Lafayette College Library

The Cup / Phörpa (1999)

So many adults resist films with subtitles that Irene recommends starting kids off early. Try this Bhutanese sports film about a group of boys living in a Tibetan monastery who will do whatever it takes to watch the World Cup. Light and fun and something that the whole family can enjoy (or at least those who can read).

Night and the City (1950)

Those who enjoyed "The Wrestler" should try this wrestling-themed film noir set in 1950s London. Irene had to cover her eyes during parts of the climactic wrestling scene and quickly tired of Mary, the enabling, martyred girlfriend. (With those cheekbones, Mary could easily have found someone better to love.) But the nightmarish setting, inventive camera angles, and frenetic pace kept her on the edge of her sofa cushions throughout.

Divorce Italian Style / Divorzio all'italiana (1961; dir. Pietro Germi)

Irene was not prepared for the charm and tongue-in-cheek humor of this vintage film, starring a dressed down Marcello Mastroianni as a married man who wants to wed his much younger cousin and so hatches an elaborate scheme to kill his wife. Fans of Italian cinema should find the film-within-a-film sequence particularly amusing. The severe beauty of the Sicilian landscape is as integral to the plot as are the hapless lovers, and is shown to best advantage in this sparkling Criterion Collection edition.

Crimson Pirate (1952; Burt Lancaster)

Irene decided to begin preparations early for "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (Sept. 16) with this technicolor adventure film. All the essential elements are here: crusty but lovable pirates with hooks where hands should be and an eye for booty, dastardly villains, and lots of swashbuckling. Best of all are acrobatics performed by Burt Lancaster and his mute sidekick, fresh from their days in the circus. Give it a chance--especially if you're trying to please some pre-teen boys--and Irene guarantees, matey, that you too will soon be talking like a pirate.

Frozen River (2008)

Two women form an unlikely alliance smuggling immigrants across the Canadian-U.S. border to make money. With its focus on single mothers, rural life, and poverty, presents an oft-avoided yet refreshing view. Irene is nothing if not contrarian, so during the bright, hot days of July, she likes nothing better than settling down with a dark, desperate movie like this one.

The Avengers (1965-67)

Irene, a fan of this classic British action/suspense series since her youth, was thrilled to discover Skillman owns the entire Emma Peel Collection on DVD. Today’s fashionistas should appreciate Mrs. Peel’s ultra-mod black and white wardrobe, which was specially designed for her as a complement to the cat suits she normally sports when sleuthing. Irene says, “Once you embrace the campiness, you can really appreciate the humor and style.” Viewers enjoying this period of British cult ‘tele’, may also want watch “The Prisoner” series, also in the Library’s collection.

Hobson's Choice (1954; dir. by David Lean)

An instructive film for anyone trying to figure out how to land a husband. Maggie Hobson's methods aren't the most subtle, but they make for a fine comic film from a director better known for his lush epics. Irene found the wedding night scene alone worth the price of admission.

(Irene, ever the librarian, directs those unfamiliar with the phrase "Hobson's choice" to the entry for it in the Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.)

Happy-Go-Lucky (2008; dir. by Mike Leigh)

Mike Leigh is one of Irene's absolutely fave directors. In his latest outing, he turns aside from his usual bleakness to examine what it means to be happy, and focuses his lens on Poppy, a woman who clearly sees and is affected by society's ills but retains a happy outlook anyway--much to the annoyance of some of those around her. The scenes with Poppy's driving instructor, a man who is wound too tight and a bit paranoid to boot, are a special treat. Irene guarantees you'll never look at your rearview mirror the same way again.

My Darling Clementine (1946; Henry Fonda, dir. by John Ford)

Wyatt Earp comes to Tombstone with simple wants: a clean shave, a game of poker, and revenge for his brother's murder. But as Wyatt learns soon after he steps into its barbershop (a.k.a. the Bon-Ton Tonsillary Parlor), Tombstone isn't a simple town, and he hasn't counted on meeting up with consumptive, suicidal Doc Holliday, a seductive songstress named Chihuahua, nor Miss Clementine Carter. Though not a huge fan of Westerns, Irene found this film near-perfect -- monumental yet mixed with large doses of humanity and humor.

(Geography note: Irene's Southwestern connection wanted her to inform readers that Monument Valley, where this film was shot, is nowhere near the real Tombstone, Arizona.)

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Recently when Irene was feeling in a very Queen-of-Hearts mood ("Off with their heads!"), she found this film the perfect antidote. At first she identified with teen-aged Dwayne and his pronouncement, "I hate EVERYONE." Then she started chortling over his extended family's mishaps on their trek from New Mexico to California in a barely functioning VW bus. By the end, like Dwayne, she was willing to make some exceptions to her feelings about humanity for a few fellow freaks, even if they were divorced, bankrupt, and suicidal.

Incubus (1965; dir. by Leslie Stevens)

From the director of the Outer Limits and starring a buff, pre-Star Trek William Shatner, this is the first American film to be shot and directed entirely in the artificial language of Esperanto. The cult status of this surprisingly good film is enhanced by a serious of unfortunate post-production events that include destroyed original prints, murder and suicide. Irene found the cinematography of this restored version ‘Bergmanesque’ and breathtaking. She recommends you look up the title word along with other terms like ‘succubus’ before viewing, but save the must-see trailer for after.

Touching the Void (2003)

True story of two mountaineering buddies who were the first to climb the 21,000 foot peak of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. Unfortunately, what goes up must come down, including Joe and Simon. Irene found the suspenseful recreation of their harrowing descent particularly vivid and spent the next day wondering how soon she would have cut the rope. A good viewing choice for a bitter cold, snowy night.