Road Trip Movies

I recently watched The Lucky Ones on DVD starring, Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Pena about three soldiers home on leave from the war in Iraq. While I had a few minor problems with it, I realized what I enjoyed most about this film was the road trip aspect of the story. Three virtual strangers travelling across the country, slowly opening up to one another, becoming friends in close quarters in a very short period of time.

It got me thinking about the many road trip movies I like and I have to say my favorite is Little Miss Sunshine: that dysfunctional family, that broken down VW bus and the dreams of a 10 year old girl forcing everyone along for the ride and, in the end, bringing the family together

What is your favorite road trip movie? Let me know by commenting on this blog or bring your opinions to the next Brunswick (Ohio) Library Film Discussion Group meeting on Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 pm in the Sycamore Room.

Movie Quotes Pop Up in Unexpected Places

movie quotes on bathroom stalls
Originally uploaded by jasoneppink

At our film discussion group meeting last month, we discussed the pervasive nature of movie quotes in our culture. In fact, several members mentioned how using movie quotes in everyday conversation has become something of a game of one-upmanship amongst friends and family members. Library employee that I am, this prompted me to seach for a definitive source of famous movie lines; quotes that have become part of pop culture parlance. On the American Film Institute website was listed the criteria for their One Hundred Top Movie Quotes List:

MOVIE QUOTE
A statement, phrase or brief exchange of dialogue spoken in an American film.* (Lyrics from songs are not eligible.)

CULTURAL IMPACT
Movie Quotes that viewers use in their own lives and situations; circulating through popular culture, they become part of the national lexicon.

LEGACY
Movie Quotes that viewers use to evoke the memory of a treasured film, thus ensuring and enlivening its historical legacy.

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" (Gone with Wind) earned top honors with lines from The Godfather, On the Waterfront, The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca rounding out the top five. Go to www.afi.com for the full list.

From the AFI list, my favorite quote is #54 from A League of Their Own- "There's no crying in baseball!" Share your favorite quotes by commenting to this blog entry and join us at our next film discussion group meeting, Thursday, May 21, 2009 at the Brunswick (Ohio) Library at 6:30 p.m.

April Assignment: Watch a Danny Boyle Film

2009 Academy Awards: Best Picture director Danny Boyle
Originally uploaded by USA TODAY

As promised, I am adding a blog post regarding the Brunswick Library Film Discussion Group's April assignment. These brief descriptions were adapted from IMDB synopses posted by individuals who have seen the films.

Shallow Grave

Three people living together in a four bedroom flat are looking for a house mate. After conducting some very unorthodox interviews, the three agree on one prospective tenant. He moves in, locks his door, and is not seen again. What the housemates subsequently discover about their new housemate leads them into a dangerous adventure.
Written by djm@sinope.kbs.citri.edu.au

Rated R for scenes of strong grisly violence, and for some language and nudity.

Trainspotting

A wild, freeform, Rabelaisian trip through the darkest recesses of Edinburgh low-life, focusing on Mark Renton and his attempt to give up his heroin habit, and how the latter affects his relationship with family and friends.
Written by Michael Brooke {michael@everyman.demon.co.uk}

Rated R for graphic heroin use and resulting depravity, strong language, sex, nudity and some violence

A Life Less Ordinary

Ewan McGregor stars as a cleaning man in L.A. who takes his boss's daughter hostage after being fired and replaced by a robot. Two "angels" who are in charge of human relationships on earth, offer some unsolicited help to bring this unlikely couple together.
Written by {CherylC894@aol.com}

Rated R for violence and language

The Beach

The film centers on a young nicotine-addicted traveler named Richard, an avid pop-culture buff with a particular love for video games and Vietnam War movies. While at a hotel in Bangkok, he finds a map left by his strange, whacked-out neighbor, who just committed suicide. The map supposedly leads to a legendary island paradise where some other wayward souls have settled. Written by Mike Arndt {clayton@hooked.net}

Rated R for violence, some strong sexuality, language and drug content

28 Days Later

Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language and nudity

Millions

Ethics, being human and the soul all come to the forefront when a 7-year old finds a bag of Pounds with a few days to spend before the currency is switched to Euros and learns what people are really made of.

Rated PG for thematic elements, language, some peril and mild sensuality

Sunshine

50 years into the future, the Sun begins to die, and Earth is dying as a result. A team of astronauts are sent to revive the Sun - but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team are sent to finish the mission as they are Earth's last hope.
Written by harpster_2004@yahoo.co.uk

Rated R for violent content and language

Slumdog Millionaire

A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.

Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language.

I realize all but one of these films are rated R so if violence and some of the more mature themes are not your taste, I would recommend Millions. It is a noticably gentler film, yet it still retains the Danny Boyle sensibilty. If you want to watch more than one movie, Millions would make a good contrast to some of the more violent works. I also recommend Slumdog Millionaire if you can get your hands on it, because the violence is not gratuitous, in my opinion.

We will be meeting to discuss Boyle's oeuvre (how pretentious!) on April 23 at 6:30 at the Brunswick Library (Ohio). Hope to see you there.

Spead the Movie Love - Film Discussion Groups

Now that my 8N08 assignment for the library has been completed, I thought I might continue blogging on the topic of film for my own gratification (and hopefully, that of a few readers as well). I don't claim to be an expert on films or the film industry. There are movie historians and critics as well as other "filmophiles" who could leave me in the dust as far as depth of knowledge and actual films viewed. I am simply a person who enjoys the movie experience in general and a great number of films in particular. I tend to like certain types of movies (think Little Miss Sunshine, About a Boy, and You Can Count on Me) and do not feel the need to apologize for my taste. That is one thing I have learned from working in a library. People like what they like and shouldn't be made to feel embarrased by their preferences.

One way that we are trying to expand the film experience at our local library is by starting up a Film Discussion Group that was intiated and is moderated by one of our regular patrons. We meet monthly to discuss films we have experienced from our childhood memories to the present. Right now the structure of our discussions is a kick off question or topic such as "Have you since any of the Oscar nominated films this year?" and then we free associate fast and furiously from that point. One movie will lead us to another. We skip from actor to director to genre in the blink of an eye. These groups could be structured in any number of ways to accomodate their members' tastes or discussion styles. The most important thing is to have a group that is enthusiastic about the medium of film and respects and encourages the opinions of its members.

Movie lovers are everywhere and eager to talk about their favorite flicks. If a film discussion group sounds like your bucket of popcorn, they are fairly easy to organize or if you happen to be a Medina Countian (Ohio), join us at the Brunswick Library. Our next meeting is March 19, 2009 at 6:30 pm.

You Don't Have to Tell Me About Social Networking

Being the mother of two teenagers, I have been very familiar with MySpace and Facebook for some time. My daughter has been kind enough to reveal to me the many wonders of both of these networks. She uses Facebook far more often now, but MySpace is still useful in helping her find new bands who place their music on their profiles. She will often share with me pictures her friends have posted on their Facebook accounts. I have had a Shelfari account since last summer and have even answered those emails from people who want to know if they should read a book from my Shelfari list. (Should I read To Kill a Mockingbird? What a question?)

I have even socially networked with people on Classmates.com and reconnected with a couple of old high school and college friends.

The movie connection for this particular post? I'm not sure, but if they could make a movie called You've Got Mail, surely Friends on Facebook can't be too far behind.

Wiki wiki

Wiki wiki
Originally uploaded by jdlasica

I chose this photo as an homage to the Honolulu shuttle buses mentioned in the exercise info sheet. I had a lot of fun with this one. The Uncyclopedia featured article I read was about A-levels (the courses and tests that English 16-18 year olds take in order to get into University). I'd always wondered how it worked, and I'm sure after that article, I still don't know. I found an interesting ALA wiki on the subject of library sisterhoods and read about how libraries are creating global connections with one another. On Wikihow, I learned how to be a fan of an actor/actress that isn't a household name - "Don't necessarily pick a child star..Pick a person who has a good track record and doesn't seem destined for doom." Finally on wikia.com I searched for The Office televison show and found Dunderpedia. There are detailed profiles of characters, info about episodes including synopsis, cultural references, goofs and deleted scenes. I even found a list of times a character on the show says "That's what she said." Now that's thorough and obsessive...and I will be favoriting Dunderpedia.

Library on Demand

I completed the downloadable media section of this exercise and felt it really improved my ability to help patrons with this service. I got on the waiting list for a Meg Cabot book for my daughter and the title I checked out was The Good Apprentice by Iris Murdoch. I've always wanted to read one of her novels ever since I saw Judi Dench and Kate Winslet in the biopic, Iris. (I had to include a movie reference; it is The Film Location after all). I specifically narrowed my search to MP3 titles because we are an Ipod family, but I doubt I will transfer my selection to my Ipod because I have such a small amount of storage on mine. The choice of Ipod compatible titles seemed limited, but I understand they are just getting started and hopefully will increase in the future.