The 2016 additions to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress has the usual mix of cultural touchstones (“Thelma and Louise” and “The Breakfast Club”), beloved favorites (“The Princess Bride”), neglected historic gems (“The Beau Brummels”), innovative oddball artifacts (“Putney Swope,” directed by Robert Downey, Sr.), and documentaries with special insight into American …

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Julian Barnes’ novel The Sense of an Ending, won Britain’s most prestigious literary award, the Man Booker Prize, in 2012. It is the story of memory, loss, and regret, as a retired man is confronted with his past. The film, starring James Broadbent, “Downton Abbey’s” Michelle Dockery, and Emily Mortimer, will be in theaters next …

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I love the Christmas classic movies and watch as many as I can every year.  But there are many great Christmas films that don’t get mentioned as often and I like to remind families that these are worth making time for as well. 1.  The Nativity Story  This sincere and respectful story is a good …

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With typical understated euphemism, the military calls the damage inflicted on non-target sites and civilians “collateral damage.” Screenwriter Allan Loeb calls his new film a fable and he asks us to consider the possibility of “collateral beauty,” beauty that is revealed only when our pain forces us to pay attention. Emily asked in Thornton Wilder’s …

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We mourn the loss of actor/composer Alan Thicke, best remembered as the understanding and affectionate dad on “Growing Pains.” The good-natured star never hesitated to spoof his home country of Canada and his own image, appearing as a version of himself on “How I Met Your Mother” and this year’s hit series, “This is Us.” …

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