Library News

Staff movie picks

Ready for a movie night?  Here are a few movies recommended by library staff, that you can check out of the library.  Our collection of movies on DVD is located just to the left of the stairs, when you walk into the library.

Elizabeth – Spirited Away
I think I was about 9 when I saw Spirited Away for the first time at a friend’s house. It hit me so hard that I made her rewatch it again with me immediately after we finished. At the time I just liked the art style and the setting, but I’ve seen this film so much over so many years that I think it’s impacted the kind of person I became. When I get a little introspective nowadays, I can easily see myself in characters like Chihiro, Lin, and even No-Face. Maybe it all resonated with me back then too and I just didn’t know it yet.

Elynor – Star Wars
My attitude toward Star Wars was take-it-or-leave-it until I watched while paying attention to the soundtrack; John Williams is a genius! The score echoes or invokes some of my favorite pieces of western classical music. Listen to Darth Vader’s “Imperial March”, and then check out “Montagues and Capulets” from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet and “Mars, Bringer of War” from Holst’s The Planets.

Robin – The Favourite
There are very few historical films that focus on the inner lives of queer women in particular, and far fewer that manage to be funny without being cruel. I love that this film lets its female characters be temperamental and messy without turning them into caricatures. Visually, it is completely gorgeous – the set and costumes are opulent, though sometimes anachronistic (which adds an extra layer of surrealism). If you like your comedies dark, women-centered, and very weird, this is the film for you.

Jonathan – This is Spinal Tap
Set in 1982, this "mockumentary" (satire, filmed in a documentary style) follows the fictional English heavy metal band "Spinal Tap" during a concert tour to promote their latest album.  It stars Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer as members of the band, and Rob Reiner (who also directed the film) as the filmmaker.  All of which are brilliant with their satirical, comedic lines, much of which were improvised at the time of filming.  Fans of rock music (and especially rock documentaries) will laugh out loud at the history of the fictional band (once critically acclaimed as "The World's Loudest Band"), and the situations the band finds themselves in while on tour.  Spinal Tap's music is also a treat.  True to the heavy metal style of the 1980's and chock full of satirical lyrics.

Bonita – Mad Max: Fury Road
I didn’t know what to expect from this movie when I went to see it because I’ve never watched the original Mad Max franchise from the 80s, and the words “post-apocalyptic desert car chase” don’t exactly draw me in. But then I went back to the theater twice more, so it’s safe to say that it left an impression on me. This movie has it all: interesting characters, lots of action and amazing practical effects, all propelled by a heart-pounding soundtrack. And with the way many action movies rely on women only as plot devices and romantic interests, I appreciated the depth of character and agency given to the women in Fury Road. This is an unlikely favorite that I never get tired of.