Books and Movies and Museums, oh my!

Hello again, dear Reader. This week I'm appealing to all of you bibliophiles. You know how seeing a movie before reading the book can kill even the best novel ever? I hate that. So, to save you from a similar fate, here's a heads up to some new movies in the works that come from some of my favorite (or, at least, well liked) books. Read them first!

1. Journey to the Center of the Earth - It's going to be in 3-D with Brendan Fraser. Need I say more? Release Date (or Read Before): July 11, 2008

2. Inkheart - Brendan Fraser again? It's a teen fiction read by German author Cornelia Funke about a bookbinder who can bring characters to life in his books when he reads them aloud. This equals trouble when the villain escapes. I read this book in middle school and I remember liking it enough to read the sequel, Inkspell. There's also a third book, Inkdeath, due out in English in October of 2008. Read Before January 20, 2009.

3. The Giver - You have plenty of time to read this one - it's release is set for 2011. This still has to be one of my favorite books from middle school...about a utopian society that seems perfect until a young boy learns about the true suffering and joys of the "real" world. And Dustin Hoffman!!

4. Angels & Demons - Dan Brown's prequel to the DaVinci Code has just as much controversy surrounding the film as ever. Director Ron Howard and actor Tom Hanks have been banned by the Catholic church from filming in two Rome churches considered vital to the plot. Crazy, huh? Read before May 15, 2008.

5. Dune - Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom) will be directing the latest attempt to adapt Frank Herbert's popular sci-fi novel. Read before 2010.

6. The City of Ember - I loved this book back in the day (okay, it was 2003). It's a three part series including The People of Sparks and The Prophet of Yonwood. The first in the series is about a city that has always flourished until the lamps that light the city start to flicker and darkness threatens their entire way of life. Two teenagers try to unlock the mystery of their city, have an adventure, and so on. Bill Murray is going to play the mayor and the main character, Lina, will be played by Saoirse Ronan (Atonement). Read before October 10, 2008.

7. Twilight - Considering all the hype that's surrounding this movie, you really have to read the book first. Sure, a film (or book, for that matter) about love and vampires seems incredibly cheesy, but maybe it will stray away from being your average chick flick. Some have compared the popularity of the book series to that of Harry Potter. I don't know if I agree, but I'm willing to give these books a chance - mostly because they are the perfect beach read. The Twilight Saga has four books total: Twilight, Eclipse, New Moon, and the soon-to-be-released Breaking Dawn (August 2nd). The film also looks pretty promising with Kristin Stewart (Into the Wild, In the Land of Women) and Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter as Cedric Diggory, Vanity Fair) playing the lead characters. Read before December 12, 2008.

8. Atlas Shrugged - A powerful railroad executive, Dagny Taggart, struggles to keep her business alive while society is crumbling around her. It's rumored that Angelina Jolie will be playing her. Just to warn you, this is a heavy read. At over 1,000 pages long, it is one of the longest novels ever written in any European language. The book explores a number of philosophical themes Rand would later develop into Objectivism. Atlas Shrugged was voted the most influencial book in reader's lives after the Bible. Read before 2009.

9. The Hobbit - Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) directing the Hobbit?! I'm so there. Ah! And James MacAvoy is rumored to play Bilbo. Sweet! Read before December 2011.

10. The Tale of Desperaux - The tale of three unlikely heroes - a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears - whose fates are intertwined with that of the castle's princess. This film has some pretty big star power: Sigourney Weaver, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew Broderick, to name a few. Read before December 19, 2008.

11. The Lovely Bones - Great, great book. The story of a young girl, brutally raped and murdered, as she watches the effect of her death on her family, friends, and murderer from Heaven. Directed by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, King Kong)! Mark Whalberg, Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Wiesz, and Susan Sarandon are all in this one. Read before October 9, 2009.

12. The Time Traveler's Wife - A lovely book, hopefully a lovely movie? It's a romantic drama about a Chicago librarian (Eric Bana) with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage to Clare (Rachel McAdams). Read before December 25, 2008.

13. My Sister's Keeper - Directed by Nick Cassavettes (The Notebook) and starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, and Joan Cusack. Read before 2009.

I love the Tony Awards. Take a look at this year's winner of Best Musical, In The Heights.

Weekend Plans:

I think everyone who lives in the Sacramento area has visited the Crocker Art Museum at least once. Chances are it was in elementary school - that time in your life where you look at modern art, scoff, and think to yourself, I could do that. Well, I think it's time to give the Crocker Art Museum a second chance. With it's current exhibition, The Language of the Nude, the museum unveils 60 of it's rarely seen drawings of the human form. In August, Andy Warhol and American Pop will be the focus of its new exhibition. Also, every Thursday the Museum is open late to host special tours and programs including lectures, classes, and concerts. Highlight tours feature different themes every month and begin at 6:30 PM.

Okay, here is the best part: admission is only $3 with a student ID and FREE Sundays from 10 AM-1 PM. I see some serious inexpensive (yet romantic) date potential here. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM-5 PM. Thursday, 10 AM-9 PM, (closed on Mondays)

NOTE: Don't forget to check out Digital Crocker, the Museum's Online collection of over 500 works of art.

Song of the Day: Last Request by Paolo Nutini

This Scottish singer/songwriter released his first album, These Streets, in 2006. His song, Last Request, was featured at the end of the Scrubs episode "My Words of Wisdom" in Season 6.

Lots of love and artsy-ness,
Caitlin

iblog mini

Watch Into the Wild with Emile Hirsch. It will bring out your inner hippie, introduce you to the call of the wild, and make you want to go rough it in the wilderness (well, sort of) - and all in 148 minutes, ladies and gentlemen. It's based on the real story of Chris McCandless, an Emory University grad who gave up his possessions, money, and indentity to live in the wilderness of Alaska. It's a gem in my book. Not to mention director and author of the screenplay, Sean Penn's great attention to detail and heartbreaking insights into society's young generation. Do not delay.

To go along with that, the song of the day comes from the movie soundtrack, comprised largely from original and covered songs for the film by Eddie Veder (Pearl Jam vocalist) and with songs by Michael Brook in the credits. I really recommend the whole album, but definitely check out the cover of Indio's Hard Sun and Rise. Make this the soundtrack to your summer road trip.

Lots of love and tree hugs,
Caitlin

Indie or Indy?

So summer movies are probably one of my favorite parts about summer. I love those summer blockbusters, but while I'm waiting for Indiana Jones, The Dark Knight, Wall-E, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (no, really), I thought I'd check out some of the lesser known films coming to the big screen this summer in Sacramento. Most of the films I've chosen to highlight are showing at Sacramento's Crest Theatre or Tower Theatre. Also, the Sacramento French Film Festival is coming to the Crest Theatre July 18th - 27th and the Sacramento Film & Music Festival will be there August 8th - 17th. NOTE: Tower Theatre has this great thing called Student Mondays where tickets are $6.50 and include popcorn with refills with a student ID. Check it!


The Visitor:

In a world of six billion people, it only takes one to change your life. In actor and filmmaker Tom McCarthy's follow-up to his award winning directorial debut The Station Agent, Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) stars as Walter Vale, a disillusioned Connecticut economics professor whose life is transformed by a chance encounter in New York City. Through new found connections with virtual strangers, Walter is awakened to a new world and a new life. 1 hr. 43 mins.

When & Where: The Crest Theatre, May 2-June 5

Why You Should Go: Not only the Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Miami International Film Festival, and South by Southwest Film Festival, this one comes from the director of The Station Agent, Thomas McCarthy, which had 22 wins and 21 nominations from various festivals.

CJ7:

KUNG FU HUSTLE’S Stephen Chow writes, directs and stars in CJ7, a unique Chinese fantasy-comedy about a poverty-stricken laborer who learns a poignant lesson about money and family after his son receives a strange new toy as a gift.

When & Where: Tower Theatre PLAYING NOW

Why You Should Go: It's in Cantonese and only rated PG. And the son in the movie is actually played by a girl. Trés interesting!


Son of Rambow:
Garth Jennings (THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY) directs SON OF RAMBOW, an affected and nostalgic trip back to the last time in recent history when kids’ imaginations were not controlled by technology. Set over a long English summer in the 1980s, the film follows two imaginative young boys whose quest to create a homemade version of RAMBO yields them a lesson in filmmaking as well as a unique and lasting bond.

When & Where: Tower Theatre PLAYING NOW

Why You Should Go: Well, Sylvester Stallone endorses this film, but if that's not enough to persuade the tagline says it all: Make Believe. Not war.


The Fall:
Acclaimed music director Tarsem Singh produces and directs THE FALL, a poignant and imaginative story set in 1920’s Los Angeles. The story follows a young immigrant girl (Catinca Untaru) who, while recovering in the hospital from a fall, strikes up a friendship with a bedridden man (Lee Pace) who captivates her with a whimsical story that removes her far from the hospital doldrums into the exotic landscapes of her imagination.

When & Where: Tower Theatre PLAYING NOW

Why You Should Go: This film was shot in 26 locations in 18 countries, so you're basically getting a geography lesson in 117 minutes.


The Life Before Her Eyes:
Award-winning writer/director Vadim Perelman (HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG) returns to the big screen with THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES, a disquieting drama starring Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood and based on the acclaimed novel of the same name. The film follows the trajectory of one woman’s fifteen year struggle to deal with a tragic high-school event that dramatically altered her adolescence and detrimentally follows her into a disrupted adulthood.

When & Where: Tower Theatre PLAYING NOW

Why You Should Go: Uma Thurman in an indie film? Heck yes! Evan Rachel Wood from Across the Universe plays a young Uma Thurman also.


Young@Heart:
Critics and audiences alike are raving about YOUNG @ HEART, a funny, inspiring story based on the real life choral group of the same name. Comprised entirely of senior citizens, the group has entertained audiences all over the world with its renditions of R&B, pop and punk songs. Faced with the challenge of learning six new songs for a show that is only six weeks away, the aging members of YOUNG @ HEART are put to the test in their quest to prove that their unique chorus only gets better with age.

When & Where: Tower Theatre PLAYING NOW

Why You Should Go: These senior citizens sing everything from the Clash to Coldplay...probably more different than any cover band you've ever heard.



American Teen:
A 2008 documentary film directed by Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes, The Kid Stays in the Picture) set in Warsaw, Indiana, and focuses on graduating high school seniors struggling through school and life. It competed in the Documentary Competition at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the Directing Award: Documentary.

When & Where: July 25 at Theatres (almost) everywhere

Why You Should Go: Besides winning the Directing Award and Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year, American Teen is described as The Breakfast Club of our generation - the difference being that these stories are true.

Priceless:

A woman who has never had much trouble choosing between love or money tries to teach a man the tricks of the trade in this sly romantic comedy. Irene (Audrey Tautou) is an attractive thirty-something woman who lives a comfortable life by taking up with older and very wealthy men. Irene is not so interested in Jean until Jacques decides he's had enough of her and breaks off their relationship; suddenly forced to fend for herself, Irene turns to Jean for help. Jean, meanwhile, has learned that Madeleine (Marie-Christine Adam) has her eye on him. Jean asks Irene to give him a crash course in the fine art of being a gigolo, while Irene tries to get back in the game by taking up with Gilles (Jacques Spiesser). Slowly but surely, Irene and Jean realize how much they care for one another, but can they get learn to live the good life without money?

When & Where: The Crest Theatre, June 6-June 12

Why You Should Go: If you like French comedy and Audrey Tautou (The DaVinci Code, Amélie) then this is the perfect film for you. The costars won the Best Kiss Award at the NRJ Ciné Awards too.

Before the Rains:

An Englishman intent on opening a spice plantation in Kerala attempts to gain the trust of the local villagers and destroys numerous lives in the process in this period drama from director/cinematographer Santosh Sivan. The year is 1937, and the power that the English wield over the citizens of India can be devastating even in the mildest of cases.

When & Where: The Crest Theatre, June 13- June 19

Why You Should Go: Merchant-Ivory productions are known for stunning visuals, and Before the Rains seems to be no exception.

My Brother is an Only Child:
Set in a small Italian town in the 60's and 70's, the film tells the story of two brothers who want to change the world ? but in completely different ways. The elder, Manrico (Riccardo Scarmaccio), is a handsome, charismatic firebrand who becomes the prime mover in the local Communist party. Accio, (Elio Germano) the younger, more rebellious brother, finds his own contrarian voice by joining the reactionary Fascists. What starts as a typical tale of sibling rivalry becomes the story of the polarizing and paralyzing politics of those turbulent times and, the rift between the brothers is further intensified when Accio realizes that he loves his brother's girlfriend, Francesca (Diane Fleri) who, like everyone else, is blind to Manrico's increasingly dangerous ideas.

When & Where: The Crest Theatre June 13- June 19

Why You Should Go: Four Wins. Six Nominations. Italian Boys. Sounds good to me.

Mongol:

Award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov ('Prisoner of the Mountains') illuminates the life and legend of Genghis Khan in his stunning historical epic, 'Mongol.' Based on leading scholarly accounts and written by Bodrov and Arif Aliyev, 'Mongol' delves into the dramatic and harrowing early years of the ruler who was born as Temudgin in 1162. As it follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood to the battle that sealed his destiny, the film paints a multidimensional portrait of the future conqueror, revealing him not as the evil brute of hoary stereotype, but as an inspiring, fearless and visionary leader. 'Mongol' shows us the making of an extraordinary man, and the foundation on which so much of his greatness rested: his relationship with his wife, Borte, his lifelong love and most trusted advisor.

When & Where: The Crest Theatre June 27 - July 3

Why You Should Go: The dialogue is in Mongolian and was submitted by Kazahkstan for the Foreign Language Film category in the 80th Academy Awards. Since the film is based on scholarly accounts, you can walk away feeling a little more cultured too.

Also Coming Soon to Tower Theatre:

Roman de Gare

Children of Huang Shi

The Flight of the Red Balloon

Mister Lonely

When Did You Last See Your Father?

Brick Lane

Lots of love and $10 popcorn,
Caitlin