New Biographies – August 2009

Lynne

Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life Dara Torres with Elizabeth Weil, B TORRES – From the Olympic medalist who competed at the age 41, comes a memoir about aging gracefully and pursuing your dreams.

Bad Girls Go Everywhere: The Life of Helen Gurley Brown Jennifer Scanlon, B BROWN – The life of the longtime editor of Cosmopolitan and an influential feminist.

The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought to You by Pop Culture Nathan Rabin, B RABIN – As a child and teenager, pop culture was the author’s means of escape.  Today, pop culture is his life.

Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs: The Making of a Surgeon Michael J. Collins, B COLLINS – The story of a construction worker who decided to become a doctor and his path to becoming a surgeon.

Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story C. David Heymann, B KENNEDY – The complex relationship between RFK and Jackie Kennedy is depicted by a Kennedy biographer.

The Bolter Frances Osborne, B SACKVILLE – The author relates the story of her great-grandmother, Idina Sackville, and her adventurous and scandal filled life as the “high priestess” of the “Happy Valley Set” in Kenya.

Closing Time: A Memoir Joe Queenan, B QUEENAN – The humorist turns his sights on his own coming-of-age in Philadelphia during the 1960s.

Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival Norman Ollestad, B OLLESTAD – Trained by he father from the age of three to become a “Boy Wonder,” the skills he learned saved his life at age eleven when he and his father were victims of an airplane crash during a blizzard.

Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie Richard Hack, B CHRISTIE – The romance, scandal and betrayal that marked the life of the  popular novelist is presented in an intimate biography.

Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip Matthew Algeo, B TRUMAN – After his term as president, Mr. and Mrs. Truman decided to hit the road.

Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood Michael Lewis, B LEWIS – The author explores the difference between the idea of fatherhood and his actual experiences.

In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir Neil White, B WHITE – Following conviction for bank fraud, the author spent a year in a prison in Carville, Louisiana, housed in the last leper colony in mainland America.

The Lady in Red: An Eighteenth-Century Tale of Sex, Scandal and Divorce  Hallie Rubenhold, B WORSLEY – The marriage of Lady Seymour Dorothy Fleming and Sir Richard Worsley might have been a fairy tale marriage, but ended in one of the most scandalous and publicized divorces in history.

Lance: The Making of the World’s Greatest Champion John Wilcockson, B LANCE – The remarkable and controversial life of the seven time winner of the Tour de France.

Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon Buzz Aldrin with Ken Abraham, B ALDRIN – The flight of Apollo 11 made Aldrin one of the most famous persons on the planet; here is the rest of his story.

My Remarkable Journey Larry King, B KING – The life of the iconic interviewer as he looks back over 50 years in broadcasting.

Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal Julie Metz, B METZ – Julie Metz’s life changes forever when her husband suddenly collapses and dies.  She soon learns that he had another life that he had kept hidden from her.

Perfectly Imperfect: A Life in Progress Lee Woodruff, B WOODRUFF – The author of In an Instant, the chronicle of her husband’s recovery from an injury sustained in Iraq, now looks at her life in terms both personal and universal.

Prairie Tale: A Memoir Melissa Gilbert, B GILBERT – The child star of Little House on the Prairie tells the story of her life and her recovery from self-destructive behavior.

Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend Bill Russell, B RUSSELL – The great basketball player discusses his relationship with one of the best coaches in all of sports.

Right Time, Right Place: Coming of Age with William F. Buckley Jr. and the Conservative Movement Richard Brookhiser, B BROOKHISER – The author became a National Review senior editor at age 23.  He tells the story of his relationship with the conservative icon throughout their tumultuous friendship.

Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend Larry Tye, B PAIGE – The great story of athlete, showman, and philosopher, Leroy “Satchel” Paige.

A Son of the Game: A Story of Golf, Going Home, and Sharing Life’s Lessons James Dodson, B DODSON – The author of Final Rounds, returns to the world of golf and to the famous courses at Pinehurst, North Carolina to recover a lost passion and to share that passion with his son.

Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne James Gavin, B HORNE – A portrait of the celebrated singer and actress.

We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals Gillian Gill, B VICTORIA – An enduring love story and the most influential marriage of the 19th century is related in this personal history by a noted author.

The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America Douglas Brinkley, B ROOSEVELT – The “naturalist president” set aside more than 230 million acres of wild America for posterity between 1901 and 1909, making conservation a universal endeavor.

Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa Mark Seal, B ROOT – In January 2006, Joan Root, a sixty-nine-year-old naturalist and filmmaker was murdered in her home on the shore of a beautiful Kenyan lake.  The author explores this real-life mystery and the remarkable life of a noted conservationist.

New Releases on DVD – July 2009

Richelle

Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia

A team of U.S. Navy SEALS must find evidence to clear their names after they’ve been framed for an assault on the government of Colombia. Cast: Joe Manganiello, Ken Anderson, Channon Roe, Yancey Arias, Chris J. Johnson, Antony Matos, Keith David, Jennice Fuentes, Steven Bauer. Rated R

Chasing the Green

The true story of two brothers, Adam and Ross, who become millionaires. Their drive leads them into conflict with FTC officials trying to destroy them. Adam tries to reconcile this with his personal life, ultimately wondering what his true passion is. Cast: Jeremy London, William Devane ; Ryan Hurst ; Heather Mccomb ; Robert Picardo ; Dan Grimaldi ; Patricia Rae ; Larry Pine ; Chris Gunn ; Vinny Vella ; Lavinna Dowell ; Howard Nash. Not Rated

College Road Trip

When an overachieving high school student decides to travel around the country to choose the perfect college, her overprotective cop father insists on coming along. Cast: Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symoné, Donny Osmond. Rated G

Coraline

A young girl walks through a secret door that she has found in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life, but much better. When her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents, including the Other Mother, try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home – and save her family. Voices: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Ian McShane. Based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Rated PG

Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea

Genghis Khan, the name is a legend, the man was mythical. He was a soul who was obscured by his own achievements. He was a son, husband, father, and conqueror. The saga of one man’s march toward immortality and the battle to unite the tribes of Mongol under one rule. Cast: Takashi Sorimachi, Rei Kikukawa, Mayumi Wakamura, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Kenichi Matsuyama. Based on the story by Seiichi Morimura. Originally released as a motion picture in 2007. Japanese or dubbed English dialogue, English subtitles. Rated R

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Two guys try to outrun authorities who suspect them of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong on board their flight to Amsterdam. Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry, Roger Bart, Neil Patrick Harris. Rated R

Home

By day their lives seem magical, but at night, Inga is troubled by her marriage and its lack of intimacy and her own fear of mortality.  The past comes back to haunt Inga, a poet who finds herself re-creating the events of her youth. She develops breast cancer and begins to use alcohol to quell the pain (in a similar fashion to her mother), and becomes fixated on a house that reminds her of her childhood home. Will she find a way to break the vicious cycle?  Cast: Marcia Gay Harden, Marian Seldes, Michael Gaston, Eulala Scheel, Paul L. Nolan, Candy Buckley. Rated PG-13

Knowing

A teacher discovers a time capsule that holds prophecies—some of which have already come true. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury, Lara Robinson, Ben Mendelsohn. Rated PG-13

Passengers

While helping a handful of airline crash survivors cope with their grief, a young psychologist begins to uncover conflicting accounts of the accident. At first, she believes that trauma is behind her patients’ different stories– until the survivors mysteriously start to disappear. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse, Andre Braugher, Clea DuVall, Dianne Wiest. Rated PG-13

Phoebe in Wonderland

Confounded by her clashes with the seemingly rule-obsessed world, a little girl seeks enlightenment from her unconventional drama teacher.Cast: Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Elle Fanning, Campbell Scott, Bill Pullman. Rated PG-13

The Pink Panther 2

When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther diamond, Clouseau is assigned to a dream team of international detectives who are under pressure to bring the master thief to justice before he strikes again. Cast: Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Emily Mortimer, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin, John Cleese. Rated PG

Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup 2009 Champions

For the first time in almost 2o years the Staley Cup returns to the Steel City.  You can relive every magical step of their march to the 2009 Stanley Cup highlighted by series wins against Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina, and the mighty Detroit Red Wings.  Go inside the championship season with exclusive footage featuring the sights and sounds of their memorable run, plus interviews with players and coaches. Not Rated

Powder Blue

On the gritty streets of L.A., the destinies of four people desperate for connection and redemption are about to collide. An erotic dancer, a grieving husband, a terminally ill ex-con, and a mortician all desperate for redemption collide on Christmas Eve. Cast: Forest Whitaker, Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, Patrick Swayze, Lisa Kudrow, Kris Kristofferson, Eddie Redmayne. Forest Whitaker, Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta, Patrick Swayze, Lisa Kudrow, Kris Kristofferson, Eddie Redmayne. Originally released as a motion picture in 2007. Rated R

Push

A group of young American ex-pats with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities hide from a clandestine U.S. government agency. Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis, Djimon Hounsou.Rated PG-13

Ruby Blue

The sudden death of his wife has left Jack lost and alone. He is despised by his son and ignored by neighbours. A ray of sunshine arrives in the unlikely form of the eight-year-old, Florrie, when she moves in next door and delights in Jack’s neglected racing pigeon, Ruby, unwittingly rekindling Jack’s love for life, while forcing him to come to terms with his past. When his glamorous French neighbour, Stephanie, takes pity on him, Jack cannot help but fall for her charms. But when Stephanie reveals a well-kept secret, the nature of Jack’s friendship with Florrie is questioned by everyone and his life thrown into turmoil once again. Cast: Bob Hoskins, Josiane Balasko, Jody Latham, Josel Altin, Jessica Stewart. (2007) Not Rated

Street Kings

Tom Ludlow is a veteran LAPD cop who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of his former partner, Detective Terrance Washington, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he’s been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him. He teams up with a young detective to track down Washington’s killers, who track down the murderers and bring them to justice. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans. Rated R

Two Lovers

After Leonard moves back into the home he grew up in to mend a broken heart, he meets two women in quick succession. Michelle is a mysterious and beautiful neighbor. Sandra is the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family’s dry-cleaning business. Leonard is forced to make an impossible decision, between desire and the comfort of love, or risk falling back into the same darkness that nearly killed him. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Elias Koteas. Rated R

Watchmen

When an ex-superhero is murdered, a vigilante named Rorschach begins an investigation into the murder, which begins to lead to a much more terrifying conclusion. Cast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson. Rated R

New DVDs: Feature Length Films and TV Series – July 2009

Richelle

Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance

This PBS documentary examines the outpouring of creativity in the visual arts by African Americans during the 1920s and 1930s, the period known as the Harlem Renaissance. Presents items from the 1990 exhibition Against the odds, curated by the Newark Museum. (1993) Not Rated

Amongst White Clouds

American director Edward A. Burger documents his journey into the lives of China’s forgotten Zen Buddhist hermit tradition. The Zhongnan Mountains have been home to recluses for some five thousand years; Burger’s experiences demonstrate that the tradition continues to thrive. One of only a few foreigners to have lived and studied with these hidden sages, Burger reveals to us their tradition, their wisdom, and the hardship and joy of their everyday lives. Not Rated

Battlestar Gallactica: Season One

After losing the war against the Cylon robots, the Battlestar Galactica crew quickly head toward the fabled 13th Colony, Earth. Galactica Commander Adama and President Laura Roslin are facing the problems of waning supplies and crushed morale. Along the way they have to deal with the credible threat that Cylons may be aboard the ship. Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park. Originally broadcast on the Sci-fi Channel during the 2004-2005 television season. Not Rated

Battlestar Gallactica: Season Two

This season finds the twelve colonies of man caught in a brewing civil war between the followers of President Roslin and those of Commander Adama. They must face the Cylons from outside, and within, the fleet.  Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Michael Rymer.(2005-2006) Not Rated

Battlestar Galalctica: Season 2.5

A continuation of the epic Sci-Fi series, follows the ongoing battle of President Laura Roslin and Commander William Adama in their heart-pounding crusade to save humanity from the deadly robot Cylons.Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Michael Rymer. (2005-2006) Not Rated

Battlestar Gallactica: Season 3

The Colonies’ survivors have found their hopes of eluding their Cylon pursuers dashed by an invasion and occupation of their new home. As the fate of all human life hangs in the balance, friends become enemies, enemies become unexpected allies, and decisions are made that will haunt some people for the rest of their lives.  Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Grace Park, Katee Sackhoff, Tahmoh Penikett. Originally broadcast on television during the 2006-2007 season. Not Rated

Battlestar Gallactica: Season 4

The civil war amongst the Cylons escalates and Galactica’s quest for Earth continues. Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Michelle Forbes, Stephanie Jacobsen. (2008) Not Rated

The Crucible

A group of teenage girls meets in the woods at midnight for a secret love-conjuring ceremony. When the ceremony is witnessed by the town minister, the girls are accused of witchcraft. Soon the entire village is consumed by hysteria, and innocent victims are put on trial, leading to a devastating climax. Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen. Based on the play by Arthur Miller. (1996) Rated PG-13

Edward II

Offbeat, intriguing, graphic retelling of Christopher Marlowe’s Elizabethan tragedy about gay king’s expulsion from British throne. Cast: Steven Waddington, Andrew Tiernan, Tilda Swinton. Rated R

Far from the Maddening Crowd

A headstrong young woman’s life becomes entwined with three disparate men–a dashing soldier, a wealthy landowner, and a sheep farmer. Cast: Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch, Alan Bates. Based on the novel by Thomas Hardy. (1967) Not Rated

Ganges

The Ganges runs through the heart of India. For millions of Hindus it is India’s sacred river, but they share its banks with a rich variety of wildlife. Reveals how the Ganges has shaped the wildlife, culture and beliefs in India. Originally broadcast on BBC Two. Includes narration in English, Hindi and Bengali. (2008) Not Rated

Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers

The impoverished Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro come to Venice in search of the heir to the throne of Barataria, inconveniently mislaid at birth and betrothed to their daughter.  It takes the help of the nursemaid to unravel the knots in this particularly twisty tale. Cast: Davod Hobson, Roger Lemke, Suzanne Johnston, Christine Douglas. This Opera Australia production was originally performed in 1990.  Not Rated

Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore and Trial By Jury

Two Gilbert & Sullivan operettas recorded live over three performances at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, in May 2005.  Performers: Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, John Bolton Wood, Tiffany Speight, Richard Alexander, Colette Mann.  Not Rated

Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado

The parody of British Victorian life, spiced with the usual topical allusions to English customs and institutions, set in a Japanese Never-Never Land, is performed by The Australian Opera. Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House, Feburary 25, 1987. Not Rated

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience

Set in the early 20th century, the aesthetic poet Bunthorne sings his love for Patience, the village milkmaid. Meanwhile he has captured the heart of every other lady in the village. Upon the arrival of the idyllic poet Grosvenor, all hell breaks loose when he proposes to Patience. Cast: Christine Douglas, Heather Begg, Anthony Warlow, Dennis Olson.  Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House, Feb, 25, 1995. Not Rated

Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance

The Opera Australia’s production of G&S’ classic, comic operetta.  Cast: Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, John Bolton Wood, Taryn Fiebig and Suzanne Johnston. (2007)  Not Rated.

Hallowed Grounds: America’s Overseas Military Cemeteries

This PBS special visits America’s overseas military cemeteries, and weaves elements of a historical documentary with beautiful, contemporary scenes of the cemeteries, and powerful stories about the men and women who are buried in them. Includes on-location interviews with formal and informal historians, witnesses of the wars, and the creation of the cemeteries. Not Rated

Heart and Soul

Four souls learn why they are earthbound and tied to a hard driving executive–through him, they each have one chance to resolve the unfinished business in their lives. Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Charles Grodin, Kyra Sedgwick, Elisabeth Shue, Tom Sizemore, David Paymer, Alfre Woodard. (1993)  Rated PG-13

Into the Woods

A fusion of fairytales in musical form, covering themes from Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and others.  Cast: Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Tom Aldredge, Robert Westenberg, singers ; additional singers ; orchestra. Originally telecast on American Playhouse in 1987. Not Rated

Kiss Me Kate

The backstage and on-stage antics of two feuding romances during a tryout for the musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s  The Taming of the Shrew.  Music by Cole Porter.  This 2000 Broadway production was featured on PBS’ Great Performances. Cast: Brent Barrett, Rachel York, Nancy Anderson, Michael Berresse.  Not RatedCast: Brent Barrett, Rachel York, Nancy Anderson, Michael Berresse.  Not Rated

Mary White

In this heart-warming true story of a loving father-daughter relationship, William Allen White reflects on the last year he spent with his daughter Mary. Cast: Ed Flanders, Tim Matheson, Fionnula Flanagan. Based on the writings of William Allen White. (1977) Not Rated

Meet Me in St. Louis

The Smith family eagerly anticipates the opening of the 1903 World’s Fair in their hometown of St. Louis. Love is in the air with the handsome boy next door, but all hopes and dreams may be dashed when father announces they’re moving to New York City! Cast: Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake, Marjorie Main. (1944) Not Rated

Moonlight: The Complete Series

Mick St. John is a private investigator ‘living’ in Los Angeles. Mick’s bride turned him into a vampire on the couple’s wedding night fifty-five years earlier. In the present day, he struggles with his love for a mortal woman, his dealings with other vampires and other criminal elements. Cast: Alex O’Loughlin, Sophia Myles, Shannyn Sossamon, Jason Dohring. Originally broadcast on CBS television during the 2007-2008 season.  Not Rated

The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries

Assisted by her confidant George Moody, Mrs. Bradley solves the most complicated crimes with a sly combination of charm, intelligence and wit. In this set of five mysteries, she gets the lowdown on the upper crust – much to the bemusement of Police Inspector Christmas. Cast: Diana Rigg, Neil Dudgeon, Peter Davison. Based on the novels by Gladys Mitchell. (1998) Not Rated

Murdoch Mysteries

In the 1890’s, Detective William Murdoch adopts modern techniques like ‘finger marks’ and forensics to track Toronto’s most sinister killers. Though derided by his skeptical boss, Murdoch finds friends and allies in a lovely pathologist and an eager-to-learn constable. Along the way they cross paths with some of the era’s most famous figures, including Nikola Tesla, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Prince Alfred. Cast: Yannick Bisson, Hélène Joy, Thomas Craig, Jonny Harris.  Characters adapted from the novels by Maureen Jennings. (2008) Not Rated

Prison Break 4: The Final Season

Revenge, deceit and edge of your seat action lead to the most breathtaking, suspenseful series finale. Cast: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Michael Rapaport, Amaury Nolasco, Wade Williams, Robert Knepper, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Sarah Wayne Callies, William Frichter. (2008-2009) Not Rated

She Fell Among Thieves

The BBC Drama that launched the PBS Mystery Series.  While on a Pyrenees vacation in 1922, English gentleman Richard Chandos encounters the villainous Vanity Fair, mistress of the turreted Chateau Jezreel and leader of a motley band of criminals. Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Eileen Atkins, Michael Jayston and Karen Dotrice. Based on the novel by Dornford Yates. Originally broadcast on PBS television in 1978. Not Rated

Showboat

Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s musical extravaganza which celebrates the loves and heartbreaks of a Mississippi riverboat troupe, starting with a young girl whose heart is stolen by a dashing gambler.Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Joe E. Brown, Marge and Gower Champion, Robert Sterling, Agnes Moorehead, William Warfield. (1951) Not Rated

The Story of India

Historian Michael Wood chronicles the history of the Indian subcontinent, the richness and diversity of its peoples, and its continuing relevance in today’s world. Broadcast on PBS in 2008-2009. Not rated.

Supernatural: The Complete Third Season

Two brothers search for their missing father, the man who trained them to be warriors against supernatural evil. Cast: Jared Padalecki, Kate Cassidy, Lauren Cohan, Jensen Ackless. Originally broadcast by the CW 2007-2008. Not Rated

Trial  & Retribution: Set 2

This British TV Series explores the bitter internal rivalries among police investigators, the political pressures of high-profile cases, and the legal maneuverings of defense attorneys and prosecutors. Police probe an abandoned house concealing multiple murders, a dysfunctional family with a deeply troubled musical prodigy, the mysterious disappearance of a well-connected woman, and a shadowy sex club for London’s elite. Cast: David Hayman, Kate Buffery, Dorian Lough, Dermot Crowley, Simon Callow. (2001-2004) Not Rated

The Turn of the Screw

Henry James’ chilling ghost tale about a governess hired by a charming bachelor to look after two young children in a grand mansion in rural England where sinister events place their lives in jeopardy. Cast: Jodhi May, Pam Ferris, Colin Firth, Joe Sowerbutts, Grace Robinson. (1999) Not Rated

Two and a Half Men: The Complete First Season

Charlie Harper is a bachelor in paradise, complete with Malibu beach house, overpaid job and a very active dating life. Then his uptight brother Alan, in the throes of a divorce, moves in, bringing his 10-year-old son Jake with him. Together they start a new family of two adults, one kid, and no grown-ups. Cast : Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle, Melanie Lynskey, Holland Taylor. (2003-2004) Not Rated

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Second Season

Welcome back to the Harpers’ Malibu beach house. Bachelor Charlie is trying (but not very hard) to remember the name of the girl currently taking a shower upstairs. Alan, Charlie’s tightly-wound, divorced brother is trying to figure out how he can get his ex-wife to remarry so he can stop paying alimony. And Jake, Alan’s 11-year-old son, is just trying to figure out what’s for lunch and where’s the TV remote. After a year of living together, the guys have figured out how two and a half men equal one family. Sort of. Cast: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle, Conchata Ferrell, Melanie Lynskey, Holland Taylor. (2004-2005) Not Rated

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Third Season

The boys (two-and-a-half-men’s worth) are back! A drop-dead gorgeous parade of Kandis, Sandys, Mandis and more marches in and out of the Harpers’ Malibu beach house, but the warm heart of the series remains the makeshift family that calls the beach house home– carefree bachelor Charlie, his fussy chiropractor brother Alan and Alan’s precocious young son Jake. This season Charlie romances a beautiful ballet dancer, Alan dates a 22-year-old cutie and his domineering ex-wife– and finally, wedding bells ring. But who’s the happy couple? Cast: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle, Conchata Ferrell, Melanie Lynskey, Holland Taylor. (2005-2006) Not Rated

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Fourth Season

Charlie has a close encounter with his long-deceased dad. Alan, after a few resumé embellishments, tries his hand at online dating. Jake swaps his Harry Potter posters for the joys of hottie wall art. Cast: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle, Conchata Ferrell, April Bowlby, Holland Taylor. (2006-2007) Not Rated

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Fifth Season

In this hilarious fifth season, Charlie tops the charts as kiddie-song sensation Charlie Waffles, Alan at last meets the perfect woman, Jake starts junior high, armed with ‘helpful’ advice from Alan and Charlie, and Evelyn ties the knot for the fifth time. Cast: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle, Conchata Ferrell, April Bowlby, Holland Taylor. (2007-2008) Not Rated

A Village Affair

Recently returned to England from New York City, vivacious heiress Clodagh Unwin befriends a couple new to her village. The husband is entranced by the young aristocrat, but Clodagh has eyes for someone else: his wife Alice. Cast: Claire Bloom, Kerry Fox, Jeremy Northam, Nathaniel Parker, Keira Knightley. Based on the novel by Joanna Trollope. (1994) Not Rated

The Vincent Price Collection

Contents: House on Haunted Hill (1959)– The Last Man on Earth (1964)– The Bat (1959) — Not Rated

Weeds: Season Four

Last time we saw her, Nancy’s business and house were going up in smoke. So the Botwin bunch has relocated near the border for a fresh start with some new buds. Cast: Mary Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Nealon.  Originally broadcast on Showtime.  Not Rated

Will Shakespeare

This BBC-TV production begins with Shakespeare’s youthful obscurity in Avon. As he struggles to survive as a playwright, he faces multiple hardships, but defeats all obstacles to achieve unprecedented success in London. Cast: Tim Curry, Ian McShane, André Morell, John McEnery, Simon Rouse. (1978) Not Rated

Wycliffe: Season One

Detective Wycliffe takes a traditional approach to solving crimes on his Cornwall beat, a land of myths and magnificent scenery. Cast: Jack Shepherd, Bill Nighy, Jimmy Yuill, Helen Masters, Tim Wylton, Aaron Harris, Adam Barker. Based on the novels by W. J. Burley. (1994) Not Rated

New Mysteries – August 2009

Lynne

Awakening S.J. Bolton, M BOL – Clara Benning is a reclusive veterinary surgeon who is called in when a local man dies from a snakebite. However, the postmortem shows that the concentration of venom is much higher than what could be found in a single snake.

The Baker Street Letters Michael Robertson, M ROB – Two lawyers, who happen to lease offices at 221B Baker Street, begin receiving mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes.

Below Zero C.J. Box, M BOX – Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is embroiled in a series of killings that may have a connection to a massacre that happened six years ago in Winterkill.

Boneman’s Daughters Ted Dekker, M DEK – Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, must take on a deranged serial killer, the Boneman, to save his daughter.

Cecilian Vespers Anne Emery, M EME – A special choir is studying the early traditional music of the Catholic Church when a controversial participant is murdered just before evening vespers.

The Extra Elizabeth Sims, M SIM – Rita Farmer is flat broke and studying to become a lawyer. Decked out in a police uniform as an extra in a movie shoot, she finds herself in the middle of a vicious assault.

The Fate of Katherine Carr Thomas H. Cook, M COO – George Gates was once a travel writer who was fascinated by the places where people disappeared, until the day his eight-year-old son vanishes.

Fire and Ice J.A. Jance, M JAN – Seattle investigator J.P. Beaumont is confronted with a grisly series of murders. Meanwhile sheriff Joanna Brady investigates a homicide in the Arizona desert.

Floodgates Mary Anna Evans, M EVA – Faye Longchamp and her team of archaeologists are fighting to save New Orleans’ past, but are horrified when they discover a corpse that is too new be an archaeological find.

The Frightened Man Kenneth Cameron, M CAM – An American with a past is in London in 1900 when a terrified man tells him that he is being pursued by Jack-the-Ripper.

Greedy Bones Carolyn Haines, M HAI – Southern belle Sarah Booth Delaney returns home from Hollywood to help save her hometown from the outbreak of a vicious illness.

Her Royal Spyness Rhys Bowen, M BOW – Lady Georgiana, 34th in line to the throne, returns in her third adventure.

Ignorance of Blood Robert Wilson, M WIL – In the wake of a terrorist attack on Seville, Inspector Jefe Javier Falcón is determined to bring the real perpetrators to justice.  By the author of A Small Death in Lisbon.

The Innocent Spy Laura Wilson, M WIL – London, June 1940.  The body of silent screen star Mabel Morgan is found impaled on an iron fence.  Detective Ted Stratton is not convinced that this was a suicide.

Jelly’s Gold David Housewright, M HOU – Rushmore McKenzie is a retired St. Paul policeman and an unexpected millionaire.  He learns about eight million dollars in mob-connected stolen gold that is still missing and becomes intrigued.

The Killings on Jubilee Terrace Robert Barnard, M BAR – Faithful viewers of the soap opera Jubilee Terrace loved Vernon Watts, but his fellow cast-members knew him for what he was.  Was his death accidental? Or not?

Liars Anonymous Louise Ure, M URE – Jessie Dancing’s past catches up with her following the death of real estate tycoon Darren Markson.

The Lord of Death Eliot Pattison, M PAT – Shan Tao Yun is a former Bejing investigator who has been exiled to Tibet. When a high-profile murder occurs near Mt. Everest, he is commanded to discover the killer.

The Magician’s Death P.C. Doherty, M DOH – Sir Hugh Corbett has been told to steal a book of secrets written by Roger Bacon.  Murder and mayhem result as he tries to decipher the secrets of England’s most outstanding scholar.

Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop Lee Goldberg, M GOL – Adrian Monk, the obsessive-compulsive investigator, must help Captain Stottlemeyer who has been arrested for the killing of another cop.

Murder on a Midsummer Night Kerry Greenwood, M GRE – It’s 1929, and slightly bored Phryne Fisher has been called on to find out if the son of a Pre-Raphaelite model has died by homicide or suicide.

The Neighbor Lisa Gardner, M GAR – A young mother disappears from her South Boston home. Detective Sergeant D.C. Warren finds that the picture of family normalcy turns murkier below the surface of their seemingly wholesome life.

Palos Verdes Blue John Shannon, M SHA – Jack Liffey, Los Angeles’ most famous child-finder, is hired to find Blue, the missing teenage daughter of his ex-wife’s best friend.

Persona Non Grata: A Novel of the Roman Empire Ruth Downie, M DOW – Gaius Petrius Ruso needs to give up his career as a military doctor in Roman Britannia and head back to his family in Gaul, but not all is well on the home front.  A great series.

Sworn to Silence Linda Castillo, M CAS – Former Amish, now police chief, Kate Burkholder of Painters Mill, Ohio, is confronted with a murder that is horrifyingly similar to ones that had happened 16 years ago.

There’s Something About St. Tropez Elizabeth Adler, M AD – Malibu P.I. Mac Reilly and Sunny Alvarez find themselves in the middle of romance, luxury, adventure, and mystery. Great beach reading.

New Books on CD – August 2009

Richelle

Afghanistan in a Nutshell Tim Albone and Mark Hudson, CD 958.1 ALB – An historical perspective that helps to explain Afghanistan’s current position as one of the most dangerous countries on earth.

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist Michael J. Fox, CD B FOX – The actor recounts his years with Parkinson’s Disease and learning to live a new life when he was happy with his old one.

Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken: Transform Your Life with the Power of Authenticity Mike Robbins, CD 158.1 ROB – How to overcome your fear about being who you really are.

Defiance: The Bielski Partisans Nechama Tec, CD 940.53 TEC – The incredible story of Tuvia Bielski, who began armed rescue missions for fellow Jews in Belorussia during the Holocaust.

Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes Jamim Ansary, CD 909 ANS – The author explains how and why events in world history are perceived differently in the Muslim world.

Ecological Intelligence Daniel Goleman, CD 333.7 GOL – A look at the psychological aspects of our decisions regarding the green revolution and the environmental movement today.

Emotional Awareness: Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance and Compassion Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman, CD 152.4 EMO – Two noted individuals share their thoughts on science and spirituality.

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite David E. Kessler, CD 613.2 KES 2009 – Why is it so difficult to resist certain foods and so easy to overindulge?

Fatally Flaky Diane Mott Davidson, CD M DAV – Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz encounters the bride from hell as well as another murder.  Goldy goes undercover in her chef’s outfit.

Gone Tomorrow Lee Child, CD M CHI – Jack Reacher becomes suspicious of a fellow New York subway passenger and debates whether to save the lives of fellow passengers or his own.

The Help Kathryn Stockett, CD F STO – Three ordinary women in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962 take an extraordinary step.

Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood Michael Lewis, CD B LEWIS – The author explores the difference between the idea of fatherhood and his actual experiences.

Home Safe Elizabeth Berg, CD F BER – After the death of her husband, Helen Ames struggles to cope with grief, but she finds that perhaps he wasn’t the man she thought he was.

Honeymoon in Tehran: Two Years of Love and Danger in Iran Azadeh Moaveni, CD B MOAVENI – A journalist describes her time in Iran where she fell in love and began a family.

Joker One: A Marine Platoon’s Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood Donovan Campbell, CD 956.7044 CAM – The author recounts service as a Marine officer and relates a tale of brotherhood, courage, and sacrifice.

Just Take My Heart Mary Higgins Clark, CD M CLA – The veteran mystery author returns with the story of a legal battle over the guilt or innocence of man accused of murdering his wife.

Knockout Catherine Coulter, CD F COU – FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are back and faced with the terror of  a young girl and a madman.

Long Lost Harlan Coben, CD M COB – Myron Bolitar’s old flame calls from Paris to report that she is being charged with her husband’s murder and the disappearance of her daughter.

Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir Christopher Buckley, CD B BUCKLEY – The well-known author and only child of famous parents recounts the year in which both of them died.

Malice Lisa Jackson, CD M JAC – Deception and betrayal confront New Orleans detective Rick Bentz as he is forced to confront the ghosts of his past.

Medusa Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos, CD F CUS – The NUMA team faces what may be their most perilous mission of all.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Howard Pyle, CD 398.22 PYL – A new release of the familiar adventuresome tale of the merry band from Sherwood Forest. The Neighbor Lisa Gardner, CD M GAR – A young mother disappears from her South Boston home.  Detective Sergeant D.C. Warren finds that the picture of family normalcy turns murkier below the surface of their seemingly wholesome life.

The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008 Paul Krugman, CD 330.9 KR – A look at the current economic situation and its similarities to the Great Depression.

Roadside Crosses Jeffery Deaver, CD F DEA – The Monterey Peninsula is stunned when roadside crosses are found along local highways — not as memorials, but as signals of  a murderer’s intention to kill.

The Scarecrow Michael Connelly, CD F CON – Jack McEvoy, from The Poet, is back and is being laid-off as a crime reporter for the L.A. Times. He decides to go out with a bang, to write the murder story of his career.

Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in the Pursuit of Happyness Chris Gardner & Mim E. Rivas,CD 158.1 GAR – Inspirational stories from the author of The Pursuit of Happyness.

The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life Ben Sherwood, CD 616.69 SHE – Who beats the odds and who surrenders?  Why do some people bounce back and others give up?

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built  Alexander McCall Smith, CD M MCC – Mma Ramotswe is in personal need of her own formidable detection talents in this latest outing in the popular series.

New Fiction – August 2009

Lynne

The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafón, F RUI – The author of The Shadow of the Wind returns with a young man who writes sensationalist novels in a Barcelona mansion.

Any Minute Joyce Meyer, F MEY – Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success, but what happens when her car plunges off a bridge into a river?  What will she discover after her death?

The Apostle Brad Thor, F THO – When American doctor Julia Gallo is kidnapped in Afghanistan, the terms of her ransom leave the president with only one course of action.

Burn Linda Howard, F HOW – Money changes Jenner Redwine’s life when she wins the lottery, but it also costs her plenty.

The Castaways Elin Hilderbrand, F HIL – Intrigue and mystery surround the death of a couple off the coast of Nantucket. By the author of A Summer Affair.

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder Rebecca Wells, F WEL – The author of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood returns with another southern charmer.

The Devil’s Punchbowl Greg Iles, F ILES – Penn Cage, the new mayor of Natchez, Mississippi realizes that one of the riverside gambling boats may not be what it seems.

The Doomsday Key Jams Rollins, F ROL – Three murdered people, on three continents, have a horrifying connection: all the victims are marked by a Druidic pagan cross. Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force are in a race against time.

Dune Road Jane Green, F GRE – Kit Hargrove is doing well after her divorce and finds the job of her dreams, assisting the blockbuster novelist, Robert McClore.

Exiles in the Garden Ward Just, F JUS – Alec Malone, son of a powerful U.S. Senator, becomes an outsider as he chooses photography as his profession, and then turns down an assignment to cover the war in Vietnam. An absorbing book.

The Fixer Upper Mary Kay Andrews, F AND – Out of options, Dempsey Jo Killebrew reluctantly accepts her father’s offer to help refurbish Birdsong, the old family place in Guthrie, Georgia.

Gifts of War Mackenzie Ford, F FOR – A battlefield promise sends a British soldier on a romantic mission during World War I.

Hope in a Jar Beth Harbison, F HAR – On the eve of their 20th high school reunion, erstwhile friends, Allie and Olivia, realize that although their dreams may be unrealized, that there is, indeed, hope in a jar.

The Husband Habit Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, F VAL – The author of The Dirty Girls Social Club relates the story of Vanessa, who falls for men who are attached to someone else.

Killer Summer Ridley Pearson, F PEA – Sun Valley sheriff Walt Fleming returns in another thriller featuring an annual wine auction attracting high rollers from across the country.

Let the Great World Spin Colum McCann, F MCC – August 1974. The people of lower Manhattan stare in disbelief at the Twin Towers as they glimpse a mysterious tightrope walker.  In the streets below, ordinary lives become extraordinary.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People Farahad Zama, F ZAM – What does an Indian man do when his retirement becomes too monotonous? Open a marriage bureau, of course!

Mist Carla Neggers, F NEG – Lizzie Rush uncovers evidence that thrill-seeking billionaire Norman Estabrook may be part of a criminal network.  Her dangerous game of cat and mouse may have devastating consequences.

The Moon Looked Down Dorothy Garlock, F GAR – Young Sophie Heller and her family were able to escape Nazi Germany, but as war fever sweeps their small town in Illinois, they become targets of suspicion and a vicious attack.

The Penny Pinchers Club Sarah Strohmeyer, F STR – Avid consumer, Kat, finds that drastic times call for drastic measures. Can hardship lead to happiness?

A Plague of Secrets John Lescroar, tF LES – A murder case is plagued by lies and secrets, but there is one secret that attorney Dismas Hardy is duty-bound to protect.

Return to Sullivans Island Dorothea Benton Frank, F FRA – Aspiring writer, Beth Hayes, returns to her family’s summer home in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Shadow of Betrayal Brett Battles, F BAT – The meeting place was carefully chosen: an abandoned church in rural Ireland.  But then something went horribly wrong and Jonathan Quinn was faced with four dead bodies and one astounding clue.

The Shimmer David Morrell, F MOR – Police officer Dan Page traces his wife’s disappearance to Rostov, Texas where unexplained phenomena attract hundreds of spectators each night.

A Short History of Women Kate Walbert, F WAL – A portrayal of the complicated legacies of mothers and daughters, chronicling five generations of women from the close of the 19th century through the early years of the 21st.

Six Suspects Vikas Swarup, F SWA – The author of Slumdog Millionaire returns with a tale of murder, corruption and opportunity in New Delhi, India.

Summer House Nancy Thayer, F THA – Three generations of strong-willed women must each wrestle with life-changing decisions.

The Wedding Girl Madeleine Wickham, F WIC – From the author of The Gatecrasher comes an entertaining story about an elaborate wedding that may come undone by a secret that catches up with the bride.

New Music CDs July 2009 (pt. 2)

Richelle

THE E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) Black Eyed Peas, CD 781.66 BLA 2009

Chickenfoot Chickenfoo, tCD 781.66 CHI 2009

Black Clouds & Silver Linings Dream Theater, CD 781.66 DRE 2009

Live from Madison Square Garden Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, CD 781.66 CLA 2009 2 CD edition

Leave This Town Daughtry, CD 781.66 DAU 2009

Hair (The New Broadway Cast Recording) Hair, CD 782.14 MAC 2009

Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison George Harrison, CD 781.66 HAR 2009

The Essential Michael Jackson Michael Jackson, CD 781.66 JAC 2005T

BLACKsummers’night Maxwell, CD 781.643 MAX 2009

American Saturday Night Brad Paisley, CD 781.642 PAI 2009

Far Regina Spektor, CD 781.63 SPE 2009

Cradlesong Rob Thomas, CD 781.66 THO 2009

Wilco Wilco, CD 781.66 WIL 2009

New Fiction – July 2009

Lynne

All Other Nights Dara Horn, F HOR – Jacob Rappaport, a Jewish soldier in the Union army is ordered to kill his own uncle in New Orleans, who is plotting to assassinate President Lincoln.

Assegai Wilbur Smith, F SMI – Leon Courtney is professional hunter in British East Africa, who guides the rich and powerful on safaris in 1913.

Black Water Rising Attica Locke, F LOC – Down-on-his luck lawyer, Jay Porter, tries to make a new start in Houston, 1981. But saving a woman from drowning isn’t a good beginning. Great reviews for a debut novel.

Cemetery Dance Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, F PRE – William Smithback Jr., a prominent New York Times reporter is killed by a man who was supposedly buried ten days earlier.

Die For You Lisa Unger, F UNG – Isabel Raine thought she had it all, until the morning her husband, Marcus, kisses her goodbye and simply vanishes.

Figures in Silk Vanora Bennett, F BEN – Two sisters discover passion during the War of the Roses — one with the king, the other in the world of silk.

The Four Corners of the Sky Michael Malone, F MAL – A sprawling novel featuring Navy pilot Annie Peregrine-Goode and the con-artist father who left her when she was seven.

Fugitive Philip Margolin, F MAR – International intrigue and murder is the focus when con man  Charlie Marsh is suspected of killing a United States congressman.

Heartless Diana Palmer, F PAL – Secrets and passion abound on Comanche Wells Ranch as Jason returns to find that Gracie is all grown up.

House Secrets Mike Lawson, F LAW – Joe DeMarco works as a fixer for the Speaker of House and takes a dangerous ride through the halls of power.

In the Kitchen Monica Ali, F ALI – Executive chef, Gabriel Lightfoot, is doing well running the kitchen at the Imperial Hotel, but several complications intervene.

Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi Geoff Dyer, F DYE – Jaded journalist Jeff Atman parties in Italy during the Venice Biennale. Does he later travel to the holy city of Varanasi, India?

John the Baptizer Brooks Hansen, F HAN – An epic narrative of the life of John the Baptist.

Knock Out Catherine Coulter, F COU – FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are back and faced with the terror of  a young girl and a madman.

The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún J.R.R. Tolkien, F TOL – Two newly published legends from Northern antiquity from the beloved author.

The Lovers John Connolly, F CON – After losing his private investigator’s license, Charlie Parker is at loose ends until he begins a different type of investigation: an inquiry into the death of his father.

Matters of the Heart Danielle Steel, F STE – Danger and obsessive love entrap photographer Hope Dunne as she meets famous Irish author, Finn O’Neill.

Medusa Cliver Cussler with Paul Kemprecos, F CUS – The NUMA team faces what may be their most perilous mission of all.

My Father’s Tears and Other Stories John Updik, eF UPD – The noted author’s final collection of short stories.

Once a Runner John L. Parker, Jr., F PAR – The magazine, Runner’s World, considers this “the best novel ever written about running.”

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Katherine Howe, F HOW – Following the death of her grandmother, Connie Goodwin is drawn into the mysteries of the family house, including an ancient key within a 17th century Bible.

Relentless Dean Koontz, F KOO – Bestselling novelist, Cullen Greenwich, lives a charmed life.  But one critical book reviewer disrupts and soon terrorizes his family and his life.

Road Dogs Elmore Leonard, F LEO – Condo, Jack and Dawn are back in action in another trademark Leonard novel.

Roadside Crosses Jeffery Deaver, F DEA – The Monterey Peninsula is stunned when roadside crosses are found along local highways — not as memorials, but as announcements of  a murderer’s intention to kill.

The Scarecrow Michael Connelly, F CON – Jack McEvoy, from The Poet, is back and is being laid-off as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He decides to go out with a bang, to write the murder story of his career.

Sisters & Husbands Connie Briscoe, F BRI – The sequel to Sisters & Lovers finds three sisters, Beverly, Charmaine and Evelyn facing marital issues in suburban Washington, D.C.

Strangers Anita Brookne, rF BRO – The author’s elegant style is evident in this story of an ordinary man whose longings, doubts, and fears are universal.

You or Someone Like You Chandler Burr,F BUR – Anne Rosenbaum leads a life of Los Angeles privilege as the wife of a Hollywood executive. She finds herself leading a book club for the film industry elite.

The Wish Maker Ali Sethi, F SET – This acclaimed debut novel features a fatherless boy growing up in a family of outspoken women in contemporary Pakistan.

More New Releases on DVD – June 2009

Richelle

Be Kind Rewind

Two local outcasts attempt to save a local video store. Amateur film director Mike must find a way to save the business after his magnetized friend, Jerry, erases every movie in the store. Using an outdated video camera and their own special effects, the two embark on an adventure to remake all the movies, from “Ghostbusters” to “Driving Miss Daisy,” turning the two town misfits into local celebrities. Cast: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz. Rated PG-13

The Caller

A corporate executive plans to blow the whistle on his company`s unsavory practices, putting his life in peril. Cast: Frank Langella, Elliott Gould, Laura Harring, Anabel Soda.  Rated PG-13

Confessions of a Shopaholic

A college grad lands a job as a financial journalist in New York City to support her shopping addiction. Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb.  Based on the books by Sophie Kinsella. Rated PG

Days and Clouds

In this film about work and marriage by Bread and Tulips’ director Silvio Soldini, a well-off Genoa couple has to face self-image, marriage, and work problems when their financial world crumbles.Cast: Margherita Buy, Antonio Albanese, Alba Rohrwacher, Giuseppe Battiston, Fabio Troiano.In Italian, English subtitles. Not Rated

Defiance

Three Jewish brothers escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the Belarussian forest, where they join Russian resistance fighters. Cast: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Allan Corduner, Mark Feuerstein. Based on the book Defiance: the Bielski Partisans by Nechama Tec. Rated R

Gran Torino

Walt Kowalski is a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1972 Gran Torino he keeps in mint condition. When his neighbor, Thao, a young Hmong teenager, becomes pressured by his gang member cousin to steal Walt’s Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Thao’s family, Walt is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley. Rated R

Humbolt County

A disillusioned medical student finds himself stranded for a summer in a remote community of pot farmers.Cast: Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich, Frances Conroy, Madison Davenport. Rated R

Inkheart

A young girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books. She must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook’s hero. Cast: Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis, Eliza Hope Bennett, Rafi Gavron.  Based on the book by Cornelia Funke. Rated PG

The International

An Interpol agent attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring. Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen, Brian F. O’Byrne. Rated R

Killshot

Armand ‘Blackbird’ Degas is a Mafia hit man who shoots to kill and never leaves witnesses, until now. When Carmen and Wayne Colson see him at the scene of a botched murder attempt, they become his next targets. After entering witness protection, they discover the law isn’t on their side and decide to take matters into their own hands. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. Cast: Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson. Rated R

Not Easily Broken

After years of disagreement concerning what true happiness, success, and love really are, Dave and Clarice Johnson have finally reached a breaking point in their marriage. Clarice is hurt in a car accident and the obvious truth is that more than just her injuries need immediate attention. Cast: Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, Maeve Quinlan, Kevin Hart, Wood Harris, Jennifer Lewis.  Based on the novel by T.D. Jakes. Rated PG-13

The Other End of the Line

When a beautiful customer service operator in India falls for a charming American executive over the telephone, they’re in for a serious case of mistaken cultural identity. With a penchant for all things American and a heart full of dreams, Priya flies to San Francisco to meet her destiny, and it looks like love at first sight. Now Priya and Granger must risk everything for true love. Cast: Jesse Metcalfe, Shriya Saran, Anupam Kher, Sara Foster, Austin Basis, Larry Miller. Rated PG-13

Priceless

When it comes to men, Irene has very rich tastes. One very confusing night on the French Riviera, she is duped at her own game. Cast: Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Marie-Christine Adam, Jacques Spiesser, Vernon Dobtcheff, Annelise Hesme. In French, English subtitles. Rated R

Revolutionary Road

A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb in the 1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems. Based on the novel by Richard Yates. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Kathy Bates. Rated R

Starting out in the Evening

An ambitious graduate student convinces a writer that her thesis can resurrect his career. Cast: Frank Langella, Lili Taylor, Lauren Ambrose, Adrian Lester. Based on the novel by Brian Morton. (2007) Rated PG-13

Waltz with Bashir

After not being able to recall the time he spent on an Israeli Army mission during the Lebanon War, Ari attempts to unravel the mystery by traveling around the world to interview old friends and comrades. As the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, his memory begins to return in illustrations that are surreal. Hebrew or English dialogue. Rated R

Wendy and Lucy

Wendy is a down-on-her-luck girl who’s hoping to turn things around for herself with a summer job in Alaska, but finds herself stranded with no money in a small Oregon town. Cast: Michelle Williams, John Robinson, Will Oldham. Rated R

More New DVDs: TV Series and Feature Length Films – June 2009

Richelle

Admissions

Charming 17-year-old, Evie rebelliously sabotages her interviews at prestigious colleges. To hide her deception, Evie lies about her savant sister’s poetry writing, setting off a chain of events which include the revelation of a long buried secret. Cast: Lauren Ambrose, Amy Madigan, Christopher Lloyd, Fran Kranz, Taylor Roberts, John Savage. (2004) Rated PG

The Affair of the Necklace

In pre-Revolutionary France, a young aristocratic woman left penniless by the political unrest in the country, must avenge her family’s fall from grace by scheming to steal a priceless necklace. Cast: Hilary Swank, Jonathan Pryce, Simon Baker, Adrien Brody, Brian Cox, Joely Richardson, Christopher Walken. (2001) Rated R

The Age of Innocence

Society scion Newland Archer is engaged to May Welland, but his well-ordered life is upset when he meets May’s unconventional cousin. Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder. Based on the novel by Edith Wharton. (1993) Rated PG

Around the World in 80 Treasures

Architectural historian Dan Cruickshank embarks on a five-month, 34-country world tour visiting his selection of the 80 greatest buildings, artworks, and other man-made treasures that define human civilization. Originally broadcast on BBC in 2005. Not Rated

Barefoot in the Park

A young, newly wed couple set up housekeeping in an attic apartment near Central Park in New York City. Cast: Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Charles Boyer, Mildred Natwick. Based on the play by Neil Simon. (1967) Not Rated

Bones: Season Three

A brilliant but cynical forensic anthropologist and an ambitious FBI agent partner up to solve some of the most baffling and bizarre crimes ever. Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, T.J. Thyne, Eric Millegan, Tamara Taylor. Originally broadcast on television during the 2007-2008 season. Not rated.

Burn Notice: Season Two

A former spy uses his special ops training to help others in trouble. Cast: Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar.  Not Rated

Criminal Minds: SeasonThree

Agent David Rossi, the Behavioral Analysis Unit’s most prominent agent and founding member, returns to help the team solve cases while taking care of some unfinished business. Cast: Joe Mantegna, Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Lola Glaudini, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Paget Brewster.  Originally broadcast on CBS during the 2007-2008 season. Not Rated

Da Vinci’s Inquest: Season One

Working with police and pathologists while fighting bureaucratic resistance, Vancouver city coroner Dominic Da Vinci relies on high-tech forensic science and old-fashioned shoe leather to illuminate the murky world in which men and women commit murder. Cast: Nicholas Campbell. Originally broadcast on television during the 1998-1999 season. Not Rated

Da Vinci’s Inquest: Season Two

This crime drama series follows the adventures of Dominic Da Vinci, coroner of Vancouver, British Columbia, as he investigates suspicious deaths along side the police. Cast: Nicholas Campbell, Ian Tracey, Donnelly Rhodes, Venus Terzo, Sarah Strange. (1998-1990) Not Rated

Da Vinci’s Inquest: Season Three

Follows the adventures of Dominic Da Vinci, coroner of Vancouver, British Columbia, as he investigates suspicious deaths along side the police. Cast: Nicholas Campbell, Suleka Mathew, Sara-Jane Redmond, Donnelly Rhodes, Venus Terzo, Ian Tracey, Gwynyth Walsh, Robert Wisden. Originally broadcast on television 1999-2000. Not Rated

Daniel’s Daughter

A successful New York magazine editor begins to question the life she thought she wanted when she goes back to her hometown to spread her estranged father’s ashes. Cast: Laura Leighton, Sebastian Spence.  (2008)  Not Rated

Dead Like Me: Life After Death

Set two years after the critically acclaimed Showtime series ended, the undead reapers are introduced to their new boss, Cameron Kane, whose new agenda creates disorder within the reaper clan. Cast: Ellen Muth, Callum Blue, Sarah Wynter, Jasmine Guy, Britt McKillip, Christine Willes, Cynthia Stevenson, Henry Ian Cusick. Based on the characters created by Bryan Fuller. 2007. Rated R

Enchanted April

Two upstanding married Englishwomen rent an Italian villa to get away from it all. At the same time, they’re joined by a less-restrained, younger woman who quickly has them re-thinking their lives. Cast: Miranda Richardson, Josie Lawrence, Polly Walker, Joan Plowright, Alfred Molina, Michael Kitchen, Jim Broadbent. Based on the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim. (1992) Rated PG

Ethan Frome

The story of a man torn between his joyless marriage to one woman and his lustful desire for another. Cast: Liam Neeson, Patricia Arquette, Joan Allen, Tate Donovan, Katharine Houghton. Based on the novel by Edith Wharton. (1993) Rated PG.

Every Picture Tells a Story

U.K. art critic Waldemar Januszczak hosts a fascinating series that answers some of the most enduring questions in art history. Includes eight great paintings, such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson. Originally broadcasted on television in 2003.  Not Rated

The Grapes of Wrath

The story of the Joad family and their migration to California from their dust-bowl farm in Oklahoma during the Depression. Based on the novel by John Steinbeck. Cast: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, Charley Grapewin, Dorris Bowdon, John Carradine. (1940) Not Rated

The Great Gatsby

In 1920s Long Island, a mysterious American millionaire’s efforts to recapture the sweetheart of his youth result in tragedy. Cast: Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Scott Wilson, Sam Waterston, Lois Chiles, Howard Da Silva, Roberts Blossom. Based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. (1974) Rated PG

Grey’s Anatomy: Season Four

Centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors. Love, lies, and family ties are revealed as the surgeons of Seattle Grace discover that their choices have major unintended consequences. Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, T.R. Knight, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens, Jr., Patrick Dempsey, Kate Walsh, Sara Ramirez, Eric Dane. Originally broadcast on television during the 2007-2008 season. Rated TV-14

The House of Mirth

The glittering yet treacherous world of New York high society comes to life in the heartbreaking story of Lily Bart, a renowned beauty of exquisite charm who seeks a wealthy husband but winds up disgraced and discarded. Cast: Gillian Anderson, Dan Aykroyd, Eric Stoltz, Anthony LaPaglia.  Based on the novel by Edith Wharton. (2000) Rated PG

Jam: The Seven Year Saga of the American Roller Derby League

Diagnosed HIV positive in 1983, Tim Patten believes his passion for Roller Derby is now the thing that keeps him alive. He invests his life savings into creating the American Roller Derby League as an attempt to make the sport a national sensation again. (2006) Not Rated

Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring

Based on the books by Marcel Pagnol. Side A. Jean de Florette: A man inherits a farm from his mother, but his powerful neighbor plots to steal it from him. Side B. Manon of the Spring: 10 years after his death, Jean’s daughter finds out about their neighbor’s treachery, and determines to take revenge. In French, English subtitles. Cast: Jean de Florette: Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil. Manon of the spring: Yves Montand, Emmanuelle Beart, and Daniel Auteuill. (1987) Rated PG

Kiss Me Goodbye

The spooky fun begins when Kay Villano is one week away from marrying the serious Dr. Rupert Baines and an uninvited guest appears on the scene; the ghost of Kay’s dead, but oh so debonair, husband Jolly. Cast: Sally Field, James Caan, Jeff Bridges, Paul Dooley, Claire Trevor. (1982) Rated PG

The Note

Following a tragic plane crash, newspaper columnist Peyton MacGruder discovers a note that was from one of the passengers onboard. She sets on a quest to find the person for whom it was intended, and discovers the life it will change is her own. Cast: Genie Francis, Ted McGinley. Based on the novel by Angela Hunt. (2007) Not Rated

The Note II

Haunted by past mistakes, Peyton hesitates to take the next step with the man she loves. But a note from a reader warns about the regret caused by passion denied.  Cast: Genie Francis, Ted McGinley, Katie Boland, Kate Trotter, John Bourgeois, Genelle Williams, Maria Ricossa, John Bregar. Based upon the characters from the novel The Note by Angela Hunt. A Hallmark Channel original movie.  Not Rated

Of Mice and Men

In Depression-era California, two migrant workers dream of better days on a spread of their own until an act of unintentional violence leads to tragic consequences. Cast: John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Casey Siemaszko, Ray Walston, Sherilyn Fenn. Based on the novel by John Steinbeck. (1992) Rated PG-13

Rob Roy

The story of the heroic Scottish Highlander who fought for family and country against the evil machinations of the British aristocracy in the 1700s. Cast: Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Eric Stoltz, Brian Cox. (1995) Rated R

Sunday in the Park with George

A splendidly filmed performance of Sondheim’s musical about artist George Seurat. Features Sondheim’s usual compositional brilliance, offering discourse on live, love, and art. A must-see for musical theatre fans. Cast: Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patankin. (1986) Not Rated

Sunset Park

Teacher Phyllis Saroka takes the job as coach of the boys’ basketball team. Entirely unqualified, she’s only interested in an extra paycheck, until she starts to see the kids inside the players and decides to help them learn to win. Cast: Rhea Perlman, Fredro Starr, Carol Kane, Terrence DaShon Howard. (1996) Rated R

Trial and Retribution: Set 1

Follow the detailed investigations of two very different police officers thrown together by a series of gruesome crimes ranging from baffling murders to terrifying abductions. Cast: David Hayman, Kate Buffery.  Broadcast on British televivion 1997-2000. Not Rated

Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season

Betty isn’t like any of her coworkers at Mode, a high-fashion magazine. She’s smart, sweet, and hardworking, but she’s not thin and beautiful. As the publisher’s son’s secretary, she earns his respect as she guides him through the world of fashion. Cast: America Ferrera, Eric Mabius.  (2006) Rated TV-14

Ugly Betty: The Complete Second Season

Betty Suarez is smart, sweet and hard working. The only problem is that she’s not thin and beautiful like all her co-workers at Mode, the high-fashion magazine where she works. The only reason the publisher hired her to be his son’s secretary is that he thought Betty was someone who Daniel would never sleep with. Betty’s hard work and determination earns Daniel’s respect as she helps him find his way through the shark infested waters of the fashion industry. Cast: America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Vanessa L. Williams, Alan Dale, Rebecca Romijn, Judith Light, Becki Newton, Ana Ortiz, Michael Urie, Mark Indelicato, Freddy Rodriguez. Rated TV-14

We Shall Remain

This American Experience series was broadcast on PBS in 2009.  The five documentaries span three hundred years tell the story of pivotal moments in U.S. history from the Native American perspective, upending two-dimensional stereotypes of American Indians as simply ferocious warriors or peaceable lovers of the land.  Narrated by Benjamin Bratt.

Wildfire: Season Three

This ABC Family series centers on the world of horse racing and a young girl named Kris Furillo who, after serving time in a juvenile detention facility, works as a stablehand and later a jockey at Raintree Farm. While at Raintree, Kris finds romance and competition with Raintree’s rivals, the prestigious Davis Farm, all while rising to stardom in the racing world. Cast: Genevieve Cortese, Micah Alberti, Ryan Sypek, Nicole Tubiola, Greg Serano. Originally broadcast on television during the 2007-2008 season. Not Rated