Set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock the United States, American Hustle tells the story of con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper).

DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that's as dangerous as it is enchanting. Caught between the con-artists and Feds is Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator, but it's Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) who could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down.

Jim Henson's Muppets return in this Disney comedy starring Amy Adams and Jason Segel. When tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to uproot the Muppet Theater to drill for oil, Muppet Walter (voice of Peter Linz), teams up with his brother, Gary (Segel) and Gary's girlfriend, Mary (Adams), to raise the ten million dollars required to save the vaudeville house. To get the money they hope to hold the Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever but they must help Kermit the Frog (voice of Steve Whitmire), who is now living alone in Hollywood, to bring all the Muppets back together for the first time since they parted company years previously. The film received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Man Or Muppet'.

Musical drama in which a pair of aspiring musicians with unglamorous day jobs team up in a bid to find success. Nate (Alec Newman) works in the financial services industry during the day, identifying struggling companies in order to bet against them on the stock market and bring home profit. Aware of the job's inherent unpleasantness, he seeks refuge at night playing the piano and in his dreams of life as a professional musician. One night, while playing his music, he hears someone singing along on the street outside. It turns out to be Chloe (Amy Adams), a cloakroom worker from the nearby jazz club who also dreams of a better life. Recognising the beauty of Chloe's voice, Nate suggests that the pair marry their talents and become a musical duo. Will their musical relationship develop into something more?

Sibling sexual abuse is believed to be the most common and long-lasting form of all intra-familial abuse, with estimates suggesting that it is five times more prevalent than parent-child sexual abuse. This book draws on unique research from two studies which examine the nature, impact and response to sibling sexual abuse in England and Wales. Given the complex and underreported nature of sibling sexual abuse there are questions surrounding whether current interventions are appropriate in helping victims/survivors, children and young people who have been harmed and their families. There is growing evidence that highlights a lack of appropriate practitioner guidance and training which then leads to insufficient support, impacting negatively on long term outcomes. This book offers significant findings for policy, practice, and community engagement. It is written by authors with that have expertise in criminology, psychology, public health, social science, social work and also front-line practitioner experience.

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not from Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become a symbol of hope for all mankind.

Tim Burton directs this biographical drama starring Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams. The film follows the story of American artist Margaret Keane (Adams), who, in the 1960s, allowed her husband Walter (Waltz) to claim credit for her artwork, believing that a female artist could not find success through painting. The Keanes acquired huge amounts of wealth through Margaret's work and the paintings were in high demand throughout their time living together as husband and wife. However, when they later became separated, Margaret announced to the world that she was in fact the true author of the paintings, sparking a long-drawn-out legal battle between her and her estranged husband... Adams won a Golden Globe Award for her performance.

Our Families, Our Values challenges both the gay community and American society to examine carefully the meaning of family values and the nature of social institutions such as marriage and the family. It asks you provoking, even disturbing, questions such as: "Is it prudent for members of the Lavender community to mimic heterosexual marriage or define personal relations networks as families, when these institutions are rapidly collapsing?" "Are we attempting to mainstream American society into accepting different views of marriage and families?" "Are we subscribing to notions of sexual property that are inherent to the marriage ceremony and the institution of marriage, when we choose to be married?" Despite the complexities of this issue, marriage constitutes a privileged position in western society, and, as this book shows you, without the legal recognition of same-sex marriages, there are many fundamental rights, as well as privileges, denied to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons.As Our Families, Our Values turns upside-down the widely accepted notion that only heterosexual people are entitled to get married, have sex, and rear children, you gain insight into personal struggles and affirmations that testify to the spirituality, procreativity, and wholesomeness of the diverse relationships of the Lavender community. You will also learn about various ongoing efforts to give religious pride to the various configurations of gay relationships, families, and values and the disruption of popular interpretations of the Scriptures that have been used to justify the oppression of sexual minorities. This book will intrigue you over and over again, as you read about: value systems transphobia equal marriage rights Buddhism s rejection of "traditional family values" Brazil s sex-positive culture differences between gay male social formations and families choosing a language and terms that empower sexual minorities and the essence of the liberation movement sex as communion relationships based on nurture, not transactionDesigned for academics and students of religion, pastors, priests, rabbis, and lay readers alike, Our Families, Our Values is a multifaceted view of the gay community s response to the public controversy over gay marriage, adoption, and foster care rights. Ideal as a textbook for courses in sexuality, theology, sociology, women s studies, and gay and lesbian studies, this book will both inform you and delight you as it reminds you that same-sex unions bring much cause for celebration and that religion and homosexuality are not mutually exclusive."

Double bill of canine adventures. In 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' (2008), when pampered chihuahua Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore) gets lost while holidaying in Mexico, she is forced to rely on the kindness of various dogs she befriends as she tries to get home before she is captured by a villainous dognapper. Also in pursuit of Chloe is male chihuahua Papi (George Lopez), who is in love with her, and evil Doberman Diablo (Edward James Olmos), who has his eye on her valuable diamond collar. In 'Underdog' (2007), after an accident in the mysterious lab of mad scientist Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage), an ordinary beagle named Shoeshine (voice of Jason Lee) finds himself with extraordinary powers, and the ability to talk. Armed with a fetching superhero costume, Underdog vows to protect the beleaguered citizens of Capital City and, in particular, a beautiful spaniel named Polly Purebred (voice of Amy Adams). When a diabolical plot by Barsinister and his overgrown henchman Cad (Patrick Warburton) threatens to destroy Capital City, only Underdog can save the day.

American Ambassador Diego Asencio bravely reconstructs his 61 days of captivity in Bogota, Colombia. The siege takes place at the Dominican Republic Embassy and is carried out by Colombia's revolutionary M-19 guerrilla organization. This book is a rare look at how the captive diplomats played a large role in securing freedom. It is also testimony that, given time, the honest practice of conflict resolution can bring positive results. It is a small miracle that only one person died during this epic takeover. Much credit must be given to the diplomats in captivity. Ambassador Asencio is a polished writer and does an outstanding job of objectively describing the highs and lows of his days as a hostage.

For five American women associated with the US Embassy in Mexico, camaraderie begins with coffee, chocolate, and art shared in painting sessions during the early 1960's, and kept alive for decades via occasional rendezvous worldwide. In a story of love, family, heartbreak, mystery, betrayal, espionage, and grace in the face of tragedy, Nancy's touching novel brings to life these multi-dimensional characters as they navigate the stiff dictates of diplomatic protocol, and the tumultuous events of the late 20th Century.

A tweet, a grunt, a squeak, and a hoot! A little time, a few supplies, and a dash of creativity are all you need to bring these adorable critters to life. Whether it's a fuzzy rabbit personalized as a gift, or a charming family of birds to display in your home, this playful guide features easy-to-follow patterns, clear instructions, and enchanting photography of the creatures in their natural habitats. Best of all, each project is graded according to difficulty (easy, moderate, and slightly tricky) so both experienced and beginner sewers can share in the fun. - 28 unique fabric softies that can be sewn by hand or machine- Learn how to personalize your creation with a variety of whimsical embellishments - With these forgiving patterns, imperfect stitches make these cuties even cuter!- Makes a delightful gift, but you'll want a few for yourself!

Romantic comedy based on the novel by Winifred Watson. Frances McDormand stars as Miss Pettigrew, a dowdy governess struggling to find employment in 1930s London after being unfairly dismissed from her previous job. She unexpectedly finds herself fulfilling the role of social secretary for glamorous American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams), whose life is an unending social whirl - the complete opposite of Miss Pettigrew's own drab existence. Despite their differences, Miss Pettigrew becomes Delysia's confidante and personal aide, and is witness to many of the joys and indiscretions that thrive in this heady, high-society climate. Could it be that Miss Pettigrew has finally found her calling?