Flick Picks 6/19

New This Week!

ENTERTAINMENT The Duplass brothers are a promising pair of writers/directors whose Cyrus was a pleasant surprise in 2010. This week we see the release of their quirky Jeff Who Lives at Home, starring Jason Segal and Ed Helms as brothers, one of whom refuses to move out of his parents' house. Another funny little film this week is Wanderlust, which stars Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston as a couple who lose their high-powered New York City jobs and then decide to move to a commune dedicated to nudism, veganism and free love. Finally, the kids will want to see Big Miracle, the "based on a true story" film starring Drew Barrymore as a Greenpeace worker who helps free whales that are trapped in ice in the Arctic Circle.

If you're looking for an unusual indie film from a director with a proven track record you might want to try Guy Maddin's Keyhole. Previous Guy Maddin films, such as The Saddest Music in the World and Twilight of the Ice Nymphs combine surrealism and humor and perhaps make him a Canadian David Lynch. Keyhole stars Isabella Rossellini and Jason Patric in the story of a gangster who returns home.

TV SERIES Web Therapy is an interesting new Showtime comedy starring Lisa Kudrow as a therapist in a mostly improvised show. It has a long list of guest stars including Lily Tomlin, Conan O'Brien and Rosie O'Donnell. Also, set 5 of the English police drama Trial and Retribution arrives this week as well.

SUBTITLED The wonderful French film My Afternoons With Margueritte comes out this week, with Gerard Depardieu as an illiterate man who befriends an elderly woman and finds out he's not as stupid as he thinks. It's a charmer! Also, the Japanese Norwegian Wood is a hypnotic adaptation of Haruki Murakami's love story by the director of the beautiful Scent of Green Papaya.

DOCUMENTARIES Finally, we've got two top-notch documentaries coming to the library this week. Steve Martin narrates Give Me the Banjo, which also features interviews with some of our premier banjo players. Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance profiles the Chicago ballet company and tells its history of unique and influential choreography.

Don't forget - all of our new and upcoming DVDs are available in Bibliocomons for you to place holds.

Explore more Iranian cinema

Many of you have commented on how much you enjoyed the last Monday Night at the Movies showing of Certified Copy. Director Abbas Kiarostami is a well-respected Iranian director, but Certified Copy was atypical for him in that his films are usually shot in the Persian language. We own his poetic classic The Wind Will Carry Us, as well as two films that he wrote - Crimson Gold and Deserted Station.

You might not be aware Iran has been putting out quality films for years. Some other excellent examples of Iranian film are Border Cafe, about a woman who bucks tradition to run her husband's cafe and A Time for Drunken Horses, the first Kurdish language feature film. Also consider revisiting Persepolis, the animated film that tells the story of growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution. It was also a surprise Monday Night at the Movies hit! Finally, keep your eyes peeled for the Oscar winning Iranian film A Separation which arrives in August.