THE BRITISH CROWN FILM SERIES

Fridays, September 23-October 28, 2011, at 1:00 PM

 

The recent royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton helped to revive for me an idea for a film series that had been germinating for some time. Even though we Americans revolted against Great Britain to form our own nation, we nevertheless did spring from the British Empire. I think this partly explains why we continue to have a fascination with British royalty. Of course, these days I think that this celebrity-conscious nation of ours gets caught up with the pomp and pageantry of the royal family. But we mustn't forget that, as Shakespeare once wrote, "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." Through the years, the British monarchs have had to endure the strain of running a nation (at least back in the day before the monarchy became more of a symbol). They've had to wrestle with matters of policy (with both foes and allies). They often have been mired in all kinds of machinations with family members like spouses and children. Some monarchs are crowned while still young, and must quickly grow into the position. They often must contend with the public's unfavorable perception of them. Occasionally, they must work to overcome a disability, like a speech impediment. Over six weeks, we'll look at movie portrayals of five of Great Britain's monarchs.  Watching the turmoil and intrigue that these men and women experienced, it may make us appreciate, by comparison, our simple lives as commoners.

Here's the complete lineup:

September 23rd

Becket (1964) - A young King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) must contend with his friend, Thomas Becket (Richard Burton), when the latter is assigned to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury.

September 30th

The Lion in Winter (1968) - An older Henry II (Peter O'Toole) spends the Christmas holiday sparring with his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), and his sons over which of his offspring will succeed him as king.

October 7th

Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) - King Henry VIII (Richard Burton) wants to divorce his barren first wife, Katherine of Aragon, so that he can take the enchanting young Anne Boleyn (Genevieve Bujold) as his next bride.

October 14th

Elizabeth (1998) - Cate Blanchett stars as Queen Elizabeth I, whose ascension to the throne thrusts her into a world of political conflict and intrigue.

October 21st

The King's Speech (2010) - Colin Firth plays King George VI, who struggles to overcome a pronounced stammer with the help of an unorthodox speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush).

October 28th

The Queen (2006) - Helen Mirren is current-day Queen Elizabeth II , who is cast--along with the rest of the royal family--into a very public spotlight when Princess Diana is killed in an auto accident.

I look forward to seeing you all there. (Crowns and scepters are optional.)

Doug Swiszcz

Librarian and Cinema Enthusiast

Barrington Public Library

TOM HANKS: A FILM LECTURE SERIES

Thursdays, April 21-May 26, 2011, at 7:00 PM

Remember the rather goofy young actor who first made a name for himself in the TV sitcom Bosom Buddies back in the early eighties? As one of the two guys who disguised themselves as women in order to live at an affordable, girls-only apartment house? If you're reading this post, you already know that he has become one of the most talented, acclaimed actors in film today. Over a six-week span, we'll celebrate the breadth and depth of Tom Hank's talent.  Whether we're watching him play a boy who suddenly finds himself in a grown man's body in Big, or an attorney fighting for his dignity in Philadelphia, or a once time-harried man counting the days on a deserted island in Cast Away, we'll hopefully get to discover all over again what has made him one of the most sought-after actors in movies. The proof, after all, is in the tasting.

Here's the complete lineup:

April 21st

Big (1988)

April 28th

Philadelphia (1993)

May 5th

Forrest Gump (1994)

May 12th

The Green Mile (1999)

May 19th

Cast Away (2000)

May 26th

Road to Perdition (2002)

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Doug Swiszcz

Librarian and Cinema Enthusiast

Barrington Public Library

Unlikely Heroes Film Series

Thursdays, March 17 – April 14, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Guys like the guys in our Unlikely Heroes film series have always been in the movies as sidekicks or comic relief, but when did they become the stars? These are men who aren’t really men. They’re more like man-boys or—as we get to the end of our series—boy-men.

We’re no longer in an era of grown-up leads. Assured, self-possessed fellows like Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant aren’t our idols anymore. Instead, the new male archetype is ordinary like us and lost in the world like we are, too.

Our unlikely heroes are in varying degrees iconoclastic, sweet, vulnerable, ambitious and obtuse, but they’re all fascinating, each in their own way. Here’s a list of the films and what they’re about.

Unlikely Heroes

March 17
Harold and Maude (1971)

Twenty-something Harold rebels against adulthood by staging fake suicides and driving a hearse. But when he bumps into Maude, an eighty-year-old free spirit, he finds new possibilities for living.

March 24
Raising Arizona (1987)

H. I. McDonnough is an unsuccessful stick-up man who promises his gal Ed he’ll go straight. But when Ed finds out she can’t have children, she puts Hi up to kidnapping one of the Arizona quintuplets.

March 31
Dead Man (1995)

William Blake is a bookish Easterner out of place in the brutal West. After he’s shot and becomes an outlaw, an unconventional Blackfoot named Nobody helps him make the harsh and poetic journey to the end of his life. This movie contains the strong language that would be expected from real 19th century Westerners.

April 7
Rushmore (1998)

15-year-old Max Fisher is a smart and ambitious kid who wants to be admired. But his outlandish plans to impress his peers and win the heart of a teacher can’t keep him from having to grow up.

April 14
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Napoleon Dynamite is a mouth-breathing high schooler who’s bothered by bullies, cheerleaders, a brother and his uncle. He makes friends, too, and even saves the day. But he doesn’t change a bit.