GPL Blog

New DVDs — February 2023 (Oscar Edition!)

It’s Oscar season! Have you caught up on all the Best Picture nominees before the ceremony on March 12? Check out the nominees below, and put one on hold today!

One of the frontrunners this year is Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by the Daniels. In this sci-fi/adventure flick, Evelyn Wang, played by Michelle Yeoh, is a flustered immigrant mother who gets contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The unlikely hero must learn to channel her newfound powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to save her home, her family, and herself in this big-hearted and irreverent adventure.

If action movies are more your thing, check out Top Gun: Maverick, directed by Joseph Kosinski. After more than 30 years of service as one of the navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (played by Tom Cruise, reprising his role from the original film) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

Biopics generally do good at the Academy Awards, and Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is sure to continue the streak. The movie chronicles Elvis Presley’s (played by Austin Butler) life from his early years to his untimely death, and his complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

Drama is having a good year this year, with Women Talking, directed by Sarah Polley, making the Best Picture cut. In this film, the women of an isolated religious colony reveal a shocking secret about the colony’s men. For years, the men have occasionally drugged the women and then raped them. The truth comes out and the women talk about their new situation. 

Another drama that got nominated for an Oscar this year is All Quiet on the Western Front, directed by Edward Berger. Adapted from the book of the same name, the movie tells the story of Paul Bäumer and his classmates, who quickly enlist in the army to serve their fatherland when war breaks out in Germany in 1914. No sooner are they drafted than the first images from the battlefield show them the reality of war.

Beloved director Steven Spielberg returned in 2022 with The Fabelmans, a love story to cinema. Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see The Greatest Show on Earth. Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.

If you’d prefer a comedy, try Triangle of Sadness, directed by Ruben Östlund. Carl and Yaya, influencers, are invited to a luxury cruise ship alongside a group of out of touch wealthy people. The situation takes an unexpected turn when a brutal storm hits the ship. Great for fans of satire!

In case you haven’t heard, the sequel to the beloved Avatar came out last year. Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron, has already made more than two billion dollars at the box office. Jake Sully and Ney’tiri, from the first films, have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans. 

Heartthrob Colin Farrell starred in several films last year, but The Banshees of Inisherin, directed by Martin McDonagh, is the one that got nominated this year. It tells the story of Pádraic, who is devastated when his buddy Colm suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. With the help from his sister and a troubled young islander, Pádraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary. However, as Colm’s resolve only strengthens, he soon delivers an ultimatum that leads to shocking consequences.

Last but not least is Tár, directed by Todd Field. Well loved among cinephiles, this movie shows renowned musician Lydia Tár who is days away from recording to the symphony that will elevate her career. When all elements seem to conspire against her, Lydia’s adopted daughter Petra becomes an integral emotional support for her struggling mother. 

Which one is your favorite? Make sure to watch them all before the festivities! Call the Reference Desk at (309) 343-6118 #6 to pick them up today.

Copyright © 2024 Galesburg Public Library. All rights reserved. Web Hosting and Design by InMotion Hosting