Oscar Nominations

The nominations are in and in celebration of the nominated films --

Enjoy a few clips from select films in the category of Best Picture.

The Artist -- the scene is entitled "Accidental Photo-Op"

The Descendants -- the scene -- "You have no clue, do you?"

Hugo -- the scene -- "Card Tricks"

Midnight in Paris -- the scene "Exceptionally Lovely"

Eiko Ishioka Dies at 73

Eiko Ishioka brought a unique vision to all of her design work in film, theater, and advertising. Her work was provocative and fascinating. She won and Academy Award for costume design in 1992 for "Bram Stoker's Dracula" directed by Francis Ford Coppola. She designed costumes for the Broadway productions of "M. Butterfly" and "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."

Her obituary from the New York Times.

School of the Arts Exhibit in Butler

The Art of the Book in Butler Library -- terrific exhibit now on display on the third floor of Butler Library through May.

Butler Media Update

I recently purchased more than 250 films in DVD format from The National Center for Jewish Film. The Center is a world leader in the collection, restoration, and exhibition of Jewish art and culture.

The titles span Yiddish cinema to contemporary films about Jewish life. The DVDs are available from the Butler Media Res Collection.

Welcome Back Columbia Students!

Start the 2012 spring semester off with the raucous Animal House (1978). Rush week takes on a new meaning at Delta House. The movie is often seriously funny with lots of gags, sometimes grating and sometimes just silly but with a great cast including John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Thomas Hulce, Stephen Furst, Kevin Bacon -- and look for Donald Sutherland -- it is a fun diversion. Break out your togas!

The film was directed by John Landis and written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller.