Movies Blog

Sir Laurence Olivier on DVD

googler@evpl — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:16:00 GMT

I used to have a bit of a weakness for Sir Larry in his prime, and I still watch Rebecca whenever I see it's on TV. I noticed we have a fairly recent release of an old Olivier film from that period, and it made me wonder what others we may have acquired recently. Here are the three latest DVDs in the Library that feature, frankly, one of the best-looking actors ever:

1. That Hamilton Woman (1941) is an account of a famous love affair, that between the great British admiral Lord Nelson, and Lady Hamilton, the wife of a British ambassador. Says Amanda Mae Meynacke, the film is a "robust affair, brimming with vitality and nuance, the kind of film that is too deliciously layered to be taken at face value. Real life couple Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier starred in the 1941 film, with Alexander Korda directing the epic historical war romance. Leigh and Olivier were a newly minted couple who came together while still married to other people, much like Hamilton and Nelson, apparently magnetically drawn together as if their love was always meant to be."

2. My own favorite Olivier movie was re-released on DVD in 2008, Rebecca (1940), based on the Daphne du Maurier novel and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The movie is a wonderfully atmospheric suspense film, although you may find yourself frustrated by Joan Fontaine's exaggerated mousiness (and wonder, like I did, why Olivier's character ever wanted to marry her at all). I tend to watch Olivier movies just to hear the way he delivers lines, and the way he says "I'm asking you to marry me, you little fool" is an all-time favorite.

3. Pride and Prejudice (1940) has seen a number of film and television adaptations, of course, and if you love the book, you may well dislike this movie. "The script is so light in tone, and so light on its resemblance to the novel’s storyline and characters, that purists will find it wholly insufferable. Those with a sense of humor or affection for this era of Hollywood, however, will very quickly fall in love with it," says one blogger at the "My Pride and Prejudice" website.

Do you have a favorite Olivier film, or do you prefer Cary Grant? Tell us in the comments!

Easy Virtue

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:55:00 GMT

I am a huge fan of Colin Firth. I might question his decision to make films such as What a Girl Wants, but he easily redeems himself with performances in Love Actually, Then She Found Me, and now Easy Virtue. In this movie, Firth plays the distant father and husband of an English family living in a crumbling estate. Firth’s character returned home after wandering around Europe following WWI as part of the Lost Generation. He now hides in his family’s shed repairing an old motorcycle and avoiding his family and their problems. He pops up throughout the movie with sardonic wit and repressed feelings.

Easy Virtue was adapted from a Noel Coward play set in the late 1920s. Jessica Biel plays American racecar driver, Larita, who steals the heart of English heir, John (played by Ben Barnes). The two marry and head to the family's English estate. Larita faces the scorn of her new mother-in-law who had plans for her son to marry the wealthy neighbor girl. Kristin Scott Thomas does an excellent job as the mother fighting against her daughter-in-law for her son's attention and affection. Larita's only allies come in the form of the family's servants and father-in-law (Firth). Once her past scandals come to surface, however, Larita must decide if she will stay with John or leave him and his family behind.

I loved the music, costumes, and actors in Easy Virtue. This movie slipped my attention before landing on the library shelves, so I guess many others may have missed it as well. Check it out- highly recommended.

Sunshine Cleaning

KickinLibrarian@evpl — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:24:00 GMT

Rose and Norah were little girls when their little mother died. They both came in from playing in the yard to find their mom dead in the bathroom, an apparent suicide. As the two girls grow up, that day shapes their lives. Rose is a single mother working hard as a house cleaner to raise her son, while having an affair with her married high school sweetheart. Norah is a party girl. She doesn't have a boyfriend, drinks all the time, and can't hold a job. Their father is a quirky man always looking for a get-rich-quick scheme.

After Rose's son is expelled from school and a reunion with her high school friends approaching, Rose convinces Norah to start a crime scene cleaning business with her. Hilarity ensues as the two women struggle to learn the ropes of cleaning up grisly crime scenes, but there is an underlying seriousness as well. With their new business taking off, both Rose and Norah have to come to grips with what happen to their mother all those years ago and figure out what they want out of their own lives.

Fans of Little Miss Sunshine will like this movie with the quirky characters, humor, but a serious storyline as well. I laughed out loud and cried a few times as well. Highly recommended.

"Hot Fuzz" a modern spoof film worth watching

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:20:00 GMT

While channel surfing several weekends ago, I happened upon Naked Gun 33 1/3 airing on Comedy Central. I used to love the Naked Gun series, with Leslie Nielsen portraying a bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin. It made me recall some of the other "classic" (I use that word subjectively) spoof films of the late 80s and early 90s, like Spaceballs, Hot Shots!, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Okay, so none of these movies are all that great, but I still enjoy them to this day. And it's not just from nostalgia-goggles...the lame, in-your-face comedy cracks me up.

I then thought about the current state of the spoof movie...and it's a bit painful. From the Scary Movie's to Meet the Spartans to Superhero/Date/Epic/Disaster Movie, things have come a long way. In my opinion (and on IMDB & Rotten Tomatoes), most of these movies are unwatchable. But someone's watching them, as they all make millions (and Sci-Fi Movie & Scary Movie 5 are in the works).

It was there, in the midst of that frightening darkness, that I recalled a beacon of hope...a 2007 film called Hot Fuzz. I rewatched it to get the bad taste out of my mouth and was amazed...a modern spoof movie that's witty & funny!

Hot Fuzz, in a nutshell, is a spoof on the "buddy cop" movie (i.e. Rush Hour, Bad Boys) from the guys that created Shaun of the Dead (a romantic comedy, with zombies!). Here's the official plot summary, better than what I could come up with:

Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is the finest cop London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force. He's so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel's superiors send him to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing - the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford.

Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager police officer Danny Butterman (Nick Frost). The son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman, Danny is a huge action movie fan and believes his new big-city partner might just be a real-life "bad boy," and his chance to experience the life of gunfights and car chases he so longs for. Angel is quick to dismiss this as childish fantasy and Danny's puppy-like enthusiasm only adds to Angel's growing frustration.

However, as a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and as the intrigue deepens, Danny's dreams of explosive, high-octane, car-chasing, gunfighting, all-out action seem more and more like a reality. It's time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice.

This movie is absolutely hysterical! Pegg & Frost always work great together, and Hot Fuzz continues that trend. Their dialogue, characterization, everything is A+! Every "buddy cop" and over-the-top action movie cliche is taken on here. Whether it's the humorously-overdone gore, the hilariously-brilliant plot you won't see coming, the insane gunfight at the end, the FOUR cliffhanger endings, or "firing your gun in the air and yelling 'aaaahhhhh!!!'" (ala Point Break), you will laugh profusely while watching this movie. Unless you have a condition that prevents you from laughing.

Below is a short clip of one of my favorite scenes. If you find yourself laughing, you owe it to yourself to watch the whole movie!

(Please visit the site to view this media)

More Information

Library Catalog: Check the availability of Hot Fuzz on DVD. The EVPL has widescreen and fullscreen versions.
Theatrical Trailer: Check out the theatrical trailer for a glimpse of the humor, guns, & gore.
User Reviews: The movie has an 8.0/10 rating on IMDB and a 90% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

United 93 a haunting memorial to September 11th passengers

lit.fic.reader@evpl — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:51:00 GMT

As yet another September 11th anniversary comes and goes, I thought I'd suggest a film I watched several years ago about United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed into a farm field in Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. At the time, I hesitated to check it out, knowing the awful outcome; but on the basis of a number of favorable reviews, I felt almost an obligation to see it and was glad that I did. Director Paul Greengrass's imagining of what transpired on the doomed plane is filmed in a documentary style using mostly unknown actors. All the action unfolds as the events take place with no histories of any of the characters and no flashbacks. The story alternates between the increasingly terrified passengers and the bewildered air traffic controllers, and military and government officials on the ground. There are a few intense scenes of violence, but they are few and very short. All the characters, whether air controllers, passengers, or terrorists, are presented as ordinary human beings. There is no fingerpointing by the director, no political commentary.

Although it might seem a strange comparison, as this film drew to its close, I was reminded of the scene in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds in which the camera draws back and we see birds circling high above a ruined bay in flames -- no narration, just silent watching. Even so, the desperate efforts of the passengers to seize control of the plane is enormously moving; this film is highly recommended.

"Dexter" season 3

MediaPhile@evpl — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:42:00 GMT

The lovable serial killer/blood spatter anaylyst with a Code of Ethics (he only kills killers) is back!

This time Dexter makes a friend! It is, unfortunately, Miami Assistant D.A. Miguel Prado, played by Jimmy Smits. Can Dexter keep his secrets but continue his mission? Turns out that A.D.A. Prado has through the years compiled his own hit list, and he enlists Dexter's advice on carrying out his personal vendettas.

Then there is Dexter's domestic situation. Can a secret killer also make a good father and husband? His angelic girlfriend thinks so. But will marriage cramp his style?

Michael C. Hall, who delighted us as the gay undertaker in turmoil in "Six Feet Under" easily slipped into Dexter's shoes. It is sheer pleasure just to watch him act. Another high point of the series is Jennifer Carpenter, who plays Dexter's tomboyish adopted sister Debra, a woman who knows how to speak her mind. In real life Hall married Carpenter in January 2009.

Just a note: don't even THINK of watching Season 3 until you have seen the first two seasons. (And be sure to stick with the first season through at least 4 episodes before passing judgment -- Dexter DOES develop a conscience!)

Movies to Make Me Yawn

this.is.not.here@evpl — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:41:00 GMT

Lately I haven't seen anything that I am just dying to see. I took Duplicity home. I popped it into the old dvd player Sunday night and prepared to be entertained by Clive Owens and Julia Roberts. The first scene caught my eye where there was no dialog and Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti appeared to be on an airport runway and in v-e-r-r-r-yyyy s-l-o-wwww motion they began to fight.

From then on there was really nothing interesting to see or hear so I put the tv on mute and listened to my latest book on my mp3 player. I realize this is a negative non-review of a movie but I'm just trying to be honest. Anybody else seen it? Come on disagree with me!!!! Tell me I'm just not giving it a chance. Somebody yell at me. Then tell me what movies you couldn't bear to watch.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

PotionsMaster@evpl — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Personally, I tend to like the darker side of everything. I like Darth Maul in Star Wars, the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow, Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series (hence my user name), and, well, you get the point. I'm drawn to them because I like to suppose on how they became the way they are. I'm also a sap for musicals (I 'heart' Sweeney Todd...that alone should illustrate my preference), so when my sister pointed me towards "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog", I was intrigued.

The story? Dr. Horrible is trying to get into the Evil League of Evil, run by Bad Horse: the Thoroughbred of Sin, but he has to pull off a truly evil plan before his application is approved. Captain Hammer consistently thwarts Dr. Horrible. As an added twist, Dr. Horrible is crushing on this girl who is always at the laundrymat when he is. It follows how the villian reaches super-villian status with humor, great songs, and while pulling on your heart strings at the same time. Dr. Horrible reaches his goals, ultimately, but at what cost to him?

"I have a PhD in Horribleness!" After watching this, that phrase has become an inside joke between my sister and I. This could be one of the funniest musicals I've ever seen. For such a small production (it was made specifically to be online), it has two pretty recognizable stars in it: Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) and Nathan Fillion (from 'Firefly' and 'Serentity'). You might also recognize one of the Sears comercial girls, Felicia Day, as the leading lady.

It's short and well worth the 42 minutes it is. I would rate it PG-13, as there is a little sexual innuendo and a little bit of strong language. I was left wanting more, and after you check it out, I'm sure you will too.

Woodstock ---Celebrate the 40th Anniversary

this.is.not.here@evpl — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:57:00 GMT

No. Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. This is really a 3 day Woodstock Ticket from 1969. My husband fooled around with the wording from our copy of the Woodstock videocasette and came up with this "collage."

And No I didn't go but yes I did know someone who did. That person turned out to be my daughter's father which makes her only 39.

He's gone but the story of where the ticket came from still lives on. It seems that he had bought the ticket but never got a chance to use it. If you've ever seen the movie Woodstock you will recall the scene where the massive crowd, 200,000 strong, knocked the fence down and just stormed Yasgur's Farm. Tickets or no tickets------everyone got in including him. He kept his ticket and I ended up with it.

If you haven't seen the movie, put it on your list of movies to see. I still remember all the energy I felt just from seeing it on the big screen. Roger Daltrey from The Who and his white fringe vest flying and falling against his bare chest as he twirled the microphone and sang "See Me, Feel Me" has stayed with me to this day. You can also listen to the Woodstock Soundtrack

There is a new movie that is coming out soon called "Taking Woodstock". It is a behind the scenes look about the making of the festival itself. So celebrate the 40th anniversary of "The Summer of Love" any way you want to. There is something for everyone.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

'Horsemen' Blasts Out of the Starting Gate, but Finishes Out of the Money

PotionsMaster@evpl — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:20:00 GMT

I admit it, I like horror movies and the 'psychological thriller' genre. I like the delicious 'scared-but-not-really' feeling they give and besides, it gives me an excuse to latch on to my husband for dear life. I also have a life that for the most part revolves around horses, so when I saw a horror flick called 'Horsemen', I just had to pick it up. Starring Dennis Quaid and Zhang Ziyi (Sayuri from 'Memoirs of a Geisha'), it has pretty big names attached to it. I didn't remember hearing about it, or even seeing it released in theatres. That should have been a clue.

Right off the bat, the movie catapults you into frozen solid Michigan and an old man discovering a platter of bloody teeth with his dog. "Come and See" is daubbed on 4 trees in red paint. Interesting (and creepy) enough to catch my interest and hold it. Dennis Quaid is the haggard, emotionally down and struggling father and detective featured who apparently is an expert in forensic odontology (teeth).

The first murder scene happens the next day and is very 'red'; the colors are very important in this movie. The body is hung from steel fish hooks from a specially made rack and has a necklace with a sword around its neck. Also important. The second murder scene has a 'black' theme and again, the body was strung up on fish hooks and sported a necklace, this one was a set of balances. Both murder scenes had 'Come and See' written on four walls.

As an art major, I understand symbolism and how it is used, particularly color. I started to recognize the pattern, and growing up Roman Catholic, the symbolism and movie title started to make sense. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are White (Conquest), Red (War), Black (Pestilence), and Death (Green). The Red rider carries a sword and the Black rider carries the balances. "Come and See" are words spoken throughout the passage in the New Testament that describes the Four Horsemen. At this point in the movie, you can expect to see at least two more bodies, and make a pretty good guess as to what colors and how the bodies will be found. The movie seems to have a predictable pattern, but then a wrench gets thrown in which I absolutely loved.

A body is found in a run down hotel, same killing manner, but it isn't strung up on a rack. 'Come and See' is only written on three walls, not four. My husband and I had fun guessing what was happening, and we agreed that it was probably one of the 'horsemen' that needed to be gotten rid of somehow. But it was the scene when Death showed up that was what really was the movie's climax for me, even though it technically wasn't the 'end'. Once more, the fish hooks and rack were used and the over-all color was green, but the body wasn't hanging: it was in front of the person on the rack.

I won't ruin everything about the movie, but after Death makes an appearance, it's like the movie was made by a totally different director. It becomes rushed and transparent. The guessing factor is taken away from the viewer and that detracts incredibly from the whole experience; it no longer is 'suspenseful' and ruins any scary factor. The culmination of the final Horseman in the movie is very easily guessed where and how, and you can figure out for yourself if you think for a moment on the 'why'; the clues are throughout the entire movie. The message of the Horsemen in the movie is well done, and the ending is well executed visually. The acting is fine. It just lacks that certain sparkle that would have made this movie from 'decently good' to 'WOW! That was one of the best horror movies I've seen in a while!'

I almost wish it was 20 years down the road so someone would remake it...I feel unsatisfied after watching it. It has so much potential to be so good, but it just can't seem to break that barrier in the last half hour. It's a shame.

The Chaos Experiment (aka The Steam Experiment) sure to be nominated for a 'Razzie'

HRevvdon@evpl — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:44:00 GMT

Occasionally I like watching a thriller and when I found out that The Chaos Experiment (2009) was filmed in Grand Rapids, Michigan - using many landmark buildings, including one in which I used to work - I needed to order it up on Netflix. I don't believe EVPL has a copy and that is a good thing. Also known as The Steam Experiment (the name it has been released under for international sales), it is my understanding that the film was a direct to video release and never shown in theatres in the USA. For good reason. It is really bad.

Who would have thought that with a cast that included Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, and Eric Roberts would have such stilted bad acting. This film seemed more like a low-budget senior film student's project. The premise was lame at best.

I stuck it through solely for the identifiable Grand Rapids sections. The Grand Rapids Press and its building is part of it, but the most recognizable building is the hotel. Until my mid-twenties it was called The Pantlind Hotel and was the grand dame hotel of the city. When it fell on hard times Amway, located near Grand Rapids, bought the hotel. Amway refurbished it to its original luster, built a high-rise hotel addition and renamed it the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. It is beautiful. I worked at the hotel when it was The Pantlind, and this is what I did there (That is not me in the picture nor is it the same year I worked there!). The police department which is really located in the old Herpolsheimer's Department Store building was located in another building in the movie. I know that facade as well, but cannot place it. It is one of those things that will come to me though...it is lurking at the edge of my memory. On a side note - Herpolsheimer's was the department store featured in the book and movie The Polar Express.

Don't bother with the flick, but if you are in Grand Rapids please walk through the grand lobby of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and have a drink in The Lumber Baron Room - it is like stepping back into history!

Has This Ever Happened To You?

this.is.not.here@evpl — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:57:00 GMT

As a Reader's Advisor who sits under a sign that says INFORMATION I have had a lot of reference questions through the years. Have you ever gotten a "reference" question like this? "Do you have this movie?" You sit with breathless anticipation waiting for them to tell you the title or at least give you some clue as to what they are looking for. A minute passes. The silence is deafening. Then you say, "Do you know the name of the movie?" "No." they reply. "Do you know who was in it?" "No." And so it begins... Do you know what it was about? Patron says "I think it had something to do with Viet Nam." Now we're getting somewhere. And as if brainstorming opened up the floodgates ---- and it had Bruce Willis in it. Now I had what I needed. I thumbed through my mental filing cabinet and then said "Would it be "In Country"?" The patron got really excited and shouted "Yes!!!!".

The really fun type of questions have to do with what I call "The Nancy Drew --6 degrees of separation search." You know the old 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon game? Sometimes they know the name of the actor and sometimes they only know the name of another movie that had a different actor in it --they can tell you his name, but not the actor in question. Those are always fun. Sometimes they get the name of the movie wrong and you have to try to figure out what they are talking about. I love my job. I get to stretch my brain muscles and enjoy showing off my trivia skills.

Through years of experience I've become familiar with the look on the patron's face as they explain that their quest pertains to something that they remember from childhood and it's been bugging them for years and years. I know how they feel. There is a certain satisfication in finding out the answer. The patron had read it in high school sometime in the 80's. No title, no author. It was like 1984 and the cover had a picture of a boy with one blue eye and one green eye. That's all she had. I asked if it was science fiction. Not sure. Suddenly I remembered a book I had read that was like 1984. It was This Perfect Day by Ira Levin. It was futuristic and everyone was just alike and it had to do with a wrist scanner. I found a picture of the cover online. It was out of print but the cover had a boy with one brown eye and one blue eye. Sadly we did not have any copies but........Interlibrary Loan did have a copy. I called the patron and reported the good news.

Yesterday I got another weird one. It was a mystery with a main character that was also a writer. He had a dog named "hound dog." and an ex-wife named Merilee. After a few false leads we finally found it. It was a series by David Handler. The dog was a bassett hound named Lulu. I know I'm not unique in these experiences so I'd love to hear other peoples questions that have been bugging them. Please post your elusive song titles, movie titles, or books. I love a challenge. I wish other Reader's Advisors would also share their stories. Who knows one person's question and answer might be the one you've been wondering about for all these years.

Not so Fast, and you may leave Furious

E-Ville Librarian@evpl — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:00 GMT

First off, I don't care how tough of a rear wheel-drive car you have, wheelies are pretty much impossible in a car that has an engine under the hood. Even Fieros don't do wheelies, let alone V-8 muscle cars from the 70's, so you can understand my initial disbelief while watching the most recent of street rod action in Fast & Furious. Couple the physics-bending wheelmanship with Vin Diesel's even less believable portrayal of anything other Van Diesel (aka Mark Vincent), and you have a recipe for another bad movie. I have to admit that I skipped Tokyo Drift, so maybe I missed some important back plot that is key to my understanding of this flick However, If such is the case, I'll stay blissfully ignorant.

AMC's MAD MEN Season's 1 & 2

HRevvdon@evpl — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:04:00 GMT

I just finished my marathon weekend of watching AMC's series MAD MEN Season 2. This smart and intelligent series is great. The characters are fascinating and the thought to detail is amazing. The time era is the 1960's, and they bring the news of the day into story line. In Season 2 Marilyn Monroe's death causes a sensation and the Bay of Pigs is about to happen. Further, the set design and clothing style is very well done - it is not strictly 1960's but a blend of furniture from the 30's, 40's, and 60's, as it really would have been. The same goes for clothing and hairstyles.

The series goes one step further to the climate of the day in morals, ethics, and business. For example the way women were treated, one line this season was "...some of you girls are getting aggressive." Of course, delivered in a condescending manner. One woman will have a success and one will be totally ignored because of her "full-figure" hour glass shape. The stereotypes for both men and women are amazing, as well as the amount of smoking and drinking.

I can't wait to watch season 3 - the cliff hanger this year has me hyped! Get Season 1 and 2 at EVPL!

The website for MAD MEN is really cool as well. You can even create a MAD MEN avatar! It is great fun and you can see what you would have looked like in the '60's!

To Be and To Have

wag.mado@evpl — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:38:00 GMT

Recently, I revisited some of my favorite movies – ones that stayed with me for weeks after seeing them. Here’s what I had to say following my first viewing of To Be and To Have in 2005. It still holds true today.

If you shy away from subtitles, take this one home anyway. French director Nicholas Philibert brings us this enchanting documentary about a one room school house set in the French countryside. The film gives us an inside look into the lives of children ages 4 through 10 and the interactions with their devoted teacher, Georges Lopez. It was shot during a six month period, starting in mid-winter and ending with the retirement of Lopez in the spring. The connection between Lopez and his students is strong, as he has been the only teacher they have ever known. Watching this film brings up many emotions, as scenes were shot in the classroom, at home, and on a fieldtrip. In the end, one realizes how remarkable this teacher is as he guides his students through all varieties of life lessons.

Watch it and let me know what you think.