Flick Picks 7/16

New This Week!

ENTERTAINMENT We've got new DVDs for whatever mood you're in this week. Jennifer Westfeldt who wrote and produced the charming Kissing Jessica Stein brings us her directorial debut, the romantic comedy Friends With Kids. Starring Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig and Adam Scott, Friends With Kids tells the story of two friends who have a baby together while trying to keep their relationship platonic. If that concept sounds a little too classy then perhaps you'd prefer nyuking it up with The Three Stooges. Directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly of Dumb and Dumber fame, The Three Stooges brings Moe, Larry and Curly into modern times.

Also this week is the straight to cable Mel Gibson flick Get the Gringo on DVD and Blu-ray. Don't let the fact that this didn't make it to theaters scare you off as it is supposed to be one of his grittiest thrillers and it received excellent reviews. It's a tough action flick in which Mel tries to survive in a Mexican prison, Payback style. Here stars the fine young actor Ben Foster as a young American who gets involved in an intense romantic relationship while on the road in Armenia. Finally, Black Butterflies tells the story of Ingrid Jonker, a woman who has been called the South African Sylvia Plath. It stars Carice van Houten (from the Dutch thriller Black Book) and Rutger Hauer.

SERIES New this week is the much anticipated InBetweeners, a hilarious British series following the exploits of 4 teenage outcasts who try to survive school, acquire beer and hook up with girls. Also arriving this week is the 4th season of Leverage, the Timothy Hutton crime drama.

SUBTITLED If you are a fan of whimsical French comedy you are going to want to be sure to see The Fairy. It tells the story of a hotel clerk who falls in love with a wish-granting fairy and it will charm your socks off! Or if you're looking for something a little more bleak you might try master Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr's final film The Turin Horse. Shot in stark black and white it tells the story of the horse whose abuse sent Friedrich Nietzsche into a mental crisis. It is full of long takes and is a must see for students of serious film.

DOCUMENTARY One of the true American gems, Johnny Carson, is profiled in the new Johnny Carson: King of Late Night. Carson was an intensely private man, which makes this documentary so enlightening.

You can always find and place holds on new and upcoming films through Bibliocommons.

Animal documentaries abound!

Were you as blown away by the last Monday Night at the Movies film Project Nim as some of us were? There are many more great documentaries about animals' relationships with people for you to explore. Similar to Project Nim, The Elephant in the Living Room examines the disturbing trend of exotic pet ownership. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill was another Monday Night at the Movies and it's a surprisingly captivating film. The recent Buck tells the story of a true life horse whisperer,who worked with Robert Redford. Academy Award winner (and yet another Monday Night at the Movies film) The Cove focuses on dolphin advocates trying to change the way that Japan treats dolphins. And Nenette is a quiet treat, observing the way that humans interact with a 40 year old orangutan that lives at a French zoo.

Talking Pictures

Our next Talking Pictures program takes place on August 1st at 1:00 when we will be showing After the Wedding. It's a Danish film that tells the story of the manager of an Indian orphanage who travels to Copenhagen only to discover a shocking family secret. The film was nominated for an Academy Award and a discussion will follow the screening.