January - May, 2013

How to become a Reel Reader

The Lincoln Lawyer (R)
Monday, January 21, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

THE BOOK

Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. After graduating in 1980, he worked at newspapers in Florida, specializing in the crime beat. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash, that was short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize. Hence began his writing career, beginning with his first novel, The Black Echo, in 1992. The Lincoln Lawyer is a stunning display of novelistic mastery - as human, as gripping, and as whiplash-surprising as any novel yet from the writer Publishers Weekly has called "today's Dostoyevsky of crime literature."

THE MOVIE

Matthew McConaughey stars as successful criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller, who represents low-life clients around Los Angeles County, operating out of a Lincoln Town Car driven by a former client working off his legal fees (hence the title). Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the case of his career: Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy and son of real estate mogul Mary Windsor (Frances Fisher), who is accused of assault. But Mickey soon discovers that he's become ensnared in a twisted plot where no fee in the world is high enough to pay for the deadly workload, and his only hope of survival may just lay in his own skills as a long-practiced double-crosser. The R-rated thriller is directed by Brad Furman (The Take), with Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy and John Leguizamo rounding out the cast.

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P.S. I Love You (PG-13)
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life - a passionate, funny, and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when Gerry's life is taken by an illness, it takes the life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the person who is no longer there. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry. So it's a good thing he planned ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief, but in rediscovering herself. The first message arrives on Holly's 30th birthday in the form of a cake, and to her utter shock, a tape recording from Gerry, who proceeds to tell her to get out and "celebrate herself". In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way; P.S. I Love You. Holly's mother and best friends begin to worry that Gerry's letters are keeping Holly tied to the past, but in fact, each letter is pushing her further into a new future. With Gerry's words as her guide, Holly embarks on a journey of rediscovery in a story about marriage, friendship and how a love so strong can turn the finality of death into a new beginning for life.

 

 

 

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The Hunger Games (PG-13)
Tuesday, March 19, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

 

 

 

 

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The Perfect Storm (PG-13)
Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

In October 1991, a dying tropical hurricane from Bermuda collided with a cold front from the Great Lakes, resulting in a "perfect storm" of previously unknown destructive impact that resulted in 100-foot waves; tragically, the crew of a fishing boat was lost in the midst of the fearsome storm. Based on the best-selling book by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm tells the story of the ship's brave and hard-working crew. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), captain of the Andrea Gail, hasn't had much luck finding catch on his most recent trips to sea, and with money short, he and his crew -- Bob Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale Murphy (John C. Reilly), and David Sullivan (William Fichtner) set out again when they hear that the fish are running. Billy's hunch proves correct, but when the ship's refrigeration system goes haywire, they have to return to shore as quickly as possible before the fish spoil, sending them into the middle of the worst storm in history. The supporting cast includes Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Diane Lane, Bob Gunton, and Karen Allen; Wolfgang Petersen, whose breakthrough film was the aquatic wartime drama Das Boot, directed.

 

 

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How to become a Reel Reader

1. Read the book, if you have time. Each month, prior to the movie showing, copies of the selected title will be available in the library's rotunda.
2. Join us for the movie even if you haven't read the book. Bring your own carry-out dinner to enjoy while you watch the movie.
3. Talk about the book and film. Following the movie, you are invited to participate in a guided discussion.
4. You might win fabulous prizes when you attend Reel Reader events!

If the movie is not suitable for younger children, activities will be available for them at the library.

 

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