Staff Picks: This Month's Picks

Michael's pick
The film that elevated the Avengers franchise from merely enjoyable popcorn flicks to outstanding cinema. I saw this 3 times in theatres, including twice on opening day. Even if you don’t particularly care for superhero films, you’ll likely enjoy Infinity War.

One thing to note: to appreciate the film to its fullest, it’s recommended you watch most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films that were released before it. Otherwise, it would be a bit like watching Return of the Jedi before the rest of the Star Wars trilogy. Sure, you could do it, but you won’t get as much out of it. Please don’t be put off by this! It’s well worth it – most of the MCU is great, and even at its worst it’s still enjoyable.

These are the films I'd say are required viewing beforehand, listed in order of release: Iron Man, Captain America, The Avengers, Captain America 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers 2, Ant-Man (optional – it’s needed for Endgame, however), Captain America 3, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther. Also, be aware that Marvel films always have scenes after the credits – and sometimes more than one. While some are just for laughs, others are actually important to the story.

Tania's pick
Solid acting, including another incredible performance by Charlize Theron, underpins this compelling true-story #metoo take-down of the misogynistic culture at Fox News.

Kim's pick
Robin Wall Kimmerer is a celebrated botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer uses the analogy of braiding and her exploration of plants such as sweetgrass, goldenrod and asters to remind us that our lives as humans are intrinsically interconnected with the natural world. Her book is “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).

Mia's pick
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo was described in many reviews as being about the sex lives of three very different but very real women. In fact Taddeo explores interiority, memory, and desire in many forms, making deeply personal inner thoughts and lives of these women into a narrative that reads like a page-turning novel.