Now You See Me
The film Now You See Me boasts a well-known cast of characters such as Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Zombieland), Woody Harrelson (Seven Pounds, Zombieland), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers, Shutter Island), and Morgan Freeman (who needs no introduction). In this movie, a group of magicians known as the Four Horsemen combine their individual talents to pull off a magic trick never before seen--a series of bank heists. They then reward their audiences with the money that they have successfully stolen. Mark Ruffalo, a doubtful FBI agent, attempts to solve the mystery of these bank heists with the help of an enigmatic Interpol detective. While the ending is slightly lackluster, the rest of the film makes up for it with its witty cast and clever plot.
-Donna D., Reference
Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir by Amanda Knox
In 2007, Amanda Knox was accused of murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, while studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. She was convicted, serving four years in prison until her conviction was overturned in 2011. While several books have been written about the trial and conviction of Amanda Knox, this is the first to be told in Amanda’s own words. In this memoir, she recounts the day she found her friend brutally murdered in their apartment, her unsettling experience with the Italian police during the investigation, and the details of her trial and time spent as a prisoner in a foreign country.
Although at times the details of the investigation and trial can be a bit redundant, this is still a very intriguing read, as it shines new light on things that may have been previously overlooked. With the retrial of the case going on now, this book will give quite a bit of insight to those interested in the outcome. The book can be found at Acorn and can also be requested through SWAN.
-Lynn, Reference
The Heat
Hahahahahahahahahaha…*breathe*…hahahahahahahaha…*wipe away tears of laughter*…hahahahahahahaha…*snort*
That was me for almost the entirety of this Sandra Bullock/Melissa McCarthy buddy cop comedy extraordinaire. I’m a big fan of Bullock and almost everything she does (I refuse to believe that was her in Speed 2!). On the other hand, I wasn’t a big fan of Bridesmaids, which introduced many of us to McCarthy. I enjoyed Identity Thief where McCarthy played opposite the delightfully puddish Jason Bateman with hit-or-miss results, many of which involved literal hitting. In The Heat (soon to be available at Acorn), however, there is a great balance struck between the rather priggish and starchy Sarah Ashburn (Bullock) and the, shall we say, rough and tumble Shannon Mullins (McCarthy). Add in the rest of the Mullins clan and their assorted consorts along with a cast of characters that would make any season of COPS proud and you get a movie that has me remembering scenes and laughing again days after viewing.
The movie is filled to the brim with wonderfully timed crudeness that never veers to the scatological, sexploitative or grimace-inducing extremes of many of the other ‘edgy’ comedies offered up over the last few years (Hangover 1-3, I’m looking at you…but only askance so as to not have to actually see too much of you). The crudeness here is wonderfully balanced by an underlying sweetness epitomized in a couple of scenes toward the end of the movie, one involving a ‘found’ cat and one a yearbook inscription, the latter of which, in all honesty, put a little lump in my throat. The relationship and chemistry between the two leads is the focus around which everything else in the movie orbits and it is fantastic. Whatever the female equivalent of bromance is (and, no, to the English language’s shame, there isn’t a good word for it), these two have it and I eagerly await joining them on their next comedic misadventure.
- Danielle, Tech Services
My Brief History by Stephen Hawking
I’ve been enjoying this delightful tour through Hawking's mischievous youth, quandaries in physics, and ALS diagnosis--which gave him an appreciation for his relatively quick stay on earth and effectively kicked his rear into gear. Hawking is simply the coolest; and I recommend this memoir to anybody seeking irreverent, humble, and wise company.
-Megan, Reference
