City of Men
Growing up in a culture of violence, Acerola and Laranjinha have become as close as brothers. When they find themselves on opposite sides of a gang war, the lifelong friends are forced to confront a shocking secret from their shared past. In Portuguese with optional English subtitles. Cast: Darlan Cunha, Douglas Silva, Jonathan Haagensen, Rodrigo dos Santos, Camila Monteiro. Rated R
New Mysteries – June 2008
The Abyssinian Proof Jenny White – Turkish magistrate Kamil Pasha must deal with the theft of valuable antiquities in nineteenth century Istanbul.
Assassins at Ospreys R.T. Raichev – Hugh and Antonia Darcy try to prevent a murder, but find themselves investigating a gruesome death instead.
Close Call John McEvoy – Celia McCann struggles to keep Chicago racetrack, Monee Park, open, but other forces, including hired thugs, are trying to force her to sell the land to developers.
The Cruelest Month Louise Penny – It’s spring in the tiny Canadian village of Three Pines, but relationships there are less idyllic than they seem.
Dark Tide Andrew Gross – Was a deadly conspiracy behind the explosion at New York City’s Grand Central Station and a suspicious hit-an-run accident in Greenwich, Connecticut?
A Deadly Paradise Grace Brophy – Commissario Cenni investigates the murder of a retired German cultural attaché in the peaceful Umbrian town of Paradiso.
The Death Dealer Heather Graham – Genevieve O’Brien knows about nightmares, but a new menace stalking the streets of New York, is not a dream.
Delusion Peter Abrahams – Twenty years after Nell Jarreau witnessed the murder of her boyfriend, the man who was convicted is being released and has been exonerated on new evidence.
The Devil’s Bones Jefferson Bass – During an investigation into a suspicious death, forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton tries an unorthodox experiment to help solve the case.
Fathers and Sins Jo Bannister – Agnes is drawn into an unknown, complex world of her new fiancé and his strange son.
From Dead to Worse Charlaine Harris – Sookie Stackhouse returns in this tale about the supernatural community in Bon Temps, Louisiana.
The Front Patricia Cornwell – What lies behind the Front? Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano will soon find out.
The Girl of His Dreams Donna Leon – Commissario Guido Brunetti of Venice is faced with the murder of a young gypsy girl in another evocative novel by an increasingly popular author.
Goodbye, Ms. Chips Dorothy Cannell – Ellie Haskell returns to St. Roberta’s boarding school to discover who has stolen an important sports trophy and is seeking to embarrass the school. Can a murder be far behind?
A Grave in Gaza Matt Beynon Rees – Palestinian history teacher, Omar Yussef, travels to the Gaza Strip where is he part of an inspection team of UN schools.
Hold Tight Harlan Coben – Tia and Mike Baye are alarmed to learn that the mother of a young suicide victim believes that their 16-year-old son was involved.
Hollywood Crows Joseph Wambaugh – Seduction, black-market booze, burglary, and murder in Hollywood.
Last Post Robert Barnard – After the death of her mother, Eve McNabb receives a puzzling letter that hints at a mysterious life her mother may have lived.
The Lost Roberta Kray – P.I. Harry Lind doesn’t believe in ghosts, but a brutal murder makes him think again.
The Miracle at Speedy Motors Alexander McCall Smith – The wonderful Precious Ramotswe investigates new problems and discovers that the biggest miracles in life are often the small ones.
Mummy Dearest Joan Hess – Claire Malloy, bookseller from Farberville, Arkansas, has finally married Lt. Peter Rosen of the local police department. Their strange honeymoon in Luxor, Egypt soon has creepy overtones.
The Paper Moon Andrea Camilleri – Italian Inspector Montalbano is beset by some thorny existential problems that have to be put on hold, when a particularly gruesome murder demands his attention.
Seven for a Secret Mary Reed and Eric Mayer – Lord Chamberlain John hopes to find the answer the murder of woman in the smoky streets of Constantinople.
The Sudoku Puzzle Murders Parnell Hall – Cora Felton and her niece, Sherry must solve a puzzle and a murder, before the killer strikes again.
Unknown Means Elizabeth Becka – Forensic specialist Evelyn James is called in to investigate what appears to be a locked-room mystery: a wealthy woman is murdered in a high security penthouse suite.
Vita Nuova Magdalen Nabb – The oldest daughter of the Paoletti family has been killed in their villa outside of Florence. Marshal Guarnaccia is called in.
Wicked City Ace Atkins – An historical crime novel that depicts Phenix City, Alabama, a city that Look magazine called “the wickedest city in America.”
Wild Inferno Sandi Ault – Bureau of Land Management Agent, Jamaica Wild, is deployed to a wildfire on the Southern Ute reservation.
Zapped Carol Higgins Clark – Regan and Jack Reilly return with an adventure that features the New York blackout of 2003.
New Books on CD – June 2008
Audition: A Memoir Barbara Walters – The legendary television journalist examines her own life and the many individuals she has known and interviewed.
Change of Heart Jodi Picoult – A mother’s tragic loss and a prisoner’s last chance for redemption are at the center of a high-impact plot.
Comfort Food Kate Jacobs – A celebrity chef shows her friends and family the joy of fulfillment and manages to spice up her own life as well.
Compulsion Jonathan Kellerman – Dr. Alex Delaware conducts a suspenseful manhunt for a psychopathic killer.
Death of a Gentle Lady M.C. Beaton – The elderly Mrs. Gentle may not be all that she appears, especially after she is found murdered.
Dreamers of the Day Mary Doria Russell – Ohioan Agnes Shanklin comes into an inheritance that allows her to take a trip to Egypt, just at the time of the Cairo Peace Conference of 1921.
The Downhill Lie: A Hacker’s Return to a Ruinous Sport Carl Hiaasen – An amusing take on a frustrating game.
Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill) David Cay Johnston – How does a strong economy lend itself to job uncertainty, debt, backruptcy and economic fear?
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World Eric Weiner – How can changing your location change your mood?
The Ghost War Alex Berenson – CIA Agent John Wells returns for a second outing after A Faithful Spy and embarks on another mission to Afghanistan.
A Golden Age Tahmima Anam – Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Indepence in 1971, Rehana Haque struggles to keep her family safe during a chaotic time.
Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out Marci Shimoff – How to experience happiness, no matter what is going on in your life.
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind Pema Chödrön – An introductory course in meditation by a noted teacher.
If I Only Knew Then… Learning from Our Mistakes Charles Grodin – The author relates stories from over 80 well known figures in entertainment, sports and politics, that feature mistakes and lessons learned.
An Irish Country Village Patrick Taylor – There’s always something brewing below the surface in the Irish town of Ballybucklebo. New from the author of a An Irish Country Doctor.
Killer Heat Linda Fairstein – D.A. Alex Cooper must cope with two brutal murders before the city tabloids begin publishing “serial killer” headlines.
The Lady Elizabeth Alison Weir – A look at the early life of young Elizabeth Tudor who would grow up to become England’s most powerful queen.
The Last Lecture Randy Pausch –The CMU professor who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer gave a “last lecture” that was a summation of what he had come to believe and that he wanted his children to know.
Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt Aida D. Donald – The amazing life of the first modern president.
The Logic of Life: The Rational Economics of an Irrational World Tim Harford – Under the confusing surface of everyday life, hidden incentives are at work.
The Monsters of TempletonLauren Groff – Willie Upton returns to her home in Templeton, New York, and learns how one town holds the secrets of her family.
The Opposite of Love Julie Buxbaum – Manhattan attorney Emily Haxby ends a happy relationship just as her boyfriend is on the verge of proposing.
A Prisoner of Birth Jeffrey Archer – If Danny Cartwright had proposed to Beth Wilson the day before, he would not have been arrested and charged with the murder of his best friend.
Song Yet Sung James McBride – A slave breakout in Maryland’s eastern shore of the 1850’s sets loose a drama of violence, hope, and redemption.
Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk Ben Carson – The renowned neurosurgeon invites us to embrace risk in our own lives in order to live our lives to their full potential.
Unaccustomed Earth Jhumpa Lahiri – From the author of Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake comes a new collection of emotionally complex stories.
What Now? Ann Patchett – Based on a commencement address, the author offers hope and inspiration for anyone at a crossroads in life.
The Whole Truth David Baldacci – Nicholas Creel heads up the world’s largest defense contractor who manipulates international conflicts for his own personal gain. But does he have an even bigger plan in mind?
You Can Do It! The Boomer’s Guide to a Great Retirement Jonathan D. Pond – Savvy financial advice from the well known PBS financial planner.
New Fiction – June 2008
The Angel Carla Neggers – Along a remote coast of Ireland, Keira Sullivan pursues the mysterious legend of an ancient Celtic stone angel. During her search, she senses a malevolent presence…
Belong to Me Marisa de los Santos – Cornelia Brown and her husband Teo find that life in the suburbs is one of secrets and complex interactions.
Cathedral of the SeaI Ildefonso Falcones – Translated from the Spanish this worldwide bestseller centers on the building of a church in medieval Barcelona.
Child 44 Tom Rob Smith – In Stalinist Russia, Leo Demidov, an officer with the State Security Force, has been denounced. To save his life he must uncover a criminal, though even suggesting the existence of a murderer is a crime against the State.
Comfort Food Kate Jacobs – The author of The Friday Night Knitting Club focuses on a celebrity cook who learns how to spice up her own life.
The Crystal Skull Manda Scott – A blue crystal skull fashioned by the Maya to save the world from ruin is the focal point a thriller that posits the end of the world on December 21, 2012.
A Dangerous Age Ellen Gilchrist – Controversy and sadness seems to be part of the life of the southern family of the Hands, especially following the events of 9/11.
Dead Heat Joel Rosenberg – As a presidential race heats up in a fiercely contested election, who will lead a bitterly divided country over the next four years? What has the Secret Service learned about a terrorist plot?
Escape Robert K. Tanenbaum – New York City D.A. Butch Karp faces two different situations that become shockingly similar.
Fear and Yoga in New Jersey Debra Galant – Nina, a stressed-out yoga teacher should be calmly guiding her students through their sessions, but instead is worried about … everything.
The Finder Colin Harrison – A tale of global intrigue that takes place in New York City.
A Good Indian Wife Anne Cherian – Neel Sarath, an Indian-American anesthesiologist in San Francisco finds that the marriage his family arranges presents a new and unexpected set of challenges.
The Host Stephenie Meyer – Most of humanity has succumbed to an unseen enemy that inhabits humans as a host, their minds taken over. Melanie is one of the few remaining “wild” humans.
Killing Rommel Steven Pressfield – A tale of World War II based on the real life exploits of theLong Range Desert Group, an elite British special forces unit that took on the “Desert Fox.”
The Lady Elizabeth Alison Weir – A look at the early life of young Elizabeth Tudor who would grow up to become England’s most powerful queen.
Love the One You’re With Emily Griffin – An answer to the question: how can I love the one I’m with when I can’t forget the one who got away?
Moon Shell Beach Nancy Thayer – Lexi Laney and Clare Hart find their adult lives to be quite different than their childhood friendship shared on Nantucket.
The Outlander Gil Adamson – In 1903 a mysterious young woman flees alone across the West, fleeing from those who would avenge her husband’s death.
Practically Perfect Katie Fforde – Anna, a new interior designer, decides to renovate an adorable cottage in desperate need of fixing up.
Secrets Jude Deveraux – Cassandra Madden meets once again with her true love, but must solve the secrets of those around her to find happiness.
Skeletons at the Feast Chris Bohjalian – The brutal landscape of Nazi Germany is depicted as a band of refugees struggle westward ahead of the advancing Russian army.
So Brave, Young, and Handsome Leif Enger – The author of Peace Like a River, returns with the story of anaging train robber on a quest to reclaim his life.
The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II Jeff Shaara – The story of D-Day, the Allies’ invasion of France, is told through the stories of an array of dynamic characters.
The Sugar Queen Sarah Addison Allen – The follow-up to the author’s Garden Spells sees Josey Cirrini’s life expand -thanks to tough-talking, tender-hearted Della Lee.
Swine Not?: A Novel Pig Tale Jimmy Buffett – A Southern family is determined to hide their pet pig in a fancy four-star hotel in New York City. Vintage Buffett.
The Tenth Gift Jane Johnson – In London, Julia Lovat receives a gift that will change her life. A book of 17th century embroidery patterns sends her to Morocco on a quest to discover the life story of Catherine Ann Tregenna.
We Are Now Beginning Our Descent James Meek – Adam Kellas, journalist and would-be novelist, is teetering toward self-destruction when he accepts an assignment to remote Afghanistan.
The World Before Her Deborah Weisgall – Venice is the setting for the story of George Eliot who came to the famed city for her honeymoon, and a parallel story of Caroline Spingold who also travels to Venice one hundred years later, in 1980.
New Releases on DVD – June 2008
Adrift in Manhattan
A beautiful and mysterious doctor crosses paths with a young photographer who has become infatuated with her, and a patient that’s going blind, on a New York subway. Cast: Heather Graham, Victor Rasuk, Dominic Chianese, Erika Michels, Marlene Forté, Elizabeth Peña, William Baldwin. Rated R
Awake
When failed anesthesia leaves a rich young tycoon alert but immobilized during open-heart surgery, he overhears a devious plot to have killed him. Cast: Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Lena Olin, Arliss Howard, Terrence Howard. Rated R
Believe in Me
Coach Clay Driscoll is a small town basketball coach who seems to have everything going against him. A team he doesn’t want. A town that doesn’t support girl’s sports and small town politics that threaten to undermine any chance he has of winning. But his pride and his “girls” refuse to let him quit. Both the young women and their hard-headed coach fight for equality and a share of the dream, taking on the town prejudice and their own self-doubt. Based on the true story of Jim Keith and the Lady Cyclones. Cast: Jeffrey Donovan, Samantha Mathis, Bruce Dern, Bob Gunton, Heather Matarazzo. Based on the book Brief Garland by Harold Keith. Rated PG
Bella An international soccer star is on his way to sign a multimillion dollar contract when a series of events unfold that brings his career to an abrupt end. A beautiful waitress, struggling to make it in New York City, discovers something about herself that she’s unprepared for. In one irreversible moment, their lives are turned upside down– until a simple gesture of kindness brings them both together, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable experience. Cast: Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Angelica Aragon, Jaime Tirelli, Ali Landry. Rated PG-13
The Bucket List
Corporate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers have nothing in common, except they both have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to make a Bucket List of all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die. Cast: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Rob Morrow. Rated PG-13
Closure
Driving back from a posh party at a country estate, Alice and Adam find themselves brutally assaulted by a group of hunters. Physically and emotionally devasted by the attack, the tables suddenly turn when Alice and Adam discover the identity of their attackers. Now it’s time to exact the ultimate revenge. Cast: Gillian Anderson, Danny Dyer, Anthony Calf, Ralph Brown. Rated R
December Boys
In the late 1960s, four orphan boys go for a holiday by the sea on the South Australian coast. Since they share the same birth month, the orphanage calls them December boys. But these teens–Maps, Spit, Spark and Misty–have much more in common. With no hopes of ever joining a family, they form their own familial bonds. Then the unexpected news comes that a young couple may adopt one of them, and the long-time pals suddenly share something else: a rivalry to be the chosen one. Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Lee Cormie, Christian Byers, James Fraser, Jack Thompson. Based on the novel by Michael Noonan. Rated PG-13
Dedication
Henry is a misanthropic, emotionally complex children’s book author who is forced to team up with a beautiful illustrator after his best friend and creative collaborator passes away. As Henry struggles with letting go of the ghosts of love and life, he discovers that sometimes you have to take a gamble at life to find love. Cast: Billy Crudup, Mandy Moore, Tom Wilkinson, Bob Balaban, Dianne Wiest, Bobby Cannavale, Martin Freeman. Rated R
Final Season
In the small town of Norway, Iowa, the high school baseball team is led by legendary Coach Jim Van Scoyoc who has won 19 State Championships. But the small town heroes are dealt a series of unexpected blows that threaten to rob them of their 20th championship win. Talk of a school merger gets serious and Coach Scoyoc is fired. He is replaced by his 24-year-old assistant coach, Kent Stock. Failure seems inevitable. Based on the true story of Kent Stock. Cast: Sean Astin, Powers Boothe, Rachael Leigh Cook, James Gammon, Dayton Callie, Marshall Bell, Larry Miller, Danielle Savre, Brett Claywell, Angela Paton, Lucinda Jenney,Tom Arnold, Michael Angarano. Rated PG
First Sunday
Best friends and criminals Durell Washington and LeeJohn are two thieves who haven’t got a prayer. Sentenced to 5,000 hours of community service, Durell’s life quickly goes from bad to worse. Realizing that the Lord helps those who help themselves, he eventually decides to help himself to the neighborhood church’s building fund. Accompanied by LeeJohn, the two down-on-their-luck men are dismayed to discover the cash has already been stolen, so they hold the congregation hostage in a Hail Mary attempt to learn who amongst the righteous has already run away with their loot. Cast: Loretta Devine, Michael Beach, Keith David, Regina Hall, Malinda Williams, Ice Cube,Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan. Rated PG-13
Full of It
17-year-old Sam may be the new kid at school, but he’s got a sure-fire scheme to fast-track his popularity: he’s going to lie his butt off. Claiming to drive a Prosche, date a movie star and have a rock star for a dad, Sam soon finds himself loved by everyone. But when Sam’s outlandish fictions mysteriously turn into outrageous facts, he begins to discover that having all your dreams come true can turn into a total nightmare. Cast: Ryan Pinkston, Kate Mara, Craig Kilborn, John Carroll Lynch, Cynthia Stevenson, Teri Polo. Rated PG-13
Goya’s Ghosts
Told through the eyes of celebrated Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Set against political turmoil at the end of the Spanish Inquisition and start of the invasion of Spain by Napoleon’s army. Captures the essence and beauty of Goya’s work which is best known for both the colorful depictions of the royal court and its people, and his grim depictions of the brutality of war and life in 18th century Spain. When Goya’s beautiful muse is accused of being a heretic, the renowned painter must convince his old friend Lorenzo, a power-hungry monk and leader of the Spanish Inquisition, to spare her life. Cast: Javier Bardem, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Randy Quaid, Jose Luis Gomez, Michael Lonsdale. Rated R
Grace is Gone
Stanley Phillips is a sad, disconnected man unable to tell his young daughters that their mother, a soldier, has died in Iraq. Instead, he takes the girls on a road trip, where their innocent charm helps him rediscover a healing joy he thought he’d lost forever. Cast: John Cusack, Alessandro Nivola. Rated PG-13
The Hard Easy
Paul and Roger both owe a lot of money with no way to pay it back, and the clock is ticking. When they each get a chance to join a different gang of thieves for a heist that will square their debts, what choice do they possibly have? Cast: Henry Thomas, Vera Farmiga, David Boreanaz, Bruce Dern, Peter Weller, Nick Lachey, Elimu Nelson, Rae Allen, Michael Fairman, Gary Busey. Based on a story by Jon Lindstrom. Rated: R
He Was a Quiet Man
He seemed like such a nice guy. He pretty much kept to himself. An office worker inadvertently becomes a hero after he saves a woman’s life. Cast: Christian Slater, Elisha Cuthbert, William H. Macy, Sascha Knopf, John Gulager, Jamison Jones. Not rated.
I Could Never Be Your Woman
Rosie is an older, divorced professional who has had little luck in love. She finally finds a fitting companion in the form of Adam, a much younger man. As her relationship threatens to move beyond something simply physical, her teenage daughter, Izzie, begins to wonder if the strange tingling sensation that she feels when she is in the company of a handsome local boy could possibly be what adults refer to as ‘love.’ Of course anything is possible with Mother Nature up to her old mischief, and with higher powers at play there’s no telling what will come of these relationships. Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Jon Lovitz, Fred Willard, Saoirse Ronan, Tracey Ullman. Rated PG-13
I’m Not There
Six different characters recreate different stages in the career of Bob Dylan –with each emboding part of his legend: from Greenwich Village folk singer to electric guitar trailblazer to born-again preacher. Cast: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw, Charlotte Gainsbourg, David Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams. Rated R
In the Name of the King
When a bloodthirsty legion of half-man/half-beast Krugs rampages through his village, one man picks up a sword and undertakes a quest of vengeance and honor. Haunted by the memory of his son’s death and the kidnapping of his wife by the Krugs, Farmer ignites a duty-call for others to join his crusade to stop the campaign of terror waged by an evil sorcerer whose ruthless quest for the crown could spell doom for the entire Kingdom. Cast: Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani, Kristanna Loken, Matthew Lillard, Brian White, Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds. Based on the Dungeon Siege game designed by Chris Taylor and Gas Powered Games. Rated PG-13.
The Inner Life of Martin Frost
After working for three years on a novel, writer Martin Frost borrows the empty country house of friends for a long-needed rest. No sooner does he arrive, however, than an idea for a story comes to him. When he wakes the next morning, eager to begin his new tale, he is shocked to discover a young woman sleeping next to him in bed – the attractive, effervescent Claire. Presumably the niece of his hosts, she wittily overcomes Martin’s initial resistance to her and the two of them fall in love. But is Claire really the person she claims to be? Cast: David Thewlis, Irène Jacob, Michael Imperioli, Sophie Auster. Not Rated
Margot at the Wedding
When Margot and her son, Claude, come to attend the wedding of her sister, Pauline, it seems as if a family rift is being mended. Despite their best efforts, Margot and Pauline revert to their most dysfunctional selves. It does not help that Pauline’s fiancé is woefully depressed and Margot’s lover is as narcissistic as she is. Margot’s estranged husband can’t seem to recognize that Margot cringes at his every effort at reconciliation. Margot and Claude have both a loving and poisonous relationship and she begins to pull Claude down with her as she sinks in self-absorption. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jack Black, John Turturro, Ciarán Hinds.
Rated R
Moving McAllister
Rick Robinson is a ladder-climbing law intern from Miami with four days until the bar exam. He ends up in a rundown truck headed to L.A. with his boss’s possessions and niece. Amidst hitch-hikers, breakdowns, and assorted local yokels, Rick finds love. Cast: Ben Gourley, Mila Kunis, Jon Heder, Rutger Hauer. Rated: PG13
Music Within
Based on the incredible true-life story of Richard Pimentel, deafened by a bomb blast in Vietnam, Richard returns home and discovers his life’s calling: helping others with disabilities, including his fellow veterans. Along with his best friend Art, a wheelchair-bound rebel with a wicked wit, Richard fights for the rights of those whose voices can’t always be heard. Cast: Ron Livingston, Melissa George, Michael Sheen, Yul Vazquez, Rebecca DeMornay, Hector Elizondo.
Rated R
Nancy Drew
Nancy is an iconic girl detective with a passion for mystery and all things old, but she is about to experience a serious case of culture shock as she heads to Hollywood on an extended business trip with her father, Carson Drew. Having promised him that she has given up sleuthing in favor of becoming a “normal” teenager, Nancy tries her best to resist the lure of the age-old mystery of famous actress Dehlia Draycott’s death, and living in Dehlia’s old mansion full of clues proves too powerful a force for Nancy to resist. Cast: Emma Roberts, Josh Flitter, Max Thieriot, Rachael Leigh Cook, Tate Donovan. Based on the books by Carolyn Keene. Rated PG
The Other Boleyn Girl
Anne Boleyn is a doe-eyed vixen who is ordered by her power-hungry uncle to bewitch King Henry VIII. Her shy sister Mary has always been in Anne’s shadow. Anne is prettier, more accomplished, and desired by many men. So when the King picks Mary as his mistress, Anne turns on her sister and schemes to become not only the King’s consort, but his new queen. Though the Boleyn girls’ mother points out that her ‘daughters are being traded like cattle for the advancement of men,’ it is Anne who ultimately throws her slight weight around to bully Henry into doing her bidding. Cast: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johnasson, Eric Bana, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey. Based on the novel by Philippa Gregory.
Rated PG-13
Radiant City
A Canadian family struggles with existential despair, exacerbated by the drabness of their suburban locale in this faux-documentary. Not Rated
Right at Your Door
Multiple dirty bombs are detonated, spreading deadly toxic ash across Los Angeles. The city is under siege and martial law is in effect. Brad and Lexi struggle to survive with little supplies, limited time, and no information. Cast: Mary McCormack, Rory Cochrane. Rating: R
Romance and Cigarettes
From writer/director John Turturro and the Coen Brothers comes an off-beat, down and dirty musical. When Kitty discovers Nick is having an affair with the sultry seductress Tula, their rocky relationship gets a whole lot rockier. Nick finds himself facing a full-scale revolt from his daughters at home, and Kitty enlists her oddball cousin Bo to track down Tula. Deals with love and hate, life and death, and romance and cigarettes. Cast: James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, Aida Turturro, Christopher Walken. Rated R
September Dawn
As a wagon train of westward-bound settlers makes its way across southern Utah in 1857, a confrontation with a congregation of Mormons soon leads to deadly consequences for all involved. Based on the true story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Cast: Jon Voight, Trent Ford, Tamara Hope, Jon Gries, Taylor Handley, Huntley Ritter, Krisinda Cain, Shaun Johnston, Lolita Davidovich, Dean Cain, Terence Stamp. Rated R
Slipstream
Aging screenwriter, Felix Bonhoeffer, has lived h is life in two states of existence: reality and his own interior world. While working on a murder mystery screenplay, he becomes baffled as his characters start appearing in his life, and his life starts slipping into his characters. Soon, he is thrown into a vortex where dreams, time and reality collide in an increasingly whirling slipstream. Cast: Stella Arroyave, Michael Clarke Duncan, Fionnula Flanagan, Gavin Grazer, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Lawford, Bill Lucking, Camryn Manheim, Kevin McCarthy, S. Epatha Merkerson, Lisa Pepper, Christian Slater, Jeffrey Tambor, Aaron Tucker, John Turturro. Rated R
Southland Tales
This is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Box Santaros is an action star who’s stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with Krysta Now, an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Ronald Taverner, a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy. Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nora Dunn, Christopher Lambert, John Larroquette, Bai Ling, Jon Lovitz, Mandy Moore, Holmes Osborne, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Lou Taylor Pucci, Miranda Richardson, Wallace Shawn, Kevin Smith, Justin Timberlake. Rated R
Suburban Girl
Moving from the suburbs to the glittering metropolis of New York City, Brett is a naive associate book editor embarking on her first big job. Overwhelmed by the demands of her new position, she meets literary star Archie Knox and begins to gain confidence as he introduces her to a glamorous new world. Torn between her old boyfriend, career aspirations and romance, will Brett realize her dreams in the big city? Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alec Baldwin, Maggie Grace, James Naughton, Chris Carmack. Adapted from “The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing” by Melissa Bank. Rated PG-13
Sunshine
It is the year 2057, the sun is dying and mankind faces extinction. Earth’s last hope rests with a courageous crew of eight men and women on a mission to ignite the fading star with a massive nuclear weapon. Deep into their voyage, out of radio contact with Earth, their mission begins to unravel and they find themselves fighting not only for their lives, but for the future of us all.
Cast: Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Chris Evans, Troy Garity, Cillian Murphy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Benedict Wong, Michelle Yeoh. Rated R
The Ten
No one will ever mistake Jeff Reigert for Moses, but like Moses, it is Jeff’s job to introduce the world to the Ten Commandments. However, Jeff is not exactly the picture of virtue. In fact, Jeff is surrounded by gigantic replicas of the famous stone tablets. He is so busy juggling his wife Gretchen and his girlfriend, that he can barely get through a single commandment without breaking one himself. Cast: Adam Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Rob Corddry, Famke Janssen, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Joe Lo Truglio, Oliver Platt, Winona Ryder, Ron Silver, Jessica Alba. Rated R
Tideland
After her mother dies from a heroin overdose, Jeliza-Rose is taken from the big city to live in a rural farmhouse with her father. She tries to settle into a new life in a house her father had purchased for his now-deceased mother. Jeliza-Rose’s attempts to deal with her life change, but the result is her increasingly odd behavior. Jeliza-Rose begins to communicate with her bodiless Barbie doll heads and Dell, a neighborhood woman who always wears a beekeeper’s veil. Cast: Jodelle Ferland, Brendan Fletcher, Janet McTeer, Jennifer Tilly, Jeff Bridges. Based on the novel by Mitch Cullin. Rated R
Trade
When 13-year-old Adriana is kidnapped by sex traffickers in Mexico, her 17-year-old brother, Jorge, sets off on a desperate mission to save her. As Jorge dodges overwhelming obstacles to track the girl’s abductors, he meets Ray, a Texas cop whose own family loss leads him to become an ally. Cast: Kevin Kline, Cesar Ramos, Alicja Bachleda, Paulina Gaitan. Rated R
Untraceable
Jennifer Marsh is an FBI secret service agent who gets caught up in a very personal and deadly cat-and-mouse game with a serial killer. The killer knows that people are drawn to the curious and the dark side of things. They will log onto an ‘untraceable’ website where the killer conducts violent and painful murders live on the internet. The more people who log on and enter the website, the quicker and more violently the victim dies. Cast: Diane Lane, Billy Burke, Colin Hanks, Joseph Cross, Mary Beth Hurt. Rated R
War
After his partner is brutally murdered by the infamous assassin Rogue, FBI agent Jack Crawford vows to find the elusive killer and personally avenge his partner’s death. But Crawford’s obsession with vengeance jeopardizes his professional judgment, and as the violence escalates, he finds himself in the middle of a conflict between two rival Asian gangs. Cast: Jet Li, Jason Statham, John Lone, Devon Aoki, Luis Guzmán, Saul Rubinek, Ryo Ishibashi, Sung Kang, Mathew St. Patrick, Nadine Velazquez. Rated R
Why Did I Get Married
On vacation at a secluded cabin in the snowcapped mountains of Colorado, eight married college friends have gathered for their annual seven-day reunion. Over the weekend, when dirty laundry is aired, husbands and wives take an intimate look at their lives while struggling with issues of commitment, betrayal, and forgiveness as they seek a way forward. Cast: Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Malik Yoba, Richard T. Jones, Michael Jai White, Lamman Rucker, Sharon Leal, Tasha Smith, Denise Boutte. Rated PG-13
Youth without Youth
Romania is on the brink of war with Germany and linguistics professor Dominic Matei has little left to live for. On Easter Day 1938, he crosses the street and is struck by a bolt of lightning. Badly burned and nearly dead, he amazes the doctors by healing in only a short time. He defies science and ages in reverse from 70 to 40. There seems to be no limit to the wonder and love he can find in his new youth. He pursues lost dreams, endless knowledge and the secrets of life until his secret is discovered. Now he must use his increased intelligence to keep his powerful secret safe from the wicked powers that would use it for evil. Cast: Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, André M. Hennicke. Based upon the writing of Mircea Eliade. RatedR
Documentaries and Nonfiction Films – June 2008
The Dog Whisperer: Beginning and Intermediate Training
Step-by-step instruction teaching basic behaviors and solving common problems using techniques that are fun for your dog. Best selling author and trainer Paul Owens, is the author of The Dog Whisperer and The Puppy Whisperer.
My Kid Could Paint That
Examines the rise to fame and subsequent noteriety of Marla Olmstead, a little girl discovered to be a painting prodigy, upon which a 60 minutes piece brought suspicions of fraud.
30 Day Shred
Jillian Michaels winning trainer on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” helps you lose big–up to 20 pounds in 30 days! Her DVD includes three 20-minute circuit-training workouts that burn mega calories and build strong lean muscle. Each workout is progressively harder so start with the Level 1 and when you are ready progress to Level 2 and then Level 3. Each level contains a 20-minute workout based on Jillian’s exclusive 3-2-1 Strength/Cardio/Ab training circuit: 3 minutes of strength 2 minutes of cardio and 1minute of ab work. There’s also a brief warm-up session and a cool-down stretch.
You: Staying Young Workout
America’s most trusted doctor team and authors of the #1 New York Times best-selling You series, are tackling another major obstacle: Aging. The DVD contains 3 total body workouts all under 20 minutes: 2 levels by celebrity trainer Joel Harper and a Chi Gong workout by kung fu master Karl Romaine. It teaches strength conditioning, mat work, core training, yoga , and even ways to improve posture. These techniques can be used by viewers at any level, from advanced to beginner. All brought to you by the YOU docs-Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen.
New DVDs: Feature Length Films and TV Series – June 2008
The Amazing Grace
John Newton is captain of a slave ship moored off the coast of Nigeria. He stands at a crossroads in his life, his morality and religion at odds with the brutality of his chosen profession. Stepping ashore, he starts on a journey of redemption that will end in tragedy but prove the catalyst for greater achievements. A local anthem sung in adversity by the slaves whom he captures punctuates the film. It will be the inspiration for Newton’s redemption and, years later, for his writing of the world’s most enduring hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Cast: Nick Moran, Scott Cleverdon, Mbong Odungide, Fred Amata, Joke Silva, James Hicks. Not Rated
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Volume One
Join the amazing journeys of young Indy as he crosses paths with Picasso, Freud, Edison and other larger-than-life luminaries on his travels around the world. Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, George Hall, Corey Carrier, Margaret Tyzack, Ruth De Sosa, Lloyd Owen, Kevin McNally. Originally broadcast on television from 1992-1996.
Bones: Season One
An FBI agent teams up with a forensic anthropologist to solve some of the most baffling and bizarre crimes. Cast: David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel. Originally broadcast on television during the 2005-2006 season.
The Company
Depicts the global power struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, told from the viewpoint of CIA and KGB spies. Spans four decades, from the dawn of the Cold War in the 1950s to the downfall of the Soviet Union in the ’90s. Trace the activities of the CIA’s underground fight with the KGB and where three CIA agents must find out the moles in their own ranks before every operation in an unrelenting battle within the organization itself. Cast: Chris O’Donnell, Alfred Molina, Michael Keaton, Ted Atherton, Alessandro Nivola, Rory Cochrane, Tom Hollander. Based on the book by Robert Littell. Not rated.
The Company
Company is a funny, sophisticated exploration of love and commitment as seen through the eyes of a charming perpetual bachelor questioning his single state and his enthusiastically married, slightly envious friends. Winner of the 2007 Tony Award. Cast: Raúl Esparza, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Angel Desai, Elizabeth Stanley, Matt Castle, Amy Justman, Fred Rose, Leenya Rideout, Keith Buterbaugh, Kristin Huffman. Not Rated
Cranford
Cranford, in 1842, is a market town in northwest England. It is a place governed by etiquette, custom and above all, an intricate network of ladies. It seems that life has always been conducted according to their social rules. For spinsters Deborah Jenkyns, the arbiter of correctness, and Matty, her dumurring sister, the town is a hub of intrigue. Handsome new doctor Frank Harrison has arrived from London; a retired Captain and his daughters move in across the street and preparations for Lady Ludlows garden party are underway. The town has some secrets which are about to be revealed. But news comes that shakes the town, a railway line from Manchester is coming to Cranford. Cast: Simon Woods, Judi Dench, Lisa Dillon, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, Rosy Byrne, Alex Etel, Kimberley Nixon. Based on the novels by Elizabeth Gaskells. Originally broadcast on BBC television in 2007. Not rated.
Criminal Minds: The Second Season
Jason Gideon is the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) and mentor to an elite team of profilers, including family man Aaron Hotchner, sex-crimes expert Elle Greenaway, hunky Derek Morgan, genius-geek Dr. Spencer Reid, department liaison “JJ” Jareau, and computer whiz Penelope Garcia. Joining them this season is Emily Prentiss who quickly learns there’s nothing these agents would rather do than profile murderers and put them away. Cast: Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook. Originally broadcast on television during the 2006-2007 season.
Emperor of the North
A cruel railroad agent makes it his personal mission to rid the world of hobos out for a free ride. But a legendary, tough-as-nails hobo vows to ride the agent’s train to its destination and survive. Cast: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Keith Carradine. Originally released as a motion picture in 1973. Rated PG
Entourage: Season Three, Part 2
For Vince, Eric, Drama and Turtle, life in Hollywood’s fast lane isn’t without its road bumps, as we learned when a botched deal cost Ari, Vince’s longtime agent, his job. Will change at the top make the difference in getting Vince his dream picture, or will the boys regret giving Ari the ax?
Cast: Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Debi Mazar, Jeremy Piven.
TV-MA.
Ghost Whisperer: The First Season
Ever since she was a young girl, Melinda Gordon has been able to see and talk to dead people. Earth-bound spirits who have yet to cross over to the other side seek her help in communicating and resolving unfinished business with the living. Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Aisha Tyler. Originally broadcast on CBS television during the 2005-2006 season. Not rated.
Ghost Whisperer: The Second Season
Melinda Gordon has the ability to communicate with the earthbound spirits of people who have died, providing deeply moving and important closure for them and their loved ones. This season, Melinda and her husband, Jim Clancy, are joined by new friend and employee Delia Banks, as Melinda battles a dark force taking over her beloved town of Grandview. Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Camryn Manheim. Originally broadcast on television during the 2006-2007 season. Not rated.
How I Met Your Mother: Season One
How I Met Your Mother: Season Two
Told in a series of flashbacks, this television series is the hilariously unpredictable story of how twenty-something Ted meets his soul mate and says goodbye to the singles world of pick-up lines, one night stands and relationship “deal-breakers.” Cast: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Neil Patrick Harris.
Justice League: Season Two
The seven superheroes of the Justice League unite to fight evil across the galaxy, but when one of their own commits the ultimate betrayal, it could be the end of the Justice League and Earth forever. Originally broadcast on television during the 2002-2003 season. Not Rated
Medium: The Second Season
Allison Dubois works in the Phoenix District Attorney’s office. She uses her psychic abilities to help crack criminal cases. Her dreams often give her clues to the whereabouts of missing people and by touching someone she often gets to see beneath the facade into the person’s soul. Allison juggles her job with her role as wife and mother, including a daughter who seems to be developing similar powers. Cast: Patricia Arquette, Jake Weber, Miguel Sandoval, Sofia Vassilieva, Maria Lark, David Cubitt. Inspired by the real-life story of medium Allison DeBois. Originally broadcast on NBC television during the 2005-2006 season. Not rated.
My Boy Jack
It’s 1914 and the British Empire’s greatest supporter, Rudyard Kipling, is at the peak of his literary fame. Kipling’s son, Jack, is determined to play his part in the immiment war with Germany but finds himself rejected due to his poor eyesight. Kipling uses his influence to land Jack a commission in the Irish Guards. Kipling’s wife, Caroline, is bitterly upset, failing to see the glory in losing her only son to the war. How will the great writer, torn between his two greatest passions–devotion to King and Country and love for his family–justify the consequences of his actions to himself and his wife? Cast: David Haig, Daniel Radcliffe, Carey Mulligan, Julian Wadham, Martin McCann, Kim Cattrall. Originally broadcast as a made-for-TV movie in 2007. Not Rated
My Left Foot
Born with cerebral palsy, Christy Brown learned to paint and write with his only controllable limb, his left foot. Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Ray McAnally, Brenda Fricker, Fiona Shaw, Adrian Dunbar, Ruth McCabe, Cyril Cusack. Originally released as a motion picture in 1989. Based on the novel My Left Foot by Christy Brown. Rated R
The Odessa File
In 1963, in Hamburg, Germany, a diary falls into the hands of freelance newspaperman Peter Miller. The diary documents the unspeakable crimes perpetrated by SS Captain Eduard Roschmann, commandant of the notorious wartime deathcamp at Riga, Latvia. Miller’s personal manhunt to track down Roschmann leads him into the very heart of ODESSA, a powerful secret organization formed by the SS to protect and re-establish its fugitive members throughout the world. Cast: Jon Voight, Mary Tamm, Maria Schell, Maximilian Schell, Derek Jacobi. Based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth. Originally released as a motion picture in 1974. Rated PG
The Other Boleyn Girl
The little-known story of Mary Boleyn who was mistress to King Henry VIII before he married her older sister, Anne. Families at the Court jockey for position, using their daughters as pawns in the game. Set during one of the most notorious periods in British regal history. A story of a rival relationship between the two sisters. Cast: Natascha McElhone, Jodhi May, Jared Harris, Steven Mackintosh, Philip Glenister, Jack Shepherd. Based on the novel by Philippa Gregory. Originally broadcast on BBC television in 2003. Not rated.
Project Runway: The Complete First Season
Starring international supermodel Heidi Klum, this series follows a group of young fashion designers competing with each other to make it in the high-stakes world of fashion. Originally broadcast on television in 2004. Hosted by Heidi Klum. Rated TV 14.
The Seven-Ups
Follows a rogue squad of New York City cops, who name themselves after the minimum sentence of their targeted street hoods. Often as violent as the vicious thugs they pursue, these cops will stop at nothing to get justice in the courts–but more often–in the streets. Cast: Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Larry Haines, Richard Lynch. Originally released as a motion picture in 1973. Rated PG.
Supernatural: Season One
The premise is deceptively simple: brothers Sam and Dean (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) travel the darker corners of the American landscape in search of their father, who’s gone missing while hunting the malevolent forces that lead to the death of their mother. In the course of their search, the siblings encounter a host of otherworldly creatures, including vampires, ghosts, and witches, as well as the urban-legend favorites, monsters from Native American mythology, and fearful figures from children’s games.
The Train
As the Germans retreat from France in 1944, they determine to take an art museum’s masterpieces with them. The French Resistance persuades a railway inspector to try to save the train’s precious cargo. Cast: Burt Lancaster. Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau, Michel Simon, Wolfgang Preiss. Originally released as a motion picture in 1965. Not Rated
Wire in the Blood: The Complete Fourth Season
Dr. Tony Hill is a clinical psychiatrist whose extraordinary understanding of the criminal mind has been an invaluable asset to the police. Working alongside Bradfield’s new detective inspector, Alex Fielding, Tony profiles and tracks down vicious killers in Northern England. Cast: Robson Green, Simone Lahbib, Mark Letheren, Emma Handy, Peter Sullivan. Not rated; contains graphic violence.
Foreign Language Films – June 2008
Fiorile
The Benedetti family has been haunted by a curse for generations. On a long drive to visit their reclusive grandfather in Tuscany, Luigi Benedetti tells his children the mysterious story of their ancestors. It is a tragic tale filled with forbidden love, passion, vengeance and betrayal. In Italian, with English subtitles. Cast: Claudio Bigagli, Galatea Ranzi, Michael Vartan, Lino Capolicchio, Constanze Engelbrecht, Athina Cenci, Giovanni Giudelli, Norma Martelli, Pier Paolo Capponi, Chiara Caselli, Renato Carpentieri. Originally released as a motion picture in 1993.
Rated: PG-13
Lust, Caution
Set against the backdrop of Japanese occupied Shanghai in 1942, a young woman finds herself swept up in a radical plot to assassinate a ruthless and secretive intelligence agent. As she immerses herself in her role as a cosmopolitan seductress, she becomes entangled in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue, love and betrayal. In Mandarin, English subtitles. Cast: Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Wang Leehom.Based on the short story Se, jie by Eileen Chang. Rated R
Vitus
At six, Vitus is both incredibly talented and wonderfully precocious. When it becomes evident that he has an exceptionally high IQ and can play piano like a young Mozart, expectations run high. His parents love him, his grandfather understands him, but no one knows the truth – that his real genius is in his heart. In German (Swiss); with optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles. Cast: Teo Gheorghiu, Bruno Ganz, Julika Jenkins, Urs Jucker, Fabrizio Borsani, Eleni Haupt, Tamara Scarpellini, Norbert Schwientek, Daniel Rohr, Heidy Forster, Kristina Lykowa.
Rated PG
New Biographies – May 2008
Audition: A Memoir Barbara Walters – The legendary television journalist examines her own life and the many individuals she has known and interviewed.
The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century Steve Coll – The history of the family that within two generations emerged from a poor desert canyon to being oil rich millionaires.
Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World Samantha Power – Mello, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, was killed in a terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Iraq in 2003.
Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers Richard S. Newman – Securing his freedom during the American Revolution, Bishop Allen was a tireless minister, abolitionist and reformer and a very influential figure of the nineteenth century.
The Good Fight: Hard Lessons from Searchlight to Washington Harry Reid – The Senate majority leader recounts the story of his life from very humble beginnings.
Hats & Eyeglasses: A Family Love Affair with Gambling Martha Frankel – The author grew up in a warm, loving family of die-hard gamblers, where just about everything was a situation for a bet.
Home: A Memoir of My Early Years Julie Andrews – The story of the famous actress/singer during her childhood in war-torn Britain and to her new stardom in America.
Hope’s Boy Andrew Bridge – At the age of seven, the author was taken from his mother and spent the next decade in foster care. Having graduated from Harvard Law School, he is now an advocate for children’s rights.
I’m Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted: A Memoir Jennifer Finney Boylan – The author, an English professor, grew up in a haunted house in Pennsylvania as a boy who longed to become a girl.
The Last Lecture Randy Pausch – The professor of CMU who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer gave a “last lecture” that was a summation of all that he had come to believe.
The Legend of Colton H. Bryant Alexandra Fuller – The short and tragic life of a Wyoming cowboy who goes to work on an oil rig.
Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter Sidney Poitier – The famous actor and author reflects on his amazing life and offers inspirational advice and personal stories.
A Life with Karol: My Forty-Year Friendship with the Man Who Became Pope Stanislaw Dziwisz – A close-up glimpse into the beloved Pope’s life and the critical events of his papacy.
Madness: A Bipolar Life Marya Hornbacher – At the age of 24, the author was diagnosed with Type I rapid-cycle bipolar, the most severe form of bipolar disorder.
Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de’Medici Miles J. Unger – The uncrowned ruler of Florence during its golden age was a pivotal figure of the Renaissance.
The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom Simon Winchester – An eccentric Englishman who explored the scientific advances of the Chinese people, is depicted by the author of The Professor and the Madman.
The Man Who Made Lists: Love, Death, Madness, and the creation of Roget’s Thesaurus Joshua Kendall – At the young age of eight, Roget began his quest to put everything in its rightful place, one word at a time.
Marie-Thérèse, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette’s Daughter Susan Nagel – The remarkable story of the royal child who was imprisoned and orphaned during the French Revolution.
Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration Marcia Ann Gillespie, Rosa Johnson Butler and Richard A. Long– The life story of Dr. Angelou is featured along with numerous photographs and letters from her years as an activist, writer, performer, and teacher.
Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate Arlen Specter – The senator from Pennsylvania tells the story of his work in the senate and as a cancer survivor.
The Place to Be: Washington, CBS, and the Glory Days of Television News Roger Mudd – A chronicle of the consuming passion for news during this reporter’s career.
The Prince of Frogtown Rick Bragg – The author of All Over but the Shoutin’ and Ava’s Man continues with a tale about fathers and sons.
Shakespeare’s Wife Germaine Greer – The author resets the story of Shakespeare’s marriage in its social context and disputes the negative impression that many authors have assumed about the wife of the Bard.
sTori Telling Tori Spelling – The life of the actress, and daughter of producer Aaron Spelling, who was known for her role in Beverly Hills, 90210.
The Sum of Our Days Isabel Allende – The famous Chilean writer, relates the story of her life after the death of her daughter and shares her thoughts on love, marriage, motherhood, spirituality and memory.
Swallow the Ocean Laura M. Flynn – The author and her two sisters experienced life with a difficult mother who was suffering from schizophrenia.
A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father Augusten Burroughs – The author of Running with Scissors returns with a heartbreaking look at life with his father.
Woman of the House: The Rise of Nancy Pelosi Vincent Bzdek – A look at the life and career of the country’s most powerful woman.
New Releases on DVD – May 2008
Eagle vs Shark
When Lily, an oddball fast-food waitress and hopeless romantic, and Jarrod, another forsaken eccentric, connect at a ‘dress as your favorite animal’ party, it’s a match seemingly made in outcast heaven. Cast: Loren Horsley, Jemaine Clement, Brian Sergent, Rachel House, Craig Hall.
MPAA Rating: R.
The Golden Compass
In a wondrous parallel world where witches soar the skies and Ice Bears rule the frozen North, one special girl is destined to hold the fate of the universe in her hands. When Lyra Belacqua becomes the keeper of the Golden Compass, she discovers that her world and all those beyond are threatened by the secret plans of Mrs Coulter. With the help of Lord Asriel and a group of unlikely allies ready to stand at her side, Lyra embarks on an extraordinary quest that celebrates friendship and courage against all odds. Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Sam Elliott, Ian McKellen, Ian McShane, Freddie Highmore, Kathy Bates, Kristin Scott Thomas, Daniel Craig. Based on the book “Northern lights” by Philip Pullman. Rated PG-13.
Good Luck Chuck
In order to keep the woman of his dreams from falling for another guy, Charlie Logan has to break the curse that has made him wildly popular with single women: Sleep with Charlie once, and the next man you meet will be your true love. Cast: Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler.
Rated R
The Great Debaters
Inspired by a true story, Melvin B. Tolson is a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African American college students into an historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite. Cast: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, John Heard, Kimberly Elise. Rated PG-13
The Invasion
Something terrifying has come to Earth, something that attacks us while we sleep and turns us into soulless replicants. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jeffrey Wright. Based on the novel The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney. Rated PG-13
Love in the Time of Cholera
Florentino is a poetry-writing telegraph operator who lives in a Central American city. He spots the graceful Fermina while making his rounds, and finds himself in love. While Florentino’s mother encourages the courtship, Fermina’s father absolutely forbids it. Years pass, and the well-born Dr. Urbino treats Fermina for a case of cholera. When Urbino proposes, Fermina accepts. A distraught Florentino decides to wait. With the help of his uncle, he amasses wealth of his own. All the while, he drifts from woman to woman, never really finding what he is looking for in a woman. After five decades of waiting, he gets a second chance to win Fermina’s heart. Cast: Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Benjamin Bratt, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Hector Elizondo, Liev Schreiber, Fernanda Montenegro, Laura Harring, John Leguizamo. Based on the novel by Gabriel García Marquez. Rated R
Mad Money
Bridget is a stay-at-home wife whose life as she knows it ends when her husband loses his cushy, high-paying job. Her college degree in literature does not help her find a substantial job, so she accepts a janitorial position at the Federal Reserve. There, she meets Nina and Jackie, who could use some spare scratch as well. Suddenly, it dawns on Bridget that the bank has plenty of what they need – money. The plan is to take the old bills that are headed for the shredder and recycle them back into the economy by spending it. Cast: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, Ted Danson, Stephen Root, Christopher McDonald, Adam Rothenberg. Rated PG-13
National Treasure Book of Secrets
When a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces, Ben Gates’ great-great grandfather is suddenly implicated as a key conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In order to find a clue so that he can clear his family’s name, Ben must kidnap the President of the United States. Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Bruce Greenwood, Helen Mirren.v Rated PG
Over Her Dead Body
When Kate is killed by an ice sculpture on her wedding day, her fiancé Henry gives up on romance until he falls for the beautiful psychic who’s supposed to be helping him move on. But Kate is not having any of it, and now she’s making it her heavenly duty to send their budding relationship six-feet-under. Cast: Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell, Lindsay Sloane, Jason Biggs. Rated PG-13
P.S. I Love You
Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life – a passionate, funny, and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when his life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry, so it’s a good thing he planned ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief, but in rediscovering herself. The first message arrives on Holly’s 30th birthday in the form of a cake and a tape recording from Gerry. In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way – P.S. I Love You. Holly’s mother and best friends begin to worry that Gerry’s letters are keeping Holly tied to the past, but in fact, each letter is pushing her further into a new future. Cast: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Harry Connick, Jr., Gina Gershon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kathy Bates. Based on the novel by Cecelia Ahern. Rated PG-13
Reservation Road
Two fathers are forced to live with the same tragedy in two very different ways after an incident that involves them both on the same road. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly, Mira Sorvino. Rated R
27 Dresses
Jane is a romantic, completely selfless woman who’s been a happy, helpful bridesmaid no less than 27 times. But her own fairy-tale wedding seems to be nowhere in sight, until younger sister Tess captures the heart of Jane’s boss with whom she’s secretly in love. This inspires Jane to change her “always a bridesmaid” destiny. Cast: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Judy Greer, Edward Burns. MPAA rating: PG-13.