Month: February 2018

Movies At Random: Elephant

Today’s random movie is Gus Van Sant’s Elephant (HU DVD 790). This 2003 film was briefly blamed for a school shooting, but otherwise was highly regarded. According to Wikipedia, the film starred mostly new or non-professional actors, which entailed much of the improvisation that gives the film its feel. Here’s our summary: Elephant takes us … Continue reading “Movies At Random: Elephant”

Today’s random movie is Gus Van Sant’s Elephant (HU DVD 790). This 2003 film was briefly blamed for a school shooting, but otherwise was highly regarded. According to Wikipedia, the film starred mostly new or non-professional actors, which entailed much of the improvisation that gives the film its feel.

Here’s our summary:

Elephant takes us inside an American high school on one, single ordinary day that very rapidly turns tragic. The story unfolds, filled with classwork, football, gossip and socializing. It’s an ordinary high school day. Except that it’s not.
Depicts students at a Portland, Oregon high school before and during a tragic school shooting. Follows a young boy who takes over the wheel from his drunken dad while returning from lunch. Then follows another student who crosses paths with the first, then the other of the two boys in camouflage gear, carrying heavy bags, who arrive inside the school and begin shooting. No explanation for the shooting is given, it simply places the audience in the interminable window of adolescence when life is both trivial and painfully important all at the same time.

And here’s the trailer:

Happy viewing!

Five Films Featuring…A Rain of Animals

Wow, so I did not know there was a term for animals falling from the sky, but apparently it’s called a “Rain of Animals” and it’s a real thing. To justify the several hours I spent reading about this phenomenon during my work day, here’s Five Films Featuring…A Rain of Animals. 1. Magnolia (HU DVD … Continue reading “Five Films Featuring…A Rain of Animals”

Wow, so I did not know there was a term for animals falling from the sky, but apparently it’s called a “Rain of Animals” and it’s a real thing. To justify the several hours I spent reading about this phenomenon during my work day, here’s Five Films Featuring…A Rain of Animals.

1. Magnolia (HU DVD 1458)

Sort of the obvious, classic rain of animals in film.

2. Fargo, Season 1 (HU DVD 11556)

I hope this isn’t too spoilery. But Season 1 of Fargo, the TV show, features a rain of fish.

3. Triplets of Belleville (HU DVD 1225)

A self-made rain…of frogs.

4. Twister (HU DVD 12600)

“A Storm of Cows” was the best Game of Thrones book IMHO.

5. Sharknado

You will be relieved to know that the library does not, in fact, own Sharknado. We have standards. Kind of. However, I simply had to highlight it because…

Happy Friday.

Movies At Random: Repulsion

Today’s random movie is Roman Polanski’s Repulsion (HU DVD 1944). This critically acclaimed film starring Catherine Deneuve is considered one of Polanski’s greatest works. Here’s our summary: Carol, who works in a beauty salon in London during the 1960s, is both repulsed and fascinated by men. She is unsure of how to handle their advances, … Continue reading “Movies At Random: Repulsion”

Today’s random movie is Roman Polanski’s Repulsion (HU DVD 1944). This critically acclaimed film starring Catherine Deneuve is considered one of Polanski’s greatest works.

Here’s our summary:

Carol, who works in a beauty salon in London during the 1960s, is both repulsed and fascinated by men. She is unsure of how to handle their advances, which are numerous because she is gorgeous. Gripped by mental illness, she eventually imprisons herself in her apartment, where she suffers from sexual dreams. Her delirium leads to dire circumstances.

According to Wikipedia, “Repulsion was the first installment in Polanski’s “Apartment Trilogy”, followed by Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and The Tenant (1976), both of which are horror films that also take place primarily inside apartment buildings.” Rosemary’s Baby (HU DVD 5783) and The Tenant (HU DVD 10533) are, of course, also worth watching and in our collection.

Happy viewing!

Five Films Featuring…Clock Towers!

Did you know, a Clock Tower and a Bell Tower are considered two different kinds of towers by the highly reliable source for settling petty and pointless arguments, Wikipedia? For that reason, you won’t find Vertigo (HU DVD 14) on this list. But in any case, it’s TIME (get it??) to enjoy Five Films Featuring…Clock … Continue reading “Five Films Featuring…Clock Towers!”

Did you know, a Clock Tower and a Bell Tower are considered two different kinds of towers by the highly reliable source for settling petty and pointless arguments, Wikipedia? For that reason, you won’t find Vertigo (HU DVD 14) on this list. But in any case, it’s TIME (get it??) to enjoy Five Films Featuring…Clock Towers!

1. The Hudsucker Proxy (HU DVD 1054)

Coen brothers. Clock tower. Excellent fonts.

2. The Great Mouse Detective (HU DVD 13262)

If this Big Ben chase scene (at approximately this VHS quality) is not a part of your childhood, I feel sad for you.

3. Safety Last (HU DVD 8483)

I have been informed that this is not in fact a scene on a clock tower, but is merely a clock ON a tower so I might as well have included Vertigo, but I’m still in favor of highlighting this iconic scene from Safety Last.

4. Hook (HU DVD 8785)

As you can see, this movie features a…kind of…clock tower. (I mean it’s obviously the coolest clock tower on this list, even if it is a crocodile.)

And, because you know I can’t help myself, we have number five:

5. Back To The Future (HU DVD 7840)

Because obvious.

Movies At Random: Léolo

Today’s random movie is Léolo (HU DVD 1684)! From the Wikipedia summary: Léolo is a 1992 Canadian coming of age-fantasy film by director Jean-Claude Lauzon. The film tells the story of a young boy named Léo “Léolo” Lauzon, played by Maxime Collin, who engages in an active fantasy life while growing up with his Montreal family, … Continue reading “Movies At Random: Léolo”

Today’s random movie is Léolo (HU DVD 1684)!

From the Wikipedia summary:

Léolo is a 1992 Canadian coming of age-fantasy film by director Jean-Claude Lauzon. The film tells the story of a young boy named Léo “Léolo” Lauzon, played by Maxime Collin, who engages in an active fantasy life while growing up with his Montreal family, and begins to have sexual fantasies about his neighbour Bianca, played by Giuditta del Vecchio.

This film was rated one of the top 10 Canadian Films of All Time in 2015. It has inspired much speculation and varied interpretations. Give it a watch and see what you think!

Happy viewing!

Five Films Featuring…Torches!

Fun fact: the entire time I read the Chronicles of Narnia, it never occurred to me that the torch Edmund had was a flashlight. Torches of the fiery variety show up (pretty predictably) in monster-burning scenes paired with pitchforks, and also, you know, when people need light and fire is handy. But, without further ado, … Continue reading “Five Films Featuring…Torches!”

Fun fact: the entire time I read the Chronicles of Narnia, it never occurred to me that the torch Edmund had was a flashlight. Torches of the fiery variety show up (pretty predictably) in monster-burning scenes paired with pitchforks, and also, you know, when people need light and fire is handy. But, without further ado, Five Films Featuring Torches!

1. National Treasure (HU DVD 11187)

Torches. They has them. (I will never watch this movie.)

2. Ace Ventura (We don’t have it! I’m leaving this in because how the hell do we own national treasure and not Ace Ventura???)

Jim Carrey: “All I really need is my torch.” Lolz.

3. The Revenant (HU DVD 13120)

Honestly I just liked these images, and this movie was so beautifully shot. There’s something both menacing and beautiful about torch light, probably from associations we’ve built up over time from images like these.

4. Snowpiercer (HU DVD 11486)

Remember the epic torch charge? This scene is so good.

5. Frankenstein (1931) (HU DVD 860)

And, of course, our classic torch-wielding mob scene. Enjoy.

For additional fun, you can find a ton more of these on tvtropes because man do Hollywood Torches come up a lot.

Happy Friday!

Wait…you tell me that it’s evolution??

I came across this really interesting article about the accent of the Beatles, and about the impact of accent on music in general: https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2018/02/06/accent-beatles-music-vocals-american-english/ The original article about the speech changes present in Beatles music argues that evolving into a new genre was matched with changes in pronunciation and other speech features. Accent, of course, … Continue reading “Wait…you tell me that it’s evolution??”

I came across this really interesting article about the accent of the Beatles, and about the impact of accent on music in general: https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2018/02/06/accent-beatles-music-vocals-american-english/

The original article about the speech changes present in Beatles music argues that evolving into a new genre was matched with changes in pronunciation and other speech features. Accent, of course, is an important feature of all kinds of speech performances and tells us a lot about the speaker. We don’t typically think of singers modifying their accents like actors to produce certain effects, but of course they do. For a more recent example, think early vs current Taylor Swift.

We have a ton of Beatles-related films in the library, but I’d like to highlight this streaming video of the Beatles arriving in New York: https://catalog.wrlc.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=16851678

Movie Posters!

I love movie posters, especially the typography on many of the older ones. So, imagine my delight to discover the Harry Ransom Center’s digital collection of movie posters. The wealth of graphic design imagination here is impressive. You can read more about the collection here: http://sites.utexas.edu/ransomcentermagazine/2018/01/18/decades-of-movie-poster-history-goes-online/ Like all ContentDM collections, I find the searching kind of … Continue reading “Movie Posters!”

I love movie posters, especially the typography on many of the older ones. So, imagine my delight to discover the Harry Ransom Center’s digital collection of movie posters. The wealth of graphic design imagination here is impressive.

You can read more about the collection here: http://sites.utexas.edu/ransomcentermagazine/2018/01/18/decades-of-movie-poster-history-goes-online/

Like all ContentDM collections, I find the searching kind of clunky, but it’s worth exploring all the facets they offer. Take a look! Thanks to Phil for sharing!

Movies at Random: The Wildcat

Today’s random movie is Ernst Lubitsch’s The Wildcat (HU DVD 2900). This 1921 silent romantic comedy film was restored in 2000, and our copy features music by Marco Dalphane. Here’s our summary: The commander of a remote fort (and his lovely daughter) eagerly awaits a new lieutenant. En route, he is captured by outlaws who … Continue reading “Movies at Random: The Wildcat”

Today’s random movie is Ernst Lubitsch’s The Wildcat (HU DVD 2900). This 1921 silent romantic comedy film was restored in 2000, and our copy features music by Marco Dalphane.

Here’s our summary:

The commander of a remote fort (and his lovely daughter) eagerly awaits a new lieutenant. En route, he is captured by outlaws who roam the snow-covered mountains and the daughter of their leader quickly falls for the young officer, setting in motion an outrageous farce.

Happy viewing!