Recommended Reads

Category
Audience
Image for "The IT Crowd"

The IT Crowd

Ayoade, Richard, 1977-

Description

In the gleaming high-rise offices of Reynholm Industries, powerful executives oversee billion-dollar business deals. But in the dark and shabby basement, the company's IT support team rules their own domain of professional irresponsibility, mega-nerd ecstasy, and personal insanity. 

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Death on the Nile

Branagh, Kenneth

Description

When a wealthy and beautiful woman is murdered during her honeymoon on a boat cruising down the Nile, detective Hercule Poirot steps in to investigate the case.  Based on the novel by Agatha Christie.

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The last anniversary

Palmer, Teresa, 1986-

Description

A mystery that touches on family matters, motherhood and those women whose legacy defines the generations that blossom after them.

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River wild

Meester, Leighton, 1986-

Description

Joey fears there could be trouble ahead after her brother Gray invites Trevor, a childhood friend with a troubled past, on their whitewater rafting adventure with two tourists. Once they become stranded in raging rapids, the thrill-seeking trip quickly turns from exciting to utterly terrifying as the rafters are trapped in a desperate fight for their lives, all while someone seems intent on sabotaging to ensure shocking secrets stay buried. To survive the wild river, Joey will have to face her fears, and everyone will have to develop killer instincts before they're torn apart by deception aboard the raft, or by deadly waters wreaking havoc all around them.

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Knives out

Craig, Daniel, 1968-

Description

A tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie and a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.

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Operation fortune : ruse de guerre

Statham, Jason, 1967-

Description

Super spy Orson Fortune must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds. Reluctantly teamed with some of the world's best operatives, Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood's biggest movie star Danny Francesco to help them on their globe-trotting undercover mission to save the world.

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Image for "Bob Marley One Love"

Bob Marley: One Love

Ben-Adir, Kingsley,

Description

Celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. On the big screen for the first time, discover Bob's powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music.

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I Saw the Light

Hiddleston, Tom

Description

The story of the legendary country western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music. The film chronicles his meteoric rise to fame and its ultimately tragic effect on his health and personal life.  

Based on the book "Hank Williams: the Biography" by Colin Escott with George Merritt and William MacEwen.

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The Accountant

Affleck, Ben, 1972-

Description

Christian Wolff is a math savant who works as a freelance accountant for some of the world's most dangerous criminal organizations. With the Treasury Department's Crime Enforcement Division starting to close in, he takes on a legitimate client, a robotics company where an accounting clerk has discovered a discrepency involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, the body count starts to rise.

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Jojo Rabbit

Description

A World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy named Jojo whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.

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The lost city of Z

Description

The incredible true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett, who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the twentieth century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region.

Based on the book by David Grann.

 

 

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Heretic

Description

Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

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Better Call Saul

Odenkirk, Bob, 1962-

Description

The television series is a spinoff from the popular Breaking Bad television show. The series takes place six years before the events of Breaking Bad and features small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill. The series follows the exploits of Jimmy and the circumstances that lead to his metamorphosis into criminal-minded lawyer Saul Goodman.

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Severance

Scott, Adam, 1973-

Description

Severance centers on Mark Scout, leading a team of office workers whose memories are surgically split between work and personal lives. The 'work-life balance' experiment is questioned as Mark faces a mystery forcing him to confront the true nature of his work and himself.

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Image for "The magicians"

The magicians

Description

Follows grad student Quentin Coldwater and others after they are chosen to attend Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy in upstate New York to hone their powers.  Based on the novel by Lev Grossman.

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Kill your darlings

Description

A story of friendship, love, and murder in the early 1940s. The story recounts the pivotal year that changed Allen Ginsberg's life forever and provided the spark for him to start his creative revolution. Based on true events and characters.  For fans of obsession, murder, and the Beat Generation.

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Image for Game of Thrones Season 1, Sean Bean as Eddard Stark sitting on the Iron Throne

Game of Thrones Season 1

Description

Set in a world where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. From the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and ancient Wall that protects the realm from the mysterious darkness beyond, the powerful families of the Seven Kingdoms are locked in a battle for the Iron Throne. This is a story of duplicity and treachery, nobility and honor, conquest, and triumph. In the Game of Thrones, you either win or you die.

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Wildlife

Description

The Criterion Collection at HPL

Actor Paul Dano made his debut as a director with this adaptation of Richard Ford's novel. In Wildlife (2018), an unemployed father takes a job fighting forest fires, leaving his wife and teenage son behind. Faced with financial hardship, both mother and son have to take on new responsibilities. The calm cinematography sets a contrast to the inner turmoil of the characters and evokes Edward Hopper paintings at times. Worth mentioning are the outstanding performances by Carey Mulligan, Ed Oxenbould and Jake Gyllenhaal.

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The Player

Description

The Criterion Collection at HPL

Robert Altman's The Player (1992) is a Hollywood satire about a producer (Tim Robbins) who loses his cool over a series of threatening letters from an anonymous writer. The film opens with an impressive eight-minute tracking shot and shows both technical and narrative skill throughout its length. The star-studded ensemble and cinematic prowess make The Player a great contribution to the "movies about filmmaking" subgenre. 

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Image for "Charmed 2018"

Charmed

Description

Three daughters, firebrand social justice warrior Melanie 'Mel' Vera, fun-loving Maggie, and brilliant geneticist Macy find out they're actually powerful witches, as was their mother. It's a lot to take in, but ultimately the sisters accept their new destiny.

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Image for "Charmed"

Charmed

Description

An old classic, Charmed (1998) is your archetypal "monster of the week" show that follows three sisters who learned that they are a special coven of witches called the Charmed Ones. 

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image for "Ted Lasso"

Ted Lasso

Description

An idealistic all-American football coach, Theodore 'Ted' Lasso and his friend, assistant coach Beard, cross the pond to take up the management of a professional soccer team. Knowing nothing about “this football” - Lasso throws himself into a new city, new career, and new life with wit, wisdom, and an overwhelming dose of positivity.

Ted Lasso tackles topics ranging from divorce (the catalyst for Ted's move), parenting, teamwork, leadership, identity, revenge, LGBTQ, grief, mental health, and more. But it is all done the Ted Lasso way. Most of Ted’s lessons come in quippy quotes, obscure late ‘70s references, and famous role models. 

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Image of Mayfair witches

Mayfair witches

Description

This new series in the Anne Rice universe is based on the series Lives of Mayfair Witches. It follows Rowan, a neurosurgeon, who suddenly finds she has magical powers and that she is a member of the powerful Mayfair Family of witches. With an absolutely perfect setting of New Orleans, this horror drama explores family dynamics and how power can corrupt a person. A perfect watch for Witch enthusiasts who enjoy stories where you can't tell who are the heroes and villains. 

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Image of The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Damon, Matt. Paltrow, Gwyneth, 1972- Law, Jude, 1972-

Description

Adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel about a young American who, commissioned to fetch an old school chum from his carefree life as an expatriate in Italy, instead kills him and assumes his identity.

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Image of The Durrells in Corfu.

The Durrells in Corfu

Description

Based on author and naturalist Gerald Durrell's much-loved Corfu trilogy of novels, The Durrells sees impoverished but sparky widow Louisa Durrell make the radical decision to leave 1930s England in hopes of a better life for her children. As Louisa relocates her reluctant brood to a dilapidated house in the Greek sun, the Durrells face a whole new set of challenges as they meet new friends, rivals, lovers, and animals. 

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Image for "Pretty little liars. Original sin."

Pretty little liars. Original sin. Season 1

Description

Takes viewers to Millwood, a blue-collar town still healing from tragic events that took place 20 years ago. An unknown assailant has begun tormenting a disparate group of teen girls, a new generation of 'Little Liars,' to make them pay for their parents' secret sin...as well as their own.

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Being John Malkovich

Cusack, John, 1966-

Description

The Criterion Collection at HPL

A hapless puppeteer (John Cusack) starts working as a file clerk on the 7½ floor of an office building. The ceilings are low and everyone has to walk around hunched over. As if that wasn't strange enough, one day he finds a portal that temporarily sends him into the mind of actor John Malkovich. Once he lets his coworker Maxine (Catherine Keener) and his wife Lotte (Cameron Diaz) in on his discovery, a battle over the newfound vessel ensues. With its commitment to absurdity and exploration of human desire, Being John Malkovich plunges the viewer into a truly unique viewing experience. Written by Charlie Kaufman, directed by Spike Jonze.

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image of Arsenic and old lace

Arsenic and old lace

Grant, Cary, 1904-1986.

Description

A young man is shocked when he learns his aunts like to serve men elderberry wine with arsenic, and then bury their bodies in the cellar.  Originally released as a motion picture in 1944.  From the stage play by Joseph Kesselring.

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image of The peanut butter falcon

The peanut butter falcon

Description

An adventure story set in the world of a modern Mark Twain that begins when Zak, a young man with Down syndrome, runs away from a nursing home where he lives to chase his dream of becoming a professional wrestler and attending the wrestling school of the Salt Water Redneck. Through circumstances beyond their control, Tyler, a small-time outlaw on the run, becomes Zak's unlikely coach and ally.

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image of Life in pieces. Season 1

Life in pieces. Season 1

Description

Life in pieces follows one big happy family and their sometimes awkward, often hilarious, and ultimately beautiful milestone moments as told by the family's various members. Adoring matriarch, Joan (Dianne Wiest), would do anything for her kids - as long as she agrees with them. Gregarious patriarch, John (James Brolin), is searching for ways to soften the blow of turning 70. Together with their three adult children, Greg (Colin Hanks), Matt (Thomas Sadoski) and Heather (Betsy Brandt), they try to savor the little pieces of life that go by in a flash but are treasured forever.

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image of Justified. Season 1

Justified. Season 1

Description

After a shooting raises questions about his style of law enforcement, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is transferred to his hometown in Kentucky and unexpectedly encounters people from his past.

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image of A beautiful day in the neighborhood

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Description

Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love, and forgiveness from America's most beloved neighbor.

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image of Falling skies. Season 1

Falling skies. Season 1

Description

Chronicles the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that leaves most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, survivors band together to begin the difficult task of fighting back against the aggressive aliens. Outside of Boston, history professor Tom Mason helps lead a small army named 2nd Massachusetts in the battle of their lives to preserve their families and what's left of mankind.

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image of Pulling strings

Pulling strings

Description

After his daughter's Visa request to visit her grandparents in America is rejected, a single father and his loyal best friend do everything it takes to win over the Embassy worker who turned her down.

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image of Ammonite

Ammonite

Description

In the 1840s, acclaimed self-taught palaeontologist Mary Anning works alone on the wild English coastline. She hunts for common fossils to sell to rich tourists to support herself. When one such tourist arrives in Lyme, he entrusts Mary with the care of his young wife Charlotte, who is recuperating from a personal tragedy. Despite their differences, it is the beginning of a passionate and all-consuming love affair that will defy all social bounds and alter the course of both lives irrevocably.

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image of Sneakers

Sneakers

Description

A thriller about five computer hackers with questionable pasts and an equally questionable government job.

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image of Crazy rich Asians

Crazy rich Asians

Description

A native New Yorker Rachel Chu accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young, to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick's family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. It turns out that he is not only the scion of one of the country's wealthiest families but also one of its most sought-after bachelors.

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image of The adventures of Priscilla, queen of the desert

The adventures of Priscilla, queen of the desert

Description

With a contract to perform a drag show way out in the Australian desert, Tick, Adam, and Ralph each has his own reason for wanting to leave the safety of Sydney. Christening their battered pink tour bus "Priscilla, " the trio heads for the outback and into crazy adventures in even crazier outfits.

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