A Royal Affair

A Royal Affair

New DVD Shelves – Main Level

Foreign ROY

Looking for a historical costume drama with an intelligent and intriguing plot to back up the beautiful sets? If so, A Royal Affair is just the movie for you. This 2012 Danish language film is the true story of a king (who is slightly mad), his queen (who is more than slightly unhappy), and the doctor who would change not only their lives, but their country as well. Set during the 18^th century when the Age of Enlightenment is sweeping Europe, Denmark is still stuck in the dark past with the aristocracy controlling all the wealth while the ordinary citizens work as peasants with hardly any rights. To make matters worse, the king is incompetent and basically a puppet for the wealthy men of his court. All that changes when an ordinary doctor, not of the aristocracy, becomes the king’s personal physician and closest confidant. He encourages the king to regain control and mass social changes begin to take place in Denmark. Additionally, the doctor’s passion sparks the interest of the long suffering and ignored queen. To find out what happens, check out this Academy Award nominee (Best Foreign Language Film) today!

You definitely will not regret watching this film; it really has it all and it completely enthralled me from beginning to end. There is gorgeous costume design, political intrigue, romance, history, and superb acting from the entire cast. Mads Mikkelsen, perhaps the most recognizable Danish actor to American audiences (he played the villain Le Chiffre opposite Daniel Craig’s James Bond in Casino Royale and currently stars in Hannibal on TV), plays the doctor. Mikkel Folsgaard and Alicia Vikander are also excellent at portraying the king and queen and their complicated relationship. Overall, A Royal Affair successfully tells the very personal story of three people and how that story affected and changed a nation.

Ruby Sparks

Ruby Sparks
New DVD Shelves – Main Level – Comedy RUB

Ruby Sparks is a clever and off-beat romantic comedy. It is the story of Calvin, a genius writer who published his first book while in high school. However, he is currently fighting both writer’s block and loneliness. He starts writing about his dream girl, Ruby, and one day she actually appears in his apartment. Calvin thinks he is going crazy until he realizes everyone else can see and hear Ruby as well; she is a real person. The rest of the film covers the ups and downs of their relationship as Calvin also deals with his own insecurities. Overall, Ruby Sparks is a unique love story with good performances by the two main actors, Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan. Kazan, granddaughter of Elia Kazan, also wrote and produced the film and it will be interesting to see what she does next as a filmmaker and actress.

Six Feet Under: The Complete First Season

Six Feet Under: The Complete First Season
DVD Collection-TV SIX

Six Feet Under is a show about saying goodbye. With rare exception, each episode begins with the death of a person whose body will pass through Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. The deaths range from devastatingly sad to darkly humorous and involve everything from interactions with machinery gone awry to visions of the Rapture. You see the Fisher family talk with the deceased person’s loved ones (or, in some cases, the person who is stuck tying up the loose ends for someone they only knew in passing…or for an ex-spouse). Sometimes, you even see the Fishers talk with the deceased themselves. Such interactions are similar to when Dexter Morgan interfaces with his dead father on Dexter. The words and actions of the deceased are dictated by whatever issue is currently vexing the living, making the visions less like hallucinations and more like projections.

Among those who are laid to rest by the Fisher family is patriarch Nathanial Fisher Sr. (Richard Jenkins, The Visitor), whose death kicks off the pilot episode when he is hit by a bus on Christmas Eve. He reappears throughout the series, interacting with wife Ruth (Frances Conroy, American Horror Story), adult sons Nate Jr. (Peter Krause, Parenthood) and David (Michael C. Hall, Dexter) and teenage daughter Claire (Lauren Ambrose, Can't Hardly Wait) in some of the show’s most poignant moments.

Part of what makes Six Feet Under so memorable is the complexity of its characters. You see each of the Fishers and their acquaintances in their best and worst moments. As a result, you’ll love and loathe each in turn. For better or for worse, you’ll also wonder about the interior lives of everyone you know or meet in real life.

When creator Alan Ball (American Beauty, True Blood) announced in 2005 that the show’s fifth season would be its last, I remember thinking, “surely this is a mistake.” There were still so many stories that could have been told and so many aspects of each character that could be explored. However, as anyone who has watched the show’s powerhouse finale knows, it wasn’t an error but rather the decision of someone who knew how to say goodbye with grace.

Homeland: The Complete First Season

Homeland: The Complete First Season
DVD Collection-TV HOM

CIA officer Carrie Mathison receives intelligence that an American prisoner of war has been turned by terrorists. When U.S. Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody is found alive after having been presumed dead for eight years, Carrie cannot shake her suspicion that he is the POW in question. While the CIA pats itself on the back for helping to recover Brody and media outlets clamber to interview the man everyone considers a war hero, Carrie will stop at nothing to prove that he is not what he seems. Glimpses into the past eight years of Brody’s life reveal that he has plenty to hide. However, Carrie has secrets of her own. The early revelation that she is taking an anti-psychotic casts doubt on her sanity and judgment.

In Homeland: The Complete First Season, Carrie Mathison and Nicholas Brody engage in an intense game of cat-and-mouse. Both are nuanced characters who compete for the viewer’s sympathy and trust. Claire Danes (My So-Called Life, Temple Grandin) as Carrie Mathison and Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, Life) as Nicholas Brody turn in three-dimensional performances. Though their characters are damaged, you cannot help but care about them. A taut thriller, the drama in Homeland unfolds organically. The twists—while shocking—never feel contrived. This show is an excellent choice for people who enjoy complex dramas like Six Feet Under, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones. The second season premieres September 30th on Showtime.

After Life

After Life by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Dvd Collection - Main Level - FOREIGN AFT

What if the afterlife is not what we expect? What if heaven was simply one happy memory from a person’s life that would be repeated for eternity? Would you be able to pick just one memory to take with you to heaven and let go of everything else? This is the premise of the Japanese film After Life . In this world, when a person dies they are sent to a way station building where they have three days to decide on the perfect memory they want to forever relive in heaven. The departed souls are given case worker type individuals to help them along the process and chose their memory. Several of the souls are having trouble making a decision because some feel their lives were empty while others do not think one memory can sum up an entire life. Throughout the story, one of the caseworkers, Takashi, comes to re-evaluate his own afterlife when a client turns out to have married his former fiancée after Takashi was killed in the Second World War.

The film is incredibly low key. It poses many existential questions and naturally examines the nature of life and death. Learning to let go but also to celebrate the goodness in our lives are important themes of the movie. The bureaucratic nature of limbo was both amusing but might seem alarming at first to some people. Would you really want the first part of your afterlife to seem like the start of a job or loan interview? But it is clear that the caseworkers do have compassion and are just trying to comfort these people. The film presents a multitude of life stories from people that come from all walks of life during the client interviews. I have learned that some of the stories were actually real people telling about their lives to the camera. Yet despite all the differences between these people and their stories, they all want the same thing: to simply be happy and find a way to define their lives. That is an uplifting message that can apply to everyone no matter where they are from.

Bride and Prejudice

Bride and Prejudice
DVD collection - Main Level - MUSICAL BRI

Like many people I know, I have a special place in my heart for Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. During the years that my sister was studying South Asian culture, she also introduced me to the joyous synthesis of squeaky-clean romance, music, dance and colorful costume changes that are Bollywood movies. Bride and Prejudice is the initially unlikely but quite successful synthesis of these two – Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day India, with lots of globe hopping. This setting translates the concerns of the original novel quite brilliantly. In modern-day India, marriage is still much more socially important than it is in the UK or America. I confess I don’t know anything about the Indian province of Amritsar, where Jaya, Lalita and their two younger sisters live, but it’s described in the film as a beautiful backwater. It has lovely cultural artifacts like the Golden Temple, but not much in the way of modernity. Lalita loves it passionately, and defends it fiercely both to American businessman Will Darcy, in town for a wedding with his best friend, and the Indian ex-pat distant cousin. The cousin is crass and wealthy and, even though he thinks America is better in so many ways, wants a nice traditional Indian girl for his wife. Very helpfully to fans of the book, while the girls’ names are changed to traditional Indian names, the men mostly have the same names as in the book. The plot is simplified and Austen's marvelous dialogue doesn't come over at all. But there’s music and dancing in plenty, both as part of regular life and when the characters sing and dance out their feelings. This isn’t true Bollywood, as it’s done by the UK team that did Bend it Like Beckham, so hard-core fans may find it lacking. However, for people like me who need to be able to fold laundry while watching a movie, having it in English was a big help. Bride and Prejudice is a delightfully fluffy movie, good for the liberal Austen fan and as an introduction to Bollywood.

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady
DVD Collection - Main Level - MUSICALS MY

“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” to have glorious musicals made for movie theaters again? While it seems this genre of film isn’t as popular as it used to be, fans of musical theater and motion pictures are lucky to have the classics restored and put on DVD to enjoy again and again. One such gem is My Fairy Lady with Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins and Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle.

My Fair Lady tells the story of poverty stricken flower girl Eliza Doolittle and her ascension into ladyhood. Professor Higgins, a phoeneticist, is the wealthy gentleman that takes her in and tries to teach her how to speak proper English. Of course hilarious events ensue as Miss Doolittle believes she can already speak proper English, and Mr. Higgins keeps having Eliza repeat simple words and phrases such as “The Rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.” The recitation of this phrase begins a special turning point for Eliza because she finally pronounces her “a’s” correctly. Soon Eliza, Professor Higgins, and Colonel Pickering are dancing around the parlor room to “The Rain in Spain” which is just one of the many beloved songs in the musical.

Based upon the theater musical, the movie does not disappoint. Miss Hepburn is magical as Eliza Doolittle. She speaks with her beautiful eyes and is completely believable and delightful in her character. In addition, Mr. Harrison captures the aloof yet caring professor perfectly. Mr. Harrison originated the role on Broadway. The other actors and characters along with the gorgeous music (written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe) are added icing to this delightful classic. If you are looking for a wonderful musical with comedy and heart then My Fair Lady is your ticket. It is a classic that will be around forever. In fact, there are talks of a My Fair Lady motion picture remake starring Colin Firth (winner of the 2011 Academy Award for Best Actor) as Henry Higgins. For now though, we can enjoy the beloved classic that won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Picture!

The Hudsucker Proxy

The Hudsucker Proxy
Dvd Collection-Main Level - COMEDY HUD

Many people are familiar with the works of the Coen Brothers. Some of their earlier works are considered modern classics such as Fargo and Raising Arizona. More recently, they recieved much accolade for their film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. However, their catalogue of films is rather large! While some say they experienced a drought of love for their films in the mid 2000s, during the nineties, they were just as prolific and created many lesser known gems.

The Hudsucker Proxy takes place during the year 1959. It is a period piece in many ways, but also takes into account film styles of the time. Some have said it takes on screwball comedy elements of films of the thirties, as well as the sentimentality of Frank Capra. The story follows a hopeful, naive business school graduate, Norville Barnes, played by Tim Robbins, as he makes his way through the big city at a large, behemoth of a company called Hudsucker Industries. While the story centers around Barnes, the board of directors of Hudsucker Industries are the true string-pullers, their actions revolving around a scheme to take a controlling share of the company.

The film has everything: intensity, drama, comedy, romance (with a "fast talking career girl"), deception, heart. And the sets and costume style is impeccable. Period accurate, but not taking itself as seriously as, say, Mad Men, which is set taking place just a couple of years later. A really great film for lovers of the Coen Brothers, but not a bad place to start for neophytes either!

College, Inc.

College, Inc.
College Search-Upper Level – 378.04 C


Frontline is a TV series produced by WGBH and shown on most PBS stations. Each episode is an hour long investigative documentary. There have been many great ones over the past 10 years, but a recent one that was released to DVD and is quite interesting in my opinion is College Inc.

College Inc. is about the history, rise, and issues with for profit colleges and universities which are different than public universities or non profit universities. Publicly funded higher education, such as community colleges and public universities, are run with publicly raised funds, either from the state or raised through a community college district, much like a library district or K-12 school district. They are governed by either community college district boards (locally elected) or in the case of public universities, by boards either elected directly by voters or appointed by other publicly elected officials.

Non profit colleges, such as Madonna University, receive no public funding, and raise capital through endowments and donations (mostly from alumni). They are run in many ways, like other non profit institutions. For profit schools, such as University of Phoenix, are run like corporations. They are run by publicly traded companies and therefore are responsible to shareholders. Like other publicly traded companies, their primary goal is to turn a profit.

College Inc. delves into the issues of for profit universities. It covers issues of priorties, funding, accreditation, admissions approaches and their focus on online education. The film discusses how many community colleges struggle, with falling funding, to accommodate the higher education capacity that for profit colleges step in to take up. Unfortunately, most for profit schools are much more expensive than community colleges and even most publicly funded universities, saddling more Americans with additional debt.

In a time when funding is dropping for many public institutions, this documentary raises the issue of how we should be providing education to those for whom other traditional universities and colleges are not an option or not appropriate. Recommended viewing for those interested in issues of education, public versus private control, and the nature of for profit instiutions.

The Last Song

The Last Song
New Dvd Shelves - Main Level - DRAMA LAS

The Last Song tells the story of teenage Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s (Miley Cyrus) summer with her estranged father (Greg Kinnear) at a small Georgia beach town. Her parents divorced years before and in the process, her father stopped visiting Ronnie and her younger brother Jonah. Ronnie is extremely angry about this abandonment and decides to stop nurturing her talent as a pianist which is a gift that her father helped foster.

At first, Ronnie is very unhappy about being forced to spend the summer with her father and little brother. She feels like an outsider because she has been living in New York City for many years. Moreover, there is a rumor that her father started a fire in the historic town church so he has become an outcast in the town. Thus, Ronnie feels very alone until she meets Will (Liam Hemsworth). Will is a blonde, athletic, and caring young local boy who takes a liking to the ornery Ronnie right from the beginning. Ronnie is not having any of his advances until she realizes that Will cares about the things that matter the most to her. Soon Ronnie is wrapped up in her first romance and all the joy and delight that accompany such experiences. As her heart softens, Ronnie even decides to play the piano for the first time in a long while. She is finally happy and begins to make amends with her father. The summer is turning into a joyful time, until a few tragic secrets come to light.

The Last Song which was directed by Julie Anne Robinson was written before the novel of the same name. Both were written by celebrated author Nicholas Sparks. Since the movie was filmed on location in a beautiful beach town called Tybee Island, Georgia, there is a magical feel to it that only enhances viewers’ enjoyment. Anyone who enjoys love stories with deep messages of forgiveness and hope will love The Last Song.

Killer of Sheep

Killer of Sheep: The Charles Burnett Collection by Charles Burnett
DVD Collection - Main Level - DRAMA KIL

Killer of Sheep takes place in the Watts district of Los Angeles during the 1970s. Stan is a husband and father working long hours at a slaughterhouse while trying to keep up with the work at home. Although there is not much of a plot, the film is filled with sad and interesting situations that are all centered on the difficult lives of these people. “I come from a working-class environment and I wanted to express what the realities were. People were trying to get jobs, and once they found jobs they were fully concerned with keeping them. And they were confronted with other problems, with serious problems at home for example, which made things much more difficult,” Charles Burnett said about making this film.

Charles Burnett wrote, directed, shot and edited this film for his final thesis at UCLA in 1978. The film did not get a theatrical release until 2007 because of licensing issues with the music. For this reason, Killer of Sheep has been relatively unknown to most of the public. Despite its popular anonymity, it has received the Critic’s award at the 1981 Berlin Film Festival, won the 1991 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay, was selected in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1990, and in 2002 was selected as one of the National Society of Film Critics’ 100 Essential Films of all time.

If you enjoy the Italian neo-realist aesthetic (think Federico Fellini and Roberto Rossellini) or just appreciate a good film, then give Killer of Sheep a try.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
DVD Collection - Main Level - Musicals DR


Joss Whedon created this musical during the writers strike of 2007-2008. It's a very short (43 minutes), three-part musical. Neil Patrick Harris plays Dr. Horrible, who is trying to join the Evil League of Evil. In order to gain admittance, he has to do something that the League considers truly evil. The problem is that he's head over heels for a girl named Penny. Penny brings out the good side in Dr. Horrible (whom she knows as Billy). How can he be evil when she's always making him smile and laugh?

Enter Captain Hammer. Penny is wooed by Captain Hammer, who is a narcissistic fool. He has ruined Dr. Horrible's plans in the past, and always seems to show up when Dr. Horrible is about to make a move. (Well, ok, if you broadcast your evil plans on your blog, it kind of alerts the authorities!) Dr. Horrible decides to build a freeze-ray to take out Captain Hammer and win Penny back. Of course, things don't go exactly as planned.

Watch the movie to see what happens!

Burma VJ

Burma VJ : Reporting from a Closed Country
Foreign film DVDs-Main Level - BUR

Without plans on the Fourth of July, I decided to watch this documentary that I had heard so much about. It turned out to be a poignant film to watch on the fourth of July, as we celebrated our freedom and independence from Great Britain, to watch another people strive to create some form of democracy against a cruel military dictatorship.

Burma has been under strict control of media and expression since the current military junta took control in 1988, crushing an uprising. Since then, gatherings and political expression has been limited, and most citizens can only get their news from official state media. However, a band of rogue journalists have been able to capture footage of a new uprising using small, clandestine digital cameras. Through an underground network of digital and physical tape smugglers, the creators of this documentary were able to piece together enough footage via Democratic Voice of Burma.

In many ways, the documentary plays out like a suspense film. In my opinion, it was more thrilling. The recent movement covered in the film, from 2007, was started by Buddhist monks, who command enough respect to be left alone by the authorities for the most part. Chilling and terrifying, this film made me feel lucky to live in a country with so many freedoms. But it also reminded me that not every world citizen enjoys these freedoms yet.
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Michiganfest 2002

Michiganfest 2002 by Bifocal Media and Makato Recordings DVD Collection - Main Level - Musicals MIC

Feeling a little disenchanted by the current state of the local music scene? Sick of generic pop music that purports to have some sort of artistic depth when in fact it’s as deep and sustainable as a kiddie pool? Tired of corporate created “artists” whose next relapse is of more merit than the handful of chords and auto tuned vocals they can muster? Well then step back into the year 2002, and behold Michiganfest. Containing performances and interviews from over 30 local and independent (at the time anyway) bands such as Hot Snakes, Ted Leo, Dismemberment Plan, Coalesce, Dillinger 4, Small Brown Bike and Death Cab for Cutie, Michiganfest 2002 is bursting at the seams with rocktainment. That’s right; this DVD is so cool I made up a word just to describe it. The now defunct festival ran for seven years and was a welcome remedy to larger festivals that were more focused on selling products from large corporations than they were providing excellent music. Not only did the shows have a more personal feel with bands, record labels, and fans all interacting on the same level, but a portion of the proceeds went to charitable causes. So instead of shelling out $175 for those Lady Gaga tickets, buy yourself some dignity and check out Michiganfest 2002.

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks by Mark Frost and David Lynch
DVD Collection-Main Level TV TWI

In the northwestern town of Twin Peaks, Laura Palmer, the popular homecoming queen, is found murdered. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper arrives to help the local sheriff solve the crime. But as the investigation progresses, it is soon revealed that Twin Peaks is much more than a quiet small town: it is full of strange occurrences and strange people, often with something to hide. It is up to Agent Cooper to make sense of everything, sometimes by unconventional methods, such as interpreting dreams and visions.

Although it only aired for two seasons in the early 1990s, Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, remains popular with a huge cult following. With its interesting and often bizarre characters and storylines, it is definitely a show worth watching. Be prepared to be confused at times; however, that is all part of the fun.

Daria: The Complete Series

Daria: The Complete Series by Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis Lynn
DVD Collection - Main Level - TV DAR

Sarcastic, jaded, and disaffected youth rejoice, “Daria: The Complete Series” is now available in all it’s splendor. Well maybe not all it’s splendor considering music licensing issues have forced the creators to take out all that sweet 90’s music (I already miss “Gettin’ Jiggy With it”) and replace them with generic tracks. However, it’s a small price to pay to watch the trials and tribulations of Lawndale teenager Daria Morgendorffer as she suffers the unbearable idiocy of her peers, the ridiculous hypocrisy of her teachers, and the banal superficiality of her sister Quinn whose “shallowness is so thorough it’s almost like depth.”

Airing from 1997 to 2002 on MTV as a spin-off from Beavis and Butt-head, “Daria” was able to examine adolescent issues with more depth, heart, and humor than most live action teen dramas. While the animation isn’t ground-breaking, the writing and voice acting more than make up for any deficiencies it might have. In fact Daria might be one of the most quotable characters to appear on television. The great voice work stands out with regard to the members of Quinn’s fashion club and the brainless cheerleader Brittany. Although it would be a challenge for her character, Brittany would be just as hilarious reading the phone book.

So come back to a time when MTV actually played music videos, when there wasn’t just a plastering of self-absorbed, rich brats posturing in a so called “reality show,” when this now toxic waste dump of a television channel actually tried to produce interesting material. (Liquid Television, The Maxx, etc…) Come back to Daria.

William Kunstler : Disturbing the Universe

William Kunstler : Disturbing the Universe
Dvd Collection-Main Level - DOCUMENT WIL

The first time I heard the name “Bill Kunstler” was while watching The Big Lebowski, as the Dude was thinking of a lawyer to defend him. I read up on him, learning that he was an important civil rights lawyer but didn’t think much about him again until I saw this recently released documentary on him.

Created by Bill Kunstler’s daughters, Sarah and Emily, William Kunstler : Disturbing the Universe is a very complete portrait of Bill Kunstler, for good and for bad. This film shows his modest suburban beginnings and his activation and radicalization with the Freedom Riders and the Chicago Conspiracy trial. While covering other highlights of his career, it also documents his downfall, from a public perception standpoint.

Through interviews with family, defendants, and colleagues, as well as audio and video footage of Kunstler himself, we get a well rounded view at this complex, passionate man. Bill Kunstler felt that anyone, no matter how outrageous or unpopular, deserved a great defense and that simply because the status quo was enshrined in legality, this did not mean that it was just.


Check out the trailer to try before you borrow!
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Stepfather

The Stepfather
DVD Collection - Main Level - SciFi Horror STE

Jerry Blake (played by Terry O'Quinn, the well-known "John Locke" from Lost) believes in the American dream: family, picket fence, family dog, and perfect children. So much so, in fact, that he will do anything to get it. The movie starts out after Jerry murders his family, cleaning himself up and altering his appearance. Apparently things didn't turn out to be so perfect with that family! He moves on to another town, where he marries a widow who has a teenage daughter. Everything is perfect there for a while, but then the teenage daughter starts getting into trouble at school. Jerry's previous wife's brother is looking for him, and a newspaper article surfaces. Stephanie, the teenage daughter, puts two and two together and has a suspicious feeling that the missing murderous husband is her new stepfather. As Jerry's cover spirals out of control, he has to kill more people to keep his cover. He plots his next move: find a new family in a new city and dispose of his current one. Is he successful? Is he caught? Watch the movie to find out!



This movie was re-made last year starring Dylan Walsh (who played Sean on Nip/Tuck) and Penn Badgley (from Gossip Girl). It is also available at the library.
The Stepfather
New DVD Shelves - Main Level - SciFi Horror STE