Spend some time with Mom this weekend… (plus your DVD player)

In case you haven’t heard the countless radio ads and haven’t been noticing the store signs, tomorrow is Mother’s Day. The day when we celebrate mothers and motherhood. You could argue that it’s another commercial holiday made up by the corporate giants to sell insincere gifts, but I’m of the mindset that there is enough negativity in this world that we should celebrate the people in our life who mean the most to us, and what greater opportunity than Mother’s Day (okay, maybe I’ve bought into a Hallmark holiday or two!).

Sure there are flowers and jewelry and brunch to be had, but guaranteed what your Mom would really love tomorrow would be to spend some quality time together (and the beauty part is, it won’t cost you a thing!). What better way to bond then popping some corn and settling in for an afternoon movie or two. And of course, GPL has a selection of great Mother’s Day friendly movies to watch, whether it’s an old favourite or something you missed seeing. Check out the list and we’ll see you when you come in to pick it up!

Happy Mother’s Day to moms of all forms!

My Big Fat Greek Wedding
A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

Erin Brockovich
An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city’s water supply.

Volver
After her death, a mother returns to her home town in order to fix the situations she couldn’t resolve during her life.

Freaky Friday
A mother and daughter find their personalities switched and have to live each other’s lives on one strange Friday.

Sound of Music
A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower.

Mrs. Doubtfire
After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend secret time with his children held in custody by his ex.

The Kids are All Right
Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their father into their family life.

Terms of Endearment
Covers three decades in the lives of widow Aurora Greenway and her daughter Emma.

Calendar Girls
A Women’s Institute chapter’s fundraising effort for a local hospital by posing nude for a calendar becomes a media sensation.

Anywhere But Here
A mother and daughter search for success in Beverly Hills.

Juno
Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.

The Family Stone
An uptight, conservative, businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family’s annual Christmas celebration and finds that she’s a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.

Mamma Mia
The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular ’70s group ABBA.

Grey Gardens
Based on the life stories of the eccentric aunt and first cousin of Jackie Onassis (both named Edith Bouvier Beale aka “Big and Little Edie”) raised as Park Avenue débutantes but who withdrew from New York society, taking shelter at their Long Island summer home, “Grey Gardens.”

Little Women
The March sisters live and grow in post-Civil War America.

To Run or Not to Run?

I want to be healthy, I want to be active, I want to be one of those people who can say “oh yeah, I ran a 5k this morning, no problem”. Truth of the matter is that I much prefer a nice glass of wine over attending a “boot camp” class (are you kidding me?)….I do try to stay healthy by “running” (more like flailing) with my husband who kindly pretends like he’s also running (in reality he’s walking at a fast pace)…but I’ve found that when I get into a rut, fitness wise, the GPL has a great selection of fitness DVD’s. With the help of the GPL, I’ve tried (and maybe it wasn’t pretty) belly dancing, pilates and of course yoga (who knew there were so many types of yoga?!). No matter what type of fitness goals you’re trying to achieve, the GPL has a great selection of fitness DVD’s to try out (in the privacy of your own home in case you don’t want to belly dance in public just yet).

Not so much in the mood for a good workout? Listen, I understand, sometimes you just need to sip that glass of wine and not feel guilty about not working out. For those days, I’d suggest watching someone else train for a marathon by viewing “Saint Ralph.” This movie, filmed in Cambridge, Hamilton and Toronto, tells the story of ninth grader Ralph who is attempting to win the Boston Marathon (though his current past time is mostly made up of smoking and getting into trouble). The idea is that if Ralph performs a miracle (winning the marathon) that miracle will in turn save his mother from the coma she is currently in. (Yes, perhaps flawed but interesting nevertheless).

So, whether you’re in the mood to get moving or feeling like you don’t want to be judged for being a couch potato, the GPL is here to help! Check out our vast selection of fitness DVD’s or movies that involve some form of fitness, we’ve got it all!

So good, I watched it twice in one weekend: Take This Waltz

I had a customer ask the other day what’s the best movie I’ve seen recently. Hands down it was Take This Waltz starring Michelle Williams and Seth Rogan as a young married couple living in Toronto. It spoke to me so much that after watching it one Saturday night, I turned around and watched it again the next day.

The plot is this: While on assignment in Nova Scotia as a publications writer for Parks Canada, Margo (Williams) meets Daniel (local Luke Kirby) and they end up sitting beside each other on the plane ride back to Ontario. The chemistry between them is evident from the moment they meet and although it could just be a chance encounter, upon sharing a cab ride home they learn they are practically next door neighbours (at which point she mentions that she is married). Oh the complicated nature of human attraction! Over the course of one hot summer, Margo and Daniel spend quite a bit of time together, but are unable to act on their desire for one another. I don’t want to give away too much more of the plot because the story so interestingly unfolds.

There is a scene in the film when Margo, a friend, and her sister-in-law/recovering alcoholic Geraldine (played flawlessly by Sarah Silverman) are showering after an aquafit class. Geraldine comments about her husband and how after 10 years at least she still likes him but with someone different, she might not feel the same. Across the way some older ladies overhear the conversation and one woman says “What’s new is new, but then new becomes old” (or something along those lines). This is really a pivotal point in the movie because it speaks to Margo’s restlessness in her comfortable and rather bland marriage combined with the attraction/appeal of someone new.

I loved the idea that it stars two American actors, but was proudly set in Toronto (as if it was a legitimate city to live in – probably a result of Canadian Sarah Polley directing). There are scenes from Kew Beach, Pearson Airport, and the major set in the movie was on a real street (Mackenzie Cresent) in the Little Portugal neighbourhood. If you’re interested in learning about some of the other Toronto locations used in the film, check out this article from Torontoist. If you’re a fan of Sarah Polly, check out 2 of the other films she has recently directed: Stories We Tell and Away From Her.

Overall, I thought this film was incredibly powerful, visually beautiful (every scene contained bright colors and landscapes) and tremendously well acted (warning – don’t expect  the usual comedic performances out of Rogan and Silverman!). It touches on so many aspects of the human condition (love, loss, remorse, desire, morality, discontentment – I could go on) and doesn’t try to wrap everything up in a neat little bow. Life is messy and complicated – it was refreshing to watch a movie that reflected that. Check out the trailer or place your hold in the GPL catalogue today!

There’s Nothing Wrong With a Little Denzel Once in A While…

Last Friday my much awaited hold for “Flight” arrived. If you aren’t familiar with this movie, it’s the gripping story of a pilot who had it all and lost it all due to his drug and alcohol problems. Whip Whitfield (Denzel Washington) seemed to have it all. A loving wife, a handsome son, a lovely house and a golden career as a commercial pilot. However, the movie starts with a dark scene of Whip in a hotel room, with his flight attendant “girlfriend”, attempting to recover from a wild night. The two of them seemingly turn to more drugs to “perk up” and then gear up for their morning flight. Tragedy strikes when their plane runs into bad weather and faulty mechanisms…Thankfully, Whip remarkably lands the plane with far fewer casualties and injuries

 as would otherwise be expected. At first Whip is praised as a hero, only to later to have his drug use come into question. This engaging plot comes to boiling point when Whip must decide if he’ll be remembered as a “hero” or if he’ll own up to his own demons.

While the movie had a few slow points throughout, I really enjoyed this flick. I think one of the most amazing aspects was that Denzel has not appeared to age in the past fifteen years…so really, if nothing else, you have to watch it if you’re a fifty something year old looking for tips on how to pull off aviators and still look “cool”.

The GPL has fifteen copies of this DVD, and while the holds list is long, it’s worth the wait to put your name on the list!

Looking for some other great Denzel flicks to watch? The GPL has a great selection! See here for more details.

Something to Look Forward to: Books Into Movies 2013

Wow. It’s March already. The Oscars and the Golden Globe Awards are over, and The Canadian Screen Awards (the new combo Genie and Gemini Awards ceremony) took place in Toronto last night. So what can you look forward to in movie land for the next 10 months? Well, there is an astonishing number of novel adaptations coming to the silver screen this year. So get some reading done before everyone and their uncle is comparing the screen version to the book.

Catching Fire – based on the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Movie release date: November 22nd

Admission – based on the book by Jean Hanff Korelitz about a Princeton admissions officer played by Tina Fey
Movie release date: March 22nd

Carrie – based on the iconic book by Steven King (a remake of the 1976 cult classic)
Movie release date: April 18th

The Host – based on Stephanie Meyer’s 2008 book about an alien race that takes over the world and one woman who refuses to let her body be a host
Movie release date: March 29th

The Great Gatsby – based on the classic novel by Scott F. Fitzgerald starring big Hollywood names such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Isla Fisher, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire. With Baz Luhrmann directing, it should be an artistic romp
Movie release date: May 10th

The Company You Keep – based on the book by Neil Gordon about a man who adopts a false identity in the hope of avoiding murder charges for a robbery gone wrong until 20 years later when he is tracked down by a young newspaper reporter in search of a story
Movie release date: April 12th

The Iceman – based on the true crime novel by Anthony Bruno about Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man

World War Z – based on the 2006 sci-fi novel by Max Brooks about a world years past a great zombie war
Movie release date: June 21st

Paranoia – based on the New York Times bestseller by Joseph Finder about Adam Cassidy who finds himself charged with a crime after diverting cash from a slush fund to pay for a coworkers retirement bash. Corporate security gives him a choice, prison or become a spy in the headquarters of their chief competitor
Movie release date: October 4th

The Seventh Son – based on the children’s series by Joseph Delaney called The Last Apprentice about a boy training to become an exorcist
Movie release date: October 18th

Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters – based on the popular second installment by Rick Riordan about the heroic son of Poseidon who sets out to retrieve the mythical Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed
Movie release date: August 16th

City of Bones – based on the popular Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare about 15 year-old Clary Fray (played by Lily Collins) who is suddenly drawn into a world of demons and the ‘Darkhunters’ who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension
Movie release date: August 23rd

Ender’s Game – based on the 1985 award winning sci-fi book by Orson Scott Card about Ender Wiggin who is amongst the world’s most talented children sent to train for an anticipated third alien invasion against Earth
Movie release date: November 1st

The Monuments Men – based on the nonfiction book by Robert M. Edsel who documented the untold story about a little-known WWII Allied division whose mission was to track down European art and treasures that had been looted by the Nazis
Movie release date: December 18th

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – based on the hilarious short story by James Thurber published back in 1964. Ben Stiller is both the director and star of the film, so no doubt he will be able to bring the story to life
Movie release date: December 25th

Winter’s Tale – based on the touching novel by Mark Helprin set in New York City about the love that develops serendipitously between a middle-aged thief and a young wealthy girl who is dying
Movie release date: October 11th

Serena - based on the book by Ron Rash set in 1920′s North Carolina about a woman who turns murderous when she finds out she cannot bear children
Movie release date: September 27th

The Wolf of Wall Street - based on the memoir by Jordan Belfort
Movie release date: November 15th

Horns - based on the terrifying book by Joe Hill about a young man (played by Daniel Radcliffe) who wakes up with horns on his temples after the love of his life is brutally raped and murdered
Movie release date: October 11th

Devil’s Knot - based on the book by Mara Leveritt and directed by Canada’s own Atom Egoyan about the true story of three teenagers known as the ‘West Memphis Three’ falsely accused of killing three young boys and sentenced to life in prison
Movie release date: October 24th

*Note: descriptions adapted from GPL catalogue and www.goodreads.com

Add a Little Mystery To Your Life…

My current guilty pleasure is the television series “Pretty Little Liars” based off the novel series by Sara Shepard. Ok, admittedly this is a young adult book series, but really, if grown adults can read Harry Potter and the Twilight series, I can read/watch “Pretty Little Liars” with minimal judgement please…

Ok, back to the show…

At first it seems as those this is just another version of Beverly Hills 90210 (sigh-90210…check out this link for some great music from 90210 available at the GPL…but I digress…), but quickly the plot thickens into a much deeper story line. Here’s my short synopsis…

Five popular girlfriends have a sleepover, one goes missing, the girls stop being friends, about a year later they all start receiving mysterious text messages from “A” (whom they assume is their missing friend-Alison), the girls reconnect over the texts, a few days later their missing friend’s body is discovered….yet the texts keep coming. The suspense grows as the texts turn from creepy to tortuous and the girls are sent into a whirlwind as they race to uncover the mysterious “A” before things get really out of hand. Of course there is boy drama, parent woes, gossip disasters, but the real success of the show lies within the mysterious “A”. Also, because it has to be said, these girls have great hair, we could all take a cue from them.

The GPL has season one and two of “Pretty Little Liars” and season 3 will be arriving shortly! So grab the DVDs, grab the books (yes, these are found in the Young Adult section at the GPL), grab a nice glass of wine (or cola if you are indeed a teenage girl and not a nearly 30 yr old woman) and of course, grab some popcorn (the low fat type if you are a nearly 30 something year old) and prepare to get hooked on this great mystery television series!

Feel Like a Kid Again!

Watching my three-year old nephew is one of my favourite things to do because it gives me the opportunity to expand my film watching endeavours… (Ok, honestly, that has nothing to do with it, he’s just a cool kid and we get to eat pizza when we hang out together..). However, sometimes, by the end of the evening, we treat ourselves to fifteen minutes of movie watchin’. Last month his rule was that we could watch anything involving cars. So, throughout 15 minute time slots…rewinding to the racing scenes constantly (have you ever tried to negotiate with a 3 yr old?)…I finally got to watch Cars 2…. Not surprisingly, I LOVED IT!

I can’t explain why I loved it besides telling you…it’s just fun. Watching a snazzy car, with a british accent, turn into a boat and then a submarine is just fun. Listening to Larry the Cable Guy, as rusty old Mater the tow truck, brings a little adult humour to a kid friendly movie. There is really something for everyone in this one. Most suprisingly…the second Cars movie was just as good as the first one.

Babysitting tonight? Family movie night? Just looking to unwind and watch a movie that makes you feel like a kid again? Cars 2 is the way to go! Best part? You can get it from your local GPL. Request it today!