May 07, 2008

Spring Migration

This spring, we're experiencing an influx of Crows here at the Darien Library...namely, the Sheryl and Counting varieties! New CDs from both artists have landed and are already in high demand here:

Detours represents a true stepping-aside for Sheryl Crow. The past year of turmoil and joy in her personal life have brought an air of unpredictability to this recording; it's not what many may have expected. It is, however, a strong, emotional, and extremely personal statement of where she is right now. The political climate, environment, surviving a health scare and heartache, and the most tender lullaby for her new son are all part of Detours, a reminder that even the road less traveled exacts a price along with its rewards.

Counting Crows have now released their seventh album, continuing their tradition of blending classical rock arrangements with contemporary, sophisticated lyrics. Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings examines a 12-hour time frame, the excesses and inner need to connect, then regret and a hint of redemption. It's angry at times, pounding, loud, and then, surprisingly, reflective and somber. In short, it's a journey, and one that makes a real statement for the band at this point in their career.

These are two of 2008's strongest releases so far. Flock over and check them out!

Posted by JanetD at 10:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 05, 2008

Cinco for Cinco de Mayo

Because it's Cinco de Mayo, I got to thinking about my favorite Spanish language films. Here are 5 of my favorites:

Posted by BarbaraT at 03:56 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

April 30, 2008

Then, Where is He?

A biography about a living legend...starring many (not him). Hmmm.

This is one of the most unusual films to release in a long time. I'm Not There is a biography of Bob Dylan, starring, as Bob Dylan, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw. Each portray Dylan during different periods of his life.

Cate Blanchett took home the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for her performance in which she really seems to undergo a transformation. You could almost swear she wasn't there.

It seems that there are those who really LOVED the film and those who really, um, DIDN'T. It comes out on dvd on Tuesday, May 6th, so you can check it out for yourself.

(I'm curious to find out what Bob Spitz thought of it. Spitz, who'll be here on the 18th to talk about his new book, The Saucier's Apprentice, wrote Dylan: A Biography. We'll have to remember to ask him...perhaps, while he's here.)

Posted by BarbaraT at 07:01 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

April 28, 2008

Strait, Not So Narrow

He doesn’t write his own songs. His idea of a good time is fishing, playing golf, and watching his son take part in rodeo competitions. Most people in the New York metropolitan area couldn’t name more than one or two songs that he sings, if that. And yet…he is the #11 highest-selling musician of all time, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

We’re talking about country superstar George Strait. If you just said, “George who?” you’re not alone. Even if you don't know much about country music, he really is worth a try, with clever, touching, and catchy songs like “Ocean Front Property,” “You Look So Good in Love,” and of course, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.”

The name of his latest release is Troubadour, with a more introspective mood than usual, but still an excellent selection of upbeat two-step numbers, a ballad or two, and plenty of showcases for Strait's warm, mellow voice. Don't let the country tag keep you from hearing one of the premiere vocalists of his generation...either Troubadour or 50 Number Ones is a great place to start!

Posted by JanetD at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

A Broad Spectrum

These two movies are so far apart on the quality spectrum, it's weird just mentioning them in the same breath (or blog, as the case may be). But, alas, they both release tomorrow on dvd, so mention, I will.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a serious film based on the serious book of the same name. Jean-Dominique Bauby, the world-renowned editor of French ELLE magazine, suffered a stroke and was paralyzed by locked-in syndrome at the age of 43. This is his story, told from his point of view. Despite knowing beforehand that this is a true story, you may not be able to resist the urge when it is over to double-check that fact. I know I did. It seems impossible. What a brutal yet beautiful film! I will refrain from saying more except to say that it is an experience you should not miss.

Onto the other end of the quality spectrum...27 Dresses. "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." Is it proverb? An old dance hall number? A Listerine commercial? Wherever the saying comes from, this movie (please do not call it a film) about a girl...who's kind of plain...and her name's Jane...who's been a bridesmaid 27 times...and, oh, puh-leez(!)...it had me worried for my worry lines from all the wincing I was doing. The characters were so dumb, the dialogue even dumber, and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...it didn't. In fact, there was a moment. And then another moment. So, as much as I'd love to jump on the bashing-bandwagon for this movie, the bottom line is, it's not ALL bad (let's face it -- it's not really fair to compare this kind of movie-fluff with something like "Diving Bell"). Hint: If you get as far as the really bad "Benny and the Jets" karaoke scene, the worst is over.

Also coming out tomorrow is The Golden Compass and it's a visual treat. There are fabulous sets, really great and gorgeous costumes, and fantastic special effects. And, as long as we're talking about visual treats, don't forget that Daniel Craig and Sam Elliott star.

Posted by BarbaraT at 12:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 21, 2008

The things I've seen...

I've been playing some major movie catch-up lately. Since I've got to start planning our Summer Film Series and our Foreign Film Series, I've been doing some serious movie watching.

The best of the bunch is, without a doubt, The Visitor. It was well worth the visit to the city to see this one!

A Connecticut college professor, attending a conference in New York, finds that a couple have taken up residence in his Manhattan apartment. The story that develops is a rich one; not only does it draw the viewer in, it draws laughs, smiles, and interest from the audience. There were also some audible sniffles and loud gasps from this Manhattan movie crowd. It's really a wonderful film and I can't wait to see it again. Hopefully, it will be playing up this way soon! No matter...I'm hoping to have The Visitor on our Summer Film Series schedule.

Here's what else I've seen.

What's the difference between "based on a true story" and "fact-based"? I'm not so sure, but something tells me to take notice. Therefore, I report that The Bank Job is based on a true story and 21 is fact-based. Both, however, are quite entertaining (moreso, The Bank Job), and both are, on a deeper level, quite troubling.

The Counterfeiters (also based on a true story) is about the Nazi counterfeiting operation (the largest in history) and is absolutely fascinating. Smart People and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day were quite enjoyable, but Under the Same Moon, despite some really fine performances, was painfully preachy and heavy-handed it its agenda.

It's been interesting viewing...a little bit of this, a little bit of that..and a whole lot of fun. See you at the movies!

Posted by BarbaraT at 04:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 17, 2008

Special Delivery

Juno is one of those films that generates opinions, headlines, awards, opposition, and most of all, buzz. It started out as a limited release, playing only in New York and Los Angeles, but ended up grossing over $200 million worldwide and earning a spot on many best-of-2007 lists.

Juno explores inter-generational relationships -- Juno’s parents with each other and her, Juno and her peers, and now the new baby she is carrying. Appropriately, this soundtrack mixes vintage tracks with new, often-obscure artists. It’s a risky move. Fans of Buddy Holly and Mott the Hoople aren't necessarily the likely audience for the film...likewise, it's hard to know what fans of Moldy Peaches and Cat Power would make of the older artists on this album.

If you liked the film, you're going to like this album, plain and simple. The songs worked well within the story and were, in fact, a big part of Juno. If you didn't see the film -- or hated it -- there's still plenty on the soundtrack to enjoy, no matter what generation you call your own!

Posted by JanetD at 02:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 09, 2008

The Rainbow Connection

Way back in 1972, The Who declared “Rock is dead, Long Live Rock!” They had a point: within its first two decades, the genre had cycled itself out, from Bill Haley and Chuck Berry to the excesses of the early 70s. What more was there to say?

The past few decades have proved that there’s plenty more to say, and England’s Radiohead continues to push forward as one of the most intelligent bands out there. Last fall, they made international headlines when their new album was released online only, with customers setting their own price to download it. They even invited fans to copy and share the album with each other. The result: more publicity and more listeners than the conventional release methods would have given them.

Now, In Rainbows is available as a "traditional" CD, with the music being called the band's best since their ground-breaking OK Computer in 1997. Atmospheric instrumentation, enigmatic lyrics, this is Radiohead: questioning, brooding, setting the times to music like nobody else. If rock is an attitude, not just a playlist, it's far from dead with bands like Radiohead leading the way!

Posted by JanetD at 09:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 08, 2008

Today's releases

We've got a few new additions on the dvd shelves today. I did not get around to viewing these two...

...but I did spend some time with these:

As you know, I loved There Will Be Blood, and am glad that I got to see it in the theater (I'm also glad that I'd not just finished reading Upton Sinclair's Oil!, the book upon which the film is based, as I understand this could have impacted my enjoyment of the film...think Charlie Wilson's War).

I spent perhaps 15 minutes watching Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. The reviews for it were pretty good; Ebert even gave it two thumbs up! I don't know...I almost don't know what to say. I could talk about squandered talent and crude "humor," but all I can really say about it is...stupid...no, make that stoo-pid. I turned it off. Tell me if it gets any better after minute-16, okay?

I'm anticipating a couple of next week's very watchable (and re-watchable) dvd releases: the very sweet and very funny Lars and the Real Girl, and the shocking and brutal Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (aka Blaine's movie).

Posted by BarbaraT at 12:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 07, 2008

Clear Memory of "Fog"

Libraries are known for quiet, but not necessarily for "Quiet on the set!" Last July, we were the set for a scene in Fog Warning, a film by Christopher Ward, a Connecticut-based film and TV writer and director. Chris has told us that the film is completed and now we get to tell you that we will have a special screening right here on FRIDAY, MAY 9th at 7:30 p.m! This is so exciting! Not only does our current building become immortalized, Erica and I had the thrill of being in the scene. It was an unforgettable experience.

Here are a few pictures from the set:

Chris wrote the script for the film right here in the Library, and he had our Main Reading Room in mind when he wrote the library scene. He will be here for this event and will answer questions from the audience at the conclusion of the film.

We hope that you can join us for this special movie screening! It's sure to be unlike any movie event we've ever had at the Library.

Please note -- according to Chris, "Fog Warning" requires some forewarning -- "The audience should be forewarned that this is an adult suspense-thriller. Although Fog Warning has not been rated, the producers expect it to receive a R rating for language, violence and brief nudity."

Posted by BarbaraT at 04:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 03, 2008

Internet Radio at its Best

In 2001, a group of musicologists and music-loving techies established the Music Genome Project, an effort to analyze tens of thousands of songs (ranging from chart-toppers to unknowns) based on every stylistic nuance possible, including melody, rhythm, lyrics, vocals, arrangement, and instrumentation, among others. Each song was assigned its very own "genetic makeup" - a musical fingerprint, if you will.

The result of all of this hard work came to fruition in 2005, with the introduction of PANDORA - the Music Genome Project's addition the Internet radio trend. I think it's one of the best Internet radio sites around.

You see, most Internet radio services assume that our musical tastes can be defined simply by genre, time period, or some other random aspect - even intended audience. When listening to one of these services, you're quite likely to hear a majority of songs that only somewhat resemble the kind of music that you like, as well as that same awesomely bad tune over and over again - and you're powerless to stop it.

The Music Genome Project, on the other hand, has realized that musical tastes actually have a lot more to do with the intricacies of style than anything else - certainly not image - and therefore should not be generalized; after all, no one's musical tastes are exactly the same. It has also realized that to provide excellent and individualized playlists, a service has to make use of listener feedback - and in a split-second, at that.

Here's how it works: Just enter the names of your favorite songs, artists, or composers, and Pandora will quickly scan its entire database to create your own personal radio stations of music with similar qualities. Once you begin listening to songs, you'll have the option to tag them with a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down." Any thumbs down-designated songs will be not play on your personal radio stations again, and you're allowed to skip six songs per hour. Plus, Pandora will use both the positive and negative feedback to immediately adjust the playlists to suit your style. You'll discover new artists and songs to love, and - the real draw - you'll never have to listen to awesomely bad music again!

So try it out, and let me know what you think!

Posted by EricaB at 04:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

March 27, 2008

That's Krall, Folks!

A greatest hits collection is fine if you’re a household name…who’s had actual hits. This compilation is wisely named The Very Best of Diana Krall, and that’s exactly what it is: a selective overview of her career so far. No blockbuster hits, no chart-topping singles, just an introduction to the past 12 years of recordings that Diana Krall has given us.

She may lean heavily towards standards, but there’s no mistaking the fresh sound of her voice and the way she can make a song her own. “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” all sound remarkably new here.

Of course, there’s always the dilemma with a collection like this: start here or explore her albums individually? With Diana Krall, we have the stand-alones or this one-stop, introductory title to choose from. Called "utterly distinctive, contemporary, and built to last" by The New York Times, Krall is a once-in-a-generation talent who may well still have a greatest hits collection in her.

Posted by JanetD at 01:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

What's Coming Up in April

April is bursting with new releases on dvd! You'll recognize many of these titles from the winter holiday marquees. You'll probably notice several Oscar mentions in the bunch as well. Throughout the month, we'll be getting in some films that mess with our comfort zones...teen pregnancy, aging parents, greed, emotional trauma, chilling government machinations, murder, paralyzing illness, more greed, dark documentaries ...and did I mention horror films?

Posted by BarbaraT at 01:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 25, 2008

Tuesday Soars!

...with the dvd release of The Kite Runner. This was one of my favorite films from 2007 (maybe even of the decade), and it's out today.

I don't think there's ever been a story quite like this one. Based on Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel about guilt and redemption, it is convincing, intelligent, and emotionally powerful.

From "The Kite Runner":

"Now there is a way to be good again."

"For you, a thousand times over."

Goosebumps.

Posted by BarbaraT at 08:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 24, 2008

Seeing "The Country Girl" -- in the suburbs and in the city

There is something so luxurious about watching a black & white film. It's doubly decadent when it's on a sunny Sunday and the movie is great. The film was The Country Girl, from 1954, starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and William Holden.

It's a backstage drama...a down-on-his luck actor with a drinking problem is tapped to star in a big musical. The actor's wife and the play's director struggle with each other for control of the insecure, fragile actor. Based on the 1950 play written by Clifford Odets, the film won two Academy Awards -- Best Actress (Kelly), and Best Writing (George Seaton). Excellent film with extraordinary talent...

...and, Hark!...news from the big city reaches me in my comfy suburban perch (thanks, Lynn!)...

The play returns to Broadway -- in previews, beginning April 3rd, and opening on April 27th in a "strictly limited engagement" at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand, and Peter Gallagher are starring in this revival. Mike Nichols directs. This is news! Big news! Excuse me while I gather my composure.

I've ordered my tickets...this is a splurge I just can't resist.

Posted by BarbaraT at 11:32 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 21, 2008

Bach to the Future

Is he the greatest composer mankind has ever produced? When NASA sent Voyager out into deep space over 30 years ago, Johann Sebastian Bach held three of the coveted spaces on the Golden Record, more than any other musician. If extraterrestrial life finds and can interpret our message, an excerpt from his Brandenburg Concertos will be the first Earth music we share with them.

Today, we celebrate the 323rd anniversary of Bach’s birth. If the number of recordings in our collection is any indication, we’re on the same page as NASA. We have over 100 CDs of his music to choose from, from seven different Goldberg Variations to fugues, partitas, preludes, suites, sonatas, and even switched-on Bach!

Just last month, NASA beamed the Beatles song “Across the Universe” towards Polaris. What song would you choose, to send a message from Earth to far-away worlds?

Posted by JanetD at 09:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 18, 2008

Some "Enchanted" Tuesday, You May See a "Legend"

And with that headline, we hereby announce today's dvd releases:

Both of these movies were great surprises for me. Enchanted was surprisingly good. What a delightful and fun movie; it's got charm, princely and otherwise. If you're looking for a smile "fix," this is the movie! On the other hand, I thought I Am Legend was surprisingly bad. I like Will Smith, so I am disappointed that I must admit that I am regretting the time I spent watching this movie. I can't help but think that were it not for Smith's presence, the movie would have worthy of the straight-to-video status. (I'd like my 101 minutes back, please.)

Also out on dvd today, a couple of movies to really commit to (both have running times of over 2 hours):

Posted by BarbaraT at 01:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 14, 2008

A compelling (and colorful) mystery

Question marks are being drawn all over and around this story. Is four year-old Marla Olmstead an artistic genius? Are her paintings worth tens of thousands of dollars? Is the work completely her own? Is the whole thing a hoax?

Here are a couple of questions I can answer:
Will you be able to stop watching? No.
Will you remember Marla? Yes.

Click below to watch the trailer for this intriguing documentary.

Posted by BarbaraT at 07:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 10, 2008

One Hundred Years of Seventh Inning Stretches

Way back in the early 1900s, New Yorker Jack Norworth was riding the subway train and noticed a sign announcing a baseball game at the Polo Grounds. Though he’d never attended a game in his life, inspiration struck. His lyrics, along with the music of composer Albert Von Tizler, resulted in the American classic “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” now sung during the seventh inning stretch of thousands of games every summer.

This year marks the song’s centennial, with celebrations already planned across the country…the Postal Service is even issuing a commemorative stamp! We're only a couple of weeks away now from the start of 2008 season: March 25 is Red Sox vs. A’s in Tokyo, March 30 is Opening Night, March 31 is Opening Day – when did this get so complicated?!

Around here, New York baseball fans are facing bittersweet farewells as they close Shea Stadium and the current Yankee Stadium, while Boston fans revel in their second World Championship in four years. Meanwhile, in the midwest, faithful Cubs fans mark a full century of futility. The last time they won the World Series was the year "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was sweeping the nation...all the way back in 1908. If they don't win it all in the next century, it's truly a shame. Play ball!

Posted by JanetD at 03:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)