Reel Recs
- Monroe County Public Library
- Jul 25
- 24 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Every week, staff from the Monroe County Public Library recommend favorites from the collection for the Reel Recs feature in the Keys Weekly newspapers.
You can request DVDs online by logging in to the catalog and choose from more than 30,000 streaming films and TV shows from the Kanopy ap. You get unlimited plays in the Kanopy Favorites and British Film & Television collections. You also get unlimited plays on Kanopy Kids. If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or pre-register online to get one (pre-registrations are good for 90 days, until you have time to come to the library and show proof of residency). Questions? Contact us here.
The Ghost Writer (2010)
Why: Every year, the Library’s streaming service Kanopy puts together a collection of dark suspense movies called “Noirvember” – this year’s selection includes this tight thriller starring Ewan McGregor as a ghostwriter hired to clean up the memoir of recent British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). Obviously modeled on Tony Blair, Lang is charismatic enough to warrant a $10 million advance on the book – but he’s also facing accusations of handing over British citizens who were alleged terrorists to be tortured by the Americans and their allies. Olivia Williams is fantastic as Ruth, Lang’s extremely smart wife, and the cast is populated by familiar faces, some of them Americans playing Brits (Kim Cattrall) and Brits playing Americans (Tom Wilkinson). Smaller parts go to Timothy Hutton, Jim Belushi — and even Eli Wallach. And the setting – in a Brutalist concrete beach house during a gloomy New England winter – fits the movie’s tone perfectly. If you like book-to-screen comparisons, this film is based on The Ghost by Robert Harris, which you can also borrow from the Library.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
WarGames (1983)
Why: I dislike and distrust AI, and now I wonder if part of the reason is that I saw this movie at an impressionable age (15). Matthew Broderick stars as a supersmart teen computer nerd a decade before connecting to another computer became common. He thinks he’s snuck into a new gaming system – but it’s actually the new autonomous missile control system installed by the U.S. armed forces. So when he tells it he’d like to play “global thermonuclear war,” bad things start popping up on giant screens at missile command. With Ally Sheedy as his love interest/partner in trying to avert World War III and Dabney Coleman as the computer system’s director, this is a time capsule that feels uncomfortably prescient. And, not for nothing, it’s the rare ’80s teen movie that is not all about adolescent relationships and bad behavior.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
American Experience: New York (1999-2003)
Why: Filmmaker Ric Burns got his start working on his brother Ken’s celebrated series about the Civil War. This series, perhaps taking its cue from its subject, feels more dynamic even as it covers a much smaller location over a much longer time frame – what is now New York City from Dutch settlement in the 1600s through the 20th century. It tells the stories of the immigrants who powered its commercial dominance, the artists who made it a cultural capital, and the politicians who manipulated, profited from and rebuilt it over and over. Originally airing in 1999, the series includes a fascinating and heartbreaking two-part coda, “The Center of the World,” made after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack that destroyed the World Trade Center on Lower Manhattan. And you don’t have to rush through it or burn any tickets – it’s part of the Kanopy Favorites collection that you can stream ticket-free.
Where: This series is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Why: The 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth is a fine reason to revisit this six-episode adaptation of her novel – but do you really need a reason? This is an extremely faithful rendering, with the famous exception of Mr. D’Arcy (Colin Firth) showing up in a wet linen shirt after an impromptu swim just as Lizzie Bennett (Jennifer Ehle) is unexpectedly touring his estate. Throughout, it perfectly captures Austen’s romance, comedy and social commentary. In the 30 years since this series debuted, "Pride and Prejudice" has been made into a movie and a new TV adaption for Netflix with a fantastic cast is in production. I liked the movie and I’m sure the new show will be great. But for me, and I suspect many others, this will remain the iconic screen version and the ultimate comfort view when I’m stuck on the couch.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Why: Before The Office, Waiting for Guffman or Parks and Recreation, one film set the standard for the mockumentary genre: This Is Spinal Tap. Rob Reiner directs – his first time out in that role – and also appears as the director in the film, Marty DiBergi. Reiner is also one of the writers, along with cast/band members Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer. They are known as “one of England’s loudest bands” but as the filmmakers catch them, they are on a downslide into smaller arenas, canceled gigs and objections from their record company to the offensively sexist cover of their new album. And the inevitable tensions when the girlfriend of one of the band members has too many opinions about their direction. The band recently reunited for a sequel. If you didn’t catch that film in the theater – or even if you did – it’s a good time to refresh your acquaintance with the original. And if you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a treat. This film, like Spinal Tap’s amps, goes to 11.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Downhill Racer (1969)
Why: If you’re looking to revisit a lesser-known movie featuring two great American actors we lost this year – Robert Redford and Gene Hackman – this skiing movie is an interesting option. It’s not the best work from either actor but it does catch them at or near the peak of their careers: Redford starred as the Sundance Kid the same year, and Hackman won a Best Actor Oscar two years later for The French Connection. Redford is the brash skier, Hackman the no-nonsense coach. The film’s naturalistic style makes it a little hard to connect to the characters, but the ski footage, especially for the time, will raise your blood pressure. And for the older viewers among us, it’s kind of fun to revisit the era when downhill skiing was an exotic sport we only saw in the Olympics every four years or on the random episode of ABC’s Wide World of Sports. This film provides a behind-the-scenes view of the ski scene that was rare at the time. And the screenplay is by James Salter, the novelist who wrote A Sport and a Pastime among other works.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Bull Durham (1988)
Why: It’s hard to take any professional athlete’s interview seriously once you’ve watched veteran catcher Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) lecture young phenom pitcher Nuke Laloosh (Tim Robbins) to “learn the cliches” he should spout in his interviews (“We’ve got to play them one day at a time … I’m just happy to be here – hope I can help the ballclub”). But this romcom set at the minor league Durham Bulls baseball team is more than romance or comedy even though it fulfills both extremely well. It’s an homage to baseball and the rewards of longstanding effort. Crash may not get the riches and acclaim of a major leaguer but he’s honorable and hardworking and he, unlike Laloosh at the beginning, respects the game. That is its own reward, as viewers recognize – along with local English professor and, er, superfan of the Durham Bulls Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon). Costner won an Oscar for Best Director for “Dances With Wolves” and he recently dominated TV screens on “Yellowstone” but for my money, this is the role that will live on in people’s hearts.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
The Pink Panther (1963)
Why: As a kid in the 1970s, I first encountered the Pink Panther as a cartoon character, outwitting the clumsy French Inspector Clouseau. And I saw movies that had the Pink Panther in the title and the credits but were farcical crime capers with Peter Sellers as Clouseau bumbling his way to triumph. All featured the iconic Henry Mancini score, which I imagine almost everyone would find familiar even if they don’t know where it originated. It wasn’t until later that I discovered this series started much earlier, in 1963, and the pink panther in question wasn’t a cartoon or an animal, but a massive diamond. The original movie features Sellers, David Niven as a charming thief with his eye on the jewel and Robert Wagner as Niven’s nephew and rival thief. Along with the mod cartoon credits, it’s got a postwar Euro-glam setting, with the women outfitted by Yves St. Laurent. If you want to revisit the whole series – or explore them for the first time – sequels up to 1993’s “Son of the Pink Panther” (all of them directed by Blake Edwards) are on Kanopy.
Where: This film is available on DVD and on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming service.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Star Trek (2009)
Why: Rebooting a beloved franchise is risky and the Star Trek universe had already been expanded from TV to movies and back to TV shows with sequels and prequels when J.J. Abrams took on the challenge. He pulled it off in style with a reimagined timeline where the future Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) is literally born under fire as a rogue Romulan is destroying his father’s starship. All the gang reassembles in unexpected ways, portrayed by appealing actors, including Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), McCoy (Karl Urban), Sulu (John Cho), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). On their first mission together, they face that rogue Romulan (Eric Bana) again in a time-twisting tale that honors but also expands the future that we’ve been happily inhabiting for almost 60 years.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Ferrari (2023)
Why: Car racing movies carry expectations for obviously propulsive plots as their protagonists court deadly danger while seeking glory. While films like Rush and F1 put us behind the driver’s seat, Ferrari shows us the perils faced by a man at the head of the enterprise at a crucial moment: Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) in 1957. His company, built in partnership with his wife, Laura (Penélope Cruz), is struggling to survive selling sports cars to rich consumers; meanwhile, he’s obsessed with the racing side of the business. His personal life is also headed for a wreck after the death of his and Laura’s son and heir – while he has a secret second family with his mistress, Lina (Shailene Woodley). Not to worry: there are still thrilling (and sometimes shocking) race sequences, along with the gorgeous look you expect from the director, Michael Mann.
Recommended by: Community Affairs Manager Nancy Klingener
Why: The artifact adventure story is a movie staple – never done better than in Raiders of the Lost Ark and also fun in lots of iterations from The Mummy to National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code and their sequels. This is the TV movie version, which you can tell in production values and script quality. But it’s still excellent cheesy entertainment. Between playing stressed out ER docs, Noah Wyle headlined three Librarian TV movies that aired originally on TNT, as the titular character Flynn Carsen. An eternal student, he is recruited to take over something called the Metropolitan Library that houses the Ark of the Covenant (nice nod to Raiders), Pandora’s Box and other powerful, legendary objects. Wyle is appealing, but the real treasures in this movie are Bob Newhart, drily hilarious even when he’s playing it relatively straight, and a salty, sarcastic Jane Curtin. Good news if you like this one: the two sequels AND the two spin-off TV series are all on Kanopy.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Rushmore (1998)
Why: This is Wes Anderson’s second film and the one that brought him widespread attention. That’s probably because it stars Bill Murray, along with a young Jason Schwartzman and a luminous Olivia Williams. And it sets the template for so many Anderson films that followed: beautiful sets, eccentric and brilliant characters, the play-within-the-play, the extended working out of father-son relationships – it’s all there. Schwartzman is Max Fischer, a scholarship student at a private school where he is determined to out-prep the prepsters. He forms an odd friendship with the rich dad of one of his classmates (Murray) and a passionate crush on one of the teachers (Williams). It’s highly stylized and unrealistic on almost every level – except the emotional strength of love and ambition during adolescence. In that, it’s 100 percent authentic.
Where: This film is available as a DVD.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Why: There are enough Dracula adaptations out there (both official and unofficial) to form their own union. But what makes this version stand out is how stylized it is. Director Francis Ford Coppola leans hard into the lavish grandeur of the production design and the theatrical lighting in the cinematography. To match, the performances here (particularly Gary Oldman’s titular character and Anthony Hopkins’ Van Helsing) are heightened to the point of camp, and that’s not a bad thing. It romanticizes the horror (well, save for Keanu Reeves’ accent) to the point of making the whole venture a sweeping and highly entertaining gothic concerto.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
A Star Is Born (1954)
Why: When Judy Garland lost Best Actress at the Oscars for this role, Groucho Marx famously quipped it was the biggest robbery since Brink’s. That statement is no exaggeration. This second of no less than four versions of this story is arguably the best one, mainly due to the powerhouse that is Garland. She takes big swings between comedy and tragedy and marries them together with her signature belting voice. The film was infamously edited down from three hours to two-and-a-half (possibly costing her the Oscar). The original cut is presented almost completely intact here save for five minutes of footage that could not be recovered. See it and marvel at how relevant this story remains today.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Charade (1963)
Why: Could there be a better escape right now than heading to Paris in 1963 for a glossy, gorgeous romantic thriller starring a radiant Audrey Hepburn and a mature but still suave Cary Grant? She’s (unhappily) married when they meet, but not for long – and that kicks off the thriller part of the plot, as a group of her husband’s former friends show up looking for a lost treasure they think he stole. The cast includes a real who’s-who of mid-20th century white guys – Walter Matthau, James Coburn, and George Kennedy all make appearances. Hepburn outshines them all, glamorous but still approachable as she outwits her pursuers and looks incredibly stylish even when she’s on the run for her life. I could watch this movie over and over. In fact, I have.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, Community Affairs Manager
Stardust (2007)
Why: Pure fantasy films are hard to come by nowadays, particularly mature ones. Sure, we can get our fill of it on television via “Game of Thrones” or “Outlander,” but even then, those tend to lean more heavily towards war (like the former) or romance (like the latter). The kind of fantasy that really has a sense of fairy tale magic about it is more of a rarity, and that’s where this film comes in. It’s got a cast filled with familiar faces from both then (Michelle Pfeifer, Robert DeNiro) and now (Charlie Cox, Henry Cavill), and its cheeky, witty screenplay makes it feel like a worthy successor to “The Princess Bride.”
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Branch
Shetland seasons 1-5 (2013-2019)
Why: No one does TV police procedurals like the Brits, from the cozy vicar-solves-crimes shows to the hardboiled series set on the mean streets and precinct stations of London and other cities. Shetland, based on the books by Ann Cleeves, hits a sweet spot in between those poles. The team on the Scottish islands of the show’s title is led by Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez. His small department has to navigate the closeknit but complicated social layers of their community. With six episodes each season (except for season 1, which only had two episodes), it’s easy to get immersed in the mystery but each season is not an overwhelming commitment. You may find yourself getting attached to many of the characters, especially Perez’ protégé Detective Constable Alison “Tosh” McIntosh.
Where: Seasons 1-5 are available on DVD.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Clueless (1995)
Why: A privileged and popular young woman who fancies herself a matchmaker can’t resist meddling in the love life of a new addition to her social scene – but finds she’s not as astute as she thought, even as she finds her own love unexpectedly close to home.
This is Emma, the titular heroine whom her creater Jane Austen described as “a heroine no one but myself will much like.” And it’s also Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone in Clueless, Amy Heckerling’s audacious 1995 adaptation of the novel, set at a Beverly Hills high school.
Popping with 1990s bright colors and style, this entertaining film also has a roster of future familiar faces, including Paul Rudd, Donald Faison, Breckin Meyer and Jeremy Sisto. And Wallace Shawn is the debate teacher!
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Anora (2024)
Why: The film that swept this year’s Oscars is a refreshing change of pace from the heavy dramas and biopics the Academy usually favors. It’s essentially a screwball comedy where the situation gets more and more convoluted and ridiculous as it goes along. That genre is a rarity nowadays, and filmmaker Sean Baker wisely has the characters take their situation completely seriously. Mikey Madison’s award-winning performance in particular keeps a complex core amongst the madness. For people unacquainted with his tongue-in-cheek approach, they may not even realize they’re watching a comedy, but it’s a rewarding experience for those who pick up on it.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
Clue (1985)
Why: The idea of a film based on a board game is preposterous, but this film is a masterclass in comedy, both physical and verbal. It fully embraces the insanity of its situation, making full use of its talented roster of actors including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, and Martin Mull. The plotting is also impressive as three different endings were shot to simulate the possible endings of the game (all of which are presented back-to-back here), and the film is careful to make sure everyone is where they need to be for any outcome to work.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
The Movie Man (2024)
Why: The Movie Man is an engaging and entertaining documentary about a five-screen movie theater and museum run out of a house in a very small town in Canada by an eccentric, elderly cat lover named Keith Stata. Stata opened the theater in 1979 and the documentary traces both the theater’s past successes and the recent lean times of COVID, but the movie is really about passion, and how one person with a singular vision and enough resilience can construct their own world and then live in it. (Stata’s world includes 48 cats, some popcorn-loving bears, antique projectors, and whole host of movie memorabilia.)
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming service.
Recommended by: Michael Nelson, assistant director of public services
His Girl Friday (1940)
Why: Screwball comedies are in short supply nowadays, and that’s a shame. Movies like this one, where the situation gets more and more absurd while everyone is rapidly talking over each other, are pure gold. The story is also relevant 85 years later in an era when news outlets thrive on sensationalism. The chemistry between Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant is white-hot as both stand toe-to-toe in trying to outsmart each other. Even though this is based on a play and takes place in only a few locations, it never feels stagnant, instead barreling along to its hilarious conclusion.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
Aliens (1986)
Why: An atmospheric, action-packed sci-fi adventure that reminds us that they don't make them like they used to. Ripley, the lead protagonist from “Alien, is dragged back into the horror she thought she had jettisoned into the depths of space during the previous movie.
This film is an exploration of humanity's primal fears and animalistic survival dressed as a classic ’80s action flick. The towering shiny black alien that bleeds acid is not the biggest monster in this film. As Ripley aptly puts, "They're not the ones out here screwing each other over."
It seems that no matter how far into the future we go, the same old challenges come up when exploitable resources are available and corporations are running the show. Sometimes we have to wrench control into our own hands in order to save each other.
Where: This film is available as a DVD from the Monroe County Public Library.
Recommended by: Kevin Lacayo, library assistant, Key Largo Library branch
Dig! (2004)
Why: I’m not sure why or how filmmaker Ondi Timoner decided to follow two alt-rock bands – the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre – for seven years. I’m sure glad she did. The result is this completely bonkers but fascinating portrait of two bands on the same scene at the same time. Their leaders were kind of friends but also rivals. It’s the classic story of trying to make art and be successful without selling your soul – and a candid look at a brilliant but extremely volatile artist in Anton Newcombe, leader of the Brian Jonestown Massacre. And it’s a story of GenX rock stardom – and implosion. If you’re really into it, Kanopy also has an expanded version of the movie that came out last year, Dig! XX.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Why: Ask someone who Liza Minnelli is, and they’ll likely reveal to you their generation based on what they associate with her first, whether it’s Cabaret, Arthur, or Arrested Development. She’s transcended her famous parents to become an icon who’s constantly reinventing herself. This documentary (which aired earlier this year on the PBS series American Masters), takes a look at this colorful and eventful life with as much personality as its subject. Admittedly, like that subject, its focus can be rather scattered, but if you’re able to keep up, there’s a wealth of fun anecdotes and rare home movies to be found in this zippy portrait.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
American Oz (2021)
Why: L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, so what better time to visit this documentary about his life from the American Experience series on PBS? More thorough than other documentaries about Baum, this one is nuanced in not only highlighting his strengths and successes but also his flaws and failures. The turn-of-the-century Midwest era he was from is also examined, giving better context to both his views and the inspirations and in-jokes found in the Oz books. It’s a handsomely produced look at the dreamer whose works still have relevance in our pop culture today.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
Why: The phrase, “They don’t make them like they used to” gets tossed around so frequently, it’s practically lost its meaning. But this film is an example of when that phrase is absolutely true. A who’s who of virtually every comedian still alive at that point, this farce has a lavish scope and budget that’s usually only afforded to historical epics and musicals. There’s a style of humor here for everyone, whether it be Buddy Hackett’s squawking, Milton Berle’s neurosis, Phil Silvers’ wryness, or Jonathan Winters’ cluelessness. It’s a loud and absurd treasure hunt with some of the best stunts that have ever graced the silver screen.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
Moonstruck (1987)
Why: This is a near-perfect romantic comedy worth watching again and again for the performances, the writing, and the views of New York City from nearly 40 years ago. Widow Loretta Castorini (Cher) is getting ready to marry again for practical reasons – but loses her heart to her fiance’s estranged brother (Nicolas Cage) even as her parents’ marriage is hitting a crisis point. Cher and Cage are great, but the surrounding cast of mostly family members are even better: Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello and John Mahoney all have memorable turns, perfect in their roles. As the genre requires, it’s a blend of funny and heartfelt. And what a pleasure to see mature adults looking for love and demanding respect. The grandfather with all the dogs is also memorable – you may start exclaiming “la bella luna!” every time you see a full moon after watching this movie. And it probably won’t be the only line that sticks in your head.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
One from the Heart (1981)
Why: Francis Ford Coppola’s only attempt (for now) at a musical is not what you would think. If you’re thinking, “I don’t like musicals,” this isn’t the sort where the characters break out into song. Instead, Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle provide their vocals to background songs to which surreal imagery and dreamy choreography are matched. The intentionally studio-bound production design is out of this world, making Las Vegas feel like a cozy fever dream (I equate it to living in a ’90s TCM interstitial). Teri Garr and Raul Julia have electric chemistry together, and while the film’s light on plot, its vibes and aesthetic are enough to fascinate and inspire.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
Why: The combination of sharp zingers by screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green (“Singin’ in the Rain”) with a brilliantly madcap performance by Rosalind Russell (“His Girl Friday”) makes for colorful, hilarious cinema. Based on the equally funny book by Patrick Dennis, this story of the ultimate eccentric aunt works because not only is it uniquely quirky and witty, but Russell adds a lot of heart to a character who could become exhausting and aloof in lesser hands. The story moves along at a pace that demands you keep up with it lest you get left behind, and its themes of classism and progress are still relevant today.
Where: The film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
Why: Part of the Judy Garland holy trinity that includes “The Wizard of Oz” and “A Star is Born,” this charming slice of turn-of-the-century Americana showcases why she was such a major star at MGM. Garland famously found the screenplay corny, but director Vincente Minnelli (whom she would later marry) convinced her to approach this sincerely. That sincerity gives the film its heartbeat, not only making it moving, but also charmingly funny. It’s garnered a reputation as a Christmas classic due to its third act, but the whole film takes place over the course of a year and can be viewed any time. By the time Garland’s joyously belting out “The Trolley Song,” you’ll be glad you did.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
The Conversation (1974)
Why: With the unfortunate loss of legend Gene Hackman, many have gone back to revisit his extensive filmography. One film that doesn’t get discussed enough is this one, having come between both parts of The Godfather in director Francis Ford Coppola’s oeuvre. The story is still spookily relevant today as it deals with how quotes taken out of context can lead to wildly inaccurate conclusions. There’s also the tension of not knowing who to trust and the paranoia that spurs. It’s a career-best performance from Hackman, and the supporting cast is a who’s who of Coppola favorites, not least of all a fresh-faced Harrison Ford.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
A Night at the Opera (1935)
Why: This film is everything you need to know about the Marx Brothers distilled into their purest and sharpest form. Some diehards might balk at that, stating that the team’s Universal films better showcased their sense of anarchy (this film was made for MGM where it was requested their trolling antics be only aimed at antagonists rather than innocent bystanders). Having their trademark lunacy lobbied towards people who deserve it, though, is honestly more satisfying on a storytelling level. With Groucho’s wit, Chico’s brashness, and Harpo’s innocence, you’ve got a perfect combination of humor styles, and when you see the famous ship cabin sequence, you’ll see why their creative insanity still holds up today.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
Pee-Wee's Playhouse (1986-1990)
Why: A year after Tim Burton’s quirky feature film debut in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure came this intentionally kitschy children’s show that acts as a throwback to ’50s programs like Howdy Doody. If you’re a boomer, you should appreciate the vintage programs it’s parodying. If you’re a millennial, you likely grew up with this Saturday mornings on CBS (and we’re happy to say it holds up with some surprisingly hilarious adult humor). If you’re Generation Z, then the peculiar storylines mingled with the wild aesthetic should be appealing. It’s a fun time, and the crazy amount of guest stars who crop up make this even more of a treat.
Where: This series is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library branch
The First Wives Club (1996)
Why: This is a shining example that not only can a predominantly female cast be funny (sorry, Steel Magnolias), but they can be so after 40 (sorry, Bridesmaids) and not have to be romantic (sorry, Waiting to Exhale). Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton absolutely rise to the occasion with their spirited and vividly contrasting performances. The screenplay’s wit is razor-sharp and delivered with aplomb not just by them but by a great supporting cast that includes Maggie Smith, Dan Hedaya and Sarah Jessica Parker. It’s the type of smart, mid-budget adult comedy we don’t see enough of in the sea of theatrical blockbusters and streaming rom-coms.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app..
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
Why: Besides Disney’s, this is the most well-known adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel for a reason. It’s not only one of the more faithful ones, but it removes a lot of the fatty detours in the original story that can making it a daunting read. Charles Laughton gives a career best as the put-upon Quasimodo, nailing the sorrowful nature of the character without coming across as cloying. Maureen O’Hara at only 19 carries a maturity and grace as Esmeralda that Hugo’s original creation lacks. It’s films as relevant, absorbing, and epic as these that help make the case for 1939 to be widely considered as Hollywood’s best year.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
Persuasion (2007)
Why: People love to argue about their favorite Jane Austen adaptations – I say, why choose? Even if I adore the 1995 Amanda Root/Ciarán Hinds movie of Persuasion, that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate this later BBC version, starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones. Everyone loves Pride and Prejudice but Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel – the original second-chance romance, when a couple whose young love was thwarted by Anne Elliott’s selfish and short-sighted family come into contact again almost a decade later. They are older, wiser and, even better, he’s made a bunch of money as a naval officer. And as always with Austen, the shade on the greedy, vain or just plain dumb relatives is delicious.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Hundreds of Beavers (2022)
Why: If you’re a fan of Looney Tunes and Buster Keaton, this mostly live-action feature-length film should be right up your alley. Shot in black and white with virtually no dialogue, the antics of an applejack salesman (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) against various elements of nature (most notably the titular beavers) has to be seen to be believed. Every slapstick trick in the book is featured here, done with plenty of creativity and quirkiness using cutout animation that would make Terry Gilliam proud on top of stylized bluescreen work that Robert Rodriguez would appreciate. Its nutty and relentless nature easily brings out the Saturday morning kid in anyone.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
Funny Girl (1968)
Why: This is the film that launched Barbra Streisand’s Hollywood career and earned her a Best Actress Oscar right out of the gate. Loosely based on the life of vaudeville star Fanny Brice, this features some of the greatest songs ever written for Broadway courtesy of Jule Styne (“Gypsy”) and Bob Merrill (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”). Director William Wyler (“Ben-Hur”) famously led a whopping 13 other actors to Oscar glory, and it’s his careful hand at remembering the grounded humanity amid the outlandish moments that gives the film its heart and has you rooting for Fanny. Both heartbreaking and hilarious, this is a prime example of an exuberant movie musical with real weight.
Where: You can watch this film on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
Nosferatu (1922)
Why: With Robert Eggers’ atmospheric remake recently in theaters, this is a good time to check out F.W. Murnau’s iconic original. We understand if SpongeBob SquarePants may have diluted the character’s creepiness for you, but you’ll soon forget that as the stark and shadowy cinematography washes over you. An unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” you’ll be surprised how the deviations it makes from the novel ended up becoming accepted aspects in most other vampire lore, even official “Dracula” adaptations. As a bonus, we also recommend Werner Herzog’s arguably better 1979 German remake (also on Kanopy) that has just as much influence on the current version as the original does.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Why: I was amused to see “The Lion In Winter” pop up in a holiday movie collection on Kanopy – but why not? It is, after all, the story of a family gathering for Christmas, even if that family happens to be the Plantagenets in 1183. Henry II and his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, are estranged, if that’s what you call it when the husband locks up his wife for a decade, just because she led their sons in rebellion against him. For this brief reunion, the surviving sons are in attendance, including young Anthony Hopkins as the future Richard III – as well as hot young Timothy Dalton as hot young French King Philip II. This started out as a play and you can tell – it’s very talky. But wow can these actors talk, and chew some scenery, and generally make a family holiday drama that is also a royal succession drama into excellent entertainment.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
