Movies & Screenings

Friday is Taken

Written by Barbara T. on 07/03/2009

It's official....our Summer Film Series is a hit! We opened the series tonight with a great audience and rave reviews. In case you missed the news, we are back with Friday night films throughout July and August! Same time (7:30). Same place (Community Room) Same team (pictured, right - me, Jane, Drew, and Stephanie). And (drumroll, please) Jane's cookies!

Our next film, on Friday, July 10th, will be Taken.

Starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, and Xander Berkeley; Rated PG-13; 91 minutes; 2009

An ex-government operative's daughter is kidnapped while traveling in Paris. He has four days to find her, so he uses his special skills to get her back safe and also get his revenge.

This one's a nail-biter, folks. Mark your calendar for Friday as TAKEN!

Click on the image at left to watch the film trailer. Click here for our full summer lineup.

"Rain" on Friday? Good news for a change.

Written by Barbara T. on 06/22/2009

Though we may not be seeking out any further encounters with the rain in general, that won't prevent us from thoroughly enjoying this week's movie musical - Singin' in the Rain. This classic, the final film in our Musical Film Series, will be shown on Friday, June 26th at 7:30 p.m.

Singin' in the Rain (1952) Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor; Not rated; 102 minutes

Considered by many to be the finest musical comedy of all-time, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is sheer delight. Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote this wonderful film about the time when movies were changing from silent to talkies. The songs range from the hilarious "Make 'Em Laugh" performed by O'Connor, to the delicate "You Were Meant for Me" and the show-stopping classic "Singin' in the Rain" solo by Gene Kelly.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Next Friday, July 3rd, we'll begin our Summer Film Series. Click here for more information.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Summer Film Series

Written by Barbara T. on 06/17/2009

With the weather that we've been having lately, it's impossible to presume what the summer will be like. What we do know for sure is that we'll be showing movies here every Friday night throughout July and August! Beginning July 3rd and ending on August 28th, our Summer Film Series will make the Library the hottest (and coolest) place in town!

SUMMER FILM SERIES - FRIDAYS - 7:30 P.M. - ADMISSION IS FREE

July 3

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Starring Isla Fisher, Krysten Ritter, and Joan Cusack; Rated PG; 104 minutes; 2009

Based on the book by Sophie Kinsella, Rebecca Bloomwood is 25 years old and lives with her best friend Suze in a trendy part of town. She has a boring job that doesn’t begin to pay for her shopping addiction. When cutting back doesn’t work, she tries to make more money and, ironically, becomes a financial advice columnist in this comedy.

July 10

Taken

Starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, and Xander Berkeley; Rated PG-13; 91 minutes; 2009

An ex-government operative's daughter is kidnapped while traveling in Paris. He has four days to find her, so he uses his special skills to get her back safe and also get his revenge.

July 17

Last Chance Harvey

Starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, and Kathy Baker; Rated PG-13; 92 minutes; 2008

Harvey Shine is on the verge of losing his job as a jingle writer and only has one more chance to deliver a hit. He goes to London to attend his daughter's wedding and promises to be back in the office on Monday but when he misses his plane, he is fired on the spot. He then strikes up a conversation with a woman in a bar and the unexpected connection transforms both of their lives.

July 24

Gran Torino

Starring Clint Eastwood, Brian Haley; Rated R; 116 minutes; 2008

Walt Kowalski is a grumpy, tough-minded old man whose prize possession is a 1973 Gran Torino he keeps in cherry condition. When a neighboring teenager tries to steal it, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of the would-be robber’s family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that rule their neighborhood.

August 7

Grey Gardens

Starring Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange; Not Rated; 104 minutes; 2009

In 1973, filmmakers Albert and David Maysles entered the strange world of "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, two charming eccentrics who were relatives of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. In this film we are taken behind the scenes of that famous documentary with a shocking and raw look into the lives of this reclusive mother and daughter who chose to live in squalor and almost total isolation in a decaying, 28-room mansion in East Hampton called Grey Gardens.

August 14

The Great Buck Howard

Starring Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks, and Emily Blunt; Rated PG; 90 minutes; 2009

Troy Gabel is a law-school drop out who impulsively takes a job as an assistant to an aging but charismatic magician. The conjurer is definitely on the downward slope of his career, but the mystery surrounding him keeps Troy intrigued. The two embark on a journey across the country staging the comeback of a lifetime.

August 21

The Soloist

Starring Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey, Jr., and Catherine Keener; Rated PG-13; 109 minutes; 2009

This biographical drama tells the true life story of musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayers. He dropped out of Julliard after developing schizophrenia and became a homeless musician on the streets of Los Angeles. A reporter looking for an article finds Ayers one day and develops a close relationship with the troubled but gifted artist.

August 28

Duplicity

Starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, and Tom Wilkinson; Rated PG-13; 125 minutes; 2009

CIA Officer Claire Stenwick and MI6 agent Ray Koval are two spies-turned-corporate operatives having a clandestine love affair. They have turned their skills to a high stakes espionage game where they are attempting to secure a product that corporations would do anything to patent. The pair try to stay one double cross ahead of the other, but find that that hardest thing to cheat is their love for one another.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

"A Hard Day's Night" - Tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Written by Barbara T. on 06/10/2009

Welcome to our Musical Film Series!

Last Friday, we began with a bang with The Band Wagon and this Friday at 7:30, we'll be showing A Hard Day's Night!

Starring The Beatles, from 1964, this is a film classic and a rock-and-roll classic and we're looking forward to showing it this Friday! Please join us!

This film is rated G. Running time is 85 minutes.

Admission is free.

A Musical Interlude for June

Our Summer Film Series is still weeks away but we'll be back showing films on Fridays in June! We'll consider it "a musical interlude" and we are thrilled to be able to offer a great lineup of musicals that we think you'll enjoy! So are you ready to jump on the Darien Library movie bandwagon? Good! We are proud to present our brand new Musical Film Series!

JUNE 5

The Band Wagon (1953) Starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse; Not rated; 111 minutes

Each song and dance routine, from the lovely "Dancing in the Dark" through the insanely happpy "A Shine on Your Shoes" to the thrilling coda "That's Entertainment" is a slice of cinematic magic in this delightful musical. The original ballet sequence "Girl Hunt" choreographed for Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse by Michael Kidd is especially notable.

JUNE 12

A Hard Day's Night (1964) John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr; Rated G; 85 minutes

A re-release of the 1964 classic musical comedy about four shaggy-haired lads from Liverpool, this is a playful day-in-the-life look at the emerging rock stars: John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Pursued by hordes of shrieking girls caught up in Beatlemania, they dash in and out of railways, through London streets, and into a TV recording studio. With concert footage of The Beatles performing "She Loves You," this movie survives as an indelible portrait of a particular time.

JUNE 19

Funny Girl (1968) Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif; Rated G; 149 minutes

Marvelous musical biography of the legendary Ziegfield girl, Fanny Brice. Fanny (Barbra Streisand) was all-laughs on-stage, but her personal life was considered a tragedy. Barbra Streisand received an Academy Award® for her leading role.

JUNE 26

Singin' in the Rain (1952) Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor; Not rated; 102 minutes

All movies are at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

We Heard You (in Harmony)!

Written by Barbara T. on 04/15/2009

Last month, when we showed Mamma Mia! as part our Friday Film Series, we could not get over the smiles on the faces of our audience members as they left the Community Room. Between the humming and the swaying, we heard many of you say that you'd love it if we showed more musicals. We have heeded the call! During the month of June, we will show a musical every Friday at 7:30 p.m. We do hope you'll join us! Here's the schedule:

JUNE 5

The Band Wagon (1953) Starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse; Not rated; 111 minutes

JUNE 12

A Hard Day's Night (1964) John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr; Rated G; 85 minutes

JUNE 19

Funny Girl (1968) Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif; Rated G; 149 minutes

JUNE 26

Singin' in the Rain (1952) Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor; Not rated; 102 minutes

And the winner is...

Written by Barbara T. on 04/14/2009

With 63% of the vote, Milk is the winner of our Friday Film vote. So...

Friday, April 17

7:30 p.m (in the Community Room)

MILK

Starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, and Emile Hirsch

129 minutes; Rated R

Sean Penn, in his Oscar-winning role, stars as New Yorker Harvey Milk, who moved to San Francisco and became the city's first openly gay public official. The following year both he and the city's mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by the former city supervisor. This film chronicles the heart-breaking true story.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Tonight's Film

Friday, April 10

7:30 p.m. (in the Community Room)

ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Documentary Feature
Rated G; 99 minutes; (2008)

Director Werner Herzog becomes the first director to film on all seven continents as he takes his camera to the Antarctic community of McMurdo Station, where a hearty crew of eleven hundred people spends the austral summer. This group of researchers, scientists, and assorted adventurers shows us life at the bottom of the world, as we see that we are not as invincible or as dominant as we like to believe.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

Friday Film Vote!

Written by Barbara T. on 04/03/2009

The final film of our Friday Film Series will be the audience choice, which means that it's time for our Friday Film Vote! Here are the choices for the film to be shown on Friday, April 17th:

Click on the images above to view the trailers, then click here to cast your vote. Voting will remain open until noon next Friday, the 10th and will be announced at next week's film and on the website. The winning film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on April 17th.