Category: Music and Video

NPR will be highlighting the year 1993 marking what some believe was the greatest year in the history of rap and hip hop. The first piece was on today focusing on the reaction to the LA Riots: ‘The Chronic’ 20 Years Later: An Audio Document Of The L.A. Riots. Our collection includes sources that explore… Continue reading Was 1993 the Greatest Year in the History of Rap & Hip Hop?

I thought I’d highlight Martin Luther King Jr.’s most memorable speeches. Kennedy and King: Promises and Dreams (2005) is part of a series called Great American Speeches: 80 years of political oratory. King’s moving “I have a dream” (1963) and “When a man has already died” (1965) speeches are featured in the film. Included in… Continue reading Film Blog: Martin Luther King Jr.

Please note that this film isn’t about the network Nickelodeon, but rather about about nickelodeons, which were early motion picture theaters. Nickelodeons got its name simply for the fact that they typically cost a nickel for admission. Can you believe that?! Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter centers around the years from… Continue reading Film Blog: Before the Nickelodeon (1982)

Looking to unwind with some family fun? Nanny McPhee is part Mary Poppins film, part fairy tale. In this modernized yet still Victorian England era, Nanny McPhee (played by the lovely Emma Thompson) comes to help a newly widowed Cedric Brown (played by Colin Firth) and his seven children. Emma Thompson, who is mostly known for her… Continue reading Film Blog: Nanny McPhee (2005)

Now that the whole business of the election is behind us, congress and the POTUS are back to work solving the financial crisis. If you have been following the news of late, you know that it’s quite a crisis. The featured film of this post is about just that. Consider I.O.U.S.A. as a great resource… Continue reading Film Blog: I.O.U.S.A. (2008)

Today in Filmblogland, I bring a semi-autobiographical story about Charlie Kaufman’s (played by Nicholas Cage) struggle to transform the non-fictional book The Orchid Thief into a screenplay (hence the film title). Now, I know what you’re thinking, “what do you mean by semi-autobiographical?” The screenplay writer for Adaptation (also available on Bluray) Charlie Kaufman, writes… Continue reading Film Blog: Adaptation (2002)

Looking for a thriller about crime? Training Day is about a rookie cop (Ethan Hawke) and a corrupt veteran narcotics officer (Denzel Washington) set in Los Angeles. Although the film only covers 24 hours of a day in the life of a narcotics detective, quite a lot happen including numerous fights, drug busts, attempted murder,… Continue reading Film Blog: Training Day (2001)

Originally produced in 1995, Toy Story was the first entirely computer-animated feature film. The film also won its director, John Lasseter, an Academy Award for Special Achievement. After Toy Story‘s success, Lasseter went on to direct other great animated films like A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2 and co-directed the film Cars. He also went… Continue reading Film Blog: Toy Story (1995)

Would you like to see a film that’s truly inspiring? 127 Hours is a true story about climber Aaron Ralston whose arm was crushed under a fallen boulder while hiking alone in the canyons of Utah. The film follows Ralston’s journey as he amputates his own arm, climbs back through the canyon, and hikes the… Continue reading Film Blog: 127 Hours (2010)

If you’re looking for a movie to unwind with this break, consider The Hunger Games. This movie is action packed and filled with suspense. Although I’m sure Hunger Games needs no introduction, I’ll just say that is a dystopian tale about twenty-four adolescents fighting to the death in a yearly televised production. There may be… Continue reading Film Blog: The Hunger Games (2012)