Beyond
the Box Office
* EARLIER BLOG POSTS *
Recent DVD Releases
July 25, 2014
Follow any movie poster or title links to instantly
search the library system catalog.
You can also learn more about a movie using the IMDB (
Internet Movie Database)
and MRQE (
Movie Review Query Engine) links.
"CSM" links lead to reviews and parental advisories from
Common Sense Media.
You can also click on names of directors, actresses, and actors to locate more videos in the library catalog.
In the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
Highlights...
Featured Film
Description: "The adventures of Gustave H., a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune."
Featured Film
Description: "An unlikely World War II platoon has been tasked by FDR with going into Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. With the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell, how could they possibly succeed? But as the Monuments Men, as they were called, found themselves in a race against time, they would risk their lives to protect mankind's greatest achievements."
Other Movies...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late March 2014
to mid-April 2014
DVD Releases
April 22, 2014
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late February 2014
to mid-March 2014
DVD Releases
March 17, 2014
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late January 2014
+ Early February 2014
DVD Releases
February 20, 2014
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late December 2013
+ Early January 2014
DVD Releases
January 8, 2014
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
November + Early December 2013
DVD Releases
November 25, 2013
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late September / Early October 2013
DVD Releases
October 11, 2013
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late August / Early September 2013
DVD Releases
September 9, 2013
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late July / Early August 2013
DVD Releases
August 9, 2013
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late June / Early July 2013
DVD Releases
July 3, 2013
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late May / Early June 2013
DVD Releases
June 7, 2013
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Recent Videos:
Late April / Early May 2013
DVD Releases
May 1, 2013
You can follow any title links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
You can also follow any "about" link to learn more about a title in the
Internet Movie Database
or any "reviews" link to locate reviews (whenever available)
in the
Movie Review Query Engine.
When you're in the library catalog, you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Movie links...
Some friendly reminders...
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
The World's Smallest Movie
May 1, 2013
Now, here's something truly
Beyond the Box Office!
IBM has "filmed" what has been confirmed (by none other than
Guinness World Records) to be "The World's Smallest Stop-Motion Film."
The actual title of their short film is
A Boy And His Atom,
and it was created by lining up individual atoms in a series
of pictures to produce a "stop-motion" animation.
You can see the movie and read all about it through these links:
As you watch the movie, keep this interesting little fact in mind:
what you will see has been magnified over 100,000,000 (one hundred million) times!
Recent Video Releases:
January 2013 - April 2013
March 29, 2013
Welcome to our new monthly feature!
Here we'll highlight new and popular movie releases on DVD.
We're starting off with a quadruple feature:
four months of videos!
You can follow any of the links below to instantly search the library system catalog.
From there you can see if the movie...
- is available ("checked in" at a library)
- can be reserved (held for you)
- is obtainable in the edition you prefer
At the end of this post we've included some video-related guides
you might find useful!
Late March / Early April 2013
New & Popular Video Releases
March 2013
New & Popular Video Releases
February 2013
New & Popular Video Releases
January 2013
New & Popular Video Releases
The very newest videos, just like the latest books, can sometimes take a while
before reserves or interlibrary loans can occur.
If you've never placed a hold before, or if you'd like some help locating a video
(or anything else), please feel free to contact our
Reference Department at any time!
You can visit us in person, call us at (845) 341-5461, or
ask us a question online.
For even more film lists and video entertainment possibilities, you might also...
Tolkien Films & Books
December 15, 2012
This weekend
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
made its cinematic debut in theaters.
Based on the novel,
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
by J. R. R. Tolkien, this cinematic adaptation follows the main character, Bilbo Baggins,
the wizard Gandalf, and others on a fantastical and fateful journey.
Chronologically,
The Hobbit is the prelude to
The Lord of the Rings
trilogy of books (and films):
If you'd like to catch up on either the books or the films - or both
- you can click on any of the above links to find those items in
the library system catalog.
While
The Hobbit is actually one book,
it is being made into three films. Parts II and III are scheduled to be released over the next two years:
If you've already read the novels and seen the movies, you might also find these titles interesting:
These are just some of the many books about Tolkien and the fictional world ("Middle-earth") he created.
Tolkien's son,
Christopher Tolkien, edited and published even more information on Middle-earth since his father passed away,
including a more complete
history of Middle-earth.
You can explore even more titles on Tolkien and his creations by clicking here to do a "subject" search on Tolkien.
Thanksgiving Theme DVDs
November 15, 2012
Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and holiday lights are already twinkling over the horizon...
Yes, it's that time of year again :-)
To help you ease into that holiday mode - or just to have a good laugh - here are some Thanksgiving-themed films you might find interesting:
Some films for the entire family...
...and others just for grownups:
Summertime Cinema
July 10, 2012
Here is a list of summer-themed movies for your entertainment!
You can click on film titles to check if DVDs are available in the library system catalog.
Beaches / Surfing
Drama
- American Graffiti (1973; PG) - Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford
- Dirty Dancing (1987; PG-13) - Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey
- Field of Dreams (1989; PG) - Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones
- Jaws (1975; PG) - Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss
- On Golden Pond (1981; PG) - Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda
- The Long, Hot Summer (1958; not rated) - Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward
- Rear Window (1954; PG) - James Stewart, Grace Kelly
- Stand by Me (1986; R) - Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland
- Summertime (1955; not rated) - Katharine Hepburn
- To the Lighthouse (1983; not rated) - Rosemary Harris, Kenneth Branagh
Comedy
- Back to the Beach (1987; PG) - Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello
- The Bad News Bears (1976; PG) - Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal
- The Great Outdoors (1988; PG) - Dan Aykroyd, John Candy
- Meatballs (1979; PG) - Bill Murray
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999; PG) - Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart
- National Lampoon's Vacation (1983; R) - Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo
- One Crazy Summer (1986; PG) - John Cusack, Demi Moore
- Summer Rental (1985; PG) - John Candy, Karen Austin
- Summer School (1987; PG-13) - Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley
Family Fun
Musical
Romance
For even more video selections and entertainment possibilities,
please try
our video browser.
Seen the Movie?
Now Read the Book!
June 14, 2011
We expanded our
library catalog video browser
to include titles of books made into movies.
From literary classics (such as the novels of Jane Austen) to modern adaptations
of contemporary works of fiction (such as Atonement or The Time Traveler's Wife),
there are many titles you can quickly locate or request in the library catalog.
Book titles are arranged in two sections: For the Entire Family and For Adult Audiences.
Some books have more than one edition, and audio books may be available as well.
We also have a printed Movies Inspired by Books flyer available in print at the library
as well as a
downloadble edition at our website
(in
Adobe Reader PDF format).
Our
online video browser
now also features titles of notable New Releases starting
with January 2011. You can easily and instantly check on (and try to reserve)
these or other titles listed in our video browser within a couple of clicks!
Best Films of 2010
+ 2011 Preview
December 31, 2010
What were the best movies of 2010? That depends
on who you ask. There are the "summer blockbusters" and
"top-grossing" films which, for whatever reason, fared better,
financially speaking, than the other films, but movie critics'
picks rarely coincide with ticket sales.
To help us focus on some of the finer films of 2010,
several lists are available online:
Many of these movies are already on DVD, so you might want to
search the library catalog for videos
that interest you. You can also use our
video browser
to catch up on some great movies you might have missed.
What about 2011? What movies can you look forward to seeing?
Check out these lists, some of which also include early movie
poster previews, video clips, trailers:
Here are Middletown Thrall Library's schedules for our 2011 film series:
For even more information about films, including movie awards
as well as award-winning actors and actresses, we invite you to check out
these other websites and database:
Have a wonderful new year!
Summer 2010 Selections
Time to put together a list of thrillers! Some new films, some old. Most of them making for high-anxiety film watching! "And now, my beauties," as the Wicked Witch of the West said, "something with poison in it, I think. . ."
Classic Thrillers, French
- Wages of Fear (1953) Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. (French & other languages w\ English subtitles) 148 min. B&W (Call# DVD FIC WAGES) Our copy of this superb French film is the Criterion Collection edition, restored and of high film quality, The action starts out languidly in a shabby tropical town in a fictional South American country. We meet colorful and shady characters, including a very young Yves Montand in his first dramatic role. Things pick up when the manager of an American oil company, that's having a huge and dangerous fire in its oil fields, decides to hire four men from the village. Their job? To drive 2 not-so-good trucks full of nitroglycerine (!!) 300 miles over bad roads to finish off the fires, somehow. That is, if any of the drivers survive the grueling trip. The men are desperate for money to get out of the ruts they're stuck in and will be paid what seems a small sum to us - IF they complete the trip. That's where the thrills and terror are. It's definitely a classic and it's been re-made in the U.S., but this is the one to see. High on any thriller list.
- Merci Pour Le Chocolat (2000) Directed by Claude Chabrol. (French w\ English subtitles) 99 min. (CALL# DVD FIC MERCI) Starring Isabel Huppert as Mika, president of her family's very successful chocolate company, this psychological thriller is set in Switzerland among well-to-do French-Swiss families. Every evening Mika carefully prepares hot chocolate for her family and guests. It's a ritual and a way for her to be in control. Is there something in the chocolate? What family secrets are covered with fine Swiss chocolate? Also a comedy of sorts.
Recent Thrillers
- Wallander (2008) Directed by Philip Martin. (English with English subtitles. They do help one not to miss important dialogue.) 2 DVD set. 270 min. (Call# DVD FIC WALLANDER) These 3 episodes (Sidetracked - Firewall - One step behind) of BBC's Wallander series are based on the novels of Swedish author Henning Mankell. Mankell is enormously and understandably popular world-wide. Kurt Wallander, played to the usual perfection by Kenneth Branagh, is a Swedish police detective wed to his job despite the immensity of its pressures. Meanwhile, he struggles to hold together what remains of his family life. In each episode Wallander is placed at scenes of horrific crimes. He looks exhausted but moves doggedly ahead, trying to figure out what makes particular criminals tick, and how to stop further violence. Southern Sweden provides some relief with gorgeous midsummer scenery. One delightful language bit is that when Wallander types at his keyboard it's safe to assume that it's not in Swedish, but the results on his computer screen are. All the more reason to love Wallander. Viewer's note: My first time watching these films found me aghast at the high definition murder scenes. I couldn't look. The second time I convinced myself it was all makeup and special effects. They are thrillers, and of course it's all a game. That being said, Mr. Henning Mankell writes about real and very serious societal concerns including violent crime, politics and drugs, seen through the eyes of detective Kurt Wallander. It's well worth watching, and paying close attention.
Thrillers with Cult Followings
- Ghost Dog: the way of the Samurai (2000) Directed by Richard Guay and Jim Jarmusch. 116 min. Rated R. (CALL# DVD FIC GHOST) A black hitman goes by the name Ghost Dog and lives by the code of the Samurai. A film to be experienced more than once. Of course there's violence, but there's also a lot to be said for loyalty, friendship, kindness. Forest Whitaker is perfect as the roof-dwelling gentleman who sees himself indebted, for life, to a gangster who saved his life years before. And here's a question: Where do all the library copies of Ghost Dog go? At this point there are only a few in the system and they're on VHS. But, we'll try to get another copy or two and hope for the best. It is a remarkable story - and a thriller.
- House of Games (1987) Directed by David Mamet. 102 min. (CALL# DVD FIC HOUSE) A fascinating look into the world of con men. You may feel you've stepped into an Edward Hopper painting. Things look slightly different. The actors talk in terms we don't always understand. Should we believe them? They communicate with signals you might not see the first time through, but that become obvious with subsequent viewings. Joe Mantegna and Lindsay Crouse head the cast of this first film directed by David Mamet. A haunting tale.
Classic American Thrillers
- Spellbound (1945) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. 111 min. (CALL# DVD FIC SPELLBOUND) Dr. Constance Peterson (Ingrid Bergman) is a dedicated psychiatrist who puts all her passion into her work, until she meets Dr. Edwardes (Gregory Peck). Soon she realizes he is an impostor. Possibly even a murderer. "The secret recesses of the mind are explored with brilliant and terrifying effect," New York Herald Tribune.
- Suspicion (1941) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. 102 min. (CALL# DVD FIC SUSPICION) By 1941 Hitchcock had moved to the U.S., but this, his second American film, is as British as it can be. It is tense, especially for poor Joan Fontaine, the target of Cary Grant's machinations. Vintage Hollywood a la Hitchcock.
Documentary Thrillers to Put You
on the Edge of Your Seat
- Food, Inc. (2008) Directed by Robert Kenner. 91 min. (In English or Spanish w\ optional Spanish subtitles) Rated PG (Call# DVD FIC FOOD) "You'll never look at dinner the same way again." "You are what you eat." A very revealing look at who is selling and feeding us what. It's scary!
- Tyson (2009) Directed by James Toback. 90 min. Rated R (restricted for language and sexual references) (CALL# DVD B TYSON) He's been called one of the most controversial and misunderstood sports figures of all time. Tyson had been a friend of James Toback for over 20 years when these interviews took place.. The resulting film was given a ten minute standing ovation at Cannes. Tyson deserves credit for speaking so openly and honestly about his youth in toughest Brooklyn, how meeting his coach (Cus D'Amato) changed his life, and how his coach's death (before Tyson became world heavyweight champion) left him feeling like as a boy who's lost his father. Surprisingly, perhaps, Mr. Tyson has developed a wide vocabulary of large words and seems thoughtful about how he speaks and is understood. The clips of some of Tyson's heavyweight boxing matches are compelling and reveal much about Tyson as a person.
A Smash Hit Romantic Comedy. With Zombies.
- Shaun of the Dead (2004) Directed by Edgar Wright. 97 min. Rated R. (CALL# DVD FIC SHAUN) An homage to George Romero's Dawn of the Dead et al. Shaun (Simon Pegg) is stuck in a rut between working and hanging out at the local pub. He's so out of it that on a day when zombies begin to appear in town he doesn't even notice them when he goes out to fetch his morning coffee. However, once a female zombie shows up in his backyard he and his flatmate Ed, a dedicated couch potato, are in the thick of attempts to defend themselves, escape zombie bites and get rid of as many zombies as possible. And also to get inside the Winchester Pub where, they deduce, it will be safe. "Keeps the blood and laughs gushing" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.
Note: If you'd like to learn more about the genre, style, mood of "film noir," Thrall Library has a
documentary entitled
"Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light."
It presents a variety of thoughts
and opinions on these dark, shadowy films mainly produced by Hollywood from 1945 through 1958
and reflective of the hard times following WW II. These were the "B" movies.
Lots of good and bad film clips and lots of Robert Mitchum, dangerous women,
trench coats, and down-on-their-luck detectives. (DVD 791.4365 FIL)
January 2010 Selections
Our latest film selections are...
A Dozen or So Documentary Films for Your Consideration
Documentaries are non-fiction films and can be about anything. Tell us what you need and we'll try to help you locate it. Thrall's documentaries can be found at the "news stand" following the fiction DVD browsers and also with the VHS tapes, in both cases cataloged with Dewey Decimal numbers to identify their subject content.
Here's a suggestion. The next time you come in looking for a popular entertainment DVD, pause and pick out a documentary to take home as well. Documentaries are often shorter than feature films. They can tell you important things about the world, everyday life, health and well-being, food, exercise, the environment, and more. They can be serious and/or funny. They can actually be great musical performances on DVD, hiding out among the other DVDs. Do yourself a favor: give "docs" a try!
Our first suggestion is...
- A Man Named Pearl (2008) Directed by Scott Galloway and Brent Pierson..
113 min. (Call# DVD 715.1 MAN) Pearl Fryar's story is not only about his amazing skills as a topiary artist, sculpting trees in his yard at night on top of a ladder with a chainsaw. As one watches him working and talking with visitors, and especially his kindness to children, one realizes this man has a fine innate wisdom and faith and love for mankind. It is a truly uplifting experience to watch this film and learn about a man named Pearl. You won't forget him.
Next up: you are what you eat...
- Fast Food Nation (2006) Directed by Richard Linklater. 113 min. (CALL# DVD
FICTION FAST) Note: Listed as fiction because there's a story line, but you can learn alot about the food industry, convenience foods, and fast food restaurants. It stars Greg Kinnear. Is he a good guy or a bad guy???
- Supersize Me: A Film of Epic Portions (2004) Written, produced, and directed by Morgan Spurlock. 96 min. (CALL# DVD 616.59398 SUP) And to make a point, Spurlock went on an all-McDonald's diet for 30 days. Funny and frightening.
- King Corn (2008) Produced and directed by Aaron Woolf. 90 min. (CALL# DVD 664.724 KIN) Two college roommates decide to raise an acre of corn in Iowa and in doing so learn much of concern about the American food industry, especially the dreaded omnipresent ingredient called high fructose corn syrup. Remember when corn was a good thing?
More titles to consider:
- Blue Vinyl (2005) Directed by Judith Helfand and Danuel B. Gold. 98,80 min. (1 disc)
(CALL# DVD 668.4236 BLU) What do you know about vinyl siding? Judith Helfand was shocked at her parents' decision to use it to re-side their family home. So, she made a film about it. ". . . BLUE VINYL is a sobering, shockingly funny, uniquely personal exploration into what it takes to be a really educated consumer." -- Docurama
- Sicko (2007) Produced and directed by Michael Moore. 123 min. (CALL# DVD 362.10973 SIC) A scathing indictment as Mr. Moore takes on the American healthcare system. The film still manages to be hilarious.
- Road to the Big Leagues (Rumbo a las Grandes Ligas) (2008) Directed by Jared Goodman. 60 min. (CALL# DVD 796.357 ROA) A behind-the-scenes look at the Dominican Republic's obsession with baseball. With guests David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero.
- English Grammar - A 10 part series. (2004) Written and taught by Carl Weber.
(CALL# DVD 428.2 ENG) "for middle school students through adult learners - including students of English as a second language"
- Your Road to Passing the U.S. Citizenship Test (2008) (en Ingles y Espanol) (CALL# DVD 323.623 YOU) "A fun and easy to use interactive guide for learning the answers to 100 questions you need to know"
- The Family Guide to Long Term Care - Solutions & practical advice for older adults and their families (2005) 185 min. (CALL# DVD 362.61 FAM) Helpful information to guide families through the intricacies of setting up long term care, including advice on legal and financial issues.
- Accessible Yoga for Everybody (2003) 58 min. (CALL# DVD 613.7046 ACC)
Yoga for mature students to build strength, increase flexibility, and for relaxation.
Some Noteworthy Recent Releases:
- The National Parks: America's Best Idea - A six episode series by Ken Burns.
- Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound - A PBS American Masters production.
- Calle 54 (2001) Written and directed by Fernando Trueba. (Spanish and French dialogue, English subtitles) 106 min. Excellent Latin jazz performances by truly fine musicians. "Audiences will burst into applause! It glistens with music and moviemaking talent!" -Elvis Mitchell, The New York Times
Fall 2009 Selections
September 14, 2009
Our latest film selections are...
Drama (light-hearted - defies categorization)
- Amelie (2001) Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. (French w\ English subtitles) 120 mins. Rated R. (CALL# DVD FICTION AMELIE) A delight from start to finish. Amelie, whom we first see as a sweet and funny child finding things to amuse herself, led a seemingly isolated life in the country with her uncommunicative, widowed father. As soon as she was old enough to work and earn a living, Amelie moved to Paris, where she worked in a cafe in Montmartre. Not wishing to spoil any surprises for viewers, I'll stop at this point and just say SEE THIS MOVIE!!! It's visually innovative, very well cast, suspenseful, colorful, and great fun.
Drama / Comedy
- Enlightenment Guaranteed (2002) Directed by Doris Dorrie. (German w\ English subtitles) 105 mins. Not rated. (CALL# DVD FICTION ENLIGHTENMENT) Two German brothers, for reasons of their own, share an adventure by heading to Japan to spend time living in a Buddhist monastery. Gustav is a practicing Buddhist; his brother, Uwe, sells kitchen cabinets, has just been abandoned by his wife and kids, and is quite tearful, at first. The two rent a room for one night in a Tokyo hotel and bravely venture out in the evening without knowing the hotel's name or address. Soon they have lost everything -- the perfect thing for them to do at this juncture in their lives. A sweet and affecting film as one watches transformations occur. This film offers a wonderful opportunity to be inside a working Buddhist monastery to witness the kindness, patience,and compassion of the monks. You may find yourself sitting very still by the end of the film.
- The Great Dictator (1940) Conceived and directed by Charles Chaplin. 120 mins. (CALL# DVD FICTION GREAT) If you haven't seen this 1940 Chaplin film, here's your chance to see something remarkable and courageous from its creator. At a time when many people were still thinking that an accomodation with Hitler was possible, Chaplin saw things differently and dared to make a film showing persecution of the Jews and to make "Adenoid Hynkel", the dictator of Tomania, the object of some sharp humor. After all, who were the two most widely recognizable men in the world at the time? Hitler and Chaplin. This film is the perfect vehicle for Chaplin to express his views as only he could. Yes, the Little Tramp does appear in a speaking part in this film. It was, in fact, Chaplin's very first talking film and the little tramp was "retired" after it. Chaplin's sincere end-of-film plea in which he shares his feelings, ideas and wishes for only good for all mankind is well worth waiting for. All of the extras are recommended.
- Waiting for Guffman (1996) Co-written and directed by Christopher Guest. 84 mins. Rated R. (CALL# DVD FICTION WAITING) Christopher Guest is perfect as Corky St. Clair, director of a small town community theater company. Fictitious Blaine, Missouri is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary and Corky's in charge of writing and directing a musical tribute, "Red, White, and Blaine". The film is loaded with outrageous comedy, including the antics of local husband and wife travel agents (Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hara, aka as "The Lunts of Blaine") who've never even been outside of Blaine. Then there's Corky himself -- sweet, sad, endearing -- and hopeful despite obstacles to the show's production. As James Berardinelli stated in Reelviews Movie Reviews, "This movie can be considered an affectionate satire, because, while it pokes fun at small-town America and high school stage productions, it also offers up a heartfelt homage to them."
Documentary
- Genghis Blues (2000) Directed by Roko Belic. 90 mins. Not rated. (CALL# DVD 780.9575 GEN) Paul Pena (1950-2005) became a man on a quest. A talented blues musician who happened to be blind, he tuned in to short wave radio at night to hear the world. While tuning in to find a Korean language lesson, he encountered recordings of Tuvan throat singing (khoomei) on Radio Moscow. What is that? Where is Tuva? What are they singing about? That and much more becomes clear in this documentary, winner of a Sundance audience award in 1999 and nominated for an Academy Award in 2000. Perhaps most importantly, the film is about friendships between citizens of different countries, about music made and shared together, and about Paul Pena becoming a good will ambassador by being such a dedicated student of Tuvan throat singing. Imagine this. He used two dictionaries: a Tuvan-to-Russian and a Russian-to-English, just to figure out the language. He used a device to scan pages and convert printed words into tactile sensations so he could read with his fingers. He did learn to sing several distinct notes at the same time. And, he went to Tuva to perform for the Tuvans in their own language. An amazing story.
A few more quick picks...
- Last Chance Harvey (2008) Written and directed by Joel Hopkins. 93 mins. Rated PG-13. (CALL# DVD FICTION LAST) A comedy starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, which is reason enough to recommend it. An added feature of this "boy meets girl" comedy is that the boy and girl are mature, albeit unhappy, people living with uncertainty about their jobs and longing for that missing something in their lives. Perhaps a happily-ever-after ending? Delicious.
- Enchanted (2008) Directed by Kevin Lima. 108 mins. Rated PG (CALL# DVD FICTION ENCHANTED) The title fits well. It starts out with Disney animated characters (I thought I had the wrong DVD!) but the story soon segues to Manhattan, where Princess Giselle (Amy Adams), in all her royal finery, emerges from a manhole on Broadway and the merriment begins. The kind of fun movie that can be watched many times. Wait til you see Giselle's approach to housekeeping Snow White style.
- Sunrise (1927) Directed by F.W. Murnau. (CALL# DVD FICTION SUNRISE) An oldie, certainly, but many call this a classic screen gem. A story of redemption, forgiveness, and the restoration of sanity through the healing powers of love. Stars Janet Gaynor and George O'Brien. Remember them? The extras showing how some of the scenes were designed and shot are noteworthy. Very creative film-making.
- Martha Graham in Performance (2002) 93 mins. (CALL# DVD 792.8 MAR) Three separate short films featuring modern dance legend Martha Graham and her company. The first (1957) shows Miss Graham in a dressing room as she, while "preparing for a performance", patiently explains to us how the world of dance works. Her full dance company is featured in demonstrations of dance as taught by Graham. The other two films (1961, 1958) are filmed ballets: Night Journey (the story of Oedipus) and Appalachian Spring. It's a privilege to have access to dance history in this way and especially poignant to realize that Graham was pushing herself, I'm told, beyond the pain of arthritis for the love of dance. Makes one want to read a biography or autobiography, doesn't it?
Late Spring/Early Summer 2009 Edition
May 22, 2009
Our latest film selections are...
Documentary
- Winged Migration (2003) Directed by Jacques Perrin. (English w\ optional English, Spanish, Hindi or Portuguese subtitles) 89 mins. (CALL # DVD 598.2525 WIN) Breathtakingly beautiful, scene after scene, with a haunting musical score. This viewer's jaw dropped at the astonishing first view of geese in flight - from a vantage point right next to the geese! One can see and sense their strength and determination. This powerful documentary follows geese, swans, cranes, pelicans and more during their migrations over land and sea in search of food and nesting places. The added feature on the making of the film is informative and enjoyable.
Drama
- I Am Cuba (1964) Directed by Mikhail Kalatazov. (Spanish, Russian and English w\ English subtitles) 140 min. (CALL # DVD FICTION I) This Russian film, released in Cuba in 1964, could be called a "docu-drama" about the decadence of Batista's Havana amidst the poverty that fueled the Cuban Revolution. Due to the politically sensitive issues depicted, the film was relegated to archives for many years and not released until Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola collaborated to bring it to the public in 1999. Consisting of four vignettes, with gorgeous black and white cinematography by Sergei Urusevsky that can make you feel you're under the blazing Cuban sun, I am Cuba is well worth viewing. And, what an opportunity to challenge yourself in three languages at once: Spanish dialogue, Russian narration and a bit of English, too. It all works. The four stories depict Havana's gambling and nightlife, a farmer who loses his land to United Fruit Company, a student uprising, and government bombing of mountain farmlands and farming families.
- I'm not There (2008) Directed by Todd Haynes. 135 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION I'M) Yes, it does take at least six actors to portray Bob Dylan in some of his numerous aspects. Cate Blanchett is mesmerizing as the young pop/folk music idol on tour, backstage, and goofing with the Beatles at one point. (Beatle impersonators, that is.) BUT, don't overlook Christian Bale's subtle turns as a Christian convert, gospel-singing Dylan. His performance is finely wrought. (Actually, several pseudonyms are used to refer to Dylan at different points in his life but we always know who he is.) Quite an original approach to a larger-than-life artist and his life and music.
- From the Earth to the Moon (2005) Directed by Ron Howard. (English language) 720 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION FROM) Originally broadcast in 1998 on HBO, this epic miniseries, co-produced and hosted by Tom Hanks, takes on the challenge of chronicling the history of the Apollo space program and the astronauts and their families, from 1961 to 1972. The moon landing and exploration is said to be almost as impressive as the real thing. There's a featurette that reveals some of the secrets to making the moonwalking seem authentic. A Five DVD set; a box full of the history of some exciting and recent times that found many of us glued to our TV sets.
- Buffalo Soldiers (1997) Directed by Charles Haid. (English language) 100 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION BUFFALO) "Sharp account of the post-Civil War black cavalry troops known as the Buffalo Soldiers bursts with energy, tension and drive under Charles Haid's vigorous direction. Assembled from denizens of cities' alleys and byways and from Deep South Negroes only recently slaves, the Buffalo Soldiers were fierce fighters trained and ready for anything." Tony Scott, in Variety. Stars Danny Glover as ex-slave Sgt. Wyatt.
- The Visitor (2008) Directed by Thomas McCarthy. 104 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION VISITOR) Walter Vale, a widowed college professor, travels to NYC to speak and finds the apartment he and his wife had kept there has been rented out to illegal immigrants. The occupants threaten to call the police, until they realize that they are the trespassers. The film follows the characters closely as they attempt to deal with immigration officials and each other. Changes do take place in the lives of all of them. Richard Jenkins is an actor you'll swear you've seen before, and probably have. He is a master of subtlety and nuance in acting and, in fact, was nominated for an Acadamy Award for best actor for his portrayal of Walter Vale.
- Frozen River (2008) Directed by Courtney Hunt. (English) 97 mins. Rated R (CALL # DVD FICTION FROZEN) Facing economic hardship, two single mothers are lured by the promise of fast money to be made by smuggling illegal immigrants from Quebec into a Mohawk reservation in upstate New York. Writer and director Courtney Hunt has connections to the Hudson Valley. Brava, Courtney Hunt.
- Films of Michael Powell: A Matter of Life and Death (aka Stairway to Paradise) and Age of Consent (2009) Directed by Michael Powell. (English language) 210 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION FILMS) British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger formed a team called the "The Archers" and together created a string of masterpieces, some during WWII and reflective of the times. Stairway to Heaven (1946) is, as my mother explained to me back in the 1940s, "a movie with a message" and contains a fantastic heavenly courtroom scene in which David Niven, an injured pilot, pleads his case so that he may be returned to earth to be with the woman he loves (Kim Hunter). Age of Consent (1969) was the last feature film directed by Powell and stars James Mason (also co-producer) as a jaded painter living down under, on an island on the Great Barrier Reef, and looking for inspiration for his painting. As he settles into island living, which can pretty rough, a surprise presents itself in the form of is a very young and beautiful Cora (Helen Mirren) who lives with her alcoholic grandmother and sells sea critters to save money to get away. The lively colors of the paintings, blue skies, yellow boats and a bright red purse burst from the screen. You almost need sunglasses just to watch this one!
Comedy / Drama
- Caramel (2008) Directed by Nadine Labaki. (Arabic and French w\ English subtitles) 98 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION CARAMEL) A Beirut beauty salon becomes a treasured meeting place for several generations of women from various walks of life where they can go to talk, seek advice and confide in one another. Easy to figure out what's going on; it's very much like what goes on here in the U.S. Director Nadine Labaki plays the lead role of Layale, the operator of the salon. The trials and tribulations and celebrations of the ladies do lead to some happy endings. By the way, the caramel of the title is a mixture of sugar, water and lemon juice cooked to form a sticky sweet that's also good for removing unwanted hair - painfully. Caramel (the movie), shows us the pain as well as the sweetness life can hold.
- Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Directed by Bharat Narulli. (English or French w\ French or Spanish subtitles) 92 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION MISS) A British comedy that stars two gifted American actresses, Amy Adams and Frances McDormand, in a female buddy movie that takes place in one action-filled 24 hour period. There's great fun as the out-of-work Miss Pettigrew (McDormand) takes a job as social secretary to glamorous high-society singer Delysia Lafosse, who's juggling relationships with three men and desperate to be a star. That's it in a tiny nutshell except that the setting is london in the late thirties. Hard times, with soup kitchens bustling and war threatening. All the roles are well cast and the whole movie is a hoot. Amy Adams is especially delightful as the "busy" Miss Lafosse. The two women each need help with their lives and, luckily for them, each provides what the other needs in the way of advice and support, and friendship which, one is convinced, will be lifelong for them.
Mystery
An update for series fans! The following have been added to our listings:
- The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (CALL # DVD FICTION INEPECTOR):
- The first season - v.1-4
- Season five v.1-4
- Season six v. 1-4
- Closer (CALL # DVD FICTION CLOSER):
- The first season
- The second season
- The third season
Winter 2009 Edition
February 2, 2009
Our latest film selections are...
Documentary
- The Gleaners and I (2001) "a film by Agnes Varda" (French with optional English subtitles) 82 mins. (Call # 631.56 GLE) Gleaning refers to scavenging in potato fields, apple orchards, and vineyards, as well as in urban markets, for usable food or other items left behind. The phenomenon of scavenging became of great interest to Agnes Varda, an artist who at one point in the film referred to herself as a gleaner of people, finding beauty and meaning in lives overlooked by most of the world. Varda traveled around France in her little red car, with a hand-held video camera, interviewing gleaners, farmers, experts on the legalities of gleaning, and more, in an effort to preserve and share her observances and insights into life, which she accomplishes with gentle humor, caring, and enthusiasm.
Drama
- Away from Her (2007) Directed by Sarah Polley. (English language) 98 mins. PG-13 (Call # DVD FICTION AWAY) Fiona (Julie Christie) and George (Gordon Pinsent) are an Ontario couple married for forty years - happy and fulfilled. As Fiona's memory lapses intensify, a time comes when she willingly moves to an assisted living facility. Watching her, looking very elegant and composed as she introduces herself to the front desk staff upon arrival there, is indeed poignant. After a 30-day "no visitor" adjustment period, Gordon returns, only to find Fiona has formed a bond with another man, a patient in the facility. After a while it finally strikes Gordon that, altthough Fiona will politely tolerate listening to him briefly when he visits, she no longer recognizes him. He must say a painful goodbye to the woman he has loved. Life gradually begins to move on for him.
- Starting Out in the Evening (2007) Directed by Andrew Wagner. 111 mins. Rated R. (Call # DVD FICTION STARTING) Frank Langella stars as Leonard Schiller, a more-or-less forgotten, ill, and aging NYC author trying to complete his 4th novel before he dies. Sadly, his earlier novels, which showed much promise, are out of print. Leonard has a troubled daughter with a boyfriend she loves but they disagree on having children. Along comes, of all things, Heather, a clever young female graduate student on a mission to reintroduce Leonard's work to the world through making him the subject of her master's thesis. There's a lot of back and forth among the four main characters, including the predictable May-December relationship between Heather and Leonard. Frank Langella gives what some have called an Academy Award worthy performance as Leonard.
Paul Newman Tribute
In honor of the late Paul Newman we consulted a list of his greatest films and added these titles to our collection:
- The Long Hot Summer (1958) Directed by Martin Ritt. 115 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION LONG) Joanne Woodward, Orson Welles, Lee Remick and more in combined Faulkner short stories. Newman plays a wandering handyman who decides to stay around and marry Welles' daughter (she's not), Joanne Woodward. And, he did.
- The Verdict (1982) Directed by Sidney Lumet. 129 mins. Rated R (Call # DVD FICTION VERDICT) Newman plays a Boston lawyer whose career is sinking lower and lower until a case comes along that offers a chance to redeem himself as a fighter for justice. With Jack Warden, James Mason, and Charlotte Rampling.
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Directed by George Roy Hill. 110 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION BUTCH) A character study/western with lots of sharp dialogue and memorable music. Co-starring Robert Redford, of course.
- The Hustler (1961) Directed by Robert Rossen. 134 mins. Unrated. (Call # DVD FICTION HUSTLER) The "pool-hall movie" with Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, and Jake Lamotta. Newman, a drifter (again) challenges Minnesota Fats (Gleason).
Please note: You can also check our library catalog for more films featuring Paul Newman (some on VHS, others on DVD).
Romantic Comedy
- Who am I This Time? (1981) Directed by Jonathan Demme. 56 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION WHO) Features Academy Award winners-to-be Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon in a charming short film based on a short story by Kurt Vonnegut. A small town community theater group brings together two extremely shy people for a production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and fireworks erupt, onstage and off. Highly recommended.
Art & Foreign Films
- The Namesake (2007) Directed by Mira Nair. (English, French, and Hindi w/ subtitles in English, French, or Spanish) 122 mins. PG-13 (Call # DVD FICTION NAMESAKE) A young Bengali couple, he an aspiring engineer, she a classically trained singer, agree to an arranged marriage and set off to the U.S. to set up housekeeping and raise a family. The film, based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, follows their lives through events happy and sad. The son, improbably named Gogol, but that is movingly explained to him later by his father, becomes an architect with what looks to be a prosperous future. He decides to reconnect with his Indian roots and life takes a detour. The film is a wonderful look at the lives, fortunes, and misfortunes, of the Ganguli family. We are given a rich combination of moving, beautiful, colorful and humorous moments.
- Under the Bombs (2007) Directed by Phillippe Aractingi . (in Arabic, English, and French with English subtitles) 98 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION UNDER) A docudrama employing only two professional actors - to play lead characters Zeina, a Shiite Lebanese woman searching for her young son following the bombings of Hezbollah by Israel - and Tony, a Lebanese Christian cab driver who is the only one in Beirut willing to help her in her quest (for a hefty fee). All the other individuals along the way are real people. Men, women, and children alike give compelling "performances" as themselves. Combining newsreel footage of the devastation in southern Lebanon with live performances provides a unique and close look at the 2006 war. The bomb explosions are real, but no actual physical violence is shown. None is needed to convey the horror of the situation.
Cookery
A tasty sampling of cookery DVDs in the Thrall collection:
These last two "CookingOnDVD" presentations are part of a project that takes viewers around the world and into all kinds of kitchens with cooks preparing recipes in their native countries. With English narration, one has the oppportunity to look "over the shoulder" of the individual cooks to see exactly what they're doing. No snappy kitchen patter here. Lots of views of real cooks working in their own kitchens around the world. Interesting!
Fall 2008 Film Edition
October 17, 2008
We invite you to check out these titles from our film collections at Middletown Thrall Library.
Click a film's title to check on its availability in the library catalog. You can also try
to reserve a film once in the catalog. For even more selections, please come to the library
and browse our collections!
Our selections for Fall 2008 are...
Art & Foreign Films
- The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (2001) Directed by Trevor Nunn. (English w/French, German, & Italian subtitles) 184 mins.
(Call # DVD FICTION PORGY)
From a story by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, with music by George and Ira Gershwin. This Glyndbourne Opera Production (England) was so good it was taken into a studio and filmed - and with awesome results. Willard White as Porgy and Cynthia Haymon as Bess are superb. This is a truly beautiful and deeply moving production of what has been called "an American opera."
- Sing Faster: The Stagehands' Ring Cycle (2004) Written, produced and directed by John Else. (English language, except for the opera bits, but does it matter? Not really.) Approx. 56 mins plus extras
(Call # DVD 782.1 SIN)
Hilarious and tremendously entertaining! This Sundance winner takes viewers backstage at the San Francisco Opera during a long production (14 hrs. Give or take a few minutes for those who were there for it) of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle. One might wonder what the heck is going on in this opera. The stagehands have their own unique opinions. This film, in addition to being roll-on-the-floor funny, shows the tremendous efforts required backstage to make everything in the opera happen exactly when and how it's supposed to. Trolls! Giants! Magic Mountains! A fire-breathing dragon!
- Diva (Orig. 1982) Directed by Jean Jacques Beineix. (French and English w/optional English subtitles) 118 mins./R
(Call # DVD FICTION DIVA)
When a young Parisian postman makes an illegal recording of a live performance by a beautiful American opera singer (Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez), he becomes the target of Taiwanese music pirates. And, when the tape (tape!!) becomes confused with a cassette of murder evidence it adds to the action as he is also chased by professional assassins. Lots of action, beautiful music, fantastic artists' lofts, and classic characters. And a motorcycle chase through the Paris subway. Said to be one of the most stylish and influential thrillers of recent years.
- L'Atalante (1934) Directed by Jean Vigo. (French w/ English subtitles) 87 mins.
(Call # DVD FICTION L'ATALANTE)
A classic early French film with immense beauty, albeit about events aboard a cramped river barge, L'Atalante, as the captain and his bride begin married life. The bride becomes bored and craves the excitement of Paris, but an eccentric barge hand, Pere Jules, brings the couple back together again.
- Rivers and Tides (2001) Director/cinematographer/editor, Thomas Reidelsheimer. (English) 90 mins.
(Call # DVD 702.8 RIV)
Meditative documentary look at the Scottish Artist Andy Goldsworthy creating some of his outdoor art works, sometimes in ice, sometimes with flowers and other found items of nature. All eventually fade, melt, flow away and leave one with a sense of their beauty. Goldsworthy's voice lets us in on why he works the ways he does.
Musicals
- Flying Down to Rio (1933) Directed by Thornton Freeland. Music by Vincent Youmans. 89 mins.
(Call # DVD FICTION FLYING)
The very first film to partner Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers! Includes the exciting "Carioca" and an amazing closing number with chorus girls perched on the wings of airplanes. Although the lead star of the film, Dolores Del Rio, does a fine job in her role (and wears beautiful outfits) it's Fred and Ginger who steal the show. And, as they provided folks with spirit-lifting entertainment during the Great Depression, perhaps they can do the same again in 2008. Worth a try.
Comedy
- It Should Happen to You (1954) Directed by George Cukor. (In English w/ optional English, French, or Japanese subtitles.) 88 mins.
(Call # DVD FICTION IT)
There are three leading actors in this delightful film: Jack Lemmon (in his big screen debut), Judy Holliday (yay), and New York City in the fifties, especially Columbus Circle. Should you decide to view this DVD, you'll understand the bit about Columbus Circle. And, Central Park. A very sweet boy-meets-girl, etc. story with a skilled and charming cast. Don't miss Jack and Judy singing "Let's Fall in Love."
Drama
- Daughters of the Dust (1991) Produced, written, and directed by Julie Dash. (In English) 113 mins.
(Call # DVD FICTION DAUGHTERS)
The story of a large African-American family as they prepare to move north from the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia at the dawn of the 20th century. Kudos to Julie Dash for making a film that can draw you into the daily lives of this extended family as they cope with change and loss and the end of life as it had been lived for generations.
- Boesman & Lena (1999) Based on a play by Athol Fugard; adapted and directed by John Berry. (English) 84 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION BOESMAN) Examines the devastating effects of racism on the human spirit through the progress of one couple's life together under Apartheid, as they are pushed from the bucolic Eden of South Africa's farmlands into a makeshift shelter on the mudflats near Capetown.
Welcome to Beyond the Box Office!
October 17, 2008
Welcome to the web edition of our new quarterly print publication called "Beyond the Box Office."
Starting with our Fall 2008 issue, every few months we will highlight various films
(from our collections) which we think you might find interesting.
We hope you use these lists to go beyond the usual Hollywood box office fare and discover some true cinematic gems.
If you would like more assistance in finding some films, we also have movie guides in print as well
as access to movie databases and reviews at the library.
You can also check out our
Entertainment web guide and the
Movies section of our Ready Reference web guide.
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