Get ready for amazing high-definition movies here at the Wilton Library!  Starting August 1, we will have a brand new collection of feature films on Blu-ray.

Blu-ray discs are the next generation of film media.  You will need a Blu-ray player (these discs don’t work in DVD players) and an HDTV in order to have the highest-quality picture available.  Keep your eyes on this blog and the shelves in the Media collection for this exciting new way to watch movies!

The most popular book of the last year is now a movie! The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a Swedish film based on the international bestselling novel by Stieg Larsson.  The film, set in Sweden in the bleak winter, is a thriller, a mystery, and includes some action.  What people are drawn to most about this story is the intriguing main character, Lisbeth Salander.  Lisbeth is a goth hacker, emotionally unavailable, and clearly affected by violent experiences in her past.  She sticks out like a sore thumb among the conservative men in suits who populate the story.  The film follows Lisbeth and Mikael, a disgraced journalist, as they are hired to solve a 40 year-old mystery.   Hollywood is already planning an American remake of this intense film, which comes out on DVD on July 7.

Although Broken Embraces was released on DVD in March, it is still considered a “new” movie and should not be missed.  Starring the incomparable Penelope Cruz and directed by one of Spain’s foremost talents, Pedro Almodovar, this film has many layers, many time frames, and many thought-provoking moments.  The story begins with a blind screenplay writer who hears of the death of an old enemy.  The enemy was the former lover of the writer’s former lover.  Confused?  The confusion unwinds as the story unfolds, taking us back and forth in time.  The acting is wonderful, the story is well-constructed, and the visuals are striking.  Those of you who have seen Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown will enjoy references to that film.  If you enjoy good foreign films you can’t miss this one.

June is a slow month for DVD releases, so if you are looking for a great movie, head down to New York for the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.  This wildly popular annual event is chock full of new films from East Asia, ranging from the silly to the serious.  Most of the screenings sell out, so buy your tickets while you can!   Then look in our collection next year for some of these great films when they are released on DVD.

Ever since Christopher Plummer visited our library in April, people have been asking for this film.  The Last Station stars Helen Mirren, James McEvoy,  Anne-Marie Duff,  Paul Giamatti, and our neighbor in Weston, Christopher Plummer.  The film depicts twilight years of Leo Tolstoy, already famous as a writer in his own lifetime.  Focusing on the relationship between Tolstoy and his wife Sofya, the movie brings to light the pressures and opposing opinions in the Tolstoy house.  Set in beautiful scenery and brought to life by amazing actors, The Last Station should not be missed.  It comes out on DVD on Tuesday, June 22.

The fourth collaboration of Director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Shutter Island is a creepy atmospheric thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Based on the book by Dennis Lehane, Shutter Island is about two U.S. Marshalls who must go to the ominous hospital for the criminally insane which is located on  a craggy island off the Massachusetts coast.  There to investigate the dissappearance of an inmate, the Marshalls encounter strange hospital staff, vertigo-inspiring views, and in the case of DiCaprio’s character, unwanted memories.  Shutter Island is available on DVD at the library.

Based on the bestselling book by Cormac McCarthy, The Road is a captivating film.  The story follows a man and his son in a post-apocalyptic landscape as they struggle to survive.  The pair follow the road, hoping to get to an unknown destination where life may be easier.  They encounter terrifying bands of cannibals, shells of buildings and cars,  and live with constant fear.  Starring Viggo Mortenson, this movie is not for the faint of heart.

As technology changes the library tries to keep up with new types of media.  We are curious to know what technology our patrons are using to watch movies.  Please take our 5 question survey to let us know if you prefer VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray for your movie viewing at home.

The survey is available here.

The inspiring film based on a true story, Invictus tells of the tale of a fractured country brought together by the love of a sport.  Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandella and Matt Damon plays Francois Pienaar, the captain of the South African national rugby team.  The hosts for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, South Africa faces many changes as they recover from years of apartheid.  Newly-elected President Mandela forms a plan to  change the all-white rugby team to fully represent the people of the country; and in doing so, galvanize their spirits and encourage South Africans to unite.  This heartwarming film will appeal to all sports fans  and anyone who appreciates a good story played by very talented actors. Invictus will be released on DVD on Tuesday, May 18.

What happens when you put the most world’s most beautiful and talented actresses together in one movie?  You get a fantastic eye-popping extravaganza!  Nine is based on the Tony-award winning musical which, in turn, was based on Fellini’s classic autobiographical film 8 1/2 .  With an all-star cast featuring Daniel Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman,  Sophia Loren, and Judi Dench.this film is sure to please any musical theater fan.  The story features the character of a filmmaker who is trying to complete his latest movie while balancing his relationships with his mother, wife, mistress, and muse.

Nine will be released on DVD on May 4th and the soundtrack is already available here at the library.