Rob Recommends "The King's Speech" (the movie)

It’s not often that I agree with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I, for one, would trust me a lot sooner than I would trust the Academy to pick anything but Best Make-up. I can’t be lobbied and my vote can’t be bought. I never have any friends or relatives up for nomination and I have never taken a film course. So you can believe me when I say that The King’s Speech is a really good film. As you no doubt know, the movie is about King George VI, his terrible stutter, his non-fawning speech coach and yes, his big speech on the eve of World War II. Not an obviously attractive subject. (What, no chase scenes?)  See it for the acting, a satisfying story and especially the interplay between King (Colin Firth) and “doctor” (Geoffrey Rush).  

A note: While the main storyline is apparently pretty close to “true,” some history has been mangled in the filmmaking process. 

Another note: Check out Debra's post on the recorded book version.

Rob Recommends the documentary There But for Fortune

I will admit it hadn’t occurred to me to mention There But for Fortune here in Staff Reads. But I happened across a list of top movies for 2011 and there it was (with a rottentomatoes.com rating by critics of 100% positive).  The film documents the life and work of Phil Ochs—the protest singer form the 1960s and 70s.  There But for Fortune breaks no new ground in movie-making, but does a very nice job of placing Ochs in the storm of counter-cultural/anti-war protest that seemed to envelop the decade. With video, songs, stills and interviews, Kenneth Bowser the director, documents the troubled life of Ochs the artist and activist and the movement he was part of.

 I had assumed that the film’s appeal for me had to do with my having grown up listening to his songs. Plus his family and mine criss-crossed in a couple of minor ways in New York.   So it was with some surprise that I read the reviews from sources as far apart as the Boston Herald and the New York Times crediting the movie as a fitting tribute to a man worth remembering.

In addition to the movie, the Library owns seven CDs byOchs.

Rob recommends "The Visitor"

After I finished watching "The Visitor" and after a thoughtful discussion with my family, I began to imagine the same plot in the hands of another director. This didn't have to be a great movie...
Richard Jenkins plays a middle-aged college professor who's lost his wife and with her death, his spirit. He arrives at his seldom-used apartment in Manhattan to find an immigrant couple living there without his knowledge (victimized by a scam-artist). He ends up letting them stay. That touch of compassion sets in motion a reawakening of his own humanity and slowly, his zest for life. Tarek, the man of the couple, is a Syrian drummer who is as open and friendly as Walter (Jenkins) is shut down. The two bond and Tarek teaches Walter to play the African drums. Trouble strikes when Tarek is swallowed up by the immigration authorities.
I couldn't help but think about the many ways another director might have overplayed it: casting a flashier Walter, zeroing in on his transformation (rather than allowing the changes to seep in more believably), hard-selling the message about illegal immigrants, in general going for the cliche instead of nuance, easy sentiment instead subtlety.

Mike gets "Justified"

For the past few years, television has been the place to go to for a decent story as Hollywood has become addicted to blockbuster hits devoid of an intelligent plot. You may have enjoyed the exquisitely paced Mad Men, period pieces like Downton Abbey, or the social misfit humor of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but if you're still jonesing for a bit of action then you should come to the library and check out the first season of Justified. Based on a short story by the expert author/screen writer Elmore Leonard, Justified follows deputy U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens after he's relegated to an office in the piney woods of Kentucky which just happen to be the area he was born in and spent his life trying to stay away from. His particular brand of justice is what keeps me so interested in the story; with a style that consists of equal mixes Western gunslinger, chivalrous knight, and unconventional law man, it's always what gets Raylan into trouble but is also his only way out of it. I promise you, you'll never think of a hillbilly the same way after watching this show. And for those of you who are already enjoying what may be considered Elmore Leonard's greatest work yet, you should check out Raylan, his new (and first) novel featuring the show's main character.

Rob Recommends the Movie "Waste Land"

I have to admit that I was not overly anxious to see the film. My wife heard that it was good and insisted we try it. But somehow a movie about garbage pickers in a Brazilian dump didn't seem like the most uplifting film in the world. Wrong on both counts: It was a great film and it was definitely not depressing. Director Lucy Walker films artist Vik Muniz as he engages the catadores of the vast Jardim Gramacho dump on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, in an art project. The pickers are actually recyclers, a distinction they are quick to point out. They are paid by recycling wholesalers to reclaim specific materials from mountains of garbage. During the course of the film we get to know about five of the pickers. What makes the film so absorbing is the attitude of Muniz and Walker, both avoiding the twin traps of romanticizing their subjects or viewing them as specimens through some laboratory instrument. The artist's goal of transformation is accomplished mostly by the group's participation in the project, but also more materially in raising money for the pickers' own Association of Recycling Pickers of Jardim Gramacho. A wonderful movie.

Megan recommends: State of Play

State of Play

No, not the American movie with Russell Crowe. Go watch the six hour British miniseries from 2003. It's got a suspenseful, intricate plot where politicians and journalists collide and it's really well-acted. The research assistant for a member of Parliament is killed in a London Underground accident. At the same time, a teenage pickpocket is shot dead. How are the two connected? That's where the journalists from the London newspaper The Herald come in.

Mike detects that you'll enjoy Sleuth

Sleuth, with Michael Caine and Lawrence Olivier

I've been dipping my toes into the mystery genre these past few months and my most recent foray was one that I've particularly enjoyed. In Sleuth (originally a Tony Award-winning play by Anthony Shaffer), Michael Caine plays a dapper young man who has wooed the wife of a millionaire detective fiction author, played by Lawrence Olivier. Invited to the author's mansion, the young Casanova is drawn into a game of wits with a man who has made his life out of weaving intricate traps and games. The talents of these two fine actors are on display as the story takes us through a series of intrigues and plays for the upper hand; it's sure to be a crowdpleaser whether you're a mystery fan or just enjoy watching a couple of great actors.

Summer Movie Tie-In's, Comic Book Style!

For those of you who are comic book fans or read comics as a kid, this summer might find you pale and pasty as you're spending the majority of your time indoors enjoying a movie rather than outdoors enjoying the sun. With both DC and Marvel in the game, as well as other comic-based movies like Cowboys & Aliens, you've got your plate full. So now that you've seen the movies, what comics should you read?

If you've been enjoying Marvel's blockbusters like Thor and Captain America, look no further than Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America and J. Michael Straczynski's Thor series. Brubaker has taken the Captain along some of the most groundbreaking storylines in comic history starting with the reintroduction of Bucky, his long-lost sidekick who was brainwashed into working as a Soviet assassin--and that's not to mention the widely publicized Death of Captain America that followed. Straczynski's run on Thor was unfortunately cut short when the author jumped ship for DC but was widely acclaimed as one of the strongest run on the mythological Thunder God's comic as he returned from the dead and the destruction of Ragnarok to engage with some of the century's most disastrous human- and nature-born events like Hurricane Katrina and genocide in Africa.

DC has begun unearthing some of their popular crime fighters and started with the intergalactic peace officer Green Lantern, and much like Brubaker with Captain America, Geoff Johns has taken the character of Hal Jordan and reinvented him to take on some of the events that have had the greatest impact on the DC Universe, like the Blackest Night/Brightest Day series. Even if you were underwhelmed by the movie you shouldn't hold it against Johns, trust me.

Sue Recommends Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is back for Book 17, Smokin' Seventeen. The pressure is on to make a decision on which hunk in her life will be her only one--handsome Detective Joe Morelli or mysterious, muscle-bound Ranger. She continues to be in hilarious situations in New Jersey with her sidekick, Lula (a former prostitute), as she tracks down subjects who failed to appear in court for her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie.

Lots of laughs are in store. Be ready to call your friends or wake your husband to read laugh out loud passages from the book. The humor is what keeps me waiting for the next book in the series--in this case, Explosive Eighteen (Nov. 22, 2011). For more fun, listen to the audiobook as the reader, Lorelei King, brings the characters to life.

Fans will also enjoy the One for the Money movie based on Evanovich's first book in the series. The cast includes Katherine Heigl as Stephanie, Sherri Shepherd as Lula, Jason O’Mara as Morelli, Daniel Sunjata as Ranger, and Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur. Evanovich sold the rights to the movie so she had no control on changes made in the story. Hope it will be just as entertaining as her books.

SH

Trailer from rhpub group

Megan recommends: The Station Agent

The Station Agent

I went to college with Tom McCarthy and remember riding the elevator in our apartment building with him senior year. We both lived on the sixth floor. Little did I know that he would one day become a well-known actor and director. The Station Agent is the first movie he wrote and directed and it's a really great small film. What's it about? Many things and not much at all...relationships, solitude versus companionship. Best of all, A+ for an _actual_ positive portrayal of a public librarian in a movie.
MAF

Easy A is surprisingly good!

At the beginning of Easy A, Olive Penderghast tells us that she would like her life to be like an 80’s movie. She wishes John Hughes directed her life, so she could ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey or find John Cusack holding a boom box outside her window. It turns out that Olive’s life is similar to a John Hughes movie (and in a smart move by the writers, 80’s movie references abound in the dialogue). Her story starts when her English class is reading The Scarlet Letter, and in a feeble attempt to be noticed by her hilarious but self-absorbed best friend Rhee, Olive sarcastically tells her that she lost her virginity to a college guy. Rhee believes it, and soon Olive has a reputation she didn’t create, but might as well embrace, as it comes with a new found notoriety. Wackiness ensues when Olive decides she can make money off the deal and help her gay, unpopular, or unattractive friends by charging them money to tell people they slept with her.

The rest of the plot purposely resembles The Scarlet Letter, and slyly references its predecessors in the teen rom-com genre. I know you’re thinking that it sounds just like every other teen movie ever. But what sets Easy A apart from its counterparts is the witty dialogue, smart acting, and a sharp sense of humor. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor does the writer assume that the audience is made up of idiots. Teens will love the self referential humor, as well as the shrewd observations about life in high school. Adults will love the witty banter and the charming cast. Emma Stone is delightful as Olive, and Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci are hilarious as Olive’s hippie parents.

I was delighted that Easy A was so smart and funny, since I knew it would be an inevitable addition to my collection, which is already bursting at the seams with teen angst and romantic comedy. I can’t resist watching it every time it’s on TV, or even every time I see it on my DVD shelf.

Mike can't get enough of Sherlock Holmes

In my quest to read genres new to me, I've tried tackling mysteries. They're an untapped vein of literature that has sadly remained outside of my purview for some time--and for those of you who are die-hard mystery fans (like half of all of our patrons) you're probably shaking your head, wondering if you should even bother reading further. Do not despair however, because I am a convert, and have been baptized by one of the best--Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.


There are a ton of great ways to get into the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick/chronicler, Dr. James Watson. For instance, if you're taking a long drive or making a daily commute, you can't go wrong by listening to the BBC Radio dramatizations. Produced with a full cast, the performance has a wonderful radio nostalgia feel about it; they performed every work in the series but you might try cutting your teeth on the first volume of the Sherlock Holmes Essentials, recently released.

If you want to listen to the work as it was originally written, however, you can't go wrong with a reading by Simon Prebble. Check out The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, which features some of the notable moments in Sherlock Holmes' career, such as an instance when he was incorrect about his deductions (and that's not his tax deductions).

Or would you rather watch something on the telly? Look no further than the recently produced Sherlock series on BBC. This modern re-envisioning of the world's greatest detective is as dark as it is witty and was an absolute hit; the series won a BAFTA for "best drama series" and Martin Freeman, who portrayed Dr. Watson for the series, garnered another one for his supporting role.

And if you're a novitiate in the Church of Holmes, you'll of course need to peruse the originals. Reading a copy of the two-volume Annotated Sherlock Holmes will make you better informed than almost any Holmes expert and will look handsome on the bookshelf, which you can admire while thoughtfully smoking a pipe or playing your violin.

Megan recommends: In the Loop

Do you ever feel like politics is just all spin? Then you're sure to laugh all the way through the film In the Loop, a satire on politics in Britain and the United States. The British Prime Minister is being pressured to support the American presence in the Middle East. Unfortunately, he just gave a radio interview where he stated that war was "unforeseeable." How do casual comments become major news stories? And what do you do with a political figure who just can't seem to say what he's supposed to?

Megan recommends: Cairo Time

If you like slow-moving art house films, Cairo Time is a good pick for you. Set in - where else - Cairo, it's a beautifully shot film. The plot is slim. Juliette, a magazine editor, goes to Cairo for a vacation. She's supposed to meet up with her husband there, but the husband, a UN employee, is stuck working in Gaza. He sends his former co-worker, Tareq, to meet Juliette at the airport and show her the city until he can get to Cairo. The film centers on the interaction between Juliette and Tareq and the connection the two form.

Debra's picks : 10 Great Dance Films

Dirty Dancing Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Jack Weston
Strictly Ballroom Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson, Gia Carides, Peter Whitford, Barry Otto.
Take the Lead Antonio Banderas
Swing Time Ginger Rogers, Fred Astair

Mad Hot Ballroom Eleven-year-old New York City public school children journey into the world of ballroom dancing

An American in Paris Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron
Singin' in the Rain Gene Kelly, Donald O'connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen
Chicago
Taye Diggs, Renee Zellweger, Queen Latifah, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lucy Liu, John C. Reilly, Richard Gere
Burn the Floor Filmed at the Canberra Theatre, Australia.

42nd Street George Brent, Dick Powell, Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers

Rob Recommends Ed Sullivan???

Or perhaps he recommends Sullivan's guests, THE BEATLES!
There's something about watching the early Beatles on a simple stage with simple video and basic audio that brings back the sense of excitement we all felt back then. Well, maybe not we all--I'm exhibiting a bit of babyboomism here. But really, the fresh young faces, the sharing of microphones, the self-conscious grins--I love it! The recent release of a 2-video set of the Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Beatles is a wonderful walk down memory lane. It's not just the Beatles' 15 songs (they've been released before), but it's all the other period pieces that made up the Ed Sullivan Show: the comedians, singers, novelty acts and even the original commercials. The screaming, tearful, ecstatic fans (and Ed Sullivan's gentle but firm admonitions for them to behave properly) only add to the fun. What's wrong with nostalgia anyway?

Megan suggests: Sweet Land

I was watching The Good Wife on TV the other night and enjoyed seeing Elizabeth Reaser and Alan Cumming on the same show. It made me think of a movie I had seen them in together a few years ago: Sweet Land.

Inge (Elizabeth Reaser) is an orphan from Norway who has come to rural Minnesota to marry Olaf, a young Norwegian immigrant farmer. Olaf's parents back in Norway have arranged the marriage, but the small farming town (and her future husband) soon find out that Inge is a German with no papers. Anti-German sentiment in Post World War I society impedes their marriage, but love eventually conquers all. Alan Cumming appears as Olaf's friend Frandsen, whose farm is in danger of foreclosure.

No Impact Man is a winner

The documentary of Colin Beavan's year-long experiment to lessen his carbon footprint on the planet was a 2009 selection at the Sundance Film Festival. Beavan, along with his wife, young daughter and dog, committed to 12 months of New York City hi-rise living minus elevators, motorized transportation, electricity, toilet paper, and take-out. Family relationships and dynamics were changed in a way Beavan never anticipated. The experience was life-changing for all involved. Even Michelle, Colin's fashionista wife, joined the side of sustainability. Enjoy the companion book of the same name No Impact Man : The advantures of a guilty liberal who attempts to save the planet and the discoveries he makes about himself and our way of life in the process by Colin Beavan.

Mike Asks: Have You Seen The Tudors?

Following up on my interest in Henry VIII that was generated by reading Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, I started watching the Showtime dramatization of his reign, which just wrapped up with its fourth season this year. The Tudors provides some very high drama, the kind you would expect with a philandering king drunk on absolute power, willing and able to slaughter his enemies (who were most often his friends just the day before), and subject to mood swings befitting a four-year-old. The writers take quite a bit of artistic liberty and don't pretend to be historically accurate, so don't get upset when events that took years to play out happen in the span of one episode, but the courtly intrigues and skillful acting by Jonathan Rhys Meyers more than make up for any of that.

No Debate About It--The Great Debater is Great, Says Rob

If my son weren't on the debate team, I probably never would have seen this movie. But what a great film! Set in the 1930s, the story (based on a true story) is about the debate team of Wiley College, a small Black college in Texas. Denzel Washington delivers an impeccable performance as the professor 100% committed to helping his team win. Look for some rough scenes of racial oppression, and dome underdog-coming-from-behind scenes held together by uniformly solid acting. Denzel Washington directs and Oprah Winfrey produces.