Films
June 11th 2014
Are you an avid reader and a movie buff? Do you watch film adaptions of books you've read and make mental notes about plot changes and casting choices? Perhaps you should join the library's Books into Movies discussion group.
It meets the third Monday of every month at the Central Library, 7:30 to 8:30. On June 16 the group will discuss Jim Thompson's The Grifters and the film of the same name starring John Cusack and Anjelic Huston, as well as the Robert Redford/Paul Newman film The Sting,... Read Post
February 20th 2014
As part of our ALA/NEH sponsored series Muslim Journeys we are pleased to host a screening of the documentary Dear Bawa Muhaiyaddeen by filmmakers Kythe Heller and Peter McMurray. This event will take place on Thursday, February 27th at 7:00 p.m. at the Central Library.
How can one film something that cannot be seen? Unlike traditional documentaries, which typically view religious experience as a metaphor for something else--whether socially or psychologically construed--this experimental... Read Post
January 28th 2014
A great artist and a great American left us today. Pete Seeger, America's most beloved folk singer, and the father of today's vibrant folk music scene, died today in New York City. He was 94. He left his stamp on American music with songs such as "If I Had a Hammer," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and "Turn, Turn, Turn." "Hammer" will forever be associated with resistance to Joseph McCarthy's witchhunts, and "Flowers" was the anthem of the anti-Vietnam war movement. For Seeger, there... Read Post
November 22nd 2013
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963 still haunts our collective imagination, and rightly so. It was the moment when the entire nation was forced to confront the violence endemic to American life, when people sitting in their own homes watched murder happen. Stephen King's novel 11/22/63 was one of the popular books of 2011. Twenty-five years after nomination for the National Book Award, Don DeLillo's Libra still provokes reflection.
References both serious and... Read Post
September 20th 2013
The 1990 robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is the greatest art theft of all time. In less than an hour and a half two intruders impersonating policemen got into the museum after hours and made off with $500 million worth of art, including three Rembrandts--and yet left far more valuable works hanging on the walls . A quarter century later the crime is still unsolved. Theories abound: suspects have included Myles Connor, longtime art thief and musician who played with Roy Orbison... Read Post
July 9th 2013
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, July 10, at 7 p.m. for a screening of the documentary Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World. This is the second event in our NEH/ALA sponsored series Muslim Journeys. Narrated by Susan Sarandon, the film takes viewers on a tour of 9 countries and almost 1,500 years, covering works ranging from household objects such as carved boxes to towering buildings such as the Taj Mahal. The film also examines the common artistic lineages of East and West and the unique... Read Post
April 23rd 2013
I didn't submit my suggestions in time to be included in the last post but I'll throw a few out there now. I recently saw Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery [1993], which was a lot of fun. Woody re-teams with his erstwhile muse Diane Keaton, and the inspired addition of Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston makes the whole thing even better. Carol and Ted (Keaton and Alda) are sure that their elderly acquaintance Paul (Jerry Adler) has committed the perfect murder. Hard-boiled author Marcia Fox... Read Post
March 16th 2013
Last year I wrote about Irish books for St. Patrick's Day. This year, it's Irish movies. The country's contributions to film are much less well-known than its literary achievements, but almost as noteworthy. I consider films to be "Irish" if they meet at least two of three criteria: an Irish cast, an Irish director or screenwriter, based on an Irish literary work or on Irish historical events.
Neil Jordan is best known for his 1992 shocker The Crying Game. I however am forever grateful... Read Post
November 1st 2012
Join us for a three-part film series showcasing the use of classical music in war movies. The series kicks off at the Central Library this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. with Gallipoli. Live musical accompaniment for some scenes will be provided by members of the Cambridge Symphony Chamber Players for all three films.
1981; Starring Mel Gibson, Mark Lee, Bill Kerr, Harold Hopkins, Charles Yunipingli, & Ron Graham; Rated PG; 1 hour 52 minutes
Amazon.com says, "An outstanding drama, Gallipoli... Read Post
June 19th 2012
If you were in the Boston area in the 70s or 80s, chances are you had a least a passing acquaintance with Channel 56's Creature Double Feature. That beloved old series is the inspiration for our latest Community Curated film series, Saturday Morning Creature Show: Selections from WLVI's Creature Double Feature. The series kicks off at the Central Library this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. with Destroy All Monsters.
1968; Starring Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, Manda, King Ghidora, and more!;... Read Post
1968; Starring Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, Manda, King Ghidora, and more!;... Read Post
April 26th 2012
What do you see yourself doing this Saturday morning? Laughing? Screaming? A little bit of both? We're right there with you, with the first series in our Community Curated film program.
Dan Kimmel, Somervillian, film critic, and past president of the Boston Society of Film Critics will be hosting this series. He will offer brief introductory remarks before each film, and there will also be time afterwards for comments, questions, and discussion. Dan’s books on film include The... Read Post
Dan Kimmel, Somervillian, film critic, and past president of the Boston Society of Film Critics will be hosting this series. He will offer brief introductory remarks before each film, and there will also be time afterwards for comments, questions, and discussion. Dan’s books on film include The... Read Post
December 30th 2011
First from Salon: the year's best viral videos (sample below) and the year's worst TV shows, books and movies. From Wired: the top ten people, products and programs that most of us ignored. From Slate: ways people ring in the New Year (It's a slideshow. Sorry!). Barnes and Noble has a best books of 2011 list. Over at NPR, the music critics have made a list of their favorite albums. True to its name, Listverse has lists, lists and more lists. And as if all that isn't enough, The New York... Read Post
December 8th 2011
We're excited to announce a new film series that is tentatively scheduled to begin in the Spring. Actually, this will be a string of mini film series, each curated by a different member of the community. For our kickoff, we want to get your input on what you'd like to see. Choices are below, so let's hear what you think, and thanks in advance for participating! More information about this new program will be coming soon.
<a href="/%3Ca%20href%3D"http://polldaddy.com/poll/5741540/">... Read Post
<a href="/%3Ca%20href%3D"http://polldaddy.com/poll/5741540/">... Read Post
November 21st 2011
This time of year the mind turns naturally to feasting, but it's always "turkey this" and "turkey that." Pork simply does not get its due. As a corrective, we offer tonight's Monday Night Movie, A Private Function.
Rovi (foremerly the All Movie Guide) says, “A British couple's attempts to circumvent local food-rationing regulations trigger a chaotic series of events in this satirical comedy set in post-World War II England. The couple's scheme centers on a massive hog which has been... Read Post
October 26th 2011
We waited all year and now it's here - the Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale!
Don't miss out on this chance to get great deals on new and used books, movies, music, and more - and show your support for the Library! Proceeds from the book sale help support library programs for adults and children, including the popular "museum membership" program which allows Somerville residents to visit local museums free or at a discount.
Friday, October 28th ~ 1:00... Read Post