Wordplay (Now Showing at the Michigan Theater)

Mon, 07/10/2006 - 9:56am by Van

Wordplay is a movie about crossword puzzles featuring: Will Shortz, the New York Times crossword puzzle editor; the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, Connecticut; and crossword puzzle solvers Jon Stewart, Ken Burns, Mike Mussina, the Indigo Girls, and Bill Clinton. Al Gore tackled a more important topic and was fairly compelling in An Inconvenient Truth. Bill Clinton is extremely charismatic, articulate, and attractive in Wordplay.

Crossword puzzle fans might also enjoy Marco Romano’s Crossworld: One Man’s Journey into America’s Crossword Obsession.

Grand Jury Prize winners

Fri, 07/07/2006 - 12:52pm by amy

Prepare for Wednesday's program on the Sundance Film Festival by watching the following Grand Jury Prize winners since 2000:

2000: Girlfight and You Can Count on Me
2001: The Believer
2002: Personal Velocity
2003: American Splendor
2004: Primer
2005: Forty Shades of Blue (on order)

New Books to Film

Thu, 07/06/2006 - 1:26pm by amy

Here are just a few of our recent DVD titles based on books:

1. Bleak House, the 2005 BBC production, based on the book by Charles Dickens
2. Breakfast on Pluto, based on the book by
3. The Catherine Cookson collection, including The Black Candle, The Fifteen Streets, The Moth, The Rag Nympth, The Tide of Life, and The Wingless Bird
4. Shopgirl, based on the novella by Steve Martin
5. Sybil, based on the book by Flora Rheta Schreiber
6. Our Fathers, based on Our Fathers: The Secret Life of the Catholic Church in the Age of Scandal, by David France

A Pirate's Life For Me

Fri, 06/30/2006 - 11:30am by amy

If a sequel to the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl isn't enough (Pirates 2 opens next Friday), then avast ye, maties!: Pirates 3, currently filming, will include a cameo by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards as Johnny Depp's father. Depp has acknowledged he based his Oscar-nominated and sequel-spinning role as pirate Captain Jack Sparrow on the legendary rhythm guitarist. And as if to prove his worthiness of the homage, Richards recently fell out of a palm tree and underwent skull surgery. Word is he's doing fine and apparently looking forward to filming in September--just in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day!.

Lena Horne

Fri, 06/30/2006 - 9:53am by Maxine

Lena Horne, great lady of song, was born 89 years ago on June 30, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. Horne broke the color barrier in film by being the first African American woman to sign a long-term contract with MGM. In 1943, she became famous for her song, Stormy Weather, which she sang in the movie of the same name. Because of discrimination, Horne was never given a major role in any of her films except Cabin in the Sky.

Horne also appeared in several broadway musicals and received a special Tony Award for her show, Lena Horne: "The Lady and Her Music." Also recipient of several Grammy Awards for her stellar musical career and recognized for her contributions to the civil rights movement, Lena Horne has earned her place as a woman of the century.

New and Notable Hindi Language Films

Tue, 06/27/2006 - 4:06pm by amy

Below are a few award winning and recently purchased Hindi language DVDs in the Library's collection. Check out this catalog listing of our Hindi language titles or try a keyword search for "Hindi language" and choose "DVDs" from the Material Type box.

In Sholay, India's best-known "curry" western, two adventurous crooks are hired by an ex-cop to hunt down the dreaded dacoit who massacred his family.Dil Chahta Hai tells the story of three college friends who were inseparable despite their different conceptions of love. In Maya, a young woman's simple life in rural India is shattered when she becomes the victim of an ancient and brutal ritual. Parineeta tells the tale of two childhood neighbors whose path to matrimony is strewn with the usual round of family and business obstacles. "A treat for the eyes...high-end Bollywood near its best." (Variety)

Worldly Bits - Romani People

Fri, 06/23/2006 - 4:08pm by ryanikoglu

A History Of The Romani People is a NEW book on how Romani people live in Europe. You learn about these interesting people through photos, maps, and clear description. Wouldn't you wish to live in one of the painted wagon houses? Add music to the experience with the compact disc Latcho Drom. The documentary VHS Latcho Drom: Safe Journey is a memorable music and dance journey that follows Romani people from their origins in Rajasthan, as they blend cultures through Europe and North Africa.

And the Award for Most Annoying Film Character Ever Goes to...

Tue, 06/20/2006 - 5:25pm by amy

...Jar Jar Binks, according to a poll of 5,000 movie fans on the UK movie rental site LoveFilm.com. Mr. Binks beat out many other contenders, including Andie MacDowell's Carrie from Four Weddings And A Funeral. Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean took third place, Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective came in fourth, and Ben Stiller's White Goodman in Dodgeball came in fifth.

Just in time for summer

Sun, 06/18/2006 - 2:45pm by Maxine

It was 31 years ago on June 20, 1975, that the movie Jaws was released. With its tagline, "Don't go into the water," Steven Spielberg's thrilling and terrifying movie put fear into the hearts of swimmers for years to come. The movie, based on the book by Peter Benchley, used great special effects to show attacks by a great white shark on beach goers in New England. It won three Oscars and was a huge success at the box office.

To allay (or increase) your fears about these beasts, learn more about sharks in the recently published Sharks of the World by Leonard Compagno, which one reviewer on Amazon excitedly describes as "...the DEFINITIVE and COMPLETELY...EXHAUSTIVE shark guide."

Lost in the Woods

Tue, 06/06/2006 - 8:13pm by amy

In this critically acclaimed film version of Carl Sams and Jean Stoick’s bestselling children’s book, a lost raccoon, Fernando Hernandafandavez--voiced by AADL staff member, Diego Ascani!--is confused by the signs of spring until he finally gets a little help from a wise old box turtle named Shirley. Using live action nature footage and photographic stills, filmmakers Laura and Robert Sams carefully match up the characters' dialogue and movements on screen for a fun and clever way to teach young viewers about animal behavior and their environment. (Editor's Choice, Video Librarian)