Plymouth Librarians' Choice

LONE STAR
DVD Collection – Main Level – L

When it was released in 1996, Lone Star received rave reviews from the critics and it snagged an Oscar nomination for writer/director John Sayles. The movie begins with the discovery of a skeleton and an unsolved murder. The intricately woven plot incorporates first loves, Mexican immigration, family secrets, border town corruption, Army discipline, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, and the Alamo into a seamless and engrossing story. The ensemble cast includes: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Pena, Kris Kristofferson, Mathew McConaughey, and Frances McDormand, all of whom give outstanding performances.

Stella Dallas produced by Samuel Goldwyn

DVD Collection - Main Level - S

Stella Dallas is a one of a kind motion picture. It stars Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, and Anne Shirley. Barbara received a Best Actress nod for her role as feisty heroine Stella Dallas in the 1937 Academy Awards. Stella is a young woman from a poor family who sets her sights on the wealthy Stephen Dallas (John Boles). They eventually fall in love, but Stella’s love for the finer things in life and immediate gratification cause problems within the Dallas’ marriage. The one bond the two share is an absolute devotion to their lovely and sweet daughter—Laurel. Laurel (Anne Shirley) is a very loving and kind child who brings out the best in both of her parents. In fact, it is Laurel who teaches her mother how to be a better person, and this touching mother/daughter bond gives the movie an absolutely powerful emotional core. Stella Dallas is a beautifully acted movie with deep and powerful messages of love and sacrifice. The DVD is crisp and clear and has such special features as scene selection and subtitles. If you want to witness some old Hollywood glamour with incredible acting and powerful messages of love, you should pick up Stella Dallas—truly a timeless piece of motion picture history!

Eulogy
DVD Collection- Main Level- E

Kate’s grandfather has passed away, his children and grandchildren are gathering for the funeral, and her grandmother has asked her to prepare a few words in his memory. Kate (Zooey Deschanel) turns to her father (Hank Azaria), a struggling actor, but he is too busy mourning his career to help. Between the antics of creepy Uncle Skip (Ray Romano) and defensive Aunt Lucy, plus Aunt Alice forcing directions and casserole on one and all, the family can’t seem to dredge up any fond memories of their father for Kate to share at his grave. Instead, surprising and hilarious family secrets come pouring out and a few old flames show up to offer condolences. What will Kate say to honor a man that no one can focus on? What could possibly hold this bizarrely dysfunctional group of people together? Don’t miss this unconventional comedy about the strange yet inescapable bonds that create a family.

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts by Spike Lee
DVD Collection - Main Level - W

More than an account of Katrina, When the Levees Broke follows the New Orleans survivors through their harrowing journeys before and after the storm. In four one-hour segments, the viewer travels with the survivors through the storm, the lull after the storm, the levee failure, the floods, and the clean-up. Spike Lee interviewed survivors at several points, so we experience their initial shock as they view the devastation, their grief at what was lost, and finally, the process of gathering strength and their resolution to rebuild. More than 100 people tell their stories - working people, musicians, actors, journalists, government officials, ministers, academics, and engineers. Some stayed and some evacuated, some lost loved ones and others escaped with their families. In addition to the unforgettable stories of the survivors, the filmmakers also interviewed experts and government officials searching for answers. Why weren’t the levees strong enough? Why was the rescue operation so slow to get started? Why is rebuilding taking so long? The definitive explanations remain elusive, but Spike Lee discovers many facts that will challenge the viewers’ ideas of what happened and why.

Bell, Book & Candle
Dvd Collection- Main Level- Comedy Bel

Shep Henderson (Jimmy Stewart) has no idea what he is in for when he stops by his neighbor’s apartment to borrow her phone. Gillian (Kim Novak) seems like an intriguing yet innocent shopkeeper until Shep finds himself cancelling his own wedding hours before it is supposed to happen. Imagine his surprise when he finds out that Gillian is a witch. (Oh, so that’s why she was singing to her cat…) Is it true love, or just a spell? Will Gillian give up her powers, or give up Shep? And if you think your family is a little aggravating, try Gillian’s magical aunt and brother. Think “Endora” from Bewitched.

This 1958 romantic comedy has a cozy, snowy, Christmas-y feel and is sure to be a hit with fans of Bewitched or I Dream of Jeanie.

City of God by Fernando Meirelles
Foreign film DVDs-Main Level C

Too often there are movies that glamorize drugs and violence without retaining any semblance of depth or understanding into the world they portray. On the other hand, too often there are heavy handed movies that push a message without being able to entertain and keep an audience invested. City of God is such a movie that can walk the fine line that both entertains and informs in a way that doesn’t preach.
The movie recalls the lives of two boys growing up in the slums of Rio De Janeiro and the different paths they take. One boy, Rocket dreams of becoming a photographer and escaping the slums, while the other Lil Dice dreams of becoming the greatest gangster in the slums. The movie follows them through the decades as they both achieve their dreams with varying results.
The film shows a world full of violence and despair that lies just beyond the typical tourist hot spots. Children as young as five run wild brandishing weapons, drinking and smoking cigarettes, like a deranged version of Lord of the Flies. This is a city that even the police won’t venture into, well the ones who aren’t already getting paid off by the drug dealers anyway.
While the subject matter is bleak the director Fernando Meirelles creates a vibrant visual perspective and peppers the film with bits of humor and optimism. What’s even more interesting is the special features of the DVD that contains a documentary about the slums the movie is based off of. It’s one thing to see a somewhat fictional portrayal of the subject matter, but after viewing the documentary it’s hard to shake the fact that many of the disturbing images in the film are real and are still occurring.

Dexter by James Manos jr.
DVD Collection-Main Level TV DEX

Dexter Morgan is a seemingly typical guy who works for the Miami Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. He lives with a caring girlfriend and he has what appears to be a normal life, except for one detail: he’s a serial killer. Following a code his adopted father taught him, Dexter only hunts those he deems as evildoers. While some may view his habits as a “positive” channeling of his bloodlust, Dexter is well aware of what he is. Dexter sees himself as a hollow monster. Unable to form emotional attachments to the people in his life, Dexter struggles to emulate them so that he can assimilate with the rest of society. As the series progresses, bits and pieces of Dexter’s past are revealed shedding light into his disturbed nature. He also finds that he shares an affinity with another killer the police department is tracking known as the “Ice Truck Killer.”

Taken from Jeffry P. Lindsay’s series of novels the show actually does what few adaptations can and equals its source material in terms of quality. While many may think the show is glamorizing violence, it leaves its moral message in the eye of the beholder. One may find oneself suddenly rooting for Dexter even though despising him at the same time. Although it’s not for the squeamish, Dexter lends itself to a great performance by Michael C. Hall and a storyline that will have you clamoring for more.

V for Vendetta
DVD Collection – Main Level – Adventure V
In a dark near-future world, Britain has been taken over by a fascist government, while the United States has dissolved into chaos. Evey (Natalie Portman) is a young news employee, out past curfew and rescued from thugs by a mysterious man in a black cloak and a Guy Fawkes mask (Hugo Weaving). He introduces himself as V and invites her to come with him to see a show. She watches in shock as he blows up a national monument to the accompaniment of the 1812 Overture on the emergency broadcast system. Evey has only been trying to blend in since her parents were killed in the brutal early years of the regime, but somehow she keeps tangling with V and risking capture by the government. The action is tense and the characters compelling. V is both extremely likable and very icky, a terrorist with an easy-to-support goal. The government is both a reflection of the Third Reich and a not-implausible result of a government which uses fear of outside attack to suppress dissent. The performances by Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving – whose face we never see – were impressive. If you want a side of thinking with your dose of action, this is a great movie.

Mixed Nuts
Dvd Collection- Main Level- Comedy MIX

Imagine running a non-profit suicide prevention hotline at Christmastime, only you’re being evicted from your office, your fiancée has just dumped you over the phone, and your hotline is getting crank calls from a pervert/serial killer. Welcome to Philip’s life! His coworkers aren’t doing too well either: Mrs. Munchnik (Madeline Kahn) is stuck in the elevator with a re-gifted fruitcake, and Catherine (Rita Wilson) finds herself still living with her mother with only her job to comfort her. Add to that some visitors -an armed Santa Claus, an enraged pregnant woman, and a depressed transvestite with dance fever- and Philip (Steve Martin) is having one heck of a Christmas.

This 1994 film, if a little bizarre, never fails to give my family our holiday chortles, and we take this beautiful message from Philip to heart: “Just remember that in every pothole there is hope. Well, you see, pothole is spelled P-O-T-H-O-L-E. So if you take the P, and add it to the H, the O, and the E, and rearrange the letters... or contrariwise, you remove the O, T, and the L, you get ‘hope.’ So, just remember, in every pothole there is hope!”

Instrument by Fugazi
Dvd Collection - Main Level - Musicals INS

Part documentary, part live performance, Instrument captures the essence of the rock group Fugazi. Jem Cohen presents the band over a period of ten years with a mixture of 16mm, super video 8, and assorted other formats. Formed by Ian MacKaye (former member of Minor Threat), Brendan Canty, Guy Picciotto, (former members of Rites of Spring) and Joe Lally the group borrows from various styles of music. Dub, reggae, funk, and experimental noise are just some of the sound elements the band uses to elevate themselves beyond the simple trappings of punk. While you may hear a Fugazi song and think it sounds similar to bands like Television or Gang of Four, the next song may end up sounding like Radiohead. This versatility of sound coupled with the bands stance on the music industry is what really elevates Fugazi above others. The band has been known for putting on shows for free or as little as five dollars, and have shunned multiple offers from major labels instead forming their own record label. Although Fugazi isn’t for everyone, (there are loud guitars, there are screaming vocals) Instrument is a unique film that offers a perspective into a band that plays so well together one would think they have a psychic link amongst them.

Blame it on Fidel Directed by Julie Garvas
Foriegn Film DVDs-Main Level

Anna de la Mesa is a nine year old girl living a wonderful bourgeois life in France in 1970. However this idyllic life changes when her parents take in her Spanish refugee aunt and become left wing activists dedicated to helping the disenfranchised. Soon after this, Anna is forced to move out of her spacious estate into a cramped apartment where her parents hold late night meetings. Resenting these changes to her lifestyle, Anna struggles to make sense of the new philosophies and politics of her parents.

What makes Blame it on Fidel such a great film isn’t so much the politics involved, but how director Julie Garvas captures Anna’s perspective. A great deal of the film is shot from Anna’s eye-level, and small things like getting her height measured in the door frame remind the viewer of all the forgotten pieces that make up childhood. This childlike perspective also serves as a filter for some of the heavier material. Blame it on Fidel is also peppered with a good amount of understated humor. One such moment where this comes into play is when Anna is being lectured about the importance of group solidarity. After trying out the concept in class by raising her hand with her classmates who have responded incorrectly to a question, Anna innocently asks how it is different than sheep behavior. It's this childlike simplicity in the face of adult hypocrisy that makes Blame it on Fidel shine.

The Wire by David Simon and Ed Burns
DVD Collection - Main Level - TV WIR

In an age where television has devolved into mind numbing game shows that resemble a Roman coliseum more than entertainment, and vapid vanity pieces that resemble “reality” as much as a trip to Disney Land, it’s good to know there are at least a few shows that have substance. “The Wire” just so happens to be one of these shows. Set in inner city Baltimore, “The Wire” follows a myriad of characters from all spectrums of the city’s social and cultural classes. From the drug-dealers on the corner, the cops who try to catch them, to the major political players in office “The Wire” captures every nuance and essence of the drug war.

What makes “The Wire” such a good show is it’s dedication to creating a realistic world. Every character has their strengths and their flaws (albeit some more than others) just like in reality. The performances are top notch, and the plotting and dialogue are near flawless. While the show can be a bit slow at times, one should view it like a book with various threads slowly weaving together to create a mesmerizing tapestry.

The Yes Men
DVD Collection- Main Level- Document Yes

The Yes Men are a real group of anonymous men and women who “impersonate big time criminals in order to publicly humiliate them. Targets are leaders and big corporations who put profits ahead of everything else.” This hilarious documentary shows how these brave imposters get themselves invited to conferences and interviews, where their inventive shenanigans make a mockery of all that is evil in the corporate world. Why do they rely on silly pranks rather than more traditional means of protest? Because hilarity gets publicity. Think of this as a more refined version of MTV’s Punk’d, and for much worthier causes. Admit it: you want to watch this now. See?

Slings & Arrows
DVD Collection - Main Level - TV SLI

What’s not to love about a show whose opening song is titled “Cheer up, Hamlet!”? This a darkly comedic Canadian TV miniseries is about the New Burbage Theatre, smaller but very similar to Stratford, Ontario. At the heart of the show are three characters: Oliver (Stephen Ouimette), the jaded artistic director; Ellen (Martha Burns), the company’s lead actress, currently maintaining her youth with a string of much younger lovers; and Geoffrey Tenant (Paul Gross), director of a tiny and failing theater in Toronto. Seven years previously, these three were in an acclaimed production of Hamlet, Oliver directing and Ellen and Geoffrey playing the leads. In the middle of the third performance, Geoffrey went mad, jumping into Ophelia’s grave and then running away. At the end of the first episode, a very drunk Oliver calls Geoffrey to talk about the past. When Geoffrey refuses to talk to him, he falls down in the street and is run over by a truck labeled “Canada’s Best Hams.” Now, Geoffrey has been asked to be the interim artistic director and Oliver is haunting him. The current lead production is again Hamlet, and a young American action star has been asked to play the lead. We also follow a young apprentice actor, Kate, as perfectly winning an ingénue as you could ask for. Meanwhile, American executive Holly Day is convincing the already business-oriented financial director, Richard, that New Burbage would make a lot more money if it were transformed into a peppy and commercialized Shakespeareville. I was flabbergasted by it all: the dark humor and snappy dialogue, the depth of the musings on theater and humanity, the sheer number of pots kept merrily bubbling at the same time. For those with theater backgrounds, this is absolute perfection. It’s also excellent TV.

Carnivale by Daniel Knauf
DVD Collection - Main Level - TV CAR

Set in the 1930’s dustbowl, Carnivale tells the tale of Ben Hawkins an escaped convict who is coming to terms with the mysterious powers he has had all his life. After his mother passes away and he loses his home, he is swept up by fate in the form of a traveling carnival. The ensemble is led by the carnival manager Samson (who many might recognize dancing in the red room in Twin Peaks), as well as a cast full of distinct characters like Ruthie the snake charmer, Sophie who reads fortunes by communicating with her comatose mother, and Lodz the blind mentalist who might have more sinister plans for Ben.

While all the various character interactions are part of the charm, the plot is as epic and sweeping as they come, foretelling the last great age of magic that will end an age-old battle between a being of light and darkness. However be warned, Carnivale resembles the structure and pacing of a book with a slow progression revealing a much bigger picture. So don’t expect a fast pace or all your questions to be answered right away. However, the show rewards those who wait, culminating in a spectacular second season finale. Unfortunately the finale would be the last episode of the series which is quite disappointing considering series creator Daniel Knauf had a six season plan in mind. Nevertheless, Carnivale is a unique and worthwhile series that has garnered five Emmy’s and a legion of disgruntled fans who want a conclusive ending.

Stardust
DVD Collection – Main Level – ADVENTURE STA

An adaptation of a book, particularly a book by a favorite author like Neil Gaiman, has the potential for either extreme greatness or extreme badness. In this case, both my husband and I were charmed. It might have helped that it had been a few years since we’d read the book. Here’s the basic plot: Tristan, our hero is a social outcast bent on winning the heart of the town beauty, Victoria. They live in the little village of Wall, so called because it is bordered by a wall. Faery is supposed to lie on the other side of the wall, although no one has been to check, except, unbeknownst to Tristan, Tristan’s father. When Tristan and Victoria see a falling star together, Tristan vows to bring it back to her by her birthday. Meanwhile, in Faery, the dying king has thrown his ruby necklace and knocked a star out of the sky. His six sons (named Secundus through Septimus, some reduced to ever-present ghosts) are willing to kill to be the first to find it. And three witch sisters send one to find the falling star, whose living heart will keep them young for centuries. For a star in Faery is a living woman. The story had the perfect blend of adventure, romance and humor to make it feel like a slightly wilder version of The Princess Bride. The actors – Claire Danes as the star, Michelle Pfeiffer as the witch, Robert DeNiro as the sky captain and newcomer Charlie Cox as Tristan (transforming beautifully from nerd to hero) were all phenomenal. This is one to come back to.