You might not recognize any cast members other than Helen Mirren, but this film is well worth watching.  Part drama and part romance, it tells the story of an Indian family who flee India after political unrest brings tragedy to the family.  They had a successful restaurant in Mumbai, India, and wander the world trying to find somewhere to settle.  After a vehicle breakdown near a quaint village in the French Alps, it seems that is meant to be the place to settle.  Little do they know that it is home to Mirren's Michelin starred restaurant.  They renovate a restaurant across the street and a "war" ensues.  Mirren doesn't like the cooking smells, the loud music, nor the glitziness so close to her sophisticated restaurant.  The son named Hassan is a gifted chef, and before long they are doing very well.  Romance also enters the picture due to a beautiful young female chef at Mirren's restaurant.  Through various plot twists, Hassan decides to learn French cooking and becomes her apprentice, before moving to more famous locations, but his heart yearns for his now French home.  This enjoyable movie has a satifying ending that will leave you smiling.

The job of the skin is to keep things in.

On the island of Here, livin’s easy. Conduct is orderly. Lawns are neat. Citizens are clean shaven—and Dave is the most fastidious of them all. Dave is bald, but for a single hair. He loves drawing, his desk job, and the Bangles. But on one fateful day, his life is upended...by an unstoppable (yet pretty impressive) beard.

An off-beat fable worthy of Roald Dahl and Tim Burton, The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil is a darkly funny meditation on life, death, and what it means to be different—and a timeless ode to the art of beard maintenance.

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Over 150 color photographs show spectacular images of gardens owned by royal families in Europe, Asia,  and the Middle East.  While royal gardens are the focus, the book is overwhelmingly an architectural showcase.  A few of the aerial views are especially striking.  This large, heavy, 279 page volume with high quality paper will delight the page turning browser, and offers history of the gardens for those who want to know more about them, many dating to the Renaissance or earlier.  A visual treat!   c2014.  (712.6 C)

Resistant is a novel about a deadly strain of bacteria developed by a terrorist group called the Neighbors, who want to overthrow entitlement programs such as Medicare, Social Security, etc., believing they steal dollars away from the needs of the rest of society.  The Neighbors consist of rich people, political officials, etc. so secret that even their names are kept hidden from other members.  Their scientists unleash the bacteria on unsuspecting injured patients in hospitals, hoping to blackmail the government into dropping the entitlement programs by not offering an antibiotic that will kill the bacteria, nicknamed the Doomsday Germ, until they get their way.  However, the bacteria mutates, and no one can control it.  ER doctor Lou Welcome and his best friend Cap are running on a mountainous track when Cap is grievously injured and later infected in the hospital with this horrible bacteria.  The Neighbors have their own lab, but when their researchers can’t control the bacteria, they kidnap a Muslim microbiologist, Ahmed Kazimi, known as the best in the field. Until that time, he was protected by the FBI day and night at his lab and living quarters.  Meanwhile, Cap is likely to lose one or more limbs, if not his life. and Lou pulls out all the stops to find a cure for him.   He befriends another brilliant microbiologist/lab technician named Humphrey, who despite his extreme cerebral palsy, has solid theories about the Doomsday germ, and convinces Lou that the other researchers are on the wrong track.  By setting up a clandestine lab, they may find a cure in time to save Cap.  Eventually Humphrey is also kidnapped by the Neighbors and forced to work for their leader, Douglas Bacon, Neighbor N-38, alongside Ahmed Kazimi.    Dr. Welcome and an FBI agent named Vale whose wife was murdered by the Neighbors, team up to make a final assault on Bacon’s ocean side compound.  While there are not happy endings for everyone, the book’s resolution is satisfying to readers.  Suspenseful and worth reading or listening to.  This was Palmer’s last book before his death in October of 2013. The 11 disc audiobook is read by Robert Petkoff.  Also available in regular print, and eaudiobook.

Aidan Bloom, a 35-year-old struggling actor, father, and husband, is still trying to find his identity, a purpose for his life. He winds up trying to home school his two children when his father can no longer afford to pay for private education and the only available public school is on its last legs. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find.

This film came highly recommended by a friend. The trailer and the description did not really give me a very good sense of what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to  find myself enjoying  the witty script and the quirky characters. VCPL owns several copies of this film. Stop by today and pick one up!  

MPAA rating: R; for language and some sexual content.

Mia Hall thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam. But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate.

I really liked this adaptation from the Young Adult novel by the same title. This film gave readers the opportunity to see the struggle of Mia’s decision alongside her friends and family’s grief. Chloë Grace Moretz was close to how I pictured Mia when I first read the book so that helped me connect with the main character during the film.

The Vigo County Public Library has several copies available on DVD and BLU-Ray.

MPAA rating: PG-13; for thematic elements and some sexual material. CHV rating: PG; mature theme, language may offend.

A medical school dropout named Wallace who has been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben. Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend?

As a huge Harry Potter fan, I was intrigued to watch a modern film starring Daniel Radcliffe. I found him to be very likable as Wallace. An awkward guy, who after a failed serious relationship, is having trouble finding his place in society as well as deal with being in the friend zone with his soul mate. I was highly entertained by this film.  

VCPL has several copies available on DVD.

Rating: PG-13; for sexual content, including references throughout, partial nudity and language.