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Our
pick of good movies to borrow from the Library. |
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| KNOW
WHERE I’M GOING |
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HOTEL
RWANDA |
| Michael
Powell, best known for The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus, created
a little gem that combines comedy, romance and adventure on exquisitely
filmed Hebrides Islands. Wendy Hiller plays Joan Webster, a headstrong
young woman on her way to the Hebrides to marry a wealthy industrialist
twice her age. The weather interferes with her plans, waylaying
her on one of the larger islands and throwing her into the company
of a native Hebrides Islander (Roger Livesey), a decorated war
hero closer to her own age, but of modest means. She finds herself
attracted not only to him, but to the island culture. All aspects
of the island – the changeable weather, the grassy hills
and the surrounding sea, filled with treacherous whirlpools –
are beautifully photographed as Webster discovers that, in fact,
she does not know where she is going! |
Outstanding movie which
retells the true story of hotel manager, Paul Rusesabagina who
courageously saved the lives of 1200 Rwandans from genocide in
1994, in which more than 800,000 Rwandans were massacred in about
100 days.
Unforgettable performance by Don Cheadle who was nominated for
an Academy Award for his role in this film. For mature audiences.
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| Kathleen Beasley, San
Mateo County Library 5.2005 |
Sereptha Strong, East
Palo Alto Library 5.2005 |
| TREASURE
ISLAND |
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FORBIDDEN
PLANET |
This 1934 film starring Wallace Beery and Jackie
Cooper is the definitive movie. The cast includes such greats
as Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, and Nigel Bruce.
If there were an Academy Award for overacting this crew would
have won it hands down. The film was shot in the Monterey Bay
area. It's a lot of fun for kids (its cataloged as a J video)
or adults or both.
How about that? A film you can watch with your kids! |
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In the year 2257 a Federation spaceship visits
the star Altair-IV and finds a fugitive scientist, his beautiful
but utterly innocent daughter and a multilingual robot servant.
Yes these people are living on a star. not a planet. Leslie Nielsen
is the Federation spaceship commander. I give this film three
cheezy poofs! |
| Joe Toschik, Half Moon Bay Library
2.2005 |
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Joe Toschik, Half Moon
Bay Library 7.2004 |
| THE
MAN WHO WASN’T THERE |
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GODS
AND GENERALS |
| This Cohen brothers production is a beautiful black
and white film noir set in 1949, Santa Rosa, California. Postwar
suburbia is meticulously recreated from the shiny chrome cars of
the period to the tree-shaded bungalows with well-manicured lawns.
Billy Bob Thorton portrays a repressed, chain-smoking barber whose
life descends into crime after learning that his wife (Frances McDormand)
is having an affair with her boss. His performance is so compelling
that I found myself thinking about his character weeks after I had
seen the film. While this movie has a very different setting from
Fargo, the plot is similar in its many ironic twists along the way
to an ending filled with poetic justice. |
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Ted Turner makes the best historical movies hands
down! Gettysburg,
San Juan Hill, and now Gods
and Generals. This film takes us from the outbreak of the Civil
War and the Battle of Manassas to Chancellorsville and the death
of Jackson. It's a majestic undertaking (running 219 minutes).
The sustained battle scenes may be a bit much for some viewers,
but it does give us an understanding of what these soliders went
through.
Based on Jeff Shaarah's
novel. |
| Kathleen Beasley, Pacifica-Sanchez & Sharp Park
4.2004 |
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Joe Toschik, Half Moon Bay
Library 7.2004 |
| REAL
WOMEN HAVE CURVES |
|
GRACE
OF MY HEART |
| In this coming of age story, Ana is torn and tormented
by her traditional Latino family. They want her to work at her sister’s
dress factory, she wants to go to college. Newcomer, America Ferrera
plays the stubborn and self-confident Ana, superbly. A funny and
endearing film. |
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Whimsical actress Illeana Douglas (Cape Fear, To
Die For) plays a song writer reminiscent of Carol King in this
thoroughly enjoyable romp through sixties popular music. Though
true to the decade, the tunes are originals composed by the quirky
partnerships of Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, Carole Bayer
Sager and Dave Stewart, and Gerry Goffin and Los Lobos. This is
a film that captures the spirit of the sixties music scene as well
as the excitement of women exploring new roles. |
Anne-Marie Despain, San Mateo County Library
2.2004 |
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Kathleen Beasley, Pacifica-Sanchez & Sharp Park
3.2004 |
| NINE
QUEENS |
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MANOR
HOUSE |
David Mamet fans will enjoy this Argentinian film about two con
men; one, an experienced pro, who sees promise in a young small
time crook. Together they plan a master scam to obtain a counterfeit
collection of some extremely rare stamps known as the Nine Queens
.
The plot is full of twists and humor not unlike The
Usual Suspects. |
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Manor House transports modern folks into a British Edwardian manor
circa the early 1900s. Not surprisingly, the lucky family living
as minor gentry enjoyed the experience, but the servants tell a
different story. A cup of reality TV with a cup of Edwardian History
adds up to a winning DVD set. |
| Vicki Jacobs, San Mateo County Library 3.2004 |
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Anne-Marie Despain, San Mateo County Library 2.2004 |
| SIX
FEET UNDER |
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SPIRITED
AWAY |
| Each episode of “Six Feet Under” opens
with the death of a person, who then becomes a “client”
of Fisher and Sons Funeral Home. As the preparations are made for
the deceased and their loved ones the Fisher Family’s private
and dysfunctional lives are revealed. Highly recommended. |
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This utterly gorgeous and captivating film won the Academy Award
winnig Japanese anime production tells the story of a young girl
whose parents are tricked by delicious food served at what appears
to be a deserted amusement park, turned into pigs and slated to
become the main course for the magical bathhouse that serves a Spirit
clientele and only operates after dark .It is part folk-tale, part
morality tale and all enchanting and highly recommended for all
audiences. |
Anne-Marie Despain, San Mateo County Library
2.2004 |
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Thom Ball, South County Libraries
2.2004 |
| NICHOLAS
NICKLEBY |
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PHONE
BOOTH |
| This is a condensed, two-hour dramatization that manages to portray
the humor as well as the drama of the Dickens classic. Dickens’
social commentary is as relevant to 21st century audiences as it
was to 19th century audiences. McGrath’s film captures the
grim economic realities of both times as well as the shifting sense
of family. Indeed, the film seems directed at today’s families
of many parents and step siblings. |
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In the best Hitchcock tradition, this gripping, tense and brilliant
movie does the seemingly impossible – makes a film that takes
place almost entirely in a phone booth completely enthralling for
100 minutes. The main character undergoes a complete transformation
(ultimately to the good) of attitude and self-awareness as the movie
progresses. Terrific performances from the entire cast and superb
direction from Joel Schumacher. For mature audiences. |
Kathleen Beasley, Pacifica-Sanchez & Sharp Park
2.2004 |
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Thom Ball, South County Libraries
2.2004 |
| DIVIDED
WE FALL |
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PIRATES
OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL |
| This WWII era drama/comedy portrays the survival of a small Czech
town during perilous times. The movie spans the years from 1937
through 1943, documenting the town’s most prominent Jewish
family’s denial of political events to its near annihilation.
The film revolves around the struggle of its one surviving member
to hide from the Nazis. This is a domestic drama with comic elements,
even moments of slapstick. Humor, courage and generosity of spirit
all can be found in the most unexpected places. |
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Set in the Caribbean Sea in the 17th century, this is the classic
tale of boy meet the girl he cannot have. In this case the girl
is the Governor's beautiful daughte. When she is kidnapped by pirates,
the boy, a childhood friend, enlists the help of a swashbuckling
ship captain. The dynamic duo embark on quite an adventure as they
soon learn that the kidnappers are supernatural creatures that look
like skeletons in the moonlight |
Kathleen Beasley, Pacifica-Sanchez & Sharp Park
2.2004 |
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Sereptha Strong, East Palo Alto Library 2.2004 |
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