How would you spend your last remaining days?

What if your doctor told you you only had a short time left to live? How would you spend your final days? That's the quandary facing a Japanese bureaucrat in "Ikiru (To Live)" (1952; 143 minutes), another masterwork directed by Akira Kurosawa, which is next on the CineVerse schedule for August 31.

This film continues our exploration of the works of Kurosawa. We'll continue to watch a different film from this director once a month over the next few months.

Note: Due to the long runtime of this film, we will need to start it promptly at 7 p.m. and our discussion may go slightly past 10 p.m.

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The sweet smell of dandelions...

The Oak Lawn public library is screening yet another free film in its REEL BOOKS" SERIES -- Like Dandelion Dust (2009, PG-13, 100 min.) -- Wednesday, August 31 at 2 p.m.  -- A compelling drama that explores the different meanings of being a parent through the gritty, realistic lives of the struggling, blue-collar Porters, and the privileged Campbell family. Their lives intersect, intertwine and collide, all for the love of a little boy. Starring Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser and Kate Levering. Based on a novel by Karen Kingsbury. Click here for all the info.

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CineVerse September-October calendar ready for viewing

Curious to learn what we'll be screening over the next 2 moths? Click here to access the September/October 2011 CineVerse schedule.

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From dusk to Twilight

The Oak Lawn Park District continues its Movies on the Green 2011 Friday night summer series with Twilight (the first film in the series) on August 26 at dusk (weather permitting). Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and come see a great popcorn film for free on the lush lawn of the Village Green, located directly east of the Municipal Center and north of the Library. Click here for full details.

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You'll swoon over Paper Moon

The Oak Lawn public library will show yet another gratis feature in its REEL BOOKS" SERIES -- Paper Moon (1973, PG, 102 min.) -- Thursday, August 25 at 2 p.m. – During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership. Starring Ryan O'Neal and Tatum O'Neal. Based on a novel by Joe David Brown. Click here for the 411.

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Zombies have more fun

Zombies may want to eat your funnybone, but we'd rather tickle it. Join CineVerse on August 24 for a madap romp through an Armageddon populated by Woody Harrelson, Bill Murray and the living dead in "Zombieland" (2009; 88 minutes), directed by Ruben Fleischer, chosen by Danealle Kueltzo.

Plus, stick around and we'll preview a trailer reel of the September/October 2011 CineVerse schedule close to 10 p.m.

Target coupons are always available for movies.

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Today I consider myself the luckiest film fan on the face of the Earth...

We're heading into the late innings of the MLB season, so it's only fitting that we spotlight one of the great baseball movies of all time, "The Pride of the Yankees" (1942; 128 minutes), which is on the CineVerse calendar for August 17.

Starring Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig, "Pride" was directed by Sam Wood, chosen by Len Gornik

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A library with a view

The Oak Lawn public library will be showing another free flick in its REEL BOOKS" SERIES -- A Room with a View (1985, R, 117 min.) -- Tuesday, August 16 at 10 a.m. -- The coming-of-age story of a young woman who longs to burst free from the repression of British upper class manners and mores as she wrestles to choose between two very opposite suitors. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Julian Sands and Daniel Day-Lewis. Based on a novel by E.M. Forster. Click here for more details.

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How green was my CineVerse

This year marks the 70th anniversary for a number of classic films, including Citizen Kane, Sergeant York, The Maltese Falcon, Sullivan's Travels and How Green Was My Valley.

CineVerse dissected the latter back in 2008, the result of which yielded a thought-provoking group discussion. To hear a podcast recording of that chat, click here.

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To Sir Alec Guiness, with love...

Before Alec Guinness became a familiar face to Americans as Col. Nicholson or Obi-Wan Kenobi, he starred in a series of wonderful comedies produced by Ealing Studios in Britain. On August 10, CineVerse invites you to experience one of the best of that Ealing cycle, "The Lavender Hill Mob" (1951; 81 minutes), directed by Charles Crichton, chosen by Rose Krc.

Come early, as we'll also be viewing a trailer reel of the best Ealing comedies preceding the main feature

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Those kicks were fast as lightning...

The Oak Lawn Park District continues its Movies on the Green 2011 Friday night summer series with The Karate Kid (2010) on August 5 at dusk (weather permitting). Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and come see a great popcorn film for free on the lush lawn of the Village Green, located directly east of the Municipal Center and north of the Library. Click here for full details.

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Getting dizzy over Hitchcock

The Oak Lawn public library will be screening another free movie in its REEL BOOKS" SERIES -- Vertigo (1958, Unrated, 128 min.) -- Friday, August 5 at 10 a.m. -- In this Alfred Hitchcock thriller, a San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her. Starring James Stewart and Kim Novak. Based on a novel by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. Click here for more details.

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