East Hampton Public Library Movies & Music

Now Playing on a Small Screen Near You

2012-01-20T18:40:00.000-05:00

Or Maybe a Big Screen?
We've heard tell Santa carried more than a few fancy TVs down local chimneys last December. Have fun watching the ready-to-go and upcoming blockbusters, plus a few you may have missed along the way.

Moneyball (January 10)
The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget. Based on the bestselling book by Michael Lewis.

The Ides of March (January 17)
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. George Clooney directed the film.

50/50 (January 24)
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. This indie film has already won several notable awards.

Real Steel (January 24)
Washed up fighter Charlie reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max to build and train a championship contender : a robot. As uplifting as the earlier 'Rocky' films but with mechanical parts...

Drive (January 31)
A Hollywood stunt driver, who also works as a getaway driver, discovers a contract has been put out on him. Smart, action-packed, and bloody for sure; a definite hit on the regional and international film awards circuit. Based on a book by James Sallis.

Make Room For...
Dolphin Tale -- The Fat Boy Chronicles -- Footloose (Classic version) -- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Classic version) -- Rise of the Planet of the Apes -- Warrior.

International Films
International film fans may enjoy Circumstance (Persian) or King of Devil's Island (Norwegian, March 2012 release date).

Winter Film Discussion Series

2011-12-19T15:27:00.001-05:00

STELLA! Tennessee Williams : Plays to Film

Join us this winter for an adult discussion series featuring classic films adapted from the works of playwright Tennessee Williams. Films are shown in their entirety; all discussion events begin at 6:30 p.m. in the library Community Room. Library staff member Phil Carr moderates.

Tuesday, January 17 : Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Examine Tennessee Williams' searing account of greed and sexual frustration and its effect on a prominent Southern family. Burl Ives recreates his Broadway role as "Big Daddy." Elizabeth Taylor gives a smoldering performance as Maggie, the rejected wife. Paul Newman plays Brick, Maggie's troubled husband. The play won the Pulitzer in 1955; both Taylor and Newman were nominated for Academy Awards.

Tuesday Febrary 14 : A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh) moves in with her sister Stella (Kim Hunter) and Stella’s husband, Stanley (Marlon Brando). Blanche refuses to come to terms with the death of her Southern aristocratic background, causing her to conflict with her lower-class brother-in-law. Stanley harshly forces her to face the facts, driving her to a complete personality breakdown in this cinematic version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Tuesday, March 13 : The Rose Tattoo (1955)

Serafina Delle Rose (Anna Magnani), a Sicilian woman living in the American South, mourns the death of her husband, constantly telling herself stories of their time together. Her fragile emotional existence is shattered when she discovers that her husband had been carrying on with another woman. Serafina later meets truck driver Alvaro (Burt Lancaster) and begins a tentative romance. The play won a Tony Award in 1951. Williams wrote the screenplay with Magnani in mind; she went on to win the Oscar for Best Actress.

Plot summaries developed using information from Movie Licensing USA, Fandango, and Internet Movie Database.

Rolling Stone's Albums of the Year

2011-12-17T18:59:00.000-05:00

Rock On...
End-of-year list-making continues with Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 2011's top fifty albums. For those of you who enjoy listening to conventional CDs (while you still can), we offer a quick list of the top fifteen. In some cases, the links lead to other CDs or songs by the artists, available for checkout at the library:

21 by Adele

Watch the Throne -- Jay-Z and Kanye West

So Beautiful or So What -- Paul Simon

Helplessness Blues -- Fleet Foxes

The King of Limbs -- Radiohead

Born This Way -- Lady Gaga

The King is Dead -- The Decemberists

The Whole Love -- Wilco

Wild Flag -- Wild Flag

How to Become Clairvoyant -- Robbie Robertson

Circuital -- My Morning Jacket

El Camino -- Black Keys

WhoKill -- Tune-Yards

Hot Sauce Committee Pt. Two -- Beastie Boys

Thank You Happy Birthday -- Cage the Elephant

You can check out the complete list of the "Best 50" in the print magazine (library subscribes to this way-more-than-a music-magazine) or online.

For Film Fans : A Recap on the Latest

2011-12-03T13:02:00.004-05:00

Everybody Say Hot, Hot Hot!
If you're not one to closely monitor our recent item listings, here's a recap of recent additions to our film collection plus some tips on upcoming titles.

Comedies
Beginners (Ewan McGregor, Christoper Plummer)
The Change-Up (Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman)
Crazy, Stupid, Love (Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Julianne Moore)

Drama
Atlas Shrugged (Paul Johansson, Matthew Marsden) -- Sarah's Key (Kristin Scott Thomas) -- Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (Bingbing Li, Vivian Wu) -- Submarine (Craig Roberts, Noah Taylor, Sally Hawkins) -- Water for Elephants (Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson)

Action/Fantasy : Pirates of the Caribbean : On Stranger Tides

Documentaries
Cave of the Forgotten Dreams (Chavet Cave art, France) -- Forks Over Knives (Vegetarianism) -- Page One (Decline of the NYT) -- Pearl Jam Twenty -- People vs. George Lucas (The Lucas Legacy... sort of)--

Sci-Fi : Super 8 (Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler)

December 2
Friends With Benefits
The Smurfs
December 6
The Debt
The Help
Mr. Popper's Penguins
December 9
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
December 13 : Fright Night, Kung Fu Panda 2
December 20 : Margin Call, The Tempest

Fa-La-La-La-La

2011-11-18T18:21:00.002-05:00

Holiday Tunes
Thanksgiving (or is it Halloween?) typically marks the beginning of December's holiday season. Bet you will join us in asking "Where did the time go?"

Oh, well; in the spirit of planning ahead, here's a quick list of holiday music CDs recently added to our collection. Additional holiday titles of all varieties are on their way so let the fa-la-la-la-la's begin!

Beach Boys' Christmas Album
Christmas Around the World - André Rieu
Christmas in Diverse City - Tobymac
Christmas - Michael Bublé
Holiday Carole - Carole King
Kidz Bop Christmas
Under the Mistletoe - Justin Bieber
A Very She & Him Christmas - She & Him

Holiday Concert

Click here to register for a free Holiday Music From Throughout the World concert on Saturday, December 10, presented by the Hartt School's Sogno String Quartet. Enjoy featured works by Charpentier, Franck, Rathberger, Saint-Saens, and Daquin, along with traditional holiday music.

Sogno members are : Jo Ann Galat-Brown (Violin), Martina Miga (Violin), Paula Trebra (Viola), Karl Ronnevik (Cello).

November's Saturday Afternoon Concert with Ellen Woloshin

2011-11-01T18:54:00.000-04:00

Pop Music With a Lovely Twist

Join us at the library on Saturday, November 12, at 2:00 p.m. for a concert featuring New York-based indie vocalist, Ellen Woloshin. This a return engagement for Ellen, who last year dazzled our community with her elegant takes on familiar, contemporary pop tunes.

Click here to register for this free concert; all are welcomed.

Listening and Viewing Ahead

Check out Woloshin's CDs and listen to tunes that you may very well hear live at the library on November 12. Also enjoy a video clip of Ellen's April 2010 performance at our library and another at the Windsor Arts Center in July 2010.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Round We Go Again

Not a Halloween Movie...

2011-10-27T18:19:00.001-04:00

(L-R) Eva Gabor, Walter Pidgeon, Donna Reed
Van Johnson, Elizabeth Taylor

F. Scott Fitzgerald Goes to the Movies
Hurricane Irene postponed our showing of the 1954 romantic drama The Last Time I Saw Paris. If you are not out trick or treating, come on down to the library and enjoy a wholly unscary but very melodramatic movie based on F. Scott Fitzgeralds's short story Babylon Revisited. Film discussion is moderated by library staff member Phil Carr.

Watch the Trailer

Huddle Up : November's Sci-Fi On the B-List Film

2011-10-23T15:57:00.001-04:00

H.G. Wells Goes Big-Screen...
Our Sci-fi On the B-list film series continues on Tuesday, November 15, with a showing of 1960's The Time Machine. The film is based on 1895's same-name speculative novella by H.G. Wells.

Both book and film are often described as the grandfathers of the time travel genre. The film's stop-motion and time-lapse techniques won the 1961 Academy Award for Special Effects.

Book to Film
1960's superstar, Rod Taylor, stars as an eccentric London inventor (George) who builds a device that can travel through time. When George does use his machine to travel to the future, what does he see in year 802,701? Is the film true to the novella's themes or something in between? Join the discussion...

Surf's Up : Watch the Trailer

The Horror! The Horror!

2011-10-18T15:14:00.001-04:00

Scary Movies
Maybe you've seen 'em; maybe you haven't. Either way, here's a quick list of great horror films ready for Halloween viewing.

The Shining : "Heeere's Johnnny!" Based on Stephen King's novel, Stanley Kubrick's classic stars Jack Nicholson in one of his most famous roles. Lawnmower Man and Misery are two other King classics translated to film. Can't believe we're missing Cujo! (It's on it's way.)

Low budget, schlock-fest thrillers and cult masterpieces include Carnival of Souls (1962), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Evil Dead (1982; translated nicely to blu-ray), Army of Darkness (1992), and John Carpenter's The Thing (1982). Zombieland (2009), the hilarious Shaun of the Dead, and 28 Days Later (2002) also fit nicely into this grouping.

For scary mixed with a cup of sci-fi, try Ghostbusters (Who you gonna call?), King Kong (RKO classic or the Peter Jackson remake), Planet of the Apes (1968 vs. the unfortunate 2001 version), Alien, or the recent space monster thriller, Cloverfield.

The crazed neighbor/girlfriend/roommate genre is inarguably best represented by Hitchcock's classic, Psycho. Also try Clint Eastwood's unsettling Play Misty for Me or Single White Female and its recent remake, The Roommate. Rosemary's Baby (satanic cult) and Let the Right One In (vampire cult) round out the list of neighbor films with a common theme: moving-is-useless.

On the paranormal front, the Amityville Horror held up well. Also try Paranormal Activity, Signs, Sixth Sense, or The Ring/Ring II, two death cabin in the woods thrillers.

Deliverance, Silence of the Lambs, The Exorcist, and Jaws... need we say more?

Don't forget 1922's Nosferatu, F.W. Murnau’s classic and highly influential silent film. It's the granddaddy of Dracula films and though decades removed from the magical world of special effects, creepy... creepy... creepy.

Sci-Fi On the B-List Film Series

2011-10-12T19:48:00.004-04:00

B-List Film Showings
If you haven't yet heard, we invite you to join us and enjoy the first film in a three-part, classic sci-fi film series. On Tuesday, October 18, we'll be showing THEM!, a 1954 gem released a few months before Godzilla.

For more information about the three-part series, click here. All of the films were chosen based on their ties to great books, standing as classics, and /or their influence on the sci-fi genre, book or film.

Surf's Up : Watch the Trailer

September DVD Additions and Then Some...

2011-09-12T19:15:00.002-04:00

X-Men on DVD

Think Light...
Action-adventure films are aplenty this September with brain candy films such as X-Men: First Class, the latest in the Transformers saga (September 30), and Norse warrior Thor (September 13) just about ready to spin on the DVD player nearest you.

The much discussed Bridesmaids (September 20) seems sure to be a local favorite and for the early birds among you, Horrible Bosses is due for release in early October but now available for reserve.

Less Light
Other September DVD titles include Everything Must Go, Hanna, an indie award-winner, Meek's Cutoff, and Colors the the Mountain, a Film Movement title.

For Kids
For the little one's, try the Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss series, a live-action/puppet TV series that first aired in the 1990's. The films feature characters created by the late, great Dr. Seuss; the early films were produced by the late, great Muppeteer, Jim Henson.

For Gleeksters
We've had Glee's first season and early episodes of season 2 for a while. The rest of McKinley High School's New Direction's second choral season on DVD will be released tomorrow. If you haven't kept up with the episodes on TV or Hulu, see you soon.

Film Discussion Series : Sci-Fi on the B-List

2011-09-07T17:31:00.001-04:00

B-List But Influential...
Join us in early fall/early winter for a trip down memory lane as we view and discuss three classic B-list sci-fi movies and their influence on more familiar, contemporary films.

Selected films are shown in their entirety; library staff member Phil Carr moderates the discussions. Attend if you can. No registration is required.

Tuesday, October 18, 6:30 p.m.

Set in the early years of the Atomic Age and the Cold War, 1954's Them! hit the big screen shortly after experiments were conducted at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Watch our heroes battle irradiated monster ants and explore both the nuance and suspense of this low-budget thriller.

Tuesday, November 15, 6:30 p.m.

The Time Machine was released in 1960 and is based on same-name classic novel by H.G. Wells. This one is arguably the best film adaptation of Wells's time travel book, which is an annual favorite on high school summer reading lists. The film also won an Oscar for visual effects, well before the days of CGI.

Tuesday, December 20, 6:30 p.m.

We're back to 1956 with a showing of Forbidden Planet, a film with a better than 'B' movie cast. The story borrows from the plot line of Shakespeare's Tempest and also features sci-fi icon Robby the Robot. Any fan of Lost in Space, Star Trek, or certain Twilight Zone episodes, among others, will recognize this film's influence. Join the discussion...

As Seen on TV

2011-07-30T11:28:00.000-04:00

The Voice : The Highlights
Though tunes from "The Voice" have already received a serious workout on iTunes, enjoy season one's highlights all in one place, on a music CD due for release on August 9th.

The show's judges are also fairly represented in our music collection : pop diva Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green (on his own or featured), Adam Levine (Maroon 5), and country crooner, Blake Shelton.

Another Round of Applause for the Winner
Connecticut resident and Hartt school of Music alum, Javier Colon, won the competition.

For Film Fans

2011-07-24T18:06:00.022-04:00

The Latest on DVD and Blu-ray
For a browsable list of films recently added to our film collection, including classics, award winners, for kids, hot releases, requested titles, documentaries, and foreign films, click here. The list includes titles slated for release on July 26.

August Alerts
Keep an eye out for titles due for release or added during August's dog days of summer. Here's a short list of incoming titles of the "hot" variety:
August 2 : Soul Surfer
August 9 : Paul, Mars Needs Moms
August 16 : The Conspirator, Hoodwinked, Too!, Jane Eyre

Keeping Up-to-Date
If you are film fan, there are two e-ways to keep track of additions to our film collection:

Use the "Recent Items" tab in our online catalog search; limit your search to media and item type = visual materials.

You can also use the RSS Feed button and your news reader to keep current on new additions to our collection, tied to your interests. Build a search; subscribe by copying the link into your reader and receive automatic updates.

Let us know if you need help using either of these services.

The Small But Mighty Ukulele

2011-06-14T15:52:00.073-04:00

Ghost No More
While wandering around all that is music on the web, we've learned many a great rocker, pop singer, or blues player (Don Henley, Elvis Costello, Taylor Swift, and Johnny Winter, among others) have proudly admitted to uke use.

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder's recent release, Ukulele Songs, seems sure to move the ukulele up a notch on the list of small but mighty instruments worth listening to...

More Ukulele Tunes
Off to Hawaii you'll go by listening to tunes by the late Israel 'Iz' Kamakawiwo`ole. Also try CDs by obviously masterful uke player Jake Shimabukuro, whose George Harrison tribute is still a YouTube hit:

Before Contemporary Classic, Came a Different Sort of 'Classic'
Visit and search the National Jukebox, launched by the Library of Congress last May, for a number of early recordings featuring, or about, the ukulele...

Local Ukulele Enthusiast Alert
If you'd like to learn to play the uke, or dust off your rusty guitar skills, the Glastonbury Ukulele Club is ever ready to welcome new members and also offers online practice chord resources.

Surf's Up
Ukulele Crazy by Ben Sisario, NYT, 15 April 2011
Eddie Vedder on Giving the Ukulele a Turn in the Spotlight by Ann Powers, NPR, 25 May 2011
Jake on NPR Music or more surprising still, who knew "Bohemian Rhapsody" could go uke?

Darn, It's Hot!

2011-06-13T16:47:00.003-04:00

Skip Spring, Go Straight to Summer
Early June deliveries brought us True Grit, based on the novel by Charles Portis, as seen through the eyes of Ethan and Joel Coen. Compare and contrast with the earlier film starring Oscar winner John Wayne.

Rom-com fans may enjoy Just Go With It, an Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston remake (sort-of) of 1969's Cactus Flower, starring Walter Matthau and Goldie Hawn in her Oscar-winning role. The corporate downsizing saga, The Company Men, and the relationship dramedy, Another Year, were also released on June 7.

June 14
Place your reserves today for sci-fi thriller Battle: Los Angeles or Unknown, a memory bending thriller based on a 2003 novel by French author Didier van Cauwelaert.

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday June 21!
Place your reserves on sure to be hot titles :
The Adjustment Bureau
Cedar Rapids
Diary of a Wimpy Kid : Rodrick Rules

For International Film Fans
Oscar winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) stars in Biutiful, the story of a father on the wrong side of the law in Barcelona. Bardem was nominated for an Best Actor for his performance.

Also look for the Russian film How I Ended This Summer, a Film Movement entry set in Arctic or In the City of Sylvia, a Spanish film about the search for the 'the one'...

And Here's to You, Norma Jean
For Norma Jean, whose birthday was June 1, we added a couple of films including bright light beauties How to Marry a Millionaire and The Seven Year Itch. Also enjoy the darker Niagara.

Electro Music Doc
Techno music fans will thoroughly enjoy Amy Grill's Speaking in Code which features performances by electronica greats Modeselektor, Monolake, and the Wighnomy Brothers, to name a few.

Monster Hits...

2011-06-08T15:01:00.035-04:00

From Mother Monster
Little Monsters 'round the world are no doubt grooving to Lady Gaga's latest, Born This Way; the CD was released May 23. Place your reserves...

Also check out other chart toppers recently added to our collection, most by alt-bands, rockers, pop song heroines, and songwriting legends.

As always, we regularly add backlist titles included on our rock fan patrons' favorites lists. Happy listening!

National Jukebox

2011-05-29T14:10:00.066-04:00

Image Courtesy of
the Library of Congress

Play It Again
Music fans will certainly appreciate the National Jukebox, launched by the Library of Congress on May 10, 2011. The Jukebox makes historical sound recordings available to the public free of charge and "includes recordings from the extraordinary collections of the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation and other contributing libraries and archives.

Recordings in the Jukebox were issued on record labels now owned by Sony Music Entertainment, which has granted the Library of Congress a gratis license to stream acoustical recordings." All of the recordings were originally made for the Victor Talking Machine Company, which Sony controls.

What's on the Playlist?
The Jukebox includes more than 10,000 songs recorded between 1901 and 1925. The playlists are broken down by genre and sub-genre; in the popular music category (blues, jazz, traditional/country) you're sure to recognize the roots of your favorite contemporary styles.

Click here for an overview of what it took to digitize 78 rpm records and make so many musical goodies publicly accessible. Click here for a sampler of tunes recorded between 1901 and 1912.

First Time Users
To get the most out of your experience using the National Jukebox, click here to learn more. We're sure you will be particularly interested in the playlisting instructions, which will help you build and share your playlist on social networking sites.

Remembering Those Who Served

2011-05-22T17:51:00.004-04:00

Leading Up to Memorial Day
The library holds a number of award-winning, classic, and regarded films about the men and women who have endured the horrors of war on behalf of our country. This post is first in a two-part series about recommended viewing, leading up to Memorial Day 2011.

World II
Band of Brothers (Battle of Normandy) is based on the book by Stephen E. Ambrose; please do pair this film with Saving Private Ryan, even if you have seen it before.

Flags of Our Fathers (Battle of Iwo Jima) is based on the book by James Bradley.

The Battle of Midway : Pair this National Geographic documentary with Midway, a dramatization released in 1976. For more about WWII's Pacific Theater, view or review the HBO series based on two memoirs : Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie and With the Old Breed : at Peleliu and Okinawa by E.B. Sledge.

A Bridge Too Far (1977) explores the Allied airdrop behind German lines in Holland; based on a book by Cornelius Ryan. Also consider The Bridge on the River Kwai, an epic film about Allied British soldiers captured by the Japanese; based on a book by Pierre Boulle.

The Great Escape chronicles Allied POW plans to escape from a German camp; based on the book by Paul Brickhill.

Under-the-radar, try the documentary series titled The War. This six-part series (two discs per part) tells the story of ordinary people in four American towns -- Waterbury, Connecticut included -- and how the Second World War touched their everyday lives.

Image Credit

Poster created by the Federal Art Project, New York, 1936 or 1937. From the WPA Collection, Library of Congress. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May.

The Pipes, The Pipes...

2011-05-14T18:32:00.000-04:00

Power Vocals
Though we certainly don't intend to leave out any of your personal favorites, here's a quick list of music CDs (something old and something new) featuring women who sure can sing and whose CDs are consistently popular locally. As always, we welcome your suggestions.

Adele : English singer/songwriter and 2009's Grammy winner for Best New Artist.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals : About a year ago, the band was featured in a Rolling Stone article about Best New Bands of 2010.

Amy Winehouse : Another British singer/songwriter sings blues, R&B, and jazz with equal flair. She's also a five-time Grammy winner.

Annie Lennox : Named one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone, listen to her solo, in collaboration, or with the Eurythmics.

Heart : The Wilson sisters (Ann and Nancy) lead a band that has enjoyed staying power over a forty-year, many musical style career.

Sade : Huge in the 1980's, this R&B band now pops in after long hiatuses and is named after lead and smoother and than smooth vocalist Sade Abu.

And Let Us Not Forget
Dusty Springfield -- Aretha Franklin -- Carrie Underwood -- Scissor Sisters -- Lily Allen

Never Say Never...

2011-05-06T18:04:00.031-04:00

To Tweenager Films...
The school year is drawing to a close and in general, this means more time for recreational reading, viewing and listening. Uber-teen Justin Beiber's big screen hit, Never Say Never, is due for DVD release on Friday, May 13. For Bieber's music CDs, click here.

May 24 brings us the PG-13 I Am Number Four, based of the first book in the young adult Lorien Legacies series. The second book in the proposed six-part series, The Power of Six, is due out in August 2011. Think summer reading...

The Roommate, a PG-13 thriller, hits the shelves on Tuesday, May 17. Critically panned but much in demand from scary movie fans, we wouldn't be surprised if this one becomes featured fare at sleepover parties. For adults who remember 1992's cult status film, Single White Female, you've already seen The Roommate.

Gnomeo & Juliet, a Shakespeare parody in CGI, is rated G and targets the early childhood crowd. However, you don't necessarily need to write this one off as unappealing to your age 9-12 year-old. Place your reserves. The DVD will be ready to go on May 24.

Adults who enjoy spoofs might like to turn the pages of How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack while watching their kids watch the movie...

Superheroes on Film

2011-05-05T11:12:00.000-04:00

Marvel-ous and More!
The Green Hornet DVD hit the shelves yesterday and interestingly enough, stars comedy guy Seth Rogen as Britt Reid : genius, master martial artist, owner of a media empire, and part-time superhero.

Compare and contrast to the film serials produced in the 1940's and if you are old enough to remember, think fondly of the 1960's TV series which starred Bruce Lee as the Hornet's faithful sidekick, Kato.

More Superheroes
“I. Am. I-ron Ma-an!” Robert Downey Jr.'s perfect pitch performances as brilliant industrialist, Tony Stark, are worth a second (or third) look. For kids, try the cartoon series from Marvel Animation.

No superhero DVD list would be complete without Batman. In order : Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight. On the lighter side, don't forget Scooby-Doo...

Kick A** is Dave Lizewski, an average high school kid who becomes a masked crime fighter. Based on a short run comic book series, which also featured Hit Girl, the movie stars kids but is R all the way.

And Then There's...
The Incredibles, Megamind, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, X-Men, V for Vendetta, Spiderman, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Hellboy, or Incredible Hulk.

On the Big Screen May 6
The Thor of Norse mythology (and Marvel Comics) goes big screen this weekend. Kenneth Branagh directs. More to come on this one...

More Monarchs

2011-04-30T16:04:00.001-04:00

Kings and Queens
If you've had the pleasure of viewing/reading/listening to the King's Speech, here are but a few among the many award winning films you may have missed along the way.

The Queen (2006) : Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her stirring performance as Queen Elizabeth II during the aftermath of Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash.

Elizabeth (1998) : Elizabeth the First's (1563-1303) early years as Queen were marked by infighting at all levels of society. Cate Blanchett stars and garnered a Golden Globe for her performance.

The Young Victoria (2009) : Victoria (1819-1901) took the throne at age 18. Much like the above film, this one also features political intrigue and lavish costumes/sets. The focus, however, is mainly on Victoria's long-term partnership with Prince Albert.

Mrs. Brown (1997) : Dame Judi Dench plays Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert.

The Madness of King George (1994) : Based on the life of King George III, the story includes royal intrigue, backstairs plotting and a battle for power between Parliament and the throne.

Also try :
Anne of a Thousand Days (Richard Burton, Genevieve Bujold)
The Lion in Winter (Katharine Hepburn, Peter O'Toole)
The Other Boleyn Girl (Based on the novel by Philippa Gregory)

Surfs Up
Check out the British Monarchy's official website for information on history of the monarchy, time lines, photos, family trees, and if you haven't yet had your fill, links to the Royal Wedding.

Must-See Places

2011-04-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

Mystic Lands
Recently added to our documentary film collection is a six-part series that explores a diverse array of sacred sites around the world. The series will take you from Greece to Egypt, Jeruselem to India, Bali to Myanmar (Burma), and more.

If you are interested in ancient world cultures and their customs, traditions, and religions -- this series will be appealing and worth your time. Also great for armchair travelers with a sense of adventure.

Hey Boo-Boo, I See a Pic-a-Nic Basket of DVDs!

2011-04-11T18:29:00.000-04:00

April continues to be a great month for viewers of all ages. Here's a few you might like to add to your list of must-see DVDs.

Hot Picks

Don't forget Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the 15th and The Kings Speech on the 19th. Of note, watch for to-date Harry Potter films on blu-ray, courtesy of a donation from the Friends of the Library.

April 19th also brings us Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Daine Wiest and Somewhere, directed by Sophia Coppola.

On April 26th, watch for 3 Idiots, a Bollywood comedy import sure to please.

For international film fans, try Dogtooth (Greece) or Made in Dagenham (UK).

From TV to DVD

With filming the 5th season of Mad Men postponed, try the 4th season, recently released on DVD. The first round of Glee's second season is also ready to go.

For Kids and Families

Try the live-action/CG animated adventure, Yogi Bear, or enjoy episodes of the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon show.

Based on the books by C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader was released last Friday. Try the BBC version of the Chronicles if you haven't yet had the pleasure.

For families who prefer Dove-approved films, try Your Love Never Fails or All Roads Lead Home.

By request, we've added to our Charlie Brown and Rugrats series collections for kids.

Rock On...

2011-04-03T18:07:00.000-04:00

Latest Music CDs
Though latest trends clearly lean toward online music distribution, our conventional music CD collection still seems to be holding up well.

Click here to browse a listing of music CDs recently added to our collection. We regularly add popular and award-winning titles, as well as classic rock, blues, country, and jazz titles. A substantial update to our classical music collection will be made this month.

Happy listening and please do offer suggestions for purchase at our front desk!

Don't You Just Love Tuesdays?

2011-04-02T11:59:00.064-04:00

Coming to A Screen Near Your Couch
More than a few goodies in Tuesday's bag of DVDs plus news on upcoming releases.

Casino Jack (Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper)
How to succeed in business? Check out our previous post about related grifter films.

I Love You Phillip Morris (Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor)
True story about a brilliant criminal and the devotion to his true love that keeps landing him in the clink. For similar films (with similarly brilliant criminals) try The Brothers Bloom (2008) or Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Tron Legacy
The Master Control Program returns. Don't forget to watch the original film.

Keep an Eye Out For...

Country Strong, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and country great, Tim McGraw, is set for release on Tuesday, April 12th. You can listen to the movie's soundtrack in the mean time.

Also very sure to be in-demand is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, set for release on Friday, April 15. Good to know you are ready to see Harry, Ron and Hermione vs. Voldemort and are undertaking a refresher course.

More to come on April's movies...

Le Shoot 'Em Up

2011-03-31T16:22:00.006-04:00

Mesrine
Jacques Mesrine is France's answer to our Scarface except that Mesrine was real and Pacino's Scarface, though loosely based on the original film of the same name; which was loosely based on the life of Al Capone (he's the guy who orchestrated the St. Valentine's Day Massacre) is purely fictional. Whew!

The film story of Mesrine comes in two parts (Killer Instinct and Public Enemy #1) and stars Vincent Cassell (Eastern Promises) in what will probably become his best-known role. Together, the films offer non-stop action of the instant classic variety.

If you are a fan of the American gangster film genre -- Godfather series, GoodFellas, The Departed, or The Sopranos -- try Mesrine or other comparable foreign films: The Prophet (France), Animal Kingdom (Australia) or Gomorrah (Italy).

Post by Phil Carr

Adjust Your Rabbit Ears

2011-03-29T17:49:00.001-04:00

Bunnies on Film
With all the ads for this Friday's (April 1) big screen release, Hop, we thought we'd mention a few other rabbits who made it to Hollywood. Heads up parents; Donnie Darko's rabbit is not a funny bunny...

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (live action-toon combo)
Harvey (Jimmy Stewart and his invisible friend)
Donnie Darko (the dream rabbit, Frank)
The Velveteen Rabbit (love your toys...)
Watership Down (build a perfect society)
Max and Ruby (for the toddler set)
Show Me a Story Collection (Beatrix Potter tales)

And if you have somehow managed to miss the trailer for Hop, bunny hop on over to the Internet Movie Database.

Music in the Air : Library Concert Series

2011-03-19T16:39:00.014-04:00

Spring Concerts Scheduled

Saturday Afternoon Concert Featuring The Brass City Brass

Saturday, April 16, 2 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon concert featuring this Waterbury-based brass quintet. Expect to hear a wide range of vital and entertaining brass band arrangements, including those played to boost soldier morale during the American Civil War. Visit the quintet's web site to 'meet the musicians' and listen to music clips. Click here to register for this free concert.

Take a Break with Perfect Partners

Thursday, April 28, 1 p.m.

Welcome back to the library Connecticut entertainers Chuck and Noreen Morgan, who last performed at the library in March 2010.

Enjoy a fast-paced show that includes traditional fiddling, popular songs from 1940-1960, country/western, swing, and early rock and roll. Songs that will help us commemorate the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War will also be featured.

Barbershop!

Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon concert featuring two barbershop harmony groups. Enjoy the sounds of The Insurance City Chorus, chartered in 1944 and member of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Also swing to the smooth sounds of Sound Policy, a barbershop quartet and audience favorite in the greater Hartford area.

Sunday Afternoon Edition
Concert with Classical Guitarist Brett Williams

Sunday, May 15, 1 p.m.

Bret Williams has been hailed as a guitarist of ''spectacular energy and technical resource'' (Nylon Review) and billed as a ''rising star in the New York classical guitar scene'' (New York Classical Guitar Society). Join us for a specially scheduled Sunday afternoon concert and enjoy the beauty of Latin classical guitar as played by Bret Williams.

Who's Your Daddy?

2011-03-19T12:49:00.015-04:00

Babies...
USA Today said about this film, Babies, and I quote:

"If you were enraptured by March of the Penguins, wait until you see Babies."

Well, I saw the penguins and for me, the "bird" is definitely not the word. But the documentary Babies blew me away and I should state here that I'm a male well over 60 and my kids are out of the house.

The film follows four kids -- Ponijao from Namibia, Bayar from Mongolia, Mari from Toyko, and Hattie from San Francisco from time of birth to their first steps. The thing that makes this movie worth it is the attention paid to the babies in question.

There are many other subtle eye-openers that also make this film enjoyable. Fun to watch is the interaction between older siblings and their newest home-invading relative. It seems poking your sibling when mom's not looking is universal...

Related Viewing
The Miracle of Life
The Business of Being Born

Post by Phil Carr

March Movie Madness

2011-03-15T16:51:00.014-04:00

In Like a Lion

If you're interested in the Oscar-winning The King's Speech, you'll have to wait until April 19th for DVD release. In the mean time, March is still an unusually great month for movies. Here's a short list...

Megamind (February 25)

Superheros need super villains and vice versa. Compares nicely to Despicable Me and Monsters vs. Aliens.

127 Hours (March 1)

Oscar-nominated James Franco stars in this one, based on the true story about mountain climber Aron Ralston. Don't forget 2007's Into the Wild, another fact-based drama, if you have missed it along the way.

Love and Other Drugs (March 1)

A topical film that still manages to be a romantic comedy; based on the book by Jamie Reidy. See less (literally) of Anne Hathaway in 2008's dark comedy, Rachel Getting Married, or try another unconventional rom-com, 500 Days of Summer. There's always the classic film, An Affair to Remember which inspired Sleepless in Seattle.

Morning Glory (March 8)

Drama and comedy on the set of a morning TV news program. Can't help but think of the goofier film, Anchorman or the more satirical Broadcast News.

The Hereafter (March 15)

Director Clint Eastwood explores the afterlife which also received attention in 2009's The Lovely Bones and in continuously popular films such as Ghost, The Sixth Sense, and for international film fans, The Seventh Seal.

The Fighter (March 15)
Mark Wahlberg stars as Lowell, Massachusetts boxer Micky Ward. The Oscars went to Melissa Leo (Best Supporting Actress) and Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor). You might also like to revisit The Wrestler (same director), Raging Bull, Million Dollar Baby, or classic films featuring Brando or Bogart : On The Waterfront or The Harder They Fall.

Tangled (March 22)

Disney's take on the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel, by the Brothers Grimm.

The Black Swan (March 29)

Natalie Portman (Best Actress) stars as one of pair of professional (and very manipulative) ballet dancers. Try Ballet Russes in the mean time and watch for a remastered version of the 1948 classic, The Red Shoes.

Fair Game (March 29)

A drama about the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

Another Oscar-Winner

2011-03-12T17:41:00.032-05:00

What's a Credit Default Swap, Anyway?
Inside Job, Charles Ferguson's Oscar-winning documentary, was released on DVD this past Tuesday. The film offers point of view analysis of what led to the global financial crisis of 2008.

Surf's Up
You can listen to, read, or view interviews with the director courtesy of NPR and Charlie Rose. Also visit Barron's Online or The New York Post for less than glowing reviews of the film.

Related Viewing
Wall Street films starring Michael Douglas as the fictional Gordon Gekko
Casino Jack films, documentary and April DVD starring Kevin Spacey
Enron : The Smartest Guys in the Room
The Madoff Affair

Also From Inside Job's Director
Ferguson directed the award-winning No End in Sight (2007), a point of view documentary look at decisions that led to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Luck of the Irish

2011-03-11T18:03:00.017-05:00

St. Patrick's Day Films
Adults and families might very well enjoy these holiday-theme films, each with their own elfish charm, wisdom, drama, or dose of Irish music and dance. As always, choose what's appropriate for you or for your children.

The Quiet Man
John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara star in this classic 1952 film about an American boxer who returns to his native Ireland. This film was directed by Oscar winner John Ford whose birth name, Sean Aloysius O’Fearna, says it all .

Finian's Rainbow
Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1968 film adaptation of the Broadway musical. Film and dance icon Fred Astaire stars as Finian McLonergan, along with Petula Clark as his daughter and Tommy Tune as a leprechaun.

The Secret of Kells
Nominated for Oscar's Best Animated Feature Film 2010, this one is a quest adventure film that comes complete with an enchanted forest and an ancient but unfinished magical book.

Best of Riverdance
Seen all over the world (and certainly on your local PBS stations), anything Riverdance is both inspiring and fun.

Darby O'Gill and the Little People
This 1959 Disney film tells the tale of an old storyteller who falls into a well and meets a group of leprechauns. Wishes are made, they backfire... and so the story goes. Watch for the young Sean Connery.

Secret of Roan Inish
A magical tale of a girl whose search for her missing brother brings an Irish legend to life.

Wind That Shakes the Barley
Damien abandons his career as a doctor and joins his brother, Teddy in a fight for freedom in Ireland in 1920.

Visions of Ireland
Flying above the wondrous beauty of Giant's Causeway and the windswept Cliffs of Moher, through famously green country glens and charming fishing ports, down into bustling cities and serene historic ruins, this travelogue features stunning views.

The Celts
This documentary offers a fascinating look at the legends and legacy of Celtic heritage. Nice soundtrack by Enya, too.

2011 Grammy Winners

2011-02-19T17:36:00.015-05:00

Top Winners in Top Categories

On the tune front, the following bands took home the hardware during February 13th's 53rd Annual Grammy Award ceremony.

Lady Antebellum : Need You Now

This country trio won Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards.

Arcade Fire : Suburbs

This alt-rock favorite won Album of the Year honors over offerings by heavily favored mega-stars Eminem and Lady Gaga.

The Black Keys : Brothers

The duo won for Alternative Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Eminem : Recovery

Giant of rap, Marshall Mathers, took top honors for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance.

Muse : Resistance

Best Rock Album went to this alt-rock band from Great Britain. If you haven't listened to the band straight up, you may have heard their work on Twilight Saga movie soundtracks.

Also Bright and Shiny

Mumford & Sons -- Bruno Mars -- Rihanna -- Justin Bieber -- Ray LaMontagne -- Jeff Beck -- Usher -- Vampire Weeekend -- Kanye West -- and then some.

Browse Latest CDs

Click here for a short list of music CDs, classic and contemporary, added to our popular music collection within the last few months.

Surf's Up

If you missed the TV broadcast, visit the Grammy Award's official site.

Look! Up in the Sky! It's a Bird! It's a Plane!

2011-02-09T17:04:00.038-05:00

Waiting for "Superman"
Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) offers up the above titled documentary film, due for DVD release next Tuesday, February 15.

Hailed as "must see" in some circles and criticized as "simplistic" in others, the film takes on the debate about America's failing public school system via the stories of five remarkable children. Anyone interested in this important debate may want to see this one.

Documentaries with a Similar Feel
The Lottery features Geoffrey Canada who leads a NYC charter school featured in the above film.

Please Vote for Me : A pair of boys and one girl vie for the office of third grade school monitor in an open election. Place? Central China.

Spellbound : Follows eight diverse children to the finals of a spelling bee in Washington, D.C.

Frontrunners : Four American teenagers run their vigorous campaigns for student council president at a prestigious school.

Nursery University : A sometimes hilarious look at parents trying to get their young children into NYC's most exclusive pre-schools.

Got DVDs?

2011-01-28T15:13:00.037-05:00

Late January/Early February Arrivals

There's something new, something indie, and something older in the latest crop of films to go. As always, choose for yourself or for your kids.

Feed the Fish : A film about a burned out children's book author. No big names in this one but top-notch character actors, including Tony Shalhoub, deliver major laughs.

Hachi : a Dog's Tale : A four-hanky film about the most... loyal... dog... ever...

Red : "Mature" black-ops agents kick butt. Stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren.

Stone : Edward Norton plays hoodlum cat to Robert De Niro's parole officer mouse. Multiple requests so please let us know if the film is better than the trailer.

Conviction : A sister spends decades trying to get her innocent brother out of jail. Based on a true story; summary courtesy of the NYT. Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell and Melissa Leo star.

Wild Grass : A French film about a woman who loses her wallet (Marguerite) and a man who finds it (Georges).

Let Me In : An American remake, based on the 2007 horror novel by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist. The film was directed by Matt Reeves and comes with the Stephen King seal of horror film approval.

Nowhere Boy : The film offers a semi-autobiographical chronicle of the late, great John Lennon's youth. The title references a song on the Beatles 1965 album Revolver.

Never Let Me Go : Science meets ethics in a film about clones who know... but don't. Based on the book by Kazuo Ishiguro, the movie may remind you of My Sisters Keeper or Blade Runner.

Indie Films

The Unidentified and Big Heart City

Regarded and Requested Still

Amistad -- Papillion - The Exorcist

2011 Oscar Nominees

2011-01-25T17:30:00.023-05:00

Let the Debate Begin!
Earlier today, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Oscar™ nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards™. The Oscars will be awarded on February 27th. Between now and then, watch the nominated films on DVD or on the big screen.

Best Picture
Ten films in all; link to films already available for checkout on DVD. The King's Speech, still big-screen, leads the pack with 12 nominations.

The Black Swan -- The Fighter -- Inception -- The Kids Are All Right -- The King's Speech -- 127 Hours -- The Social Network -- Toy Story 3 -- True Grit -- Winter's Bone.

Animated Feature Film
How to Train Your Dragon -- The Illusionist -- Toy Story 3

Documentary (Feature)
Exit Through the Gift Shop -- Gasland -- Inside Job -- Restrepo -- Waste Land

For a full list of nominees, click here.

DVD Forecast : Flurries

2011-01-13T19:25:00.009-05:00

Comics and Crooks and Crooners, Oh My!

If you're looking for a good film that wasn't necessarily a box office hit, make some time in your schedule for any of these films.

Joan Rivers : A Piece of Work

The cameras follow trailblazing comic, Joan Rivers, for a year and cover her entire career from her break on the Carson show, to her heartbreak over the suicide of her husband, and her role on Celebrity Apprentice.

The Madoff Affair

A Frontline documentary about the CEO of Ponzi Scheme, Inc. Pair the film with No One Would Listen, a book by whistleblower Harry Markopolos.

T.A.M.I. Show

In 1965, thirteen of the world's top teenage recording acts were assembled for one spectacular show. Great for anyone who enjoys (or remembers) vintage rock.

Catfish

If you plan on viewing The Social Network (Mark Zuckerberg builds Facebook), also try this film about an unsettling digital relationship.

Howl

Current 'it guy' actor, James Franco, channels Allen Ginsberg, Beat Generation author of poem Howl, subject of an obscenity trial in 1957. If you're a fan of the Beats, also try Naked Lunch or What Happened to Kerouac?

Micmacs

A French film from the director of Amelie, Delicatessen, and City of Lost Children.

Animal Kingdom (January 18)

This Australian film won the 2010 Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema - Dramatic @ 2010's Sundance Film Festival. Meet the Cody brothers; gangsters all.

Ramona & Beezus

This one is particularly cute, thanks to Joey King, Selena Gomez, and author Beverly Clearly's inspiration. A vampire-free, G-rated film.

Class of 2011

2011-01-09T16:02:00.021-05:00

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On March 14, The Hall of Fame will induct a very eclectic group of pop hit makers, rockers, and cult faves. We'll let you decide who's who on your personal play list. Catch the Class of 2011 buzz by enjoying available music CDs and place your holds on titles soon to arrive.

Alice Cooper
There are still plenty 'o ongoing metal fan arguments about Alice v. Ozzy but let's face it : Kiss, snubbed again by the RRHFM, nails it on the makeup front.

Dr. John
Say hello to rock and blues; R&B, soul and jazz -- all from one guy. The Doctor is in...

Neil Diamond
He's a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame; is still huge as a live concert act, and his songs have been covered by everyone from Elvis to Waylon and Johnny (Cash, that is), U2, Sinatra, and then some.

Darlene Love
She's a veteran of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" recording days. Watch for So Much Love: a Darlene Love Anthology 1958-1998 on CD.

Tom Waits
Waits is a sand papery voiced singer and multi-instrumentalist who also acts and composes. His influence has typically outpaced his raw commercial success. Waits interviewed himself in 2008; content courtesy of NPR Music.

Not Inducted But You're Still Listening
Among this year's Rock Hall nominees, those who will wait until 2012 for another shot, include Bon Jovi, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys. Others that just can't seem to convince voters to open the door include Laura Nyro, Chic, and Donna Summer.

New DVDs for the New Year

2011-01-07T17:34:00.016-05:00

January's Hot for Movie Fans...

The 2011 Farmer's Almanac predicts cold or snowy, dreary or stormy days ahead. The good news is January promises to be sunny on the DVD front. Though we will keep you posted on other new arrivals, here's a quick list of buzz-worthy and most requested films ready for reserve.

The Social Network (January 11)

Latest stats say we use Facebook more than Google! Friend the movie and Time Magazine's Person of the Year, 2010, Mark Zuckerberg. Click here for a previous post about related reads.

Alpha and Omega (January 11)

PG movie about wolves, road trips, young romance, and who's who in (wolf) society's pecking order. Sounds like Lady and the Tramp with bigger dogs?

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (January 25)

Last in the series of books-to-film based on the late Steig Larsson's books.

Freakonomics (January 18)
Following the success of Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s books, the film strings together short takes by filmmakers Seth Gordon, Morgan Spurlock, Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki and the team of Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing.

Secretariat (January 25)

A legend's inspirational story, based on book, ably retold by Disney.

Glee : Season One

2011-01-06T14:18:00.008-05:00

Dorks Rule...
If you haven't seen the series on Fox or came late to the party, catch season one 'reruns' on DVD. The dialogue's witty; the teen stereotypes familiar, and the pop culture references are sharp and funny. All this plus just about every pop tune covered by William McKinley High School's Glee Club ends up being an iTunes or Billboard hit. Jane Lynch, who won a 2010 Emmy for the role, excels as uber cheerleader team coach, Sue Sylvester.

Soundtrack CDs are also available for checkout.

Related Viewing and Listening
Though several of the following films were made ten to twenty years ago, they echo the slings and arrows suffered by today's favorite glee club.

High School Musical films or tunes
Sixteen Candles
Pretty in Pink
The Breakfast Club
Bring It On
10 Things I Hate About You

Surf's Up
Just for fun, Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) played Duckie and channeled Otis Redding in this priceless clip from Pretty in Pink.

A Brief History of Winwood

2011-01-05T16:04:00.010-05:00

Classic Rock, Classic Rocker
Singer/songwriter Steve Winwood's career spans more than 40 years. He's a multi-instrumentalist and in 2008, was ranked among Rolling Stone Magazine's top 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. He's played with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Traffic, the Spencer Davis Group, and formed the short-lived but influential band, Blind Faith. Winwood's solo career has also been (Grammy Award) successful.

Click here for a representative list of Winwood music CDs. Recommendations are always welcomed at our front desk...

Related Books, Listening and Viewing
Here's a few...
Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck
Muddy Waters
Howlin' Wolf

Winwood and Clapton
Also a clip from 2007's Crossroad's Guitar Festival. Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall are featured.

Documentary Films

2010-12-10T20:18:00.018-05:00

DVD Roundup...
Here's a short list of documentary films released on DVD this year and added to our collection. Most of these found a place on an award list or otherwise achieved acclaim and an equal number of detractors. As always, pick and choose...

Casino Jack and the United States of Money
This Sundance-nominated film offers a portrait of Washington super-lobbyist and flexible wheeler-dealer, Jack Abramoff. Pair this one with the earlier film, The Smartest Guys in the Room, a documentary about the Enron Corporation.

No Impact Man
What would it be like to live with no electricity, television, cars, toilet paper, elevators, or newspapers? Self-described liberal, Colin Beavan, and his family undertake a year-long experiment at making no net impact on the environment.

When You're Strange : a Film About the Doors
Johnny Depp narrates this documentary about the band and its impact on rock 'n roll history. Give a listen to music CDs or check out books by Ray Manzarek or Jerry Hopkins.

Waking Sleeping Beauty
In 'once upon a time' fashion, this one's about the early heydays, decline, and resurgence of Disney (1984-1994) as an innovative powerhouse in the field of animation. Companion reads include The Disney Way (2007) and just for fun, Cast Member Confidential (2010).

Babies
Follows four babies from different parts of the globe (Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco, Tokyo) as they navigate their first year of life. Read about the film and its "Awwwwww" or "Ewwww" moments, courtesy of the New York Times.

The Most Dangerous Man in America
If you have been reading about WikiLeaks, you may have heard of Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971.

Exit Though the Gift Shop
Say hello to Banksy, a graffiti artist with a global reputation. Also peruse Graffiti World : Street Art from Five Continents by Nicholas Ganz.

Gasland
Filmmaker Josh Fox explores the controversial role of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in natural gas extraction. The film aired on HBO in June 2010. Read the rebuttle to the film's factual content courtesy of Energy in Depth.

Dirt! The Movie
The story of 'productive soil' and what the term means. Find more about the film via PBS/Independent Lens.

The Art of the Steal
This one follows the protracted struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' 25 billion dollar art collection and where it should be housed. Art lovers might also enjoy 2009's Beautiful Losers, about a group of artists and designers who inadvertently affected the art world.

Mid-December DVDs...

2010-12-07T15:36:00.018-05:00

Play It Again, Only Better

Thanks to Santa, we saw snow flurries yesterday! With more cold temperature days forecast, don't forget to add the following to your reserve list and to ditch your mittens before you use your keyboard...

Cyrus (Comedy, Dec. 14, Rated R)

Despicable Me (Animated, Dec. 14, Rated PG)

Easy A (Teen-based comedy, Dec. 21, Rated PG-13)

Exit Through the Gift Shop (Documentary, Dec. 14, Rated R)

Legend of the Guardians (Animated, Book-to-Film, Dec. 17, Rated PG)

Nanny McPhee Returns (Sequel, Dec. 14, Rated PG)

The Town (Drama, Dec 17, Rated R)

DVD Quick Picks

2010-12-02T18:14:00.010-05:00

If You're Making a List

Saturday, December 4th, brings the long awaited DVD release of Eclipse, the third chapter of Stephenie Meyer's hit series about angsty teen vampires, werewolves, etc. Don't forget to check out the author's novella about Bree Tanner, who makes a brief (call it a cameo) appearance in the film. For serious series fans, MTV News also offers a Bree Tanner cheat sheet.

DVD's due for release on Tuesday, December 7th include:

Inception (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Leonardo Dicaprio, Marion Cotillard)

Restrepo (documentary: U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley)

Shrek Forever After (Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers)

Also consider our slow-growing blu-ray collection featuring films which are repeatedly identified by reputable sources as 'must-see' in this format. More to come on blu-ray and how we'll endeavor to build a quality collection while not necessarily matching, one to one, to standard DVDs.

Armchair Travel

2010-11-28T14:56:00.007-05:00

Lonely Planet's Mosaic Competition - Sreesailam Pasupula's winning photo captures "Glamorous girls parading on a performance stage at Pushkar ka Mela, the world's largest camel fair in India".

Where Would You Like to Go Today?

If you would like to take a vacation without leaving the comfort of your favorite chair, may we suggest a travel film? Our collection includes films about destinations ranging from popular to exotic, hot-cold, east-west, north-south, and then some. Click here for a quick listing of titles you might enjoy.

Surf's Up

The above Grand Prize-winning photo is one of over 130,000 entered into a contest sponsored by Lonely Planet, a leading provider of travel content. The contest was created to celebrate the publication of the company's 100 millionth guidebook. Click here to view a gallery of the 50 finalists.

Happy Holidays! Saturday Afternoon Concert Series

2010-11-18T18:53:00.036-05:00

Holiday Concerts

Your library annually offers a series of Saturday Afternoon Concerts which collectively feature a variety of musical forms and styles. Our 2010-2011 season is underway. The schedule of upcoming holiday concerts follows. All concerts free and open to public.

Saturday, December 18, 2 p.m.

Our holiday concert features Too Human (Roger Bruno & Ellen Schwartz Bruno, above). Enjoy the duo's jazzy, bluesy style; sure to add pizazz to your holiday season. Before you attend the concert, you can give a listen to the duo on music CD. To register for this free concert, click here.

Saturday, January 22, 2 p.m.

Our welcome new year 2011 concert features the Bales-Gitlin-Coulter Trio. Be prepared to tap your toes to the trio's amazing repertoire of sure to be familiar tunes from Broadway and the American Songbook.

To calendar this event (Google, MS Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) or to email concert info to a friend, click here. Registration for the concert opens on December 27.

November Concert Recap
Our before Thanksgiving concert featured Baroque Chamber Music played by violinist Robert Grant and recorder player, Gregory Bynum. An all-age, town wide audience, including many budding musicians, enjoyed the show.

November's Latest

2010-11-16T18:06:00.033-05:00

Fluff Your Pillows, Fire Up Your Remote

In the roll up to holiday season, November's additions to our DVD collections lean toward the light side. Grumps? Not to worry; there's a few cloudy day views for you, too. A few DVD covers are shown above.

For Kids and Families

Cat's and Dogs : Revenge of Kitty Galore

A Christmas Carol
This one's Disney, based on the story by Charles Dickens, and features Jim Carrey. Also try the older version with George C. Scott or the not Dickens' Christmas Story featuring one of our favorite holiday movie kids, Ralphy.

Round out your kiddo selections with Toy Story 3, The Last Airbender, or Marmaduke.

Films for Grown Ups
Babies (Very cute celebration of little people, around the world)
The Exploding Girl (Indie film)
The Extra Man (Katie Holmes, Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, John C. Reilly)
Grown Ups (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade)
The Kids Are All Right (Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo)
The Love Ranch (Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, Gena Gershon)
Paper Covers Rock (Indie film)

Next Week
Eat Pray Love (Julia Roberts, Billy Crudup, James Franco, Javier Bardem)

The Expendables
Give it up for your fave mid-age or up and coming action star! Or try the similarly titled but unrelated They Were Expendable, a DVD of a 1945 film featuring John Wayne.

More to come about holiday films and DVD additions next week...

All's Swell that Ends Swell?

2010-10-30T18:10:00.016-04:00

Movies With Satisfying Endings

On the new release front here's a few October-ish films with endings that satisfy, even if the endings are only slightly hopeful, not hands-down happy, or downright creepy. Choose from haunting, to OMG(!), or you knew it was coming. Take the edge off with booster shots of family films and timeless wonders.

Please Give : Catherine Keener doesn't miss a beat in the dark comedy about the ethically challenged Kate, who runs a furniture business with her husband; buying furniture at estate sales and marking it up. Rated R with an ensemble cast including Oliver Platt and Rebecca Hall.

Winter's Bone : Seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly sets out to track down her father who put their house up for his bail bond and then disappeared. Pair the film with Daniel Woodrell's same-name novel and Nick Reding's peripherally related non-fiction title Methland. The film won 2010's Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Rated R.

Mid-August Lunch : A middle-aged man living with his elderly mother finds the best way to pay for their debts is to take care of the building manager's mother. He soon finds himself with not two but four mothers! This Italian film offers all a chance to bask in the glow of 80-something women living their lives with grace and gusto.

The Girl Who Played with Fire : Second in this Swedish film series, Lisbeth Salander (played by Noomi Rapace) is one of the most interesting and compelling characters to come down the pike in a very long time. The films are based on the late Stieg Larsson's books. The third film in the series is now in limited, big screen release.

How to Train Your Dragon (critter cuties) and Toy Story 3 (no toy left behind) put the fun-fun-fun back into make believe. Also try Hallmark's gender reversing title Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith, a pleasing older gal TV film with a greeting card ending.

... And since the holiday retails goods are already on display, we'll chime in with a couple of newbies from Charlie & Mickey...

Top 40 Albums and Then Some...

2010-10-28T19:53:00.007-04:00

Mix and Match : Listening Inside and Outside the Box

We regularly add music CDs to our collection, some top 40 and some off the beat and path. If you're looking for a little bit country or a little bit rock 'n roll -- or maybe some strummy jazz, folk, and blues tunes -- give our CD racks a spin and find recently added music titles.

On the staff recommendation front, give a listen to Robert Plant's Band of Joy (rock), Roland White's I Wasn't Born on Rock'n Roll (bluegrass), Deeper (jazz vocals by Maria Neckam), Neil Young's Le Noise (rock), Finger Eleven's Them vs. Me vs. You (alternative metal) and Kenny Chesney's Hemingway's Whiskey (country).

Television Still Rocks

2010-10-26T18:02:00.022-04:00

If You Missed These Award Winners on the Telly...

The first three seasons of Mad Men, the Emmy and Golden Globe winning series about advertising in the 1960's, are ready for checkout on DVD. The series has become a pop culture phenomena for sure; so cool that Mattel has introduced a series of Barbie and Ken dolls modeled after Mad Men characters Joan Holloway, Roger Sterling, Don Draper and Betty Draper.

The fourth season is now being broadcast on AMC. If you have only recently become a fan, use your library card to catch up on previous episodes.

Another award winning title you may have missed is Temple Grandin. Emmy winner Claire Danes stars a Grandin, an autistic young woman who became, through timely mentoring and sheer force of will, one of America's most remarkable success stories.

The series was originally broadcast on HBO and ties to Grandin's autobiography, Thinking in Pictures : and Other Reports from My Life With Autism.

The Pacific, a best miniseries also first broadcast on HBO, is due for DVD release on Tuesday, November 2. Six DVDs retell the extraordinary experiences of three men and their fellow Marines from Guadalcanal, through Cape Gloucester, across the strongholds of Peleliu, up the black sand terraces of Iwo Jima, through the killing fields of Okinawa, to the triumphant, yet uneasy, return home after V-J Day.

Click here to find the books about the soldiers who inspired the miniseries.

Wall Street Redux

2010-10-03T17:18:00.009-04:00

"The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for lack of a better word, is good." ~ Gordon Gekko

Our older DVD copy bit the dust, so welcome the "insider trading edition" of Wall Street, Oliver Stone's 1987 hit starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen. Special features on this edition include Fact Exchange, a NY City trivia track that runs under the movie.

Unsurprisingly this DVD edition was released in time to help promote the sequel, Money Never Sleeps, now showing on big screens.

Pair these movies with bookend books by Michael Lewis : Liar's Poker (1989) and The Big Short (2010). Of course, watch the trailer for the new flick...

For Fans of Pokémon

2010-10-02T18:33:00.002-04:00

Anime Cuties
Pokémon have been around for over a decade and there is no denying their popularity. Witness the number of video games, books, toys and trading cards featuring these adventurous characters.

Enjoy ten of the most popular Pokémon in the Diamond and Pearl Series on DVD. Follow Ash and Brock through the Sinnoh Region as they train, fight battles, collect, and meet new people. The videos are particularly good for new or younger fans.

And of course, don't forget to check out our Pokémon books, too!

Post by Kathleen Sands

Film Discussion Series on Tap

2010-09-30T18:00:00.006-04:00

Great Detectives, Film Noir, and Thou
Join us for our upcoming film discussion series featuring four great detective films, all of them influential. Three of the four films are examples of the "film noir" genre, as defined by noted film critic, Roger Ebert.

Though large sections of each film will be shown on the discussion date, please make a point to view each film beforehand. We'll scare up some extra copies to meet demand. Library staff member Phil Carr moderates the discussions, all of which begin at 6:30 p.m. in the library Community Room.

Tuesday, October 19
First in the series is The Maltese Falcon, based on Dashiell Hammett's private eye novel and cornerstone of film noir. John Huston directed this 1941 classic starring Humphrey Bogart as San Francisco PI Sam Spade.

Tuesday, November 16
In this session, discuss 1954's Dial M for Murder, one of Alfred Hitchcock's many classics. Watch Chief Inspector Hubbard (John Williams) match wits with Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) and learn a little something about Hitchcock's early experiments with 3-D.

Tuesday, December 14
Discuss 1974's Chinatown, a film noir throwback with an intricate 'puzzle' plot. Jack Nicholson stars as 1930's vintage L.A. detective Jake Gittes, a more alienated version of Hammett's Sam Spade.

Tuesday, January 11
In this session, discuss 1997's film noir salute, L.A. Confidential. The film is set in 1950's Los Angeles and is based on the pulp bestseller by James Ellroy. Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce star as three very different cops, all involved in the same investigation.

The programs are free. Please register in person, by phone, or online to let us know you plan to attend.

The Prophet Is a Prophet

2010-09-06T15:13:00.009-04:00

Godfather Redux?

Is there a better recent foreign film out there than A Prophet? I would have to say no, book-to-film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo notwithstanding.

In this film a young illiterate Muslim is sentenced to prison where he is immediately and unsurprisingly forced in to survival mode. We follow him from his bottom beginning point through his sentence and eventual rise to drug kingpin, both literate and with a thorough understanding of economics.

One hundred and fifty minutes long and I didn't look away once. Violence factor is similar to crime classic Godfather films (though many are still trying to forget the third in the series) or Goodfellas -- only in French with easy to read subtitles.

Last March, this prison saga by Jacques Audiard took home nine awards at the French equivalent of the Oscars, including best film, best director, and best actor.

Post by Phil Carr

What's New and Happening on Music CD

2010-09-06T14:05:00.004-04:00

New Tunes
If you're a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n roll; a jazz, world music, alternative or straight-up pop band fan, you're likely to find tunes worth checking out @ your library. 2010's Tony Award nominees and summer music festival headliners are also represented in the latest crop of new music.

Click here to browse a selection of the latest and greatest with a few oldies but goodies added for good measure. Log in to our online catalog to place your reserves and as always, happy listening!

Something Old, Something New on DVD

2010-07-29T16:30:00.011-04:00

Classic Returns Plus Latest and Greatest

Whether you are looking for a little country music, a retro-chuckle, a book-to-film delight, or a little martial arts/mafia flair, here's a few films that are well worth your sum-sum-summer time.
Coal Miner's Daughter : Hard to believe this film is 30 years old! Sissy Spacek stars as Loretta Lynn, who rose from the poverty-stricken Appalachian area to become one of the biggest country singers of all time. For fun, pair this film with Sweet Dreams; Jessica Lange stars as country legend Patsy Cline.

Peyton Place : Grace Metalious's book was considered absolutely scandalous in 1956 and the 1957 film caused quite a stir, too. Together, book and film are widely considered as models for the many prime time TV soap operas that followed. The film's been nominated for preservation by the National Film Preservation Board but hasn't yet made the cut.

Jesse Stone Series : No Remorse : Next in a regularly popular TV to DVD series starring Tom Selleck. Based on the novels by the late, great Robert Parker.

IP Man : An experienced martial arts master tries to live a quiet life until one challenge makes him a hero. Must-see viewing for Bruce Lee aficionados (Ip Man was Lee's mentor) and as you might expect, the film is not for kids.

A Prophet : This "life in a French prison" film garnered an Oscar nomination for best foreign film. Main character Malik el Djebena is condemned to six years in prison, cannot read or write, but figures out prison politics. Niels Arestrup (Bourne Ultimatum, Diving Bell and the Butterfly) plays Cesar Luciani, the Corsican crime boss who runs the show.

Red Hot Days... Hot Picks

2010-07-23T16:46:00.015-04:00

Box Office Hits on DVD

The dog days of summer are certainly here. The temperatures are hot but thankfully, so are the DVDs. Here's a few titles due to be released in the next few weeks. Spin your fans or fire up the AC. Either way, chill and enjoy some couch time.

Clash of the Titans : An entertaining 2010 remake of a 1980's B-movie great. Either film may be good pick for fans of the Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, which continues to generate interest in Greek mythology. Also, and just for fun, enjoy a fan-made comparison of film clips shown as side-by-side trailers! Deja vu, anyone?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid : Based on the hysterically funny book by Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is headed for big things, but first he has to survive the scariest, most humiliating experience of any kid's life: middle school! That won't be easy, considering he's surrounded by hairy-freckled morons, wedgie-loving bullies, and a moldy slice of cheese with nuclear cooties...

Ghost Writer : A gifted ghostwriter agrees to write the memoirs of a former British Primer Minister and in the process, gets more than he bargained for. The film is similar in flavor to The Constant Gardener (2006) and stars the always good Ewan McGregor and the always under-rated Pierce Brosnan.

Kick-A** : Many a comic book and graphic novel have been translated to film; most are rated PG13 or R. This one has its R-rated challenges (the stars are kids) but the requests keep coming. So, as always, we'll leave it up to the adults to choose or decline.

Bill Nye the Science Guy

2010-07-23T15:20:00.004-04:00

Way-Cool Science
If you are looking for a good way to keep your brain well dusted during summer vacation, look no further than our new collection of DVDs featuring way-cool scientist, Bill Nye the Science Guy. Nye uses wit and belly laugh humor to make science fun to learn and talk about; not to mention offering heaps of real life examples that make it easy to see "the science" in our everyday lives.

Nye's videos, though shelved in our Children's Services area, offer a great opportunity for families -- adults learners included -- to make science a little less mystical and a lot more meaningful.

Click here for a listing of available Bill Nye video titles. If you are interested in a title we do not own, we invite you to fill out a request for purchase form at the library's main desk.

June's DVDs Are Busting Out All Over!

2010-06-12T10:24:00.025-04:00

Here or On the Way to the EHPL...

On first glance, we thought June was going to be a ho-hum month for DVDs. We were wrong. Enjoy hit movies that actually made money while in theaters as well as a selection of award winners, thought provoking and book-based films, plus a few indie greats.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland was released June 1. The long-time Burton/Johnny Depp/Helena Bonham Carter collaborations continue here; Depp plays the Mad Hatter and Carter, The Red Queen. Loosely based on Lewis Carroll's 'Alice' novels.

For killer thriller lovers, try June 8th's Shutter Island or From Paris With Love. The former is based on Dennis Lehane's creepy novel of the same name and stars Leonardo DiCaprio. The latter stars John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in a gun-toting buddy movie that comes complete with a terrorist plot. Pierre Morel (Taken) directed.

June 15th's releases include Youth in Revolt, based on C.D. Payne's cult classic novel. Also try Max & Mary, an unrated claymation tale about pen pals whose friendship spans 20 years and 2 continents.

Follow up on June 22nd with The Last Station, a film about Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer), who denounces material wealth much to his wife's (Helen Mirren) displeasure.

June 29 also promises to be a lovely Tuesday @ your library...
Book-based Percy Jackson and the Olympians : the Lightning Thief arrives on disc; Rick Riordan's novel of the same name was voted best by Connecticut kids in 2008.

Also place your reserves on the Matt Damon action film, Green Zone (Iraq War, WMD) or Creation, reportedly an uneven film about Charles Darwin, based on a book by Randal Keynes. The White Ribbon, 2010's Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Film will also be available, along with likely to be late June's hit in the comedy category, Hot Tub Time Machine. And for those who love Steve(!), Buscemi that is, there's the dark comedy Saint John of Las Vegas.

Two New Road Movies

2010-05-27T20:54:00.008-04:00

Strange Companions
We have in the house two new 'road movies' that are as far away from Hope and Crosby as you can get, as well as each other. The first, The Road, is a film based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name; the second is The Grocer's Son, a very well made French film. The films actually complement each other (by refraction) as both films primarily concern food. In the former film there is not enough food and in the latter, there's food but not necessarily what the customers want.

The Road chronicles a snapshot in a bad time, what actually might be time's ending as this world is concerned. It chronicles the trip south of a father and son. There are few people (some have turned to cannibalism) and everything is either dead or dying. Trees perpetually fall in crumbling crashes. There is little color or heat and no reasons are shown or given for the state of affairs. The movie does ask what class of survivor you might be...

The Grocer's Son is much lighter than the aforementioned doom and gloom and concerns a young man and his girlfriend who must return to the family store to aid an ailing father. It seems in France there are grocery trucks which make daily runs through the countryside to keep the out-of-towners' cupboards. The girlfriend becomes the new proprietress, the son the new driver, and both learn there's more to groceries than food. The film is light and fun while at the same time shows the complexities of genuine communication between those who are young and those who are not. The film certainly is a good chaser to The Road; I can tell you that.

Post by Phil Carr

May Days! May Days! Latest on DVD...

2010-05-22T19:00:00.007-04:00

Mix and Match

May is almost over and alas, we have been remiss blogging about this month's additions to our esteemed DVD collection. If you are not among those who fancy our online catalog's 'recent item' search (a great tool to help you learn what's new or coming soon), here's a list with clicks.

Nine : Staff member and film guru in residence, Phil Carr, saw this film on the big screen. Fellini fans might be disappointed but Daniel Day Lewis and Penelope Cruz do steal this uneven but still fun show.

Invictus : President Nelson Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an run for the 1995 World Cup Championship. The film stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon; the venerable Clint Eastwood directs.

On the lighter than air front, try Dear John, based on Nicholas Sparks' bestselling three-hanky novel, or the ensemble cast rom-com, Valentine's Day. Also try Leap Year, a film inspired by an Irish folktale.

The Messenger stars Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson as Army officers assigned a grim task: notifying next of kin of a soldier’s death. Samantha Morton co-stars as a conflicted widow and Steve Buscemi powerfully portrays an angry father. If you have seen The Hurt Locker and Brothers, add this one to your list.

The Road, based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name, is due for release on Tuesday, May 25. Viggo Mortensen stars in this post-apocalyptic tale that was both challenging and heartbreaking in print and which is a staple on book club reading lists.

Rounding out our May Days film list is the quirky indie film The Flying Scissors. Sad to report release date for When You're Strange, a much awaited documentary about the Doors, has been deferred to June. In the mean time, enjoy the music.

Roots Music

2010-04-26T19:08:00.008-04:00

T-Bone Burnett
If you don't recognize his name, his influence has certainly reached your tune-loving ears. Burnett not only plays solo, he's produced a number of very fine albums and soundtracks for very fine movies.

Catch a variety of Burnett interviews, songs, and reviews courtesy of NPR Music. In turn, enjoy a variety of T-Bone influenced CDs and films @ your library.

Burnett also recently won an Oscar for Best Original Song for "The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart, released this past Tuesday on DVD. Best Actor Oscar winner, Jeff Bridges, played the song on ABC News Now last January. Give a listen...

Top of post T-Bone Burnett photo by Jesse Dylan

Hotter than Hot : Best New Bands

2010-04-17T16:10:00.007-04:00

"How Does It Feel to Be On Your Own?"
The April 1st issue of Rolling Stone Magazine featured an article entitled "Best New Bands of 2010". If you're into the alt, indie, pop, neo-folk, electro-pop, hip-hop, reggae, or definitely unique jam band scenes -- dare to be different and check out CDs by these notable groups @ your library.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (Featured Tune/EHPL MySpace)
Titus Andronicus
Mumford & Sons
Neon Indian

CDs by Dirty Heads and B.o.B. are due out later this month. Free Energy's tunes are available digitally; available on CD in May. Rock on...

April Showers...

2010-04-16T15:59:00.005-04:00

It's Raining DVDs!

This month's releases include big screen hits, historicals, books-to-film, comedies, and a shoot 'em up action thrilla' or two. Grab your trusty library card, place your reserves, and prepare to enjoy some quality time in front of the tube.

April 6

The Collector is part thriller, part horror film with surprise, surprise... a plot! In short form, crook one plans a heist only to find crook two has deadlier plans of his own.

On the rogue detective film front, try Bad Lieutenant : Port of Call New Orleans starring Nicolas Cage in signature over-the-top form.

April 13

On the lighter side, Pirate Radio stars a staff favorite, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, as one of eight quirky and very competitive DJs who captivate Britain in the 1960s. Great rock 'n roll soundtrack and loads of fun.

April 20

Peter Jackson directed The Lovely Bones, based on Alice Sebold's bestselling novel (2002) of the same name. Saoirse Ronan (so good in Atonement) plays a 14-year-old murdered girl with unfinished business on earth. Character actor Stanley Tucci was Oscar-nominated for his very creepy turn as the killer.

For fans of films with an historical flavor, Emily Blunt channels The Young Victoria in the story of the Queen's early life, rise to power, and relationship/eventual marriage to Prince Albert. You might like to pair the film with Gillian Gill's We Two : Victoria and Albert Rulers, Partners, Rivals, a very readable book about this 19th century power couple.

Jeff Bridges ('The Dude' to many a film buff) took home an Oscar for his performance as Crazy Heart's Bad Blake, a boozy and broken-down country music singer looking for a comeback. T- Bone Burnett manages the soundtrack.

April 22

Not at all surprising is Avatar's Thursday (Earth Day) release date; a deviation from the Tuesday-Tuesday-Tuesday thing to which we have all grown accustomed. Should be interesting to see how this Oscar/Globe-winning and very Pocahontas-like 3-D epic translates to our comparatively teeny-tiny tubes.

April 27

It's Complicated stars can-do Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in a rom-com about marriage, divorce, and mid-life rethinking. Similar in flavor to 2004's Something's Gotta Give. Both films were written and directed by Nancy Meyers.

Ellen Woloshin in Concert

2010-04-13T18:24:00.006-04:00

This Saturday, Go for the Tunes!
This Saturday's library concert features New York-based singer-songwriter and recording artist, Ellen Woloshin. Woloshin, who will be accompanied by bass and guitar, is slated to perform a repertoire of her own original songs plus fresh reinterpretations of cherished pop favorites.

The concert begins at 2 p.m. in the library's Community Room. Click here to give a listen to Ellen; then click here to let us know you plan to attend this free concert.

About Ellen
Woloshin grew up studying classical piano and started singing at the age of 16. She is the voice behind many radio and television ad songs, including jingles for McDonald's, Trump Castle, and Pearle Vision. As an indie singer-songwriter, Woloshin’s personal appearances have reached from the college circuit to gigs in her hometown of NYC at the famous Knitting Factory and as part of the Battery Park Concert Series, to performances at the Bluebird Café in Nashville. She has recorded two well-reviewed albums: Tried and True (2001) and Water Into Wine (2008).

Rockin' Out With Your Kids

2010-04-07T16:06:00.006-04:00

Cool Tunes for Little People

If you are looking for a band that will definitely pass your preschoolers' tune test, try Brady Rymer. Rymer, former leader of a New Jersey jam band, uses his considerable skills to convey positive messages about eating right, feeling good about yourself, and being a good friend and family member.

No tune is coated with sugar or saccharine. Instead, the tunes are clean, fun, and rock 'n rolly enough to please parents, too.

Give Rymer's CDs a try.

8 1/2 through 9

2010-04-04T16:00:00.007-04:00

It's All in the Numbers
Nine, the 2009 movie, is gone from big screen theaters but is due out on DVD in early May. The film is based on 1982's Broadway musical, a song and dance take on Federico Fellini's 1960 film 8 1/2.

Nine's got some pretty good stuff in it; two things actually if you're counting. First is Daniel Day-Lewis's hat exactly crumpled and folded the way Fellini liked it; second is Penelope Cruz's sparkly, long-legged dance. Otherwise, Nine was a miss by about 8 1/2.

Try Fellini's original film, if you haven't seen it already. The story is autobiographically Fellini and about Fellini's inability to make the film 8 1/2. Marcello Mastroianni stars and please don't worry if you don't understand it all; nobody really does. The film is just one big beautifully crafted fun-to-watch superb black and white stream of visual indecision with better defined and explained female characters.

Post by Phil Carr

Incoming!

2010-03-29T11:30:00.014-04:00

Prepare for Landing...

Here's a quick list of this week's additions to our ever so popular DVD collection. Couple 'o blockbusters, an indie, plus chuckles for the kids.

An Education : This gem won a Sundance Audience Award and garnered Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for its star, Carey Mulligan. The story of a 16-year-old girl's romance with an older man.

Sherlock Holmes : A very different take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's irascible misanthrope, Holmes, and his amiable buddy, Dr. Watson. Robert Downey, Jr. plays the venerable detective with ninja flair.

Brothers : This remake of a successful Swedish film stars Toby Maguire (temporarily MIA, PTSD Marine hero) and Jake Gyllenhaal (ex-con ready for redemption) as brothers duking it out for Natalie Portman and idyllic life in the burbs.

Alice in Wonderland (Disney) : Animated, lovely, classic and a good companion to Hallmark Entertainment's live-action version, also available at the library. Both are great for younger kids who've caught the Alice buzz but who may not be ready for Lewis Carroll's books or Tim Burton's big screen film. As always, parents decide.

Alvin and the Chipmunks : the Squeakquel : Alvin, Simon and Theodore are back with a follow-up to their eariler chipmunk adventure. Parents and grandparents feeling nostalgic about TV's Alvin Show (1960's) or Alvin and the Chipmunks (1980's) will have fun, too.

Bond... James Bond

2010-03-28T15:14:00.006-04:00

A 23rd Film on the Way?
Rumor has it that Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes is considering a project that would bring everyone's favorite MI6 agent to the big screen for take twenty three. Sounds like fun and a departure from Mendes’ well-made films about suburban angst.

In the mean time, Bond films are always fun to watch and who doesn’t have an opinion about who played Bond best, best Bond girl, or favorite Bond gizmo or gadget? Here’s a very quick list of Bond films ready for checkout; several other classic Bond films are on the way.

Not So Baader Meinhof a Movie...

2010-03-21T14:38:00.006-04:00

But 'Komplex' for Sure...
The State I am In is a German film with healthy bright yellow subtitles that tells the story of a 15 year-old girl's coming of age now, in the times of "Gimme, gimme!" and "Who cares?" Main problems are the girl's parents are ex-terrorists who have been on the run for her entire life and the girl is deep in the throes of a teenage funk.

The girl is sick of moving, sick of survival lessons, sick of lousy gooney clothes, and sick of not having friends. She becomes a family conduit to the grocery store and in short time comes destruction...

I can't figure out if the girl does what she does knowingly in hope of true escape or if she's just being careless; maybe you can let me know. But there's exceptionally good acting in this film and do watch for the daughter’s end-of-film facial expression. The whole movie is more than worth watching just to get there.

Post by Phil Carr

In Like a Lion...

2010-03-20T18:29:00.003-04:00

March Roars on DVD

Here's a quick list of March favorites, accompanied by a couple of buzz-worthy selections that came before.

Coco Before Chanel : A film about the complicated back-story of celebrated fashion designer, Gabrielle Chanel.

Cirque du Freak, Vampire's Assistant : Based on the series of popular young adult books by Darren Shan.

The Informant! : Matt Damon stars in an inventive and very funny film about corporate crime and greed.

On the inseparable front, try Boondock Saints, first and second. The films were made ten years apart. Partake in the over the top buzz about which of these vigilante-themed films is better.

For the kids, try Ponyo and Astro Boy or Where the Wild Things Are and The Princess and the Frog.

This Tuesday, March 22, The Blind Side and The Men Who Stare at Goats hit the shelves and let us not forget every teen's dream date, Twilight Saga : New Moon.

The Clooneynator

2010-03-12T16:17:00.010-05:00

Ten Million Miles and Still Nothing
A new George Clooney DVD continually hints at the existential abyss all around us and the fact that we're all, metaphorically speaking, up in the air.

Clooney plays Ryan, a streamlined, semi-nomadic man who flies around the country firing people. He loves his work for the side benefits that frequent miles club members enjoy -- like cutting to the front of the boarding line. Ryan travels light and attachments to anything bigger than a backpack are verboten. Alas, he falls for another miles club member which puts a kink in his wingtips; Ryan quickly tumbles out of the sky with the added weight on his psyche.

If you travel for business, Up In the Air will fit like an old hat. The here we go a-downsizing scenes feature wonderful in-your-face cameos of people being canned. A no-contact method is also devised to do the deed at more or less expense.

The film was written and directed by Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking) and has a nice touch at end of film. If you remember The Big Lebowski, Sam Elliot (the Stranger) ties up 'The Dude's' loose ends; he does the same thing here.

Post by Phil Carr

The Lightning Rod from Flint

2010-03-06T18:53:00.003-05:00

Michael Moore

Love him or loathe him (there doesn't seem to be an in-between), Michael Moore's Capitalism : A Love Story will be released on DVD Tuesday, March 9. The big screen release (2009) coincided with the 20th anniversary of Moore's first film, Roger and Me (1989).

Click here for other films by or featuring Michael Moore.

A World Compacted

2010-03-06T17:38:00.003-05:00

PEZHeads
One of the latest in documentary films, PEZHeads, is a treat and I can honestly say everyone involved in the film is very passionate about their collection of little back-snapping, compacted confection machines.

For those in the know, PEZ candy is made and packaged right here in our home state of Connecticut; Orange to be exact. Orange was one of my favorites along with peppermint, the first PEZ flavor. (The name PEZ comes from the German word for peppermint : Pfefferminz.)

This is a fun movie to watch and will probably send you looking for any old PEZ dispensers you might still have lying around. Some are selling on eBay for as much as $3,000.

Post by Phil Carr

A Slip of Fond Memory...

2010-03-04T15:16:00.003-05:00

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
I was a-browsing through our movie collection and came across the film adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof featuring Paul Newman (Brick) and Elizabeth Taylor (Maggie "The Cat"). The movie went big screen in 1958 -- was there ever a more beautiful female in a white slip?

How wonderful it was to watch Big Daddy (Burl Ives) controlling the lives of his family as if they were marionettes in the hot sticky heat of a deep Georgian summer. I had to keep wiping the condensation off my television and though it might have been blizzarding outside, I was looking for a mint julep by the end.

In these times when there are lots and lots of movies -- and they seem to be coming at us faster and faster -- nobody knows what to watch. Get your bearings greased and your feet back on the ground by watching a true classic in every sense of the word. Also of note, spinach isn't a good substitute for mint but it didn't diminish my enjoyment of this film one bit.

Post by Phil Carr

Scorsese Meets DeMille

2010-02-27T14:19:00.007-05:00

Quite Rightly So
Martin Scorsese recently won the 2010 Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement at the 67th Golden Globe Awards. 2007 brought him Kennedy Center Honors and a Time magazine listing as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was awarded the American Film Institutes's Life Achievement award in 1997 and over the course of his career, his films have been nominated for 64 Oscars (15 wins) and 51 Golden Globe Awards (9 wins). He's won the best director Oscar only once, for 2007's The Departed.

If you haven't seen 'em, please do. If you have seen 'em, all of these films are worth watching again... and again:
The Aviator (2004) -- Casino (1995) -- The Departed (2006) -- Gangs of New York (2002) -- Goodfellas (1990) -- Mean Streets (1973, on the National Film Registry) -- Raging Bull (1980) -- Shine a Light (2008, Documentary) -- Taxi Driver (1976).

Further Reading and Viewing
If you're a film buff, try The Cinema of Martin Scorsese by Lawrence S. Friedman or catch a lengthy interview with the director on volume one of Movies 101.

Ten Best Picture Oscar Nominees

2010-02-26T17:19:00.009-05:00

Seven Here or Close Enough...
Oscar's Best Picture category includes 10 films this year, a doubling of the former five. The idea was to make sure good movies (blockbuster and indie) wouldn't escape Oscar voters' notice. Okaaayy.. whatever you say....

Of the 10 nominated films the big popcorn movies, Avatar and The Blind Side, are still showing on big screens near to East Hampton; you can see An Education, if you are willing to travel.

In the mean time, pick your own Oscar favorite by enjoying the DVDs, already here or soon to arrive:

District 9 -- The Hurt Locker -- Inglourious Basterds -- Precious (March 9 release) -- A Serious Man -- Up -- Up in the Air (March 9 release).

History on Film

2010-02-20T17:41:00.008-05:00

Winston Churchill Biopics
If you're looking for a movie with some meat on its bones, try The Gathering Storm which stars Albert Finney as Winston Churchill and Vanessa Redgrave as his wife, Clementine. Produced in 2002 for HBO, the film starts in 1934 and ends with the beginning of war with Germany. The sets and costumes are period perfect and the film won several Emmy awards including one for Finney's magnificent turn as the epic Winston.

Showcased in the film are Churchill's tremendous energy; his prolific output as a writer; his battles with "the black dog" (now identified as depression); his family's financial troubles; and his often explosive but always dedicated talent for power politics on a world stage. Using small scenes, the film also takes some care to humanize the leader as a man with interests, loves, and faults.

The companion HBO/BBC film, Into the Storm, was originally broadcast on HBO in May 2009 and stars Brendan Gleeson as Churchill and Janet McTeer as Clementine. The film begins in 1945 with the war over and Churchill voted out of power. The story of Hitler's threat -- and Churchill's not infrequently discarded vision of it -- is told through scenes of WWII and its aftermath. Gleeson, like Finney, also won an Emmy for his portrayal of Winston.

Give a Listen Before or After You View the Films
If you also enjoy history-flavored books on CD, try Churchill by Paul Johnson; read by Simon Prebble. This 4-CD biography offers a good introduction or refresher course on Churchill's life and times.

Post by Bev Simmons

Inspirational Viewing

2010-02-14T16:06:00.000-05:00

High Impact Books to Film

If you prefer films rated with letters that appear earlier on in the alphabet, here's a few suggestions. All are books-to-film.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is but one of Mitch Albom's life-affirming books, translated to film by Hallmark Entertainment. If you have read or listened to the book, Jon Voight stars as Eddie and Ellen Burstyn plays Ruby.

Based on Catherine Martin's classic novel, Christy stars Kellie Martin as a teacher who in 1912, gives up her cosmopolitan life to work in an impoverished community in Tennnesse. This four DVD set includes all 19 episodes, originally broadcast on TV during the 1994-1995 season.

Also from Hallmark Entertainment comes Hidden Places, based on the book by Lynn Austin. Both book and film tell the story of a widowed mother trying to keep her family orchard from going under during the Great Depression. Readers should note, this title is Austin's follow-up to Wings of Refuge.

The writing of Anne of Green Gables celebrated its 100th anniversary in May 2008; New Beginning was made for TV the same year and is now available on DVD. Widely panned by Anne purists, it's kinda' like some fiction bestsellers. Disappointing but we'll watch it anyway.

Leading Up to Oscars

2010-02-09T17:24:00.004-05:00

War Films
A friend of mine recently commented, concerning the Oscar-nominated film The Hurt Locker, that the war in Afghanistan has somehow made us more comfortable watching films about the war in Iraq. Good point. The Hurt Locker was recently nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Many other films about same war sped through our movie houses like bats in the dark but found an audience on DVD. In rough order, oldest to latest, here's a list of Iraq War films worth your time, leading up to Oscar's attention:

Jarhead : A story of one soldier's fondness for the war he finds himself in. This guy does not want to go home again.

Gunner Palace (Documentary) : A bunch of average Joe's bivouacking inside Saddam Hussein Palace, in between their daily patrols that threaten life. They're tight, high-strung and oh-so young.

Turtles Can Fly : A film from Iraq about Iraq's orphans and the way they are made to band together trying to replace families lost.

The Kingdom : This film is a shoot 'em when you see 'em kind of show with big SUV's flying all over the place. One of the most successful war films of 2006-2007.

Lions for Lambs and Rendition were big-screen flops but found an audience on DVD. Both tell compelling stories, close to the bone.

In the Valley of Elah : A war veteran and his wife search for their son, a soldier who recently returned from Iraq but has mysteriously gone missing. This one is engaging because the kid is already home. The ongoing story is disturbing but you can't stop watching it...

Lioness (Documentary) : Intimate accounts, journal entries and archival footage tell the story of the women involved in the first program in American history to send women into direct ground combat.

Generation Kill (HBO Series) : A view of the first 40 days of the Iraq war from the perspective of the Marines of the First Recon Battalion. Based on a best selling book by Evan Wright.

The Hurt Locker : This one is the story of a bomb (read here IED/Improvised Explosive Device) killer unit that goes around Baghdad defusing potential catastrophes inside fat-padded suits. They do their job daily amidst the sights and sounds of a bustling city that doesn't seem to be involved in the war at all. Good story and real to watch.

Post by Phil Carr

Expected and Unexpected

2010-02-06T15:57:00.005-05:00

Tuesday's Films Plus

Tuesday's releases include the Coen Brother's A Serious Man, indie film romance Peter and Vandy, and the book-based tear-jerker, The Time Traveler's Wife.

Other recently released films ready for checkout include:
Surrogates is a sci-fi utopia thriller featuring always dependable action star, Bruce Willis.

Forget Paris, home to many a film love story. People fall in love in New York in the aptly titled New York, I Love You, a Valentines Day-ready ensemble piece.

Nestled between Russia and China is Mongolia, the setting for the film Khadak. Bagi, a young nomad shepherd, confronts his destiny to become a shaman and official attempts to eradicate nomadic culture.

24 City is a documentary film about an abandoned state-owned factory, sold for millions to real estate developers to be transformed into a luxury apartment complex. If this sounds familiar, guess again. The documentary was filmed in China.

Charles Schulz's Peanuts cartoon series will celebrate its 60th Anniversary throughout 2010. Enjoy the remastered version of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, an animated mini-musical based on the Tony Award-winning stage hit.

Basketball, Love and... Zombies

2010-01-30T13:10:00.007-05:00

Tuesday's Picks
If you've grown weary of winter as we are sure many of you have, Tuesday's DVDs offer inspiration, escapism, and a little down and dirty fun with the undead. Place your holds today.

About the Films
In More Than a Game, say hello to LeBron James and his Akron, Ohio high school basketball team. James went on to NBA fame but the film helps us learn about four other kids who also lay claim to the title of best high school b-ball team. Pair this one with a variety of other great basketball films about the value of the team.

OK; Love Happens probably isn't going to land on a best film list anytime soon. However, bank on this being a softy rom-com, released just in time for Valentines Day viewing.

Zombieland sets aside the vampire book and film craze and gives zombie fans their moment in the sun... so to speak. The love-hate review traffic for this 2009 film is pretty much equal to the love-hate traffic generated by George Romero's classic zombie movies. As always, your choice.

Silk Road Ensemble

2010-01-23T13:25:00.006-05:00

With & Without Ma

The Silk Road is perhaps the greatest land route on earth -- out of the heart of China, into Central Asia's mountains; across northern Afghanistan and the Iranian plains, and into Kurdish Turkey. It's history as East-West travel route and back is filled with accounts of trade and armies but also of cultural exchanges; e.g., ideas, inventions, religions.

The Silk Road Ensemble brings together 60 or so musicians, composers, arrangers, visual artists, and storytellers from twenty plus countries. Founded by renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma, the group's purpose is cross-cultural musical exchange, appreciation... and innovation. Give a listen.

Dancing with the Spanish

2010-01-18T12:23:00.011-05:00

Carlos Saura's Flamenco Trilogy
Everybody dances. (Ian D. doesn't dance he just informed me and exceptions, of course, make the human condition what it is : human.) So to rephrase, a lot of us dance a lot. It must be in our nature; something left over perhaps from the time when we danced around burning mammoths with bones in our noses.

In Spain, they take their dancing as seriously as their rain -- at least they did in the early eighties -- which is when the movies I'm going to recommend were made. The films form a trilogy with each film telling a classic story through Flamenco dancing. Flamenco is stomping with purpose and the dance form demands not only a refined heel but a whole body posture as well. Even the facial expressions are important to the rendition of the story.

The Trio
In Blood Wedding, a dance based on Federico García Lorca’s play, we have the story of an actual crime of passion and revenge involving a marriage between a rich and a poor family. Every nuance of a complex story is captured beautifully in the dancing.

The second film is Carmen, based on Bizet's opera and there is a cleaver crossover from reality to the surreal and back again.

The third film's title is in Spanish and translates to Love, the Magician. In this one, the dancers give up the wooden floor for a dusty field in the middle of Gypsy camp. I wish I was a Gypsy and wish I could dance Flamenco in Barcelona with a woman in a red dress -- tomorrow night, actually.

All in all, these films are treasures and you will be richer for watching them. You will also want a new pair of shoes and might even want to dance. I was stomping all over the place after watching each film. Scared the heck out of the dog but let me tell you -- worth it nonetheless.

Post by Phil Carr, library staff member and author of Giving Up Genet

And the Beat Goes On...

2010-01-16T17:59:00.014-05:00

Grammy Award Show Coming Our Way : January 31st
I am always surprised when the Grammy's come around. I know it's an annual event but all the award ceremonies catch me off guard because no matter what time of year it is, there's an award given to celebrities by each other or their bosses, so it always seems as though one award cycle ends and we have to start looking forward to the next.

While reviewing the Grammy nominees this year (and every year), I can't shake the feeling that the award consists of hundred of categories with maybe a dozen artists nominated simply because they have been nominated sometime before in the last few decades. If you are surprised by any of the nominees, you haven't been listening to the radio or watching television, and for that I applaud you.

Album of the Year
The main categories are practically interchangeable and Album of the Year seems designed so someone can win duplicate awards for exerting the same amount of work.

Pop Vocal Album/Alternative Music Album
The Pop category seems vague to me, as does the Alternative category. I have always assumed 'alternative' meant alternative to pop but some of the 'alternative' nominees sound vaguely 'popish'.

Rock Album
This category is a little more straightforward but don't most of the these artists still produce rock 'n roll?

Country Album
Best country category can be opaque but you still won't be suppressed (or surprised) by the nominees.

Rap Album
While we hold only half of the nominated Best Rap albums, at least I know that that's not a derivative form of rock.

Further Listening
Check out the nominated titles and take your guess at what same few artists are going to win this year -- again. You can also pick up a list of these and other Grammy-nominated albums, available for checkout, at the library's main desk.

Surf's Up
The Grammy website, of course.

Post by Ian Dunbar

Hound Dog...

2010-01-12T17:59:00.007-05:00

The Leiber & Stoller Collection
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller met as teenagers and together went on to write and produce some of rock's most covered, familiar, and enduring hits. The duo brought us to exotic places; showcased heroes and heroines; made us want to dance; talked about love (lost and found), and contributed to the soundtracks of our lives.

Pair Hound Dog, both music and book, for a glowing autobiographical ride through rock and R&B history. Though there is serious and useful debate about the duo's memory of events, this is still a great combination for anyone who remembers a 45 rpm record or at minimum, the lasting influence of Ben E. King's rendition of Stand by Me.

Video references Rob Reiner's 1986 classic, Stand by Me, available on DVD