Month: May 2013

New Acquisitions – May 2013

After a month-long hiatus, we’ve once again started receiving new movies. We’re in the process of playing catch-up. In addition to rounding out our collection of Best Picture nominees (now including Silver Linings Playbook and Django Unchained), we’ve updated our collection of Frontline and 30 for 30 episodes, added the last of the Twilight movies, … Continue reading “New Acquisitions – May 2013”

After a month-long hiatus, we’ve once again started receiving new movies. We’re in the process of playing catch-up. In addition to rounding out our collection of Best Picture nominees (now including Silver Linings Playbook and Django Unchained), we’ve updated our collection of Frontline and 30 for 30 episodes, added the last of the Twilight movies, and started collections of two cult hit TV shows. Plus, you don’t want to miss intriguing new documentaries about scrap metal foragers and a “lesbian twin sister yodeling act.”

Read on for a full list…

Home Use Collection:

The Human Experience – HU DVD 1067
Amandla! – HU DVD 1326
Zero Hour – HU DVD 2800
King – HU DVD 2801
Balseros – HU DVD 4247
Two Laws – HU DVD 5953
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls – HU DVD 6050
Rust and Bone – HU DVD 6207
Django Unchained – HU DVD 6208
Django Unchained – HU BLU 6208
Othello – HU DVD 6209
Lincoln – HU DVD 6210
Lincoln – HU BLU 6210
Zero Dark Thirty – HU DVD 6211
Zero Dark Thirty – HU BLU 6211
Silver Linings Playbook – HU DVD 6214
Raymundo: The Revolutionary Filmmaker’s Struggle – HU DVD 6216
Airport – HU DVD 6217
American Teen – HU DVD 6218
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein – HU DVD 6219
Stranded – HU DVD 6220
Eyes in the Night – HU DVD 6221
Enemy of the State – HU DVD 6222
The English Surgeon – HU DVD 6223
We Are Egypt – HU DVD 6356
The Dark Corner – HU DVD 6357
Keshtzar Haye Sepid = The White Meadows – HU DVD 6358
The Book of Eli – HU DVD 6359
The X Files: I Want to Believe – HU DVD 6360
Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War – HU DVD 6370
The Central Park Five – HU DVD 6371
Historic HUAC Propaganda Film: Operation Abolition – HU DVD 6372
The Untouchables: Money, Power and Wall Street – HU DVD 6373
Promised Land – HU DVD 6374
Born Free – HU DVD 6375
Conspiracy – HU DVD 6376
Omagh – HU DVD 6377
You’ve Been Trumped – HU DVD 6379
The Abominable Dr. Phibes / Dr. Phibes Rises Again! – HU DVD 6482
México, La Revolución Congelada: Coleccion Raymundo Gleyzer – HU DVD 6483
The Revisionaries – HU DVD 6485
Breaking Dawn, Part 1 – HU DVD 6894
Breaking Dawn, Part 2 – HU DVD 6895
You Don’t Know Bo – HU DVD 7913
Ghosts of Ole Miss – HU DVD 7914
Analyze This / Analyze That – HU DVD 8019
The Powerbroker – HU DVD 8307
Olmsted and America’s Urban Parks – HU DVD 9066
Inside Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown – HU DVD 9067
Makers: Women Who Make America – HU DVD 9068
Rise of the Drones – HU DVD 9069

Television:

Archer, Season 1 – HU DVD 6213
Justified, Season 1 – HU DVD 6215

In-Library Titles:

Scrappers – DVD 10426

Music Library:

Bad Brains: Live at CBGB OMFUG 1982 – MUSIC LIBRARY DVD 353
Accent on the Offbeat – MUSIC LIBRARY DVD 354
The Beatles Anthology – MUSIC LIBRARY DVD 355
Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man – MUSIC LIBRARY DVD 356
Show Business – MUSIC LIBRARY DVD 357

See the counterterrorism documentary Dirty Wars before it hits theaters

Dirty Wars is an upcoming documentary by investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill about the highly secretive and illegal counterterrorism operations carried out by the Joint Special Operations Command. This is riveting material, and it’s a heavyweight film too: Dirty Wars was screened at Sundance and won an award for cinematography. Dirty Wars is out on June … Continue reading “See the counterterrorism documentary Dirty Wars before it hits theaters”

Dirty Wars is an upcoming documentary by investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill about the highly secretive and illegal counterterrorism operations carried out by the Joint Special Operations Command. This is riveting material, and it’s a heavyweight film too: Dirty Wars was screened at Sundance and won an award for cinematography.

Dirty Wars is out on June 4, but you can see it today.

Tonight at 7pm, in association with IFC Films, Scahill will present a free screening of Dirty Wars and answer questions at Landmark E Street Cinema in downtown DC. This is an exclusive event that you won’t find publicly listed! Media Services is one of the only places you’ll be able to find passes to this event. Come to the library and get your passes while they’re still available.

(Passes are available in-person at the desk only. Seating is available on a limited basis. Get there early!)

Celebrate outlaws on film in NoMa TONIGHT!

The passing of Memorial Day marks the start of a few arbitrary customs of summer. Pools have opened, white pants are socially acceptable, and outdoor film screenings can begin in earnest. Many local film festivals don’t start until later in the summer (we’ll get back to those), but there’s one already going on that you … Continue reading “Celebrate outlaws on film in NoMa TONIGHT!”

The passing of Memorial Day marks the start of a few arbitrary customs of summer. Pools have opened, white pants are socially acceptable, and outdoor film screenings can begin in earnest.

Many local film festivals don’t start until later in the summer (we’ll get back to those), but there’s one already going on that you can attend tonight. The NoMa Summer Screen series kicked off last week with an “Outlaw Heroes” theme. Tonight, it continues with the 2009 reboot of Star Trek. Starting at 7pm, Loree Grand Field will be converted into a veritable block party, complete with food trucks, DJs, and quality movie watching. It’s a great way to be outside with friends and get in some free movie-watching.

The series continues at 7pm each Wednesday for the rest of the summer, featuring such movies as The Goonies, The Fugitive, and Moonrise Kingdom.

Media Services at the Movies: Now You See Me

The summer blockbuster season is here! “Media Services at the Movies” will look at what big movie is coming out this week, then offer a few movies like it from our collection. We really have no idea what to expect from Now You See Me. It’s the type of intrigue we haven’t really seen building … Continue reading “Media Services at the Movies: Now You See Me”

The summer blockbuster season is here! “Media Services at the Movies” will look at what big movie is coming out this week, then offer a few movies like it from our collection.

We really have no idea what to expect from Now You See Me. It’s the type of intrigue we haven’t really seen building up to a movie since Inception. We’re never ones to shun a high-concept heist movie, and the A-list cast certainly inspires confidence in the project. But the plot has been kept in close secrecy despite an advertising blitz, and there is little-to-no advance word about its quality. Even the basic concept raises a few questions: how can you create a compelling movie about magic tricks when audiences are used to CGI trickery? You might say it’s a… wild card.

Now You See Me has a lot going on at once. It’s a heist-thriller-puzzle movie about magicians set in Las Vegas with a strong supporting cast. If that sounds like a good time, we can think of a dozen movies that share some of those qualities that might be up your alley.

The Usual Suspects – HU DVD 1671
The Illusionist – HU DVD 1779
The Prestige – HU DVD 3831
Casino Royale – HU DVD 4999
Casino – HU DVD 5308
The Hangover – HU DVD 8147
21 – HU DVD 9078
Snatch. – HU DVD 9416
Ocean’s 11 (1960) – HU DVD 10483
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – HU DVD 10484
Ocean’s Twelve – HU DVD 10485
Ocean’s Thirteen – HU DVD 10486

Happy Memorial Day!

Normally on a big event like Memorial Day, we would take this opportunity to show you some relevant movies in our collection or a related local screening. However, we will be closed on Monday, and a military holiday in DC means that there are very few film-related events happening. So this time, we’ve got nothing … Continue reading “Happy Memorial Day!”

Normally on a big event like Memorial Day, we would take this opportunity to show you some relevant movies in our collection or a related local screening. However, we will be closed on Monday, and a military holiday in DC means that there are very few film-related events happening. So this time, we’ve got nothing to say!

Have a fun Memorial Day! We’ll see you again on Tuesday.

Cancel your afternoon of nothing: It’s Arrested Development (again!)

Back in 2006, fans of Fox’s underground hit Arrested Development thought they had said goodbye to the series for the last time. Despite its acclaim, many branded it a flop; the mere fact that they called it that tells us that they weren’t ready for its unusual, forward-thinking brand of comedy. Following a long hiatus, … Continue reading “Cancel your afternoon of nothing: It’s Arrested Development (again!)”

Back in 2006, fans of Fox’s underground hit Arrested Development thought they had said goodbye to the series for the last time. Despite its acclaim, many branded it a flop; the mere fact that they called it that tells us that they weren’t ready for its unusual, forward-thinking brand of comedy. Following a long hiatus, most people assumed that rumors of a fourth season were just a trick. But it’s not a trick or an illusion. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the continual success and revival of niche hit shows like Futurama and Family Guy, it’s that there’s always money in cult TV.

After years of lobbying from the show’s growing fanbase (there are dozens of us! We didn’t see you at the convention), Netflix is indeed premiering a new season of Arrested Development this Sunday, and it’s easily the most anticipated TV event of the year. Suffice to say, Netflix is gonna get some log-ons. Say “Annyong” to the future of television!

Most people excited about the new season have probably watched the original multiple times and memorized its crisscrossing in-jokes and interconnected structure. But if your uncle-father and hermano have never seen Arrested Development before, they’ve made a huge mistake. And that’s why you need to come to Media Services!

We have the first three seasons available for checkout. Be sure to have a dry run with the original series before watching the new one. Unless you’re a chicken! Coo-coo-ca-cha!

Arrested Development, Season 1 – HU DVD 4871
Arrested Development, Season 2 – HU DVD 4872
Arrested Development, Season 3 – HU DVD 4873

Media Services at the Movies: Before Midnight

The summer blockbuster season is here! “Media Services at the Movies” will look at what big movie is coming out this week, then offer a few movies like it from our collection. In a week overloaded with all sorts of explosive, insane sequels (Fast & Furious 6, The Hangover Part III, etc.), the film that … Continue reading “Media Services at the Movies: Before Midnight”

The summer blockbuster season is here! “Media Services at the Movies” will look at what big movie is coming out this week, then offer a few movies like it from our collection.

In a week overloaded with all sorts of explosive, insane sequels (Fast & Furious 6, The Hangover Part III, etc.), the film that stands out the most to us is the third part of Richard Linklater’s minimalist romance-drama series, Before Midnight. It’s an unusual choice for a second sequel, made even stranger by the nine-year gap between each movie. But early buzz from Sundance says it’s the best one yet. But if you want to see it, you might have to look in a smaller local theater.

In honor of Before Midnight‘s debut, try these other films from Richard Linklater and star Julie Delpy.

Waking Life – HU DVD 364
Before Sunrise – HU DVD 1098
Before Sunset – HU DVD 1099
Slacker – HU DVD 1347
2 Days in Paris – HU DVD 10793

The Office clocks out

After an impressive nine-season run (a rarity for modern scripted sitcoms), NBC’s surprise hit The Office will close shop tonight at 9pm. For a sitcom with an inauspicious start as a sure-to-fail remake of a British TV classic, The Office became a staple of Thursday night television for the last decade. The audience’s interest in … Continue reading “The Office clocks out”

After an impressive nine-season run (a rarity for modern scripted sitcoms), NBC’s surprise hit The Office will close shop tonight at 9pm. For a sitcom with an inauspicious start as a sure-to-fail remake of a British TV classic, The Office became a staple of Thursday night television for the last decade. The audience’s interest in Dunder Mifflin’s unhinged work ethic and Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley’s ultimate will-they-won’t-they relationship kept the show a mainstay of American popular culture and dorm room posters. The success of The Office can be seen as one of the biggest factors behind the rise of the single-camera sitcom and the “mockumentary” format aped by Parks and Recreation and Modern Family.

Though the past few years have unarguably been weaker, in part because of the departures of Steve Carell and early showrunner Greg Daniels, the show looks to close out on a high note that pays reverence to its long history and ensemble cast. Pop culture website HitFix put together a great article about how The Office beat the odds and weathered a few sparse years; it’s worth a read before Scranton Business Park hits the lights one final time.

If you want to catch up on The Office, we have the first seven seasons on our shelves, as well as the British series.

The Office: Season 1 – HU DVD 4011
The Office: Season 2 – HU DVD 4012 – 4015
The Office: Season 3 – HU DVD 4016 – 4019
The Office: Season 4 – HU DVD 4020 – 4023
The Office: Season 5 – HU DVD 4024 – 4028
The Office: Season 6 – HU DVD 4029 – 4033
The Office: Season 7 – HU DVD 4034 – 4038
The Office: Series 1 (UK) – HU DVD 8581 – 8582
The Office: Series 2 (UK) – HU DVD 8583
The Office: The Special (UK) – HU DVD 8584

Big names in cinema compete at Cannes 2013

Today marks the start of the Cannes Film Festival, widely considered one of film’s most elite and prestigious events. Despite some concerns about the festival’s secrecy, ballooning size, and demographics, Cannes is still the gold standard for festivals, and its top prize, the Palme d’Or, remains one of the highest awards a filmmaker can receive. … Continue reading “Big names in cinema compete at Cannes 2013”

Today marks the start of the Cannes Film Festival, widely considered one of film’s most elite and prestigious events. Despite some concerns about the festival’s secrecy, ballooning size, and demographics, Cannes is still the gold standard for festivals, and its top prize, the Palme d’Or, remains one of the highest awards a filmmaker can receive.

Appearing in competition at Cannes is an honor in itself. It’s also great for a film’s publicity: you might recognize some of last years entrants, including Amour, Holy Motors, Moonrise Kingdom, Cosmopolis, Killing Them Softly, and On the Road. This year holds some interesting surprises, including the next films from the Coen brothers and Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn.

Given Cannes’s storied seven-decade history, we have a large number of the festival’s winners. Read past the break for a full list of our Cannes-winning DVDs.

Rome, Open City (1946) – HU DVD 9411
Brief Encounter (1946) – HU DVD 4233
The Third Man (1949) – HU DVD 48
The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice (1952) – DVD 74
The Wages of Fear (1953) – HU DVD 4380
Marty (1955) – HU DVD 5178
The Cranes Are Flying (1958) – HU DVD 6850
Black Orpheus (1959) – HU DVD 1503
The Sweet Life (1960) – HU DVD 1145
Viridiana (1961) – HU DVD 5159
The Leopard (1963) – HU DVD 825
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) – HU DVD 302
A Man and a Woman (1966) – HU DVD 3506
Blowup (1967) – HU DVD 608
If…. (1969) – HU DVD 4310
M*A*S*H (1970) – HU DVD 4978
Scarecrow (1973) – HU DVD 5503
The Conversation (1974) – HU DVD 527
Taxi Driver (1976) – HU DVD 904
Padre Padrone (1977) – HU DVD 1437
The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978) – HU DVD 1433
Apocalypse Now (1979) – HU DVD 27
The Tin Drum (1979) – HU DVD 40
All That Jazz (1980) – HU DVD 668
Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980) – HU DVD 7274
Man of Iron (1981) – HU DVD 3145
Missing (1982) – HU DVD 1884
The Ballad of Narayama (1983) – HU DVD 3292
Paris, Texas (1984) – HU DVD 3348
When Father Was Away on Business (1985) – HU DVD 1372
The Mission (1986) – HU DVD 1664
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) – HU DVD 383
Wild at Heart (1990) – HU DVD 6505
Barton Fink (1991) – HU DVD 1877
The Best Intentions (1992) – HU DVD 7686
Farewell My Concubine (1993) – HU DVD 436
The Piano (1993) – HU DVD 63
Pulp Fiction (1994) – HU DVD 1244
Underground (1995) – DVD 1342
Secrets & Lies (1996) – DVD 5230
Taste of Cherry (1997) – HU DVD 10375
The Eel (1997) – HU DVD 438
Eternity and a Day (1998) – HU DVD 10674
Dancer in the Dark (2000) – HU DVD 285
The Son’s Room (2001) – HU DVD 585
The Pianist (2002) – HU DVD 1794
Elephant (2003) – HU DVD 790
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) – HU DVD 775
The Child (2005) – HU DVD 2122
The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) – HU DVD 3374
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) – HU DVD 4651
The Class (2008) – HU DVD 6099
The White Ribbon (2009) – HU DVD 7139
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) – HU DVD 9029
The Tree of Life (2011) – HU DVD 9230

Dig in: A comprehensive list of film’s greatest greasy eats

For a university community, the end of the academic year means more time to relax, stay outside, and giving in to some less-healthy foods. There’s nothing wrong with indulging once in a while. We wouldn’t have guessed that there’s a particularly great history of greasy food-related moments in film, but lo and behold, pop culture … Continue reading “Dig in: A comprehensive list of film’s greatest greasy eats”

For a university community, the end of the academic year means more time to relax, stay outside, and giving in to some less-healthy foods. There’s nothing wrong with indulging once in a while.

We wouldn’t have guessed that there’s a particularly great history of greasy food-related moments in film, but lo and behold, pop culture website ShortList has found some. In the past few decades, movies have apparently been more liberal about showing characters eating, their go-to foods of choice being pizza and burgers. Award-winning classics like Do the Right Thing and Pulp Fiction have memorable food scenes, but even odd choices like Grease and Back to the Future have choice moments with fatty foods.

These are probably the most inconsequential lists of all time, but hey, we’re in the first week of the summer session. Enjoy!