Two best friends become rivals when they schedule their respective weddings on the same day. Cast: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Johnston, Bryan Greenberg, Candice Bergen. Rated PG

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Benjamin Button is a not-so-ordinary man who began his life under unusual circumstances. Born in his eighties at the end of World War I, Benjamin ages backwards. Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemying, Elias Koteas, Tilda Swinton.Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Rated PG-13

The Day the Earth Stood Still

An otherworldly being’s arrival on Earth triggers an unstoppable series of events that threaten all of mankind. Cast: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates. Based on the 1951 screenplay by Edmund H. North. Contains the 1951 film version as well. Rated PG-13

The Family That Preys

Working-class Alice and wealthy Charlotte are friends and mothers who have supported each other through all that their families have gone through over the years. Unfortunately, their families are now embroiled in a new turmoil –with each other. Can the two women save their children from the dark secrets and dirty deeds that threaten to destroy them all? Cast: Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmond Dunbar, KaDee Strickland, Cole Hauser, Taraji P. Henson, Robin Givens, Tyler Perry, Kathy Bates. Rated PG-13

Frost Nixon

Richard Nixon is the disgraced president with a legacy to save. David Frost is a jet-setting television personality with a name to make. This is the legendary battle between the two men and the historic encounter that changed both their lives. Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell. Based on the stage play by Peter Morgan. Rated R

Lost in Austen

Amanda Price is a devoted Jane Austen fan; often immersing herself into a world of dashing gents, elegant corsets and picturesque manor houses. Unsatisfied with her life and relationship in modern day London, Amanda’s ordinary existence is changed forever when she discovers Elizabeth Bennet alive in her bathroom and ends up replacing her in the very real fictional world of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Cast: Jemima Rooper, Alex Kingston, Elliot Cowan, Hugh Bonneville, Gemma Arterton, Lindsay Duncan. Not Rated

The Marriage Counselor

Tyler Perry transforms the art of marriage, life, and family with a fun and fulfilling onstage experience. Includes original songs by Perry. Cast: Tamar Davis, Palmer Williams Jr., Tony Grant, Myra Beasley, Brandi Milton. Not Rated

Max Payne

Max Payne, an undercover DEA agent, is framed for the murder of a fellow agent and seeks to avenge the Mafia slayings of his wife and child. Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Olga Kurylenko. Rated PG-13

Meet Dave

A crew of miniature aliens operate a spaceship that has a human form. Cast: Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks, Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart. Rated PG

My Best Friend’s Girl

Tank Tuner, the Romeo of raunch, who learned behaving badly from his oversexed father, is a world-class jerk that other guys hire to show their girlfriends how much worse it could be without them. But Tank has finally crossed the wrong girl … Alexis. She is his best friend’s girl and the one girl who might be crazy as he is. Cast: Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Jason Biggs, Lizzy Caplan, Alec Baldwin. Rated R

Seven Pounds

Tim Thomas is searching for a way to redeem his heavy conscience. He discovers he has the power to change the circumstances of seven strangers who deserve a second chance, but when one of them captures his heart, he must decide if he should reveal his dark secret. Cast: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Woody Harrelson. Rated PG-13

Traitor

When straight-arrow FBI agent Roy Clayton investigates a dangerous international conspiracy responsible for a prison break in Yeman, a bombing in Nice and a raid in London, all clues seem to lead back to former U.S. Special Operations officer, Samir Horn. Cast: Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Said Taghmaoui, Neal McDonough, Alyy Khan, Jeff Daniels. Rated PG-13

Yes Man

Carl Allen signs up for a self-help program based on one simple principle: say yes to everything … and anything. Unleashing the power of ‘yes’ transforms Carl’s life in amazing and unexpected ways, but he soon discovers that embracing every opportunity might just become too much of a good thing. Cast: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Terence Stamp. Rated PG-13

New Releases on DVD – April 2009

May 6, 2009November 29, 2022Richelle

Doubt

Set in 1964,at the St. Nicholas in the Bronx. Father Flynn is a charismatic priest who is trying to upend the schools’ strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier. The Sister is the iron-gloved principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. With the winds of political change, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James shares with Sister Aloysius her suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis. Based on the stage play by John Patrick Shanley. Rated PG-13

Marley & Me

A family learns important life lessons from their adorable, but naughty and neurotic dog. Based on the memoir by John Grogan. Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin. Rated PG

Pineapple Express

Dale Denton is a lazy stoner who is the sole witness to a murder by an evil drug lord and a corrupt cop. Marked for death, Denton runs for his life, dragging his dazed dealer and his supplier with him on a hilarious adventure. Cast: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Danny R. McBride.Rated R

The Reader

Set in Post-WWII, Germany, Michael Berg is a teenager who becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from different works of literature. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life, only this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna’s past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz. Based on the novel by Bernhard Schlink. Rated R

Role Models

Danny and Wheeler are two salesmen who trash a company truck while on an energy drink-fueled bender. Upon their arrest, the court gives them a choice – the two can either do hard time or serve 150 hours of community service in a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn’t look half bad. Cast: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jane Lynch, Elizabeth Banks. Rated R

Slum Dog Millionaire

Jamal Malik is an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ When the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating. Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up. Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan. Based on the novel “Q & A” by Vikas Swarup. Rated R

The Spirit

Denny Colt is a rookie cop who returns from the dead as The Spirit. He is a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces that lurk in the shadows of Central City. The Octopus kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face. He has other plans for the city. He wants to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold hearted killer from the city’s rundown warehouses, through damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront. He does this all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader. Cast: Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, with Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson. Based on the comic book series by Will Eisner. Rated PG-13

The Wrestler

A professional wrestler makes his way through the independent circuit, trying to get back in the game for one final showdown with his former rival. Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marissa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Wass Stevens, Judah Friedlander, Ernest Miller. Rated R

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

May 6, 2009November 29, 2022Richelle

Affairs of the Heart

Romantic tales from the late Victorian high society of love and loss. These unfold from the country houses of England to the drawing rooms of New York, from the palazzos of Venice to the art studios of London. Scoundrels and schemers collide with ingénues and admirers in the terribly intricate affairs of the heart. Cast: Lynn Farleigh, Anna Calder-Marshall, Margaret Tyzack, Diana Rigg, Rosalind Ayres, Gayle Hunnicutt, Pamela Brown, Faith Brook, Anton Rodgers. Based on works by Henry James. (1974) Not Rated

Bernadette

In February of 1858, at the Massabielle grotto, 14-year old Bernadette, sees a light she later distinguishes as a beautiful young woman. The girl converses with the woman over the next few months. Crowds follow her and people are cured by the waters from a spring Bernadette has cleared. Secular authorities are threatened by the popular gatherings and subject the girl to police inquiry and medical review. Cast: Sydney Penny, Roland Lesaffre and Michele Simonnet. Shot on location in France, this is the film that was chosen to be shown daily at the shrine in Lourdes. Not Rated

Berkeley Square

Three young nannies grow to be close friends as they manage the unpredictable road to love and happiness in the posh world of turn-of-the-century, upper-crust London. Cast: Clare Wilkie, Victoria Smurfit, Tabitha Wady. A BBC-TV production. (1998) Not Rated

Big Love: The Complete First Season

A polygamist and independent businessman lives in Salt Lake CIty with his three wives and seven children. He faces many challenges in meeting the emotional, romantic, and financial needs of his wives. Cast: Bill Paxton, Bruce Dern, Chloe Sevigny, Harry Dean Stanton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ginnifer Goodwin. Originally broadcast on HBO in 2006. Rating: TV-MA.

Big Love: The Complete Second Season

Season two finds the modern-day polygamist Bill Henrickson and his three wives struggling to pick up the pieces after first wife Barb’s outing at the Beehive Mother of the Year Ceremony. Second wife Nicki, learning that it was her father, Roman Grant, Prophet of the Fundamentalist Juniper Creek compound, who betrayed them, battles conflicting family loyalties. And third wife Margene, newly pregnant, fights for a bigger piece of the family pie with an eye toward bringing a new wife and confidante into the fold. Cast: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin, Amanda Seyfried, Douglas Smith, Shawn Doyle, Melora Walters, Joel McKinnon Miller, Daveigh Chase, Jolean Wejbe, Grace Zabriskie, Matt Ross, Harry Dean Stanton. Originally broadcast on HBO in 2007. Rating: TV-MA.

Brown Is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream

This PBS film examining how efforts to profit from Hispanic American culture have contributed to the shaping of its contemporary identity. The documentary’s focal point is comedian George Lopez, an icon and advocate for Hispanic Americans’ move into the mainstream. Features conversations with members of the Hispanic American youth market. Also includes interviews with Lopez and other Hispanic Americans. Not Rated

City Lights

A tramp wins the love of a blind flower girl and attempts to obtain money from a millionaire to help her regain her sight. Cast: Charles Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee, Harry Myers, Allan Garcia, Hank Mann. Originally released as a motion picture in 1931. Rated G

Crazy Mama

A celebration of ’50s America, following three women and the men they pick up on an absurd crime spree. Cast: Cloris Leachman, Stuart Whitman, Ann Sothern, Jim Backus, Tisha Sterling, Donny Most, Linda Purl, Bryan Englund, Merie Earle. (1975) Rated PG

Down from the Mountain

A documentary about the musical artists who performed the songs in the Coen Brothers’ film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Performers include: The Cox family, Fairfield four, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, Chris Thomas King, Alison Krauss, David Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Ralph Stanley, The Whites. (2000) Rated G

Ellis Island

In this History Channel documentary narrated by Mandy Patinkin, immigrants of every ethnic background recall their extraordinary adventures, historians explore the sometimes insensitive national policies, and the Ellis Island Oral History Project reveals what the immigration experience was actually like. Features rare photographs and film. Not Rated

Heroes: Season Two

Season Two finds Hiro (Masi Oka) transported to 17th-century Japan and surrounded by samurai warriors — just in time for a solar eclipse. Can he fight his way back to the 21st century? Cast: Hayden Panettiere, Jack Coleman, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Masi Oka, James Kyson Lee, Milo Ventimiglia, Greg Grunberg, Ali Larter, Adrian Pasdar, Zachary Quinto. Originally broadcast by NBC during the 2007 season. Not Rated.

Hill Street Blues: The Complete First Season

Follow the lives of cops at an urban police station, from the traffic cops to the police chief himself, as they hit the streets of the city. Originally broadcast on television during the Winter 1981 season. Cast: Daniel J. Travanti, Barbara Babcock, Taurean Blacque, Michael Clohessy, Jon Cypher, Charles Haid, Veronica Hamel, Mimi Kuzyk, Kiel Martin, Michael Conrad, Robert Hirschfeld, Barbara Bosson. Not rated.

Hill Street Blues: The Complete Second Season

A very realistic view into the lives of the dedicated cops and detectives of an urban police station. Originally broadcast on television during the 1981-1982 season. Created by Steven Bochco. Cast Daniel J. Travanti, Veronica Hamel, Bruce Weitz, Charles Haid, Betty Thomas, James Sikking. Not rated.

How I Met Your Mother: Season Three

Thirty-year-old Ted is still looking for Miss Right, but his road to domestic bliss is improbably paved with punk rock girls, tattoos, adult video expos and an epic St. Patrick’s Day bender. Meanwhile, as Marshall and Lily adjust to the quirks of married life, the outrageously incorrigible Barney commits a major violation of “The Bro Code.” Cast: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders. Originally broadcast on television during the 2007-2008 season. TV rating: G

In Treatment

Paul is a therapist who exhibits great insight and confidence when treating his patients. But Paul suffers crippling insecurities and is counseled by his own therapist, Gina. Adding to his list of growing concerns, his wife, Kate, who is overcome with feelings of neglect and resents competing for his attention. Paul’s patients undergoing treatment include: a young doctor who is in love with Paul; a Navy pilot who is reevaluating his life after a failed mission in Iraq; a teenage gymnast with suicidal tendencies; and a passionate couple who are troubled in all other areas of their lives. Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Forbes, Melissa George, Blair Underwood, Mia Wasikowska, John Charles, Embeth Davidtz. Originally broadcast on HBO in 2008. TV-MA

The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice

On a deadly mission to recover the historic Judas Chalice, Flynn is saved by—and falls in love with—Simone, a dazzling French woman who harbors a terrifying secret. Cast: Noah Wyle, Bruce Davison, Stana Katic, Jane Curtin, Bob Newhart. Based on characters created by David Titcher. Not Rated

Lion of the Desert

In the war waged by Bedouin patriots to combat Benito Mussolini’s Italian colonization in Libya, Omar Mukhtar, the Bedouin resistance guerrilla leader, has committed himself to a war that cannot be won in his lifetime. Cast: Oliver Reed, Anthony Quinn, Rod Steiger, John Gielgud, Irene Papas. (1979) Rated PG

Master of the Game

Sydney Sheldon’s lavish international saga spans a century and focuses on the Blackwell family’s rise to wealth, from 1890s South Africa where the family’s fortune is made in diamonds to the primary story of iron-willed Kate Blackwell, the driven, power-hungry head of the family’s embattled corporate empire. Cast: Fernando Allende, Dyan Cannon, David Birney, Harry Hamlin, Leslie Caron. (1984) Not Rated

Nashville

This Robert Altman film interweaves the stories of 24 characters over 5 days during a political rally in the capital of country music. Cast: Henry Gibson, Lily Tomlin, Ronee Blakley, Keith Carradine, Geraldine Chaplin, Barbara Harris, Karen Black. (1975) Rated R

The Passion of Bernadette

The saint of Lourdes enters the convent and endures various trials. Through it all, Bernadette trusts in God and remembers the Virgin Mary’s words to her: “I cannot promise you happiness in this life, only the next.” Based on actual testimony taken from the canonization investigation. Cast: Sydney Penny, Emmanuelle Riva, Catherine de Seynes, Malka Ribowska. (1989) Sequel to: Bernadette. Not Rated

The Riches: Season 2

The Malloys are consummate con artists who are posing as a wealthy suburban family. They are stealing the American dream, but their elaborate ruse may be stealing their very souls. Facing near-certain detection, the family is torn asunder as Dahlia and the children hit the open road, and embattled patriarch Wayne remains in Eden Falls, desperately scheming to pull off one last impossible con. Cast: Eddie Izzard, Minnie Driver, Shannon Marie Woodward, Noel Fisher, Aidan Mitchell, Todd Stashwick, Gregg Henry. Originally broadcast on television in 2008. Not rated.

Shane

A drifter and retired gunfighter assists a homestead family terrorized by an aging cattleman and his hired gun. Cast: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon De Wilde, Jack Palance, Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan. (1952) Not Rated

Shirley Valentine

An English housewife, bored with her life, goes on a vacation with a friend to Greece and finds that there’s more to life than just dishes and laundry when she has a fling with a handsome man. Cast: Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Julia McKenzie, Alison Steadman, Joanna Lumley, Sylvia Syms, Bernard Hill, George Costigan, Anna Keaveney, Tracie Bennett. (1989) Rated R

Sister Wendy: The Complete Collection

A collection of Sister Wendy’s art programs. Sister Wendy travels to museums in England and Europe and discusses some of the world’s finest art. Contents: Sister Wendy’s Story of Painting, Sister Wendy’s Grand Tour, Sister Wendy’s Odyssey, and Sister Wendy’s Pains of Glass. Hosted by Wendy Beckett. Originally produced for television broadcast in 1992-1996. Not Rated

Some Like It Hot

When two unemployed musicians accidentally witness the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, they trade in their union suits for flapper frocks and flee to Miami disguised as female musicians in an all-girl jazz band. Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien, Joe E. Brown. (1959) Not Rated

Sunset Boulevard

The story of an aging film queen who prepares for her grand comeback to stardom. Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper. (1950) Not Rated

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season One

Sarah and her son John, tired of running from the agents sent from the future to kill them, try to stop the formation of the agency in the present, with the help of a girl with a mysterious link to the future. Cast: Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker, Summer Glau, Richard T. Jones. Based on the world created in the motion picture written by James Cameron and William Wisher. Not rated.

Weeds: Season One

After her husband’s unexpected death and subsequent financial woes, suburban mom Nancy Botwin embraces a new profession: the neighborhood pot dealer. As it seems like everyone secretly wants what she’s selling, even city councilman Doug Wilson, Nancy is faced with keeping her family life in check and her enterprise a secret from her best friend/PTA president, Celia Hodes. Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Kevin Nealon, Elizabeth Perkins, Romany Malco, Tonye Patano. Originally broadcast on the Showtime Channel in 2005. Rated TV-MA

Weeds: Season Two

Nancy Botwin is a soccer mom who had to learn how to deal – pot, that is – after the death of her husband. Now, her business is a hit. But keeping up with the neighbors in this suburban utopia isn’t easy. She is joined up with a few of her closest friends, and together they face life’s ups and downs – because even in paradise, nobody’s perfect. Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Nealon, Romany Malco, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Andy Milder, Justin Kirk. Originally broadcast on Showtime television in 2006. Rated TV-MA

Weeds: Season Three

America’s favorite pot-dealing, single soccer mom, Nancy Botwin, is more addictive than ever in the third season. But, when an offbeat way to make ends meet grows into a mini-empire, the mother of all dealers finds she may be in over her head –and on the verge of taking everyone one else with her. Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Nealon, Romany Malco, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Andy Milder, Justin Kirk. Originally broadcast on Showtime in 2007. Rated TV-MA

The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd

When Lizzie Holroyd falls in love with another man, she wishes her boorish husband dead, a wish that comes horribly true. Cast: Zoë Wanamaker, Stephen Dillane, and Colin Firth. Originally broadcast on BBC Television in 1988. Not Rated

Wuthering Heights

Set against the stark beauty of the English moor, the mysterious gypsy boy Heathcliff, who has been adopted by the Earnshaw family, discovers his soul mate in his stepsister Cathy. As a man unable to have the love of his life, he seeks vengeance against anyone who comes between them. Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Lancashire, Burn Gorman, Rosalind Halstead. Based on the novel by Emily Brontë. Originally released as a television motion picture in 2008. Not rated.

New Music CDs – April 2009

April 23, 2009November 29, 2022Richelle

Wide Open Jason Aldean, CD 781.642 ALD 2009

Feel That Fire Dierks Bentley, CD 781.642 BEN 2009

3 Rounds and a Sound Blind Pilot, CD 781.66 BLI 2008

Approaching Normal Blue October, CD 781.66 BLU 2009

Free Gavin DeGraw, CD 781.66 DEG 2009

The Seldom Seen Kid Elbow, CD 781.66 ELB 2008

The Mountain Heartless Bastards, CD 781.66 HEA 2009

The Long Fall Back to Earth Jars Of Clay, CD 781.7 JAR 2009

Shine Martina McBride, CD 781.642 MCB 2009

Spirit of Apollo N.A.S.A., CD 781.649 NAS 2009

Naked Willie Willie Nelson, CD 781.642 NEL 2009

NOW That’s What I Call Music! 30 Various Artists, CD 781.63 NOW 2009

Pineapple Express Original Soundtrack, CD 781.542 PIN 2008

Ultra Dance 09 Various Artists, CD 781.554 ULT 2008

Ultra Dance 10 Various Artists, CD 781.554 ULT 2009

Defying Gravity Keith Urban, CD 781.642 URB 2009

Hideaway The Weepies, CD 781.66 WEE 2008

New Nonfiction – March 2009

March 29, 2009November 29, 2022Lynne

A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx Elaine Showalter, 810.9 SHO 2009 – A comprehensive history of American women writers from 1650 to 2000. Well known writers as well as more obscure authors are highlighted.

Blank Spots on the Map: The Dark Geography of the Pentagon’s Secret World Trevor Paglen, 355.3432 PAG 2009 – The author undertakes a road trip to investigate the U.S. military and CIA “black ops” sites.

A Case for the Existence of God Dean L. Overman, 212 OVE 2009 -Why is there something rather than nothing?

The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times Jean Chatzky, 332.024 CHA 2009 FIN – The financial coach shares her research into the similarities among the self-made wealthy.

Einstein’s Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe Evalyn Gates, 523.1126 GAT 2009 – Astronomers are using the theory of Einstein in ways that allow them to view the invisible aspects of the universe. Exciting research that is pursuing one of science’s great mysteries.

Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the Horizons of the Mind Daniel Tammet, 612.82 TAM 2009 – The author of Born on a Blue Day who has autistic savant syndrome, discusses the similarities between his thinking abilities and the kind that we all do.

Enough Already: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You Peter Walsh, 646.7 WAL 2009 – How to deal with the overwhelming “stuff” in our lives.

Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success from a Wall Street Vet Carla A. Harris, 650.1 HAR 2009 – The Wall Street superstar relates her “key survival tools” to those who are advancing their careers.

Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security Richard B. Myers, 355.0092 MYE 2009 – With an insider’s view of the war on terror, the author presents a plan to prepare the United States for challenges in the 21st century.

The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, 641.306 MAS 2009 – The prolific author provides insight into the psychological factors that influence decisions about what we eat and why.

Fight for Your Money: How to Stop Getting Ripped Off and Save a Fortune David Bach, 332.024 BAC 2009 FIN – The author of the Automatic Millionaire explains how to take on the “corporate machines.”

Freedom in My Heart: Voices from the United States National Slavery Museum 306.362 FRE 2008 – Never-before-seen artifacts, images and documents that trace the history of slavery in North America are presented.

In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 973.0496 GAT 2009 -In tracing their family’s past, most African Americans face a series of daunting, but not insurmountable, obstacles.

The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power David E. Sanger, 327.73 SAN 2009 – An intelligence briefing on the world America faces from a noted Washington journalist.

Is God a Mathematician? Mario Livio, 510 LIV 2009 – How can mathematics accurately describe and even predict the world around us?

Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination Lamar Waldron, 973.922 WAL 2008 – An extensive look at the cover-ups and conspiracies surrounding the Kennedy assassination.

Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World Liaquat Ahamed, 332.1092 AHA 2009 – Four men, four banks and the economic collapse of the 1920’s.

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon David Grann, 918.1 GRA 2009 – A mystery that reaches back centuries and a sensational disappearance are featured in this tale of death and madness.

Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make things Worse Thomas E. Woods, 332.4 WOO 2009 – Are the culprits in the collapse of housing values and stocks located on Wall Street or in Washington?

Moments of Clarity: Voices from the Front Lines of Addiction and Recovery Christopher Kenney Lawford, 606.86 LAW 2009 – What finally forces any person to choose life over death? The author of Symptoms of Withdrawal presents the stories of others who have confronted and triumphed over addiction.

The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century George Friedman, 303.49 FRI 2009 – What are the changes we can expect during the twenty-first century?

The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet Neil DeGrasse Tyson, 523.49 TYS 2009 – The story of the extraterrestrial underdog.

Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People Ken Watanabe, 153.43 WAT 2009 – How good are you at solving real-world problems?

The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008 Paul Krugman, 330.9 KRU 2009 -Is a replay of the 1930’s possible? A Nobel prize winner presents his informed opinion.

Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else Geoff Colvin, 153.9 COL 2008 – What is the solution to the mystery of high performance?

A Tolerable Anarchy: Rebels, Reactionaries, and the Making of American Freedom Jedidiah Purdy, 320.973 PUR 2009 -An examination of the nature and concept of freedom that is at the heart of American identity.

The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls from Today’s Pressures Stephen Hinshaw with Rachel Kranz, 155.533 HIN 2009 – The opportunities available to today’s young women are accompanied by stresses from conflicting messages.

Why Evolution Is True Jerry A. Coyne, 576.8 COY 2009 – An accessible summary of the facts supporting the Darwinian concept of evolution.

Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average Joseph T. Hallinan, 153 HAL 2009 – Why do we make mistakes? Could we do a little better?

New DVDs: TV Series and Feature Films – March 2009

March 27, 2009November 29, 2022Richelle

All Creatures Great & Small: The Complete Series 3 Collection

The BBC-TV series, based on the books by James Herriot, continues the story of a Yorkshire veterinarian in a country practice. Cast: Robert Hardy, Christopher Timothy, Peter Davison, Carol Drinkwater. (1979-1980)

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First Season

Physicists Leonard and Sheldon understand everything from the inescapable gravitational pull of a black hole to the intricate structure of the atom. But take those atoms and assemble them into a woman, and their comprehension comes to a grinding halt. And when Penny, a woman with all those atoms in all the right places, moves in across the hall, Leonard and Sheldon’s universe begins to expand in ways they never could have imagined. Cast: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar. Originally broadcast on television during the 2007-2008 season. Not Rated

The Biggest Loser Workout: Weight Loss Yoga

Viewers can get with the program and achieve pound-shedding results in just 6-8 weeks with the transforming power of yoga with instructor, Bob Harper.

Bill Maher: The Decider Live!

In an all-new solo HBO comedy special, Bill Maher offers his candid opinions on a wide range of social and political issues including sex, drugs, Iraq, immigrantion, President Bush, and much more. Rating: TVMA

Catch-22

The story of a group of fliers in the Mediterranean during World War II. Cast: Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Buck Henry, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles. Based on the novel by Joseph Heller. (1970) Rated R

Facing the Giants

A high school football coach with a history of losing games faces not only the pressures from a group of fathers wanting him fired, but also the possibility that his wife can never have children. Only after an unexpected visitor challenges him to trust in the power of faith does he find the strength to persevere. Cast: James Blackwell, Bailey Cave, Shannen Fields, Tracy Goode, Alex Kendrick, Jim McBride, Jason McLeod, Mark Richt. (2006) Rated PG

Hedda Gabler

In this classic from Henrik Ibsen, Hedda has just come back from her honeymoon, married to boring but reliable academic George Tesman. Refusing to tie herself down in life and name, Hedda is banking on George being appointed a professorship to secure a better life for the young couple. However, the arrival of cleaned up ex-lover Eilert threatens to destroy everything. Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Michael Regrave, Ralph Richardson, Trevor Howard, Dilys Hamlett, Ursula Jeans. Originally produced for television in 1962. Not rated.

Lovejoy: The Complete Season Two

Season two continues the adventures of Lovejoy, who careens through another assortment of close shaves with his right-hand man Tinkerdill and scrappy sidekick Eric. Things get off to a rough start when Lovejoy is wrongly convicted of dealing in stolen goods, but that is just a small change in plans. When he emerges from prison, Lovejoy will have his hands full dealing with disappearing bridegrooms, cursed Inca statues, secretive artists and a divine tea bowl. But first, he’ll have to find the blackguard that nearly beat him at his own game. Cast: Ian McShane, Phyllis Logan, Dudley Sutton, Chris Jury. (1991) Not Rated

Lovejoy: The Complete Season Three

The world’s quirkiest crime-solving antiques hero is back! Much to Lovejoy’s annoyance, he’s not the only one on a never-ending quest for wealth and valuables. However, while he proves unstoppable in the face of sinister Italians, vengeful customers and even Eric’s vintage motorbikes, can he manage to escape the snares of love? Cast: Ian McShane, Phyllis Logan, Dudley Sutton, Chris Jury. (1992) Not Rated.

MI-5: Volume 6

Having survived the bombing of the Thames Barrier, Adam and Ros recover to find London facing an even greater threat. While attempting to thwart an attack that could jeopardize a historic peace accord, the team unwittingly unleashes a deadly virus. Cast: Rupert Penry-Jones, Peter Firth, Hermione Norris, Miranda Raison, Raza Jaffrey. Originally broadcast by BBC1 in 2007. Not rated

The Murdoch Mysteries Movie Collection

Set in the 1890s, the sophisticated and sly Detective William Murdoch (Peter Outerbridge) investigates murders against the seedy backdrop of a debauched world where no one trusts the police and everyone seems sinister. Considered a CSI in the 1890s, Murdoch Mysteries are gripping thrillers based on Maureen Jennings s bestselling mystery novels about a cop years ahead of his time. Cast: Peter Outerbridge, Keeley Hawes, Colm Meaney. (2008) Not Rated

Oliver Twist

This gripping tale of Charles Dickens’ classic remains faithful to the spirit of the novel while delivering a modern, thrilling, tragic, and occasionally comic edge. Cast: Timothy Spall, William Miller, Adam Arnold, Tom Hardy, Sophie Okonedo, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Edward Fox, Anna Massey, Morven Christie, Sarah Lancashire, Gregor Fisher, Rob Brydon, John Sessions. A BBC-TV and WGBH 2007 production. Not rated.

This American Life Season: Season 1

Join host Ira Glass and his company, as they bring a different theme to life each week, in the format of the popular Chicago radio show by the same name. Based on the radio program on NPR. Originally broadcast as a television program on Showtime in 2007. Not rated.

This American Life: Season 2

To the Manor Born: The Complete Collection

This BBC TV series from 1979-1980, follows the hilarious misadventures of the uppercrust but impoverished Audrey Forbes-Hamilton, once Lady of Grantley Manor, and Richard Devere, the mysterious “common” millionaire who buys her ancestral Estate. Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne. The Included in the collection is the 2007 Silver Anniversary Special, which fast-forwards 25 years to Audrey and Richard’s plans for their silver-anniversary celebration.

The Winds of War

Set against the backdrop of world events that led to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Naval officer, Victor “Pug” Henry, and his family learn to navigate the waters of dangerous times in the late 1930s. While Germany expands and proceeds to seize several border countries, Italy attempts to establish a Fascist Colonial Empire under Mussolini and Japan prepares for a major battle with China. Meanwhile, the Henry clan finds itself drawn into the center of the conflict as they deal with the drama, romance, tragedy and heroism that lead to America’s involvement in World War II. Cast Robert Mitchum, Ali MacGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Houseman, Polly Bergen, Lisa Eilbacher, David Dukes, Victoria Tennant, Topol. Originally aired as a television mini series in 1983. Based on the novel by Herman Wouk. Not rated.

New Releases on DVD – March 2009

March 27, 2009November 29, 2022Richelle

Australia

Australia, 1940s. An English aristocrat inherits a large ranch. English cattle barons plot to take her land and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover to protect her ranch. Together they experience four life-altering years, a love affair and the bombing of Darwin during World War II. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown. Rated PG-13

Body of Lies

The CIA’s hunt is on for the mastermind of a wave of terrorist attacks. Roger Ferris is the agency’s man on the ground, while on the other end of that real-time link is the CIA’s Ed Hoffman, strategizing events from thousands of miles away. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Simon McBurney. Based on the novel by David Ignatius. Rated R

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Poland, World War II. Innocent and naive 8-year-old Bruno is bored and restless in his new home. Ignoring his mother, he sets off on an adventure in the woods. He comes across a high fence which separates him from the people he can see through it. Soon he meets a young boy in striped pajamas, and a surprising friendship develops. Cast: Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend. Based on the book by John Boyne. Rated PG-13

Cadillac Records

Chronicles the rise of Leonard Chess’ Chess Records and its recording artists like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon and Etta James. Cast: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Cedric the Entertainer, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Eamonn Walker, Mos Def, Beyoncé Knowles. Rated R

Elegy

Respected cultural critic and author David Kepesh is a middle-aged college professor who, for years, has lived in a state of “emancipated manhood.” He has had many romantic conquests, but few lasting commitments. This all changes when a beautiful, stunning young student enters his life and captivates him to the point of obsession. Cast: Penélope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Peter Sarsgaard, Patricia Clarkson, Dennis Hopper.Based on the novel “The Dying Animal” by Philip Roth. Rated R

Flash of Genius

Based on the true story of Robert Kearns. The Kearns’ were a typical 1960s Detroit family. Bob is a college professor and part-time inventor. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns’ think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants, who originally embraced Bob’s creation, unceremoniously shuns him. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life’s work, or anyone else’s for that matter, should be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. He and his family pay the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity. Cast: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham,Dermot Mulroney. Rated PG-13

Frozen River

Set in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec. Ray, a white woman and Lila, a Mohawk are both single mothers, both earning minimum wage and facing desperate circumstances, are drawn by the lure of fast money into the world of border smuggling across the frozen water of the St. Lawrence River. New York State Trooper Finnerty ultimately brings the two to justice. Cast: Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O’Keefe, Mark Boone Junior. Rated R

Happy-Go-Lucky

Poppy is a life-loving and irrepressibly cheerful primary school teacher. She is thirty years old, single, and infinitely optimistic and accepting. She lives with her best friend and flatmate Zoe in London. She is tested by a repressed driving instructor with anger problems, and, in turn, she decides to test him. She has exciting flamenco lessons, an encounter with a homeless man, an argument with her pregnant sister, and a love-affair with the social worker guiding one of her students. Cast: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Stanley Townsend, Kate O’Flynn, Caroline Martin, Oliver Maltman, Sarah Niles, Samuel Roukin, Karina Fernandez, Nonso Anozie. Rated R

I’ve Loved You So Long

A shell-shocked Juliette is released from prison after serving 15 years for murdering her young son. After being banished from her family, she is now reunited with her younger sister, Lea. Together, the sisters embark on a painful but redemptive journey back from life’s darkest edge. Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Serge Hazanavicius, Laurent Grévill, Frédéric Pierrot. French dialogue, English subtitles. Rated PG-13

Lakeview Terrace

When a newlywed couple becomes the target of their neighbor, a stern police officer who disapproves of their relationship, they decide to fight back. Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington, Jay Fernandez. Rated PG-13

Milk

His life changed history. His courage changed lives. Harvey Milk is a middle-aged New Yorker who, after moving to San Francisco, became a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977. His election makes him the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. The following year, both he and the city’s mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White, who blamed his former colleagues for denying White’s attempt to rescind his resignation from the board. Based on the inspiring true story of Harvey Milk. Cast: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco. Rated R

Quantum of Solace

Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal.Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, Judi Dench. Rated PG-13

Rachel Getting Married

In and out of rehab for the past 10 years, Kym Buchman returns to the family home for the wedding of her sister Rachel. She brings with her a long history of personal crisis and family conflict. The wedding party, friends and relatives have gathered for an idyllic weekend of feasting, music and love, but Kym’s passion for the dramatic incites tension in the family. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Tunde Adebimpe, Mather Zickel, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George, Robyn Hitchcock, Sister Carol East, Debra Winger. Rated R

Twilight

Isabella Swan moves to gloomy Forks, Washington to live with her father. She begins her junior year in high school and becomes fascinated by Edward Cullen. He holds a dark secret which is only known by his family. To Edward, Bella is what he has waited 90 years for, a true soul mate. But he knows the further they progress in their relationship the more he is putting Bella and those close to her at risk. Edward tries to warn Bella that she should leave him, but she refuses. A new vampire finds it a challenge to hunt Bella down for her irresistible blood. Now, the game is on and James will not stop until she is killed. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli. Based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer. Rated PG-13

When Did You Last See Your Father?

When a 40-year-old writer visits his dying father, he begins to relive the memories of his past and is forced to realize that his once “immortal, invincible and infallible” father is human after all. Cast: Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Juliet Stevenson, Gina McKee, Sarah Lancashire, Elaine Cassidy, Claire Skinner, Matthew Beard. Based on the book by Blake Morrison. Rated PG-13

New Mysteries – April 2009

March 20, 2009November 29, 2022Lynne

All the Colors of Darkness Peter Robinson, M ROB – When the body of a man is discovered near Eastvale, all signs point to suicide. At least Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot believes that to be the case.

August Heat Andrea Camilleri, M CAM – Sicilian inspector Salvo Montalbano spends a hot summer attempting to solve a sinister and perplexing case.

Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon Nancy Atherton, M ATH – Aunt Dimity helps out Lori Shepard when the Renaissance Festival that comes to the village of Finch presents a dark layer of intrigue.

Batter Off Dead Tamar Myers, M MYE -Mennonite innkeeper Magdalena Yoder gets caught up in a case of hotcake homicide.

Blood and Bone William Lashner, M LAS -Kyle Byrne, the illegitimate son of a Philadelphia lawyer, finds himself a suspect in the death of his father’s law partner.

Bright Futures Stuart M. Kaminsky, M KAM – In the wake of his wife’s death in a hit-and-run accident, Lew Fonesca has moved to Sarasota, Florida His gloomy life consists of small-time criminal investigations until an accused murderer turns to him for help.

Dead or Alive Michael McGarrity, M MCG – Retired Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kerney is back in action after the murder of a good friend.

Degrees of Separation Sue Henry, M HEN – Alaska’s Jessie Arnold returns to the sled-dog trail only to stumble upon something unexpected across her path.

Dog On It Spencer Quinn, M QUI – Chet, the wise, lovable canine narrator, along with his Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private eye, investigate the disappearance of a missing teenager.

Don’t Look Twice Andrew Gross, M GRO -A drive-by shooting rocks upscale Greenwich, Connecticut and a bystander is left dead. Detective Ty Hauck is pulled into what seems to be a vicious case of retribution.

Fatal Lies Frank Tallis, M TAL -In turn-of-the-century Vienna, Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt is confronted with the mysterious death of a young cadet. He turns to Dr. Liebermann, an expert in Freudian psychology.

Fed Up Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant, M CON -As Chloe Carter helps her chef boyfriend compete for the starring role of a new television program, one person drops dead after eating his cuisine.

Hangman Blind Cassandra Clark, M CLA – November, 1382. The month of the dead. Abbess Hildegard rides out for York and the Abbey of Meaux.

In a Gilded Cage Rhys Bowen, M BOW – Turn-of-the-century Irish immigrant Molly Murphy finds herself in jail for a few hours and meets some Vassar suffragists and lands a new case.

Lethal Legacy Linda Fairstein, M FAI – The New York Public Library houses dazzling treasures — and deadly secrets.

The Lost Witness Robert Ellis, M ELL -Los Angeles detective Lena Gamble is in disgrace with her higher-ups, but is tossed a difficult murder case that may finish her career for good.

The Mao Case Qiu Xiaolong, M XIA – The author of Death of a Red Heroine, returns with Chief Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Department who is in charge of the cases that are considered politically “sensitive.

” Murder in the Latin Quarter Cara Black, M BLA – The murder of a Haitian academic in the Left Bank of Paris is more than a simple problem for Leduc Detectives.

Oolong Dead Laura Childs, M CHI – The latest in the Tea Shop mysteries features the opera boosters, the Bravissimo Club, of Charleston, South Carolina

. The Renegades T. Jefferson Parker, M PAR -Modern day outlaws are still found in the new American West. Charlie Hood prefers to ride alone, especially after his partner is shot dead in the passenger seat.

Revenge on the Spellmans Lisa Lutz, M LUT -Isabel Spellman is back on the case and back on the couch in court-ordered therapy.

Safer Sean Doolittle, M DOO – The Callaway’s hope that they’ve moved to a safe, Midwestern town, but find themselves in a harrowing situation.

The Séance John Harwood, M HAR -A gothic thriller set in late Victorian England, finds Constance Langton inheriting Wraxford Hall, where a family disappeared years before.

The Shanghai Moon S. J. Rozan, M ROZ – Chinese-American private investigator Lydia Chin is brought into a case that involves a cache of jewelry that was left in Shanghai during World War II.

Three Silent Things Margaret Mayhew, M MAY – The colonel, newly settled in the peaceful Dorset village of Frog’s End, make inquiries of his own following the death of a once-famous actress.

Whisper to the Blood Dana Stabenow, M STA -Alaskan trooper Jim Chopin and Kate Shugak investigate the murder of two opponents of a planned gold mind expansion inside a national park.

Wild Sorrow Sandi Ault, M AUL – Bureau of Land Management agent Jamaica Wild stumbles across a frozen corpse and soon finds herself stalked by an unidentified killer on the wintery mesa.