Cathleen's Pick: I Am the Messenger

Stop one incompetent bank robber, and everyone thinks you’re a hero.  Then Ed receives an Ace of Diamonds with three addresses written on it.  Why?  I Am the Messenger is the unusual story of a likable slacker who tries saving the day one mysterious playing card at a time.

Cathleen's Pick: Love & War

In a high-energy recording that doesn’t shy away from frank emotion, the three sisters of BarlowGirl challenge anyone who equates songs of faith with weak mediocrity.  Love & War offers driving rock, soaring ballad, and buoyant pop, all with unwavering conviction.  Uplifting? Absolutely.  Boring? Not a chance.

Cathleen's Pick: I Capture the Castle

Though I only discovered Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle a few years ago, it feels like a book I’ve loved all my life.  Cassandra is one of the most fascinating and natural storytellers you’ll ever read, and her cleverness adds spice to this extraordinary coming-of-age tale.  Simply enchanting.

Cathleen's Pick: Strict Joy

If, like me, you were mesmerized by the magic of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová’s music in the film Once, you’ll be just as captivated by Strict Joy.  Gentle, aching harmonies interlace the bittersweet with the hopeful.  A truly poignant collaboration, these conversations in song will wring your heart.

Cathleen's Pick: Nightmare Revisited

Danny Elfman’s moody music for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is reimagined on Nightmare Revisited with a diverse group of artists including Korn, Amy Lee, and the Yoshida Brothers.  My favorite tracks are those with an international flair, such as Rodrigo y Gabriela’s take on "Oogie Boogie’s Song".

Cathleen's Pick: The Winslow Boy

One man’s fight for his little boy’s honor turns into a national obsession in David Mamet’s The Winslow Boy.  Loosely based on an actual case, this Edwardian drama is less about courtroom and more about character.  Are some costs too high, even if fighting for what you believe is right?

Cathleen's Pick: Shadow of a Doubt

Can you imagine anything creepier than suspecting a beloved family member is a serial killer?  In Shadow of a Doubt, Charlie begins to distrust the charming uncle she idolized.  Alfred Hitchcock and Thornton Wilder combine their considerable talents in a chilling film that brings paranoia to our own homes.

Cathleen's Pick: First Drop

A roller coaster ride of thrills and spins, First Drop by Zoë Sharp introduces former soldier turned bodyguard Charlotte “Charlie” Fox.  Protecting a teen should be easy, but once the action starts, it doesn’t brake.  Trust me, when the ride is over, you’ll want to get right back in line.

Cathleen's Pick: Pushing Daisies

Feeling low?  One sure remedy is a dose of Pushing Daisies.  This fanciful series has witty dialogue, quirky mystery, and overflowing heart.  Following the adventures of a shy piemaker with a unique gift and a burly private eye with a fondness for knitting, this is escapism at its most sparkling.

Cathleen's Pick: A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas

Singer/actress Kristin Chenoweth never fails to cheer me, so I am excited about her new holiday album, A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas.  Her vocals range from sweet to show-stopping, which makes for all-around magical entertainment.  Be sure to hear her arrangements of What Child Is This? and What A Wonderful World.