Even though the library will be closed March 5 through April 23 for the final move, you can still put holds on the new DVDs.

DVD's  March 2012

Chair Exercises for Active Seniors   An upbeat, refreshing exercise program designed specifically for people who prefer to workout in a chair. Recreational Therapist Vivian Hoyt.

A Dangerous Method    Michael  Fassbender, Keira Knightley.  A look at how the intense relationship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud gives birth to psychoanalysis.
 

Downton Abbey (TV series, season 2).  Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern. Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, set during the late Edwardian era and the First World War on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in North Yorkshire.

 

Footloose    Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough.  A city kid moves to a small town where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.  Remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon classic.

The Guard    Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle.   An unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is teamed up with an uptight FBI agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring.

 The Ides of March    Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman.  During the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, an up-and-coming campaign press secretary finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate's shot at the presidency.

Love Comes Softly    Katherine Heigl, Dale Midkiff.  A woman's dream to forge a new life for herself on the great American plains becomes a test of her pioneering spirit, her inner strength, and her undying faith.

Martha Marcy Mary Marlene    Elizabeth Olsen, Brady Corbet,  After escaping from a dangerous cult and the watchful eye of its charismatic leader, a young woman named Martha tries to reclaim a normal life with her family. But the haunting memories from her past trigger a chilling paranoia, and nowhere seems safe as the fragile line between her reality and delusions begin to blur.

Memphis: the original Broadway Production   Chad Kimball, Montego Glover.  The Tony Award-winning musical takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated '50s.  Bursting off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs, and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love, this incredible journey is filled with laughter, soaring emotion, and roof-raising rock n' roll.

Mozart’s Sister    Marie Féret, Marc Barbé.  The film is based on the early life of Maria Anna 'Nannerl' Mozart who was five years older than Wolfgang and a musical prodigy in her own right. Originally the featured performer, Nannerl has given way to Wolfgang as the main attraction, as their strict but loving father Leopold tours his talented offspring in front of the royal courts of pre-French revolution Europe.

The Rum Diary    Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi.  Tired of the noise and madness of New York, journalist Paul Kemp moves to Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper. Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Kemp becomes involved in shady property development deals. When recruited to write favorably about these unsavory schemes, Kemp is presented with the choice to use his words to promote these schemes or expose them.

Twilight Sage: Breaking Dawn pt 1    Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner.  In the highly anticipated fourth installment of the Twilight Saga, a marriage, a honeymoon, and the birth of a child bring unforeseen and shocking developments for Bella and Edward.

Vanishing of the Bees     Narrator:  Ellen Page.  Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives. Filmed across the U.S., in Europe, Australia, and Asia, the documentary examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between mankind and Mother Earth. As scientists puzzle over the cause, organic beekeepers indicate alternative reasons for this tragic loss.

The Way    Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen.  Tom goes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France, to collect the remains of his adult son, who was killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son's desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn't plan on is the profound impact the journey will have on him as he begins to learn the difference between the life one lives and the life one chooses.

The Women on the 6^th Floor    Fabrice Luchini, Sandrine Kibelain.  In 1960s Paris, a conservative couple's lives are turned upside down by two Spanish maids. 

Young Adult     Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson.  Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.