Films to watch on St. Patrick’s Day 2012
17 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Movies, Subject Guide Tags: america, american, birth, boxing, brother, chief, criminal, darby o'gill and the little people, Daughter, double life, dowry, enemy, falls in love, far and away, film, films, films to watch on St. Patrick's Day 2012, finian's rainbow, gold, headstrong, identity, informer, Irish, irish tenant farmer, irish town, irish-american, irishman, journey, killing, land, leprechauns, list, mob, mole, old, organized crime, police, police department, poor, rogue, Saturday Cinema, south boston, special investigation unit, spoiled, state police, stolen, The Departed, The quiet man, town bully, train, undercover cop, war, wealthy landlord, wed, What to Watch, wife
Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) Rated G
An old Irishman tries to steal the gold of the leprechaun’s.
The Departed (2006) Rated R
In South Boston, the state police force are waging a war on Irish-American organized crime. Undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate, which is run by gangland chief Frank Costello. Billy quickly gains Costello’s confidence. Colin Sullivan is a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate. Colin is rising to a position of power within the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there’s a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly thrust into danger. Afraid of being caught and exposed to the enemy, they each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself.
Far and Away (1992) Rated PG-13
A poor but proud Irish tenant farmer accompanies the spoiled and headstrong daughter of a wealthy landlord to America in a quest for land.
Finian’s Rainbow (1968) Rated G
An Irish rogue journeys to America with a stolen crock of leprechaun gold, his spirited daughter in tow.
The Quiet Man (1952) Rated NR
Sean Thornton is an American who swears off boxing after accidentally killing an opponent. Returning to the Irish town of his birth, he finds happiness when he falls in love with the fiery Mary Kate. Though he is sorely tempted to pick up the gloves against her brother, the town bully, Sean is determined not to use his fists. Mary Kate and Sean wed but her brother refuses to pay the dowry. Sean would rather walk away than accept this challenge. Even when his new wife accuses him of cowardice, Sean stands firm. But when she boards a train to leave, he is finally ready to take matters into his own hands.
Playing God in Films
21 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Movies, Subject Guide Tags: adventure, america, angels, ark, Book II, brazil, Bruce Almighty, buffalo, Congress, devil, dogma, dvd, Earth, Evan Almighty, family, film, films, fisherman, girl, god, God is Brazilian, heaven, human race, humanity, IMDB, January 9th, library, list, manager, mankind, message, movies, musician, new york, Oh God, oh God book II, Oh God you Devil, Playing God day, Playing God in Films, Playing God in Movies, politics, promises, religious, replacement, road trip, rock idol, Saturday Cinema, Sequel, series, serve, soul, stand-in, supermarket, superstar, talent agent, third, Tv reporter, universe, vacation, VHS, voice of God, What to Watch, woman
January 9th was playing God day. Here’s some films for your enjoyment.
Bruce Almighty (2003) Rated PG-13
Bruce Nolan is a discontented TV reporter who believes the entire universe is stacked against him. After a bad day, Bruce flies into a rage and blames God for making his life so miserable. God responds by endowing Bruce with all of His divine powers and challenges him to take on “The Big Job” to see if he can do it any better.
Evan Almighty (2007) Rated PG
Sequel to Bruce Almighty
Newly elected to Congress, Evan Baxter has left Buffalo, New York in pursuit of a greater calling. But that calling isn’t serving in the illustrious ranks of America’s politics, but being summoned by the Almighty himself, who has handed Evan the task of building a new ark. With time passing by and his family belittled by Evan’s newfound realization, Evan will have to do the work that God has given him in what promises to be an unusual adventure for a man who just wanted to serve his country. But, Evan might actually be serving all of humanity instead.
Dogma (1999) Rated R
Two banished angels find a loophole that would get them back into heaven. The only snag? They’ll be destroying existence in the process. In an effort to stop them, the overworked voice of God taps cynical mortal Bethany to save the world by preventing the angels from reaching their unholy destination.
God is Brazilian (2002) Rated NR
God is stressed and needs a break from the endless toil of minding the Earth and the troublesome human race. But before he can go on vacation, he must find a temporary replacement. To track down the person best suited for the job, God heads to Brazil, a country that, despite being very religious, has never had an official saint. Joined by a conniving fisherman and a soul-searching young woman, he embarks on a spirited road trip in search of his ideal stand-in.
Oh, God! (1977) Rated PG
God picks a supermarket manager to carry His message to all mankind.
Oh God! Book II (VHS)* (1980) Rated PG
Sequel to Oh, God
God asks a young girl to help spread his word and influence with a slogan. -IMDB
Oh God! You Devil! (1984) Rated PG
Third in the Oh, God series.
The Devil turns talent agent to transform struggling musician Billy Shelton into a superstar rock idol. Naturally, their contract involves possession of the latter’s soul. A deal’s a deal in the eternal scheme of things–unless, of course, God intervenes.
*If you would like a DVD of Oh, God! Book II, please contact the library.
December 7th, 1941-A Day That Will Live Infamy
03 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Movies, Subject Guide Tags: 1930s, a day that will live infamy, affair, america, american, army, attack, back in time, best friends, bombing, boxer, childhood, china, chronicles, December 7th 1941, drama, dramatization, epic, events, family, fascist colonial empire, films, final countdown, fly planes, from here to eternity, germany, hawaii, heroism, history, In harm's way, Italy, Japan, japanese, life, list, love triangle, lovers, movies, mussolini, naval base, naval officer, navy nurse, nuclear-powered, paradise, pearl harbor, pilot, points of view, private, remembrance, romance, royal air force, Saturday Cinema, sergeant, soldier, stories, storm, tora tora tora, tragedy, What to Watch, Winds of war, world, world war II
In remembrance of December 7th, here is a list of films to watch.
The Final Countdown (1980) Rated PG
When an electrical storm transports the nuclear-powered U.S.S. Nimitz back in time, hours before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the crew must decide between allowing the attack to take place and preventing it, which would forever change history.
From Here to Eternity (1953) Rated NR
Drama about life in the Army in the days prior to World War II. Private Prewitt is a soldier and former boxer being manipulated by his superior and peers. His friend Maggio tries to help him but has his own troubles. Sergeant Warden and Karen Holmes tread on dangerous ground as lovers in an illicit affair. Each of their lives will be changed when their stories culminate on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
In Harm’s Way (1965) Rated NR
Epic treatment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the attack on the naval base.
Pearl Harbor (2001) Rated PG-13
Two childhood best friends, Rafe and Danny, grow up wanting to fly planes. When Rafe gets the chance to join the Royal Air Force during World War II, he takes it, leaving his new love, Evelyn, a dedicated Navy nurse, and Danny, also a pilot, behind. Danny and Evelyn are transferred separately to the idyllic paradise of Hawaii, where they eventually meet through a connection to Rafe, who has been declared missing. But just as the love triangle begins to get complicated, Dec. 7, 1941 arrives, changing all of their lives forever.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) Rated G
A dramatization which chronicles the bombing of Pearl Harbor from both the Japanese and American points of view.
Honorable Mention: The Winds Of War (1983) Rated NR
Set against the backdrop of world events that led to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Naval officer, Victor “Pug” Henry, and his family learn to navigate the waters of dangerous times in the late 1930s. While Germany expands and proceeds to seize several border countries, Italy attempts to establish a Fascist Colonial Empire under Mussolini and Japan prepares for a major battle with China. Meanwhile, the Henry clan finds itself drawn into the center of the conflict as they deal with the drama, romance, tragedy and heroism that lead to America’s involvement in World War II.
Thanksgiving Films 2011
19 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Movies, Subject Guide Tags: 1970s, america, apartment, baltimore, boston, boyfriend, brother, business, central african, childhood, conservative, dad, dinner, disaster, disfunctional, divorced, dying, enemy, families, family, feast, film, films, friend, good girl, gorilla, home for the holidays, husband, ice storm, job, key party, lifestyle, list, lower east side, meal, Mighty joe young, mistress, mom, mother, movies, new york, Pennsylvania, pieces of april, plane, planes trains and automobiles, poachers, relationships, romance, salesman, Saturday Cinema, single, sister, story, suburban, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving films, thanksgiving movies, traditional, traveling, turkey, What to Watch, wife
Home for the Holidays (1995) Rated PG-13
Claudia Larson is a divorced single mom who just lost her job and now has to fly home for the traditional family Thanksgiving in Baltimore. From the plane, she calls for reinforcements–and her brother Tommy makes it down from Boston with a little surprise: a handsome friend named Leo. Between dropping the turkey in their sister’s lap and a few fist fights on the front lawn, Claudia and Tommy recapture their childhood–and Claudia and Leo explore the sweet possibility of romance.
The Ice Storm (1997) Rated R
The story of two dysfunctional suburban families, set in the 1970s. When a self-centered husband’s relationships with his wife and mistress grow cold, it takes a wife-swapping “key party” and a freak ice storm to clear the air–and change their lives forever.
Mighty Joe Young (1998) Rated PG
A fifteen-foot-tall Central African gorilla is brought to America to save him from poachers. But his notoriety makes him a target for an enemy from his past.
Pieces of April (2003) Rated PG-13
Family outcast April lives in a beat-up apartment in New York’s Lower East Side with her boyfriend, Bobby. In order to spend some time with her dying mother, April invites her conservative suburban family to her place for a Thanksgiving feast. While she frantically tries to complete the meal, the family drives in from Pennsylvania sharing less-than-pleasant opinions about April’s lifestyle. Her dad tries to think positively, while sister Beth flaunts her good-girl status and brother Timmy captures it all on film.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) Rated R
An uptight businessman faces disaster after disaster as he tries to get back home in time for his family’s Thanksgiving dinner, and along the way is joined by an insane traveling salesman that will not leave him alone.
St. Paddy’s Day Films
19 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Movies, Subject Guide Tags: america, darby o'gill and the little people, dowry, far and away, finian's rainbow, gold, Ireland, landlord, legends, leprechauns, prizefighter, quiet man, secret of roan inish, sprites, St patty's day films, St. Patrick day films, St. Patrick day movies, St. Patty's day movies, tenant farmer
Feeling a little bit Irish. Want to see Ireland without visiting. Here’s a list of films that will bring out the little sprite in you.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) Rated G
An old Irishman tries to steal the gold of the leprechaun’s.
The Secret of Roan Inish (1995) Rated PG
A magical tale of a girl whose search for her missing brother brings an Irish legend to life.
The Quiet Man (1952) Rated NR
An American prizefighter returns to Ireland in order to forget the past and live peacefully in his village birthplace. He falls in love with the hot-tempered sister of a belligerent neighbor, and trouble ensues over the payment of her dowry.
Finian’s Rainbow (1968) Rated G
An Irish rogue journeys to America with a stolen crock of leprechaun gold, his spirited daughter in tow.
Far And Away (1992) Rated PG-13
A poor but proud Irish tenant farmer accompanies the spoiled and headstrong daughter of a wealthy landlord to America in a quest for land.
Thanksgiving Films
20 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
in Movies, Subject Guide Tags: alzheimer's, america, england, farmer, film, fims, financial difficulties, first thanksgiving, fruitcake, idaho, lower east side, movies, National Lampoon's Holiday reunion, new york, Old fashioned thanksgiving, Pennsylvania, pieces of april, pilgrims, squanto: warrior's tale, Thanksgiving films, thanksgiving movies, time to remember, widow, writer
National Lampoon’s Holiday Reunion (2004) Rated PG-13
Against the wishes of his wife and kids, Mitch Snider is determined to have a traditional Thanksgiving holiday with all the relatives. And it looks like that’s what he will have once he receives an invitation from his long-lost cousin Woodrow in Idaho. However, cousin Woodrow and his family turn out to be nuttier than a holiday fruitcake.
Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008) Rated NR
Things are so bad for recently widowed farmer Mary Bassett and her three children that this Thanksgiving they may not even be able to afford a turkey for their dinner. Suddenly, Mary’s wealthy and estranged mother Isabella comes for a visit. Although Isabella finds a kindred spirit in Mary’s eldest daughter and budding writer Tilly, Mary resents her mother’s attempts to help them out of their financial difficulties. It will take more than money to heal the emotional wounds that exist between mother and daughter.
Pieces of April (2003) Rated PG-13
Family outcast April lives in a beat-up apartment in New York’s Lower East Side with her boyfriend, Bobby. In order to spend some time with her dying mother, April invites her conservative suburban family to her place for a Thanksgiving feast. While she frantically tries to complete the meal, the family drives in from Pennsylvania sharing less-than-pleasant opinions about April’s lifestyle. Her dad tries to think positively, while sister Beth flaunts her good-girl status and brother Timmy captures it all on film.
Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale (1994) Rated PG
Indian brave Squanto is kidnapped from America and taken to England to be put on display as a savage. He escapes and when he returns home he brings peace among Pilgrims and a tribe, thus bringing the first Thanksgiving.
Time to Remember (2003) Rated NR
Two estrange daughters return to the family home on Thanksgiving to find their relationship with their mother even more difficult than before. As strong-willed widow Maggie busily prepares for a perfect family celebration, her recently diagnosed Alzheimer’s condition becomes more apparent.
