another admirer: FBI agent Adam Frawley, who is investigating the gang determined to bring them to justice.

Never Let Me Go this 2004 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro is adapted into a film starring Keire Knightly, Carey Mullligan and Andrew Garfield. The story is narrated by 31 year-old Kathy who reminisces about her childhood at the sheltered boarding school and her life after leaving the school. An idyllic life in the scenic English countryside where the children were sheltered from the outside world, brought up to believe that they were special and that their well-being was crucial not only for themselves but for the society as well. When two of her classmates come back into her life, she stops resisting the pull of memory and the dark secret behind a nurturing facade. With the dawning clarity of hindsight, the three friends are compelled to face the truth about their childhood—and about their lives now. A tale of biomedical science fiction that asks the question "what makes us human."

The Social Network, a film starring Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, is based on Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book The Accidental Billionaires which uncovers the true story behind the founding of Facebook. A high-energy tale about two socially awkward Ivy Leaguers who are trying to increase their chances with the opposite sex end up creating Facebook. Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg were Harvard undergraduates and best friends and clearly on the outside. Getting invited to join one of the Harvard's Finnl Clubs could be their ticket to social acceptance. Mark finds a way to stardom by hacking into the university's computer system, creating a database that rates all the female students on campus. At that moment, in his Harvard dorm room, the framework for Facebook was born revolutionizing the way hundreds of millions of people relate to each other.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, the final book in Stieg Larsson's millennium trilogy, follows The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire with this exhilarating conclusion. Lisbeth Salander, the brilliant computer hacker who was shot in the head at the end of Fire, is alive and the prime suspect in three murders in Stockholm. While she convalesces under armed guard, journalist Mikael Blomkvist works to unravel the decades-old coverup surrounding the man who shot Salander: her father, Alexander Zalachenko, a Soviet intelligence defector and longtime secret asset to Sweden's security police. When able Salander will have to prove her innocence, denounce those in authority who allowed the attack on her life and seek revenge against the man who tried to kill her. Once a victim. now she's fighting back.

2010-08-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

Check out what's on the August DVD list

According to Greta Hilary Duff, Evan Ross. A rebellious teen is sent to her grandparents for the summer. She soon begins a romance with a young cook who has a criminal past, confronts a tragic family secret, and just may discover the promising young woman hidden beneath her sarcastic shell.

Afghan Star In Afghanistan you risk your life to sing. After thirty years of war and five devastating years of Taliban rule, pop culture is beginning to return to the country.

Alice in Wonderland Anne Hathaway, Johnny Depp. Alice, now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny.

Amreeka Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem. Muna Farah, a Palestinian single mom, struggles to maintain her optimistic spirit in the daily grind of intimidating West Bank checkpoints, the constant nagging of a controlling mother, and the haunting shadows of a failed marriage. Everything changes one day when she receives a letter informing her that her family has been granted a U.S. green card.

The Bounty Hunter Gerard Butler, Jennifer Aniston. Milo, a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter, gets his dream job when he is assigned to track down his bail-jumping ex-wife, reporter Nicole.

The Boys are Back Clive Owen, Emma Booth. After the unexpected death of his wife, a sportswriter finds himself consumed with grief and completely unprepared to raise two boys. Determined to bring joy back into their lives, he takes a 'just say yes' approach to parenting and chaos ensues.

Brooklyn’s Finest Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke. After having endured extremely different career paths, the lives of three disheartened Brooklyn police officers will collide with destiny when they all wind up at the same fatal crime scene.

Disgrace John Malkovich, Jessica Haines. Professor David Lurie is a man whose world is shattered when he is fired for seducing a college student. He finds peace at his estranged daughter's modest farm in South Africa until a horrific incident of terror and violence forces Lurie to confront his beliefs and the disturbing racial complexities of the new South Africa.

Edge of Darkness Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone. After a bullet meant for him kills his daughter instead, Boston cop Thomas Craven's quest for revenge leads him into a shadowy world of political intrigue.

Flow: for the love of water or how did a handful of corporations steal our water? The documentary builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply and pose the question: Can anyone really own water?

Fourth Kind Milla Jovovich, Will Patton. Since the 1960s, Nome, Alaska, has seen a disproportionate number of its population being reported missing every year. Despite multiple FBI investigations of the region, the truth has never been discovered until a psychologist begins videotaping sessions with traumatized patients and unwittingly discovered some of the most disturbing evidence of alien abduction ever documented.

The Good Guy Scott Porter, Alexis Bledel. Ambitious New Yorker Beth wants it all: a good job, good friends, and a good guy to share the city with. But when she falls hard for a handsome young Wall Street hotshot, she discovers that the last one is trickiest of all.

Green Zone Matt Damon, Amy Ryan. During the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and his team of Army inspectors were dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission.

North Face Benno Fürmann, Johanna Wokalek. An adventure drama, based on a true story about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps, the north face of the Eiger.

Phoebe in Wonderland Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson. Phoebe is an imaginative but troubled girl with a desperate longing to be in her school's production of Alice in Wonderland. When she is cast in the lead role her parents believe her unusual behavior is due to her creativity, but soon realize that she is on the brink of falling through the looking glass herself.

The White Ribbon Christian Friedel, Ulrich Tukur, Leonie Benesch. In a north German village prior to the outbreak of World War I, strange events, accidents, and deaths are occurring. The village people are beside themselves with worry and can't figure out what to do. Trying to unravel this mystery, it is discovered that the children of the town may be guilty of the crimes and have formed a secret society with the local pastor's daughter the leader.

2010-06-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

With a long weekend ahead, think about borrowing DVDs from the library. The weather will be great, but after a long day outside, you may want to curl up and watch a great film. The new July list is out. Check the library web site for a complete list. Below are some favorable mentions. . . . .

I can recommend The Botany of Desire a PBS special based on the Michael Pollan book that examines the relationship between plants and humans.

Another film I can recommend is

A Single Man. Based on the Christopher Isherwood novel, it is brilliant. Colin Firth is the tortured professor who loses his longtime partner in a terrible accident. Dealing with his grief, he contemplates suicide while he struggles with the age-old question: is life worthwhile. It is an outstanding performance from Colin Firth. The role is a perfect match for his talent: withdrawn, pained, sensual, with sparks of wit and fun. He so perfectly depicts a man who cannot publicly morn because in the 1960s during the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the birth of youth culture, society would not permit him to grieve the death of his gay companion openly. Don't miss this poignant, deeply compassionate portrait.

Also on the list are: From Paris with Love, Invictus, Legion, The Memory Thief, Shutter Island, Valentine's Day and When in Rome. If you missed them in the theater this year, here's your chance.

Four foreign films have been add to the library collection this month

All French, each explores an issue as only the French can. Shall We Kiss?, a comedy about the consequences of intimacy, is an enjoyable, tender and tasteful romantic film. Adult in its appeal, it presents lessons that never grow old with time. Heart in Winter (un Coeur En Hiver) examines the complexities of a love triangle and rebirth. Only the French can create such wonderful characters. Is there anything as beautiful as love and anything as painful as deep sorrow and loneliness of the soul ? The Wedding Song (Le Chant des Mariees), an art house film because of one explicit scene, is set in Tunis on the cusp of World War II. It examines the lives of two 16 year old girls, one a Muslim, and the other a Jew, who struggle to maintain their friendship as politics and families threaten to undermine it. A fine example of contemporary French cinema, Summer Hours (Heure d'Ete) is a story of an estate that must be divided up by three siblings after the death of their mother. The film is understated and gently paced, evoking the changes brought on one family as they are forced to reevaluate heritage vs. their place in the increasingly globalized world.

2010-06-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

The June 2010 DVD list has been posted to the library's web page. Check it out and add your holds. Some titles to reserve are: Avatar, Crazy Heart, It's Complicated, and Last Station. All are my favorites except Avatar. But, if you haven't seen it, you should. . . if not for the plot, for the film technique.

2010-05-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted. I've been busy enjoying my yard, planting perennials and planning improvements. Although a very small space, I seem to spend a lot of time fussing, planting and weeding. Having grown up in New York City without a sandbox or dirt to play in, I am relishing my new found love of gardening. This is all well and good because there have been very few films worth seeing. With that in mind, searching the library's DVD racks I found some old favorites.

Ninotchka(1939) with Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas is great. Garbo plays a stern Russian agent sent to Paris on official business and finds herself attracted to a man who represents everything she is supposed to detest. It was her first full comedy, and demonstrates her great talent. The film, written by Billy Wilder, deliberately criticizes the Soviet Union, depicting it as rigid and gray compared to the free and sunny life in Paris and the west. Much of the marketing surrounding Ninotchka played on Garbo's super-serious image, suggesting she had never laughed or played comedy on film before. Released in 1939 in the United States, the movie was released during WWII in Europe, where it became a great success. It was, however, banned in the Soviet Union and its satellites. Despite this, it went on to make $2,279,000 worldwide.

Woman of the Year (1942) with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy is another. Two newspaper reporters, Tess and Sam, working on the same newspaper take a dislike to one another but eventually find themselves falling in love and marrying. Tess, a very active woman and one of the most famous feminists in the country, is elected "woman of the year." Being busy all the time, she forgets how to really be a woman and Sam begins to feel neglected. The final scene in their kitchen is one of the funniest I've ever seen...no dialog, no music, just perfect timing. This is the first of nine films Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy made together. They met for the first time on this shoot. In the 1993 documentary Katharine Hepburn: All About Me, Hepburn herself recalls she was wearing high heels at their first meeting with Tracy and producer Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and said "I'm afraid I'm a bit tall for you, Mr. Tracy". Mankiewicz then responded, "Don't worry, Kate, he'll cut you down to size."

The Apartment(1960) with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine should not be missed. They were both so young, so fresh, such bright stars...you just can't keep your eyes of them. Climbing the corporate ladder in an insurance company in New York City is easy particularly if you allow your bosses to use your apartment for extramarital affairs. This arrangement goes terrible wrong when love creeps in. A commercial and critical hit, grossing $25 million at the box office, the film was nominated for ten Academy awards, winning five, including best picture. Some funny tidbits : Wilder generally required his actors to adhere exactly to the script, but allowed Jack Lemmon to improvise in several scenes: in one scene he squirted a bottle of nose drops across the room and in another he sang while making a meal of spaghetti. In another scene where Lemmon was supposed to mime being punched, he failed to move correctly and was accidentally knocked down. Wilder chose to use the shot of the genuine punch in the film. He also caught a cold when one scene on a park bench was filmed in sub-zero weather.

2010-04-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

The May list of new DVDs will be posted on the library website on Friday. Get a seek peek here.
My favorites Coco Before Chanel, Good Hair, Pirate Radio, Sherlock Holmes and The Young Victoria

DVD's May 2010
To place a reserve, just click on the highlighted titles.

2012 John Cusack, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson. A geophysical team learn that the core of the Earth is heating up and warn the President of the United States. While the leaders of the world race to build 'arks' to escape the impending doom, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of unprecedented strength wreak havoc all over the world.

The Beaches of Agnes Provides a reflection on art, life and the movies through a rich cinematic self portrait that touches on everything from the feminist movement and the Black Panthers to the films of Agnes Varda's husband, Jacques Demy, and the birth of the French New Wave.

The Blind Side Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron. Michael Oher is a homeless African-American teenager, from a broken home, is taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential as an All-American offensive left tackle.

Brothers Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman. Captain Sam Cahill is embarking on his fourth tour of duty, leaving behind his beloved wife and two daughters. When Sam's Blackhawk helicopter is shot down in the mountains of Afghanistan, the worst is presumed, leaving an enormous void in the family. Despite a dark history, Sam's charismatic younger brother steps in to fill the family void.

Coco Before Chanel Alessandro Nivola, Audrey Tautou. Years after being abandoned at an orphanage by her father, Gabrielle Chanel finds a job in a tailor shop where she meets, and soon begins an affair with French millionaire Etienne Balsan. Through Baron Balsan she is introduced into French society and given the opportunity to design her own style of hats. Though her career takes off, her personal life becomes more complicated when she falls in love with Balsan's former best friend Arthur Capel.

Did You Hear about the Morgans Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker. The Morgans are a highly successful Manhattan couple with almost perfect lives. they have only one notable failure - their dissolving marriage. When they witness a murder and become the targets of a contract killer, the Feds, protecting their witnesses, whisk them from their beloved New York to a tiny town in Wyoming. A relationship that was on the rocks threatens to end completely, unless with their new Blackberry-free lives, the Morgans can slow down the pace and rekindle their passion.

Glass: a Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts For 18 months, award-winning
director Scott Hicks followed the legendary composer Philip Glass across three continents, creating a remarkable portrait of one of the greatest artists of all time. Allowed unprecedented access to Glass's working process and long time collaborators, Hicks provides a unique glimpse into the composer's life.

Good Hair Comedian Chris Rock tackles the very personal issue of hair, and how attaining "good hair" can impact African American's activities, relationships, wallets, and a self-esteem.

Paris Juliette Binoche, Romain Duris. While waiting for a heart transplant that could save his life, Pierre reunites with his sister and her lively children. This rediscovery of his family and observation of the teeming streets outside his window in Paris give Pierre hope, and a new sense of how he might spend the time still left to him.

Pirate Radio Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emma Thompson. A rogue band of DJs captivate Britain in the 1960s. The music they play defines a generation and the DJs stand up to a government that, incomprehensibly, preferred jazz. Radio rock is a pirate radio station situated in the middle of the North Atlantic that's populated by an eclectic crew of rock and roll DJs.

Private Lives of Pippa Lee Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin. After nearly two decades under the wing of an aging, avuncular husband, dutiful mother and housewife Pippa Lee undergoes a midlife breakthrough.

Sherlock Holmes Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law. After finally catching serial killer and occult 'sorcerer' Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. After his execution, Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, and Holmes must take up the hunt once again.

Surrogates Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchel. People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates - physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It's an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don't exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery.

Up in the Air George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick. Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert, flies all over the world on business. On the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and meeting the frequent traveler woman of his dreams, his company grounds him. When Bingham goes on his last cross country firing expedition, he will learn that life isn't about the journey, but about the connections made along the way.

Whiteout Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht. U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko is the only law-enforcement officer assigned to Antarctica. Carrie is on the verge of shipping out before the really bad weather hits, when she is confronted with a mysterious murder that sounds like a riddle: how'd a lone corpse find its way to the middle of an ice field, as though dropped from a great height? And what does this have to do with the prologue about a Soviet fighter jet crashing some decades earlier? Along with other snowbound stragglers are a U.N. investigator, some cocky pilots, and a grizzled doctor.

The Young Victoria Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend. Chronicles the life and times of Queen Victoria from her childhood to her early rise to power and the first turbulent years of her rule.

Television Series

Mad Men season 5
Weeds: 5th season

2010-04-10T09:17:00.001-07:00

See these two in the theaters:

Green Zone starring Matt Damon is based on the book by Rajiv Chandrasekaran "Imperial Life in the Emerald City." I love Matt Damon, he's such a capable actor. You believe in him and, even in a very action backed thin script, you believe in him. He's the perfect white knight who questions the intel locating WMDs in Baghdad in 2003. He doesn't want to risk his men and he wants to find out who's giving him such bad information. A bit light on script but heavy on nighttime street chases and firefighting. But it keeps you engaged. B-

The Ghost Writer starring Ewan McGregor and Pierce Bronson is based on a Robert Harris bestseller. Ewan McGregor grabs and runs with his role as the writer hired to complete the memoirs of the unseated British prime minister taking refuge in America after being accused of war crimes. While working on the book, the ghost uncovers clues suggesting secrets may be hidden in the manuscript that puts his life at risk. The starkness of the sets, the grey cold atmospheric weather and the music only heighten the suspense. Polanski, despite his personal problems, is a gifted director. A-

2010-03-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Books and Films make wonderful bedfellows... Books into Film this March and April.

Read before you see

"You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation" by Susannah Gora. If you loved the films of John Hughes who died in 2009, you'll love learning more about him, a writer-director who portrayed teens with sensitivity

Book: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Film: The Last Song with Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear

Ronnie Miller's 17th summer

Book: Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone by Rajiv Chandrasekaran

Film: Green Zone starring Matt Damon, Said Faraj and Yigal Naor. U.S. Army in search of WMDs uncovers government lies. Good but could have been great. B-

Book : The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. The first of a trilogy about festering familial corruption, a vulnerable superhacker, a disgraced financial journalist and octogenarian industrialist. Nothing is as it seems. Don't mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.Film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Book: The Repossession Mambo by Eric Garcia novel.

Film: Repo Man

Jude Law & Forest Whitaker
For a price, any organ in your body can be replaced. But it can also be repossessed.

Book and Film: The Losers CIA graphic novel by Andy Diggle

Book: "I Love you, Phillip Morris: a True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks" about famous escape artist Steven Russell by Steven McVicker. Film: I Love You, Phillip Morris

2010-03-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

With the Academy Awards and the rush to see as many as possible behind me, I can relax and spend some time with some favorite old friends. Remember

The Lion in Winter with Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole a film that examines the tragic relationship between King Henry II of England and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine as they battle over Henry's successor to the British throne in the 12th century. Wonderfully powerful performances by two icons of the silver screen. Next

Three Coins in a Fountain is pure unadulterated escapism. One summer in Rome and romance of three American women who throw money into a fountain wishing for love. Louis Jourdan and Rossano Brazzi at their romantic best. Anyone who has been to Rome has been to the Trevi fountain!

In this age of computers having all the answers, Desk Set with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn is a stand-out. Released in 1957, this classic Hepburn-Tracy romance between a head librarian of the reference and research department at a TV network and an absent-minded computer genius demonstrates that computers can be a great tool but the knowledge of a Reference Librarian cannot be denied.

The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway was a favorite of mine when it came out in 1968 but seeing it again it was a disappointment. I love Steve McQueen but the film moves slowly, doesn't have the suspense and slickness of the 1999 version with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. How twenty years can color a memory!!!

Interested in classic films? The Thursday Matinee Movies series starts April 1 and continues every Thursday at 2pm until May 27 and will include such favorites as: The Pink Panther, Imitation of Life, True Grit, Charade, From Here to Eternity to list a few. For a complete list, check the library web site or pick up a list at the library. This series is cosponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Avon Center Center. Come enjoy some refreshments and a good movie every Thursday at 2pm.

2010-03-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

It's over and we know the winners. As each title is released on DVD we will buy, so place your reserves by calling the Reference Desk 860-673-9712.

The March DVD list is out as well. Check it out on our web site http://www.avonctlibrary.info

Some titles on the March liscan recommend are:

Bright Star with Abbie Cornish and Ben Whisham in a film about poet John Keats' love for Fanny Brawne...wonderful sets.

The Cove an Academy Award winning documentry about Japanese fishermen using sonar to confuse and trap schools of dolphins, which are then slaughtered and sold fraudulently as whale meat.

Invention of Lying starring Ricky Gervais and Jennifer in a quirky comedy. Not for everyone, but funny.

September Issue If you love fashion you will love this film about Anna Wintour and the annual September issue.

2010-03-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

It's down to the wire and I have to pick my favorites. I'm not privy to the politics of Hollywood so my favorites may not win, but goes.

Best Picture: Inglourious Basterds
Although Avatar may walk away with everything, Inglourious Basterd has my vote. An incredible story, incredible script, incredible acting, incredible special effects. It just draws you in and doesn't let go. In my mind, it is an example of a best picture.

Best Actor: Colin Firth
Jeff Bridges is the hand's down favorite and that's okay with me but my favorite performance was by Colin Firth in A Single Man. He captured a man in the depths of grief that still haunts me.

Best Actress: Gabourey Sidibe
Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock are the odds on favorites but Sidibe's portrayal of an abused young woman is courageous and exceptional. Not a pleasant film, not an easy film to watch, it hurts a person's sensibilities to see such cruelty, and she brings that pain to the screen. Sidibe in real life is nothing like the character she plays. As a newcomer, she is not the stereotypical actress and her work is not stereotypical either. She demonstrates ability beyond her years. I hope we will see more of her in the near future.

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Bigelow captures the story of an elite Army bomb squad unit in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb. Bigelow said recently: "I always want to make films. I think of it as a great opportunity to comment on the world in which we live . . . " She's a talented director, a daughter of a librarian (How could I not love that?) and would be the first woman to receive an Oscar for directing.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Hands down winner for his role as the "Jew Hunter" Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds.

Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick
Mo'nique will collect the Oscar on Sunday, but I think Anna Kendrick held her own against George Clooney in Up in the Air. She was captivating as a naive novice in the corporate downsizing game.

I can't wait for Sunday, March 7. . . what a night for movie makers and movie lovers from the red carpet parade and the exception speeches to the antics on stage. . . Oh, what a night!

Only following the Lady Huskie's in the East East and NCAA championships could be better.

Go Tina!!!

2010-02-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I posted anything on this blog. As they say "Not much to write home about." The last film I saw in the theaters was A Single Man. A trip to the Brainard Rd. cinemas was well worth the drive. This is one of my favorite theaters where you can always find a great film. I noticed A Single Man is showing locally this week and it is well worth the price of a ticket. Not for everyone, A Single Man the movie is based on A Single Man the book by Christopher Isherwood. The book is considered his tour de force and seminal novel about the modern gay movement. The film is beautifully crafted and impeccably staged. Colin Firth is outstanding as he works his way through the devastating loss of his companion of 17 years. The loss is so devastating that on this one day, he sees suicide as his only relief. Set in Los Angeles in 1962, the story is told in part through flashbacks sprinkled with moments of wit and fun. Normal moments in life are contrasted vividly with profound moments of loss. It's about love and loss in a world that will not allow his grief to be acknowledged. Hope is seen in the end but only for a moment. Colin Firth deserves his Oscar nomination.

2010-02-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

As we get closer and closer to Oscar night I've been trying to work through the list of nominees. Jeff Bridges' performance as Bad Blake in Crazy Heart is a must see. Although I had trouble with the story missing some critical parts, his performance is definitely Oscar worthy. He brought to life this lost country singer as he slips further and further into a world consumed by alcohol. The film is all about him, a country music musican and song writer pushed aside by his younger collaborator who finds himself unable to write and record. Left to singing in dives, he exists on drink, smoke, fast food and faster women. He's endearing, he's vulnerable, he's lost and we all love a character who saves himself and reaches his full potential. Jeff Bridges is the one to beat. See it! Oh what wonderful music, too.

Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer deserve the Oscar nominations for best actress and best supporting actor. The film The Last Station examines the last years of Tolstoy's life as his wife Sofya vies for control of his literary output against his Tolstoyan confident Vladimir Chertkov. The Last Station is based on the 1990 biographical novel by Jay Parini. Mirren displays her considerable talent playing Sofya, a sharp, well-educated, strong-minded, passionate and sensual woman deeply in love with her husband struggling to keep him while struggling to keep control of all his copyrights. Their marriage was filled with great passion at first and equally great rejection at the end. Fighting constantly over Chertkov's influence, the Tolstoyans adoration and Tolstoy's will, their marriage finally crumbles. Seeking peace and solace in order to write, Tolstoy, with a small entourage, creeps away in the dead of night fearing another of Sofya's emotional outbursts. Ill with pneumonia, he dies in a train station in Astapova Russia. The film captures the Russian wealthy, the Tolstoyan life and the paparazzi of 1910. See it. It's very well done.