Thursday, February 25, 2010

Movies by female directors

Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) is only the fourth woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for directing. She is also the second American female director to be nominated since Sofia Coppola received a nomination in 2003 for Lost in Translation. The other two women who have received a Best Director nomination are Jane Campion for The Piano in 1993 and Lina Wertmuller for Seven Beauties in 1976.

When I read about the lack of nominations for female directors I started to think of other women who have directed movies I have seen. I compiled a list of notable female directors and their work, mostly focusing on movies available at Dundee, which you can check out through the library (or request from another library if we don't have it here).

◊ Gillian Armstrong (1950-)
Oscar and Lucinda, Little Women (1994)

◊ Susanne Bier (1960-)
After the Wedding, Things We Lost in the Fire

◊ Kathryn Bigelow (1951-)
The Hurt Locker, Near Dark, The Weight of Water, Point Break

◊ Jame Campion (1954-)
Bright Star, The Piano

◊ Gurinder Chadha (1960-)
Bend it Like Beckham, Bride & Prejudice

◊ Sofia Coppola (1971-)
Marie Antoinette, Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides

◊ Nora Ephron (1941-)
Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Julie & Julia

◊ Catherine Hardwicke (1955-)
Thirteen, Lords of Dogtown, The Nativity Story, Twilight

◊ Mary Harron (1953-)
American Psycho, The Notorious Bettie Page

◊ Amy Heckerling (1954-)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Clueless

◊ Patty Jenkins (1971-)
Monster

◊ Mimi Leder (1952-)
Deep Impact

◊ Sharon Maguire (1960-)
Bridget Jones's Diary

◊ Penny Marshall (1942-)
Big, A League of Their Own, Awakenings

◊ Nancy Meyers (1949-)
Something's Gotta Give, The Holiday

◊ Rebecca Miller (1962-)
The Ballad of Jack and Rose, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

◊ Mira Nair (1957-)
Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair, The Namesake, Amelia

◊ Kimberly Peirce (1967-)
Boys Don't Cry, Stop-Loss

◊ Sarah Polley (1979-)
Away From Her

◊ Kelly Reichardt
Wendy and Lucy

◊ Adrienne Shelly (1966-2006)
Waitress

◊ Kirsten Sheridan (1976-)
August Rush

◊ Penelope Spheeris (1945-)
Wayne's World, The Little Rascals

◊ Julie Taymor (1952-)
Titus, Frida, Across the Universe

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

What we're listening to: Teen Dream by Beach House

Beach House released their third album, Teen Dream, the end of January and I am enjoying it greatly. It is a bit dreamy (maybe what inspired the title?) and what I would describe as sweeping. Any of the songs of this album would make an excellent entry on a soundtrack (preferably of a very hip tv show or movie . . . and I mean that as a compliment). It is the type of music that should be playing in the background when something really important happens in life.

I've had track eight, 10 Miles Stereo, on repeat for a couple of days; I couldn't seem to move past the haunting minor cord changes in this track. I also enjoyed tracks two and three (Silver Soul and Norway, respectively).

Teen Dream (2010)
Find it in the catalog!

Devotion (2008)
Find it in the catalog!

Beach House (2006)
Find it in the catalog!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

DVDs out February 23rd

The Box: Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) directs this supernatural thriller involving a mysterious box that takes a life for every wish that it grants. Starring: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella.
Find it in the catalog!

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant: A young man breaks a longstanding truce between rival groups of vampires. Inspired by a series of popular novels by Darren Shan. Hammy comic genius John C. Reilly co-stars.
Find it in the catalog!

Everybody's Fine: Robert De Niro plays a widower struggling to do right by his adult children. Starring: Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, and Sam Rockwell.
Find it in the catalog!

The Informant!: Matt Damon stars as real-life corporate whistle-blower Mark Whitacre. This dark fact-based comedy is directed by Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and the Ocean's series).
Find it in the catalog!

The September Issue: A documentary on the making of Vogue magazine's September 2007 issue, centering on editor-in-cheif Anna Wintour and creative director Grace Coddington.
Find it in the catalog!

Sorority Row: A remake of the 1983 slasher flick The House on Sorority Row.
Find it in the catalog!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Top 24 on American Idol: Who are your favorites?

At the end of American Idol's Hollywood Week judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi, and Ellen Degeneres made their final choices of which 12 women and 12 men made the top 24 for season 9. You can see videos, photos, and Q&A info about season 9 contestants on American Idol's website. You can also check out Entertainment Weekly writer Michael Slezak's assessment of the contestants at ew.com. I recommend visiting EW's American Idol site for recaps and Michael Slezak and Kristen Baldwin's Idolatry video segments.

Did your favorites make it? A couple of my early picks were gone the first day, but I was happy that several of my favorites were told they would continue. I am rooting for local singers Jermaine Sellers (Joliet), John Park (Evanston), and Lee Dewyze (Mount Prospect). We haven't heard any more singing from John Park since his Chicago audition footage weeks ago, which probably has hindered him from gaining more fans. Jermaine Sellers got slightly more airtime during Hollywood Week, but I think his take on "One of Us," at his audition in Atlanta, remains his best performance. And after briefly showing snippets of Lee Dewyze during his audition footage and group performances in Hollywood, he received a chunk of airtime performing the Fray's "You Found Me" on guitar. What may have helped him stand out from other contestants, though, was his enthusiastic I-can't-believe-this-is-happening-to-me response after he was told by the judges he made the top 24.

I was also happy to see that Andrew Garcia (he performed an awesome acoustic rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up"), Didi Benami (she sang a Kara Dioguardi-penned song on guitar), Crystal Bowersox (she sang "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" on guitar and harmonica), and Lacey Brown (she sang a unique interpretation of "Over the Rainbow") made the top 24.

The top 12 women perform Tuesday night at 7 PM; the top 12 men perform Wednesday night at 7 PM.

Nominees for the GMA Dove Awards

The nominees for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards were announced in Nashville last week. You can see a full list of nominees here. The Dove Awards air Sunday, April 25 on GMC (Gospel Music Channel).

Artists and groups receiving nominations include Casting Crowns, Jars of Clay, TobyMac, Mandisa, Brandon Heath, and Chris Tomlin.

The compilation album WOW Hits 2009 includes songs from nominees Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, Tenth North Avenue, NEEDTOBREATHE, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, and Brandon Heath. Also, WOW Gospel 2009 includes songs from nominated artists Heather Headley, Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Crystal Akin, and Smokie Norful.

Click on an artist or album title to get a copy reserved through the library!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at the library

Today we had a great audience of 51 people attend our free screening of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. At the end of the movie we had a prize giveaway where five people each won a book. Everyone seemed to enjoy the movie. Bill Hader provided the voice for Flint Lockwood, the main character, and I always think his work is hilarious. One of my favorite quotes came after he asked his friends what food they wanted for breakfast and his assistant Steve (a monkey) suggested gummi bears. Flint responded, "Wait. Steve, no. We know how you get around gummi bears!" I made some comment slips so that audience members could share their opinions of the movie. Here is one audience member's comments:
"Loved it. Thanks so much for doing this for the community. We love the addition of popcorn for a really enjoyable day. Please make sure there is a kids movie one time a month."
-- Missy G., Carpentersville
I hope more people take the time to write a mini-review after future movies! If you haven't had a chance to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs you can put yourself on hold for a copy:
Find it in the catalog!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

DVDs out February 16th

Coco Before Chanel: A biopic of the French designer who revolutionized the world of fashion. Actress Audrey Tautou (Amelie, The Da Vinci Code) plays the title role.
Find it in the catalog!

Good Hair: A documentary look at the surprisingly controversial topic of African-American women's hair and the hair styling industry. Written and produced by popular comedian/actor Chris Rock.
Find it in the catalog!

Law Abiding Citizen: A psychological thriller starring Jamie Foxx (The Soloist, Ray) and Gerard Butler (300, The Ugly Truth).
Find it in the catalog!

Monday, February 15, 2010

2010 Oscar nominees: Who was overlooked

Earlier this month the nominees for this year's Academy Awards were announced. While the Best Picture category expanded to 10 films, the rest of the categories still have only 5 spots. Take a look at the nominations here. I know it's next to impossible to nominate all of the deserving artists or movies, but I made a list of work that I think is good enough to receive a nomination. What do you think of the nominees? Who, or which films, do you think were snubbed?

Here is my list of snubs from this year's nominations:

Best Motion Picture of the Year
(500) Days of Summer
Bright Star  
The Hangover
Star Trek

Directing
J.J. Abrams, Star Trek
Wes Andersen, Fantastic Mr. Fox (coming to DVD March 23)
Jane Campion, Bright Star
Greg Mottola, Adventureland

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Matt Damon in The Informant! (out on DVD February 23)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Zach Galifianakis in The Hangover
Anthony Mackie in The Hurt Locker
Alfred Molina in An Education (currently playing in theaters)

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria (currently playing in theaters)
Abbie Cornish in Bright Star
Zooey Deschanel in (500) Days of Summer

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Diane Krueger in Inglourious Basterds
Melanie Laurent in Inglourious Basterds

Best Documentary Feature
More Than A Game

Adapted Screenplay
Bright Star
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Informant!
Where the Wild Things Are (coming to DVD March 2)

Original Screenplay
(500) Days of Summer
Adventureland
The Hangover
I Love You, Man

Original Score
Where the Wild Things Are (original songs by Karen O and the Kids)

Friday, February 12, 2010

What we're listening to: I Told You I Was Freaky by the Flight of the Conchords

I Told You I Was Freaky includes songs featured on the second (and final) season of HBO's series Flight of the Conchords. A duo from New Zealand, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement have a chameleon-like ability to write and sing songs from different musical styles in a hilarious fashion. On "Hurt Feelings" they demonstrate how "rappers have feelings" by rapping about situations where people were mean to them. For example, when Brett wants to buy a wetsuit he's told to "try a ladies' size." Or, on Jemaine's birthday in 2003 no one calls to wish him a happy birthday: "The day after my birthday is not my birthday, Mum!" Rhys Darby, who plays Murray on the show, joins Bret and Jemaine on "Friends," in which the guys give several definitions for what constitutes being a friend: "I'll cheer you up if you're depressed / If you get murdered I'll avenge your death." My favorite on the album is "Carol Brown," which finds Jemaine singing about past girlfriends and the ways they left him. Jemaine mopes about being dumped by a long list of women; a chorus of those same ex-girlfriends make him out to be a less than amazing guy: "He doesn't cook or clean / He's not good boyfriend material." The comments of Jemaine and his exes sung back and forth get better as the song progresses:

(Jemaine) How can we ever know
We've found the right person in this world?
(Ex-girlfriends) He means he looks at other girls.

I love listening to the Flight of the Conchords because they're funny songwriters and also talented musicians.
Find it in the catalog!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A useful search tool for Oscar trivia

The Official Academy Awards Database (updated through the 2008 Academy Awards) is a very helpful online resource. You are able to search by film title, nominee, and song title. You can also choose to Browse Statistics and check out lists that include "Oldest/Youngest Acting Nominees" and "Winners or Films Winning Both Best Actor and Best Actress."
Example question: How many Oscar nominations did Marlon Brando receive?

Nominee Search: marlon brando

Results: Brando was nominated for 8 Oscars; he won two (Best Actor in 1954 for On the Waterfront and Best Actor in 1972 for The Godfather):

As you can see, for each nomination we see the year, award category, movie title, and name of the character played that earned him the nomination. You are also able to see the other nominations in the category by clicking on category name. So if you want to see who Brando was nominated with in 1951, click on ACTOR. If you click on a movie title you will see all the other nominations received by that film.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Get ready for Hollywood Week on American Idol

Tonight begins the Hollywood Week round of auditions on American Idol. If you're like me and want to know more about the contestants who made it to Hollywood, visit the American Idol website page Hollywood Week Hopefuls. Each of the contestants is listed along with a photo and video footage of his or her golden ticket interview. Some of the auditions themselves are up on the site, but as far as I can tell they are the auditions that already have aired. Because many joke/bad auditions were shown in lieu of the good auditions we still haven't heard many of the contestants actually sing!

Hollywood Week is also the first time we will see the new fourth judge, Ellen Degeneres. For auditions in cities across the country different celebrities filled the fourth judge spot: Victoria Beckham, Kristen Chenoweth, Shania Twain, Mary J. Blige, Avril Lavigne, Joe Jonas, Katy Perry, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Do you have favorite contestants you're looking forward to hearing more from in Hollywood Week and (hopefully) the rounds to come? The inevitable negative result from becoming attached to a contestant so early is that he or she won't get past Hollywood Week and we'll have to choose new favorites. Oh well. Anyway, here are my favorites I picked from the audition footage shown so far. I organized the contestants by their audition cities. Feel free to add a comment with your favorites!

Boston auditions: Benjamin Bright (sang "All My Loving" by the Beatles), Justin Williams (sang "Feeling Good"), Leah Laurenti (sang "Blue Skies"), Mike Davis (sang "Yesterday" by the Beatles), Tyler Grady (sang "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye)

Atlanta auditions: Jermaine Sellers from Joilet, IL! (sang a R&B-flavored "One of Us" by Joan Osborne), Tisha Holland (sang Christina Aguilera's "Impossible"), Mallorie Haley (sang a country-fied version of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart")

Chicago auditions: Crystal Bowersox (sang "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin), John Park from Evanston, IL! (sang "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" by Blood Sweat & Tears and received many compliments from guest judge Shania Twain), Lee Dewyze from Mount Prospect, IL! (sang "Ain't No Sunshine")

Orlando auditions: Lacey Brown (sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow")

Los Angeles auditions: Andrew Garcia (sang a soulful version of Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning"), Didi Benami (sang "Hey Jude" by the Beatles and made it her own)

Dallas auditions: Hope Johnson (sang a very joyful version of Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance"), Todrick Hall (sang an original song about making it to Hollywood)

Denver auditions: Jessica Furney (sang "Footprints in the Sand"), Mark Labriola (sang "Tempted" by Squeeze)

Super Bowl movie trailers: What are you excited to see?

Super Bowl fans (or fans of the Super Bowl commercials), what were your favorite movie trailers shown during the game on Sunday? Out of all the movie trailers shown I think I am most excited to see Robin Hood. The Super Bowl trailer was the first footage I saw from that movie and it looks awesome. I am also looking forward to the new Alice in Wonderland.

The Wolfman (February 12)
A remake of 1941's The Wolf Man starring Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, and Emily Blunt, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Shutter Island (February 19)
Originally slated for a Fall 2009 release, the trailer for this movie has been making the rounds for some time; starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo and directed by Martin Scorsese.

The Crazies (February 26)
A horror movie starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell.

Alice in Wonderland (March 5)
At nineteen years old, Alice returns to Wonderland in this vividly colorful, fantastical 3D film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.

Brooklyn's Finest (March 5)
From director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day); starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes, and Ethan Hawke.

The Back-up Plan (April 23)
The lone comedy in the Super Bowl trailer bunch is about a woman who meets the perfect guy on the same day she is artificially inseminated. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin.

Robin Hood (May 14)
They've worked together on Gladiator, A Good Year, American Gangster, and Body of Lies; now director Ridley Scott and Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe team up again for a new look at the legendary Robin Hood. Also starring Cate Blanchett.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (May 28)
Based on a video game! A long-haired Jake Gyllenhaal does action!

The Last Airbender (July)
M. Night Shyamalan directs this fantasy-action movie.

Monday, February 8, 2010

DVDs out February 9th

Couples Retreat: A comedic collaboration between former Swingers Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. Co-starring: Jason Bateman and Faizon Love.
Find it in the catalog!

A Serious Man: A dark comedy set in 1967. Created by Joel and Ethan Coen (the duo that brought you the Oscar-winning films Fargo and No Country for Old Men).
Find it in the catalog!

The Stepfather: A remake of the 1987 horror film. Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) stars as the titual - and sociopathic - step-father. Co-starring: Penn Badgley, Amber Heard, and Sela Ward.
Find it in the catalog!

The Time Traveler's Wife: An adaptation of the popular novel by Audrey Niffenegger; Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams star in this heartbreaking tale of romance and time-travel.
Find it in the catalog!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

What we're watching: Parks and Recreation on DVD

This series, created by Greg Daniels, presents a comical look at local government in Pawnee, Indiana. After slacker/musician Andy (Chris Pratt), the boyfriend of nurse Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), falls into a huge pit left behind from an undeveloped basement, a subcommittee in the Parks and Recreation Department forms with the goal of filling the pit and turning it into a park. Currently in its second season on NBC, Parks and Recreation has a strong cast that continues to get better in each episode. Leading the subcommittee is Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the always-optimistic Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. She loves her job even when the duties include leading public meetings where she is essentially yelled at by the public. Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) quotes rap songs and sees himself as a womanizer even though he is married and women have no interest in him. April (Aubrey Plaza), the department's intern, is so bored at her job even the task of speaking is a chore. Mark Brendanowitz (Paul Schneider), a city planner, appears to be the only sane one in the group; Leslie describes him as "a smart, capable guy. He knows where the bodies are buried." Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), the boss of the Parks Department, doesn't believe in government and would like to privatize parks and follow the business example of Chuck E. Cheese. While each episode is filled with funny dialogue, Ron says perhaps the most unbelievably blunt things; the actor Nick Offerman delivers his lines so matter-of-factly you can't help but crack up laughing: "I hate the public. The public is stupid." Shot using the same mockumentary style seen on The Office and Modern Family, Parks and Recreation gets laughs not only from its talented cast but also from the time-wasting steps involved in government bureaucracy.

Season 1: Find it in the catalog!

Pick the Oscar winners and win!

Predict the winners of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in our Pick the Oscar Winners Contest! All you have to do is stop by the Information Desk to pick up an entry form (one entry per Dundee Library cardholder). Guess the winners in 17 Oscar categories including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Animated Feature Film. Completed entries are due back to the Information Desk by Saturday, March 6 at 5 PM.  Watch the awards ceremony on Sunday, March 7 and see which of your predictions are correct! Winners will be notified after March 7. For a complete list of the nominees visit Oscar.com.

Prizes:
1st place: $20 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
2nd place: $15 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
3rd place: $10 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Scene stealer: Jane Lynch

"I am the coach. I'm the coach and I'm the point guard, I'm the two forwards, the center, and I'm the other guard. I'm the entire organization."
~ Jane Lynch as Gayle Sweeney, Role Models
Currently seen on TV's Glee, Jane Lynch has been stealing scenes in movies for years. I first noticed this actress when I watched Best in Show, the Christopher Guest-directed mockumentary about a national dog show that focused on several dog owners, where Lynch played Rhapsody in White's dog trainer and romantic interest to one of Rhapsody's owners. She was Steve Carrell's boss Paula at Smart Tech in The 40 Year Old Virgin. The scene in which Paula sings a Guatemalan lullaby to Andy (played by Carrell) in the Smart Tech electronics store is without a doubt one of the most hilarious moments of the movie. Lynch also played the founder of Sturdy Wings, Gayle Sweeney, in Role Models. Recently she took on the role of Julia Child's sister Dorothy in Julie & Julia. I put together a list featuring some of her memorable roles. You can find more DVDs that feature Jane Lynch by searching jane lynch and dvd in our online catalog.

Best in Show (2000)
DVD COMEDY BEST
Find it in the catalog!

A Mighty Wind (2003)
DVD COMEDY MIGHTY
Find it in the catalog!

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
DVD COMEDY 40
"I'm very discreet... but I will haunt your dreams."
Find it in the catalog!

For Your Consideration (2006)
DVD COMEDY FOR
Find it in the catalog!

Role Models (2008)
DVD COMEDY ROLE
"I've been to prison. Oh, I have. I've been to prison. A prison of drugs, alcohol, and sick thoughts. I used to have sick thoughts." 
Find it in the catalog!

Julie & Julia (2009)
NEW DVD FICTION JULIE
Find it in the catalog!

Def Jux Record Label Announces Hiatus

The respected independent record label Definitive Jux is set to cease, or radically modify, its operations. Founded in New York City in 1999, Def Jux has been a mainstay of underground hip-hop, with an impressive roster of socially conscious artists. According to El-P, the label's co-founder and artistic director, Def Jux will not be releasing new records for the foreseeable future. El-P's announcement (which can be viewed on the label's website) is rambling, charming, and ultimately a little short on specifics. While this isn't exactly the end of an era, it's worth considering the significant contributions made by this trend-setting indie.

Here's a handful of outstanding records on the Def Jux label:

The Cold Vein - Cannibal Ox

Find it in the catalog!

Funcrusher Plus - Company Flow

Find it in the catalog!

I'll Sleep When You're Dead - El-P

Find it in the catalog!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

DVDs out February 2nd

Amelia: Academy-Award winner Hilary Swank stars as Amelia Earhart in this biopic of the high-flying heroine. Directed by Mira Nair (The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding).
Find it in the catalog!

Cold Souls: This dark comedy features Paul Giamatti (Sideways, John Adams) as a man who puts his soul in cold storage. Literally.
Find it in the catalog!

Love Happens: Aaron Eckhart stars as a self-help author and "grieving expert." His relationship with Jennifer Aniston helps him to understand the limits of his expertise.
Find it in the catalog!

More Than a Game: An inspiring documentary on the Akron, Ohio high-school basketball team that produced such notable professional players as Lebron James.
Find it in the catalog!

New York, I Love You: A series of romantic vignettes set in New York City. Starring: Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Shia LaBeouf, and many others.
Find it in the catalog!

Zombieland: A horror/comedy with lots and lots of zombie killing. Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin go on a roadtrip through the post-apocalyptic U.S.A.
Find it in the catalog!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Movies at the library in February

Come join us for our free movie nights in February at the Dundee Township Public Library. We have free popcorn and refreshments available at each movie. You can pick up your tickets at the Information Desk (847-428-3661 x 308) starting today. Walk-ins are also welcome; just keep in mind that the audience capacity is 80 people. Doors open 30 minutes before the movie starts. I hope to see you at the movies!

Fame (2009)
Wednesday, February 17 at 6 PM
Rated PG; 1 hour 47 minutes

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Saturday, February 20 at 2 PM
Rated PG; 1 hour 21 minutes

Casablanca (1942)
CLASSIC MOVIE NIGHT!
Tuesday, February 23 at 6 PM
Not rated; 1 hour 42 minutes

Even more Lost

"They're coming."
~ Jacob
We have to wait just over 24 hours until the sixth and final season of Lost premieres on ABC. A recap episode airs tomorrow at 7 PM, followed by the two-hour premiere at 8 PM. Are you all caught up with the previous seasons and ready to find out what happens to the castaways? I know I am! I always get very absorbed in Lost episodes and talk back to the TV and/or scream in response to plot developments. Who are the good guys? Who lives?! Who dies?! Which deceased castaways are returning (and why)?! Why doesn't Richard Alpert age? What year is it? And what is the island? Here are a few useful sites to bookmark and revisit as you watch the final season to get your Lost fix.

Totally Lost at ew.com: After each episode this is where I go to read Jeff "Doc" Jensen's incredibly detailed and well-researched recaps. Jensen is a hard-core fan and I look forward to reading his take on each episode. Reader beware: at times Jensen's crazy enthusiasm and insightful theories cause the reader to develop headaches.

Lostpedia: A Lost encyclopedia.

Official ABC site: Watch full episodes, attend Lost University, buy Lost gear, and read character and actor bios.