Reel Recs
Every week, staff from the Monroe County Public Library recommend favorites from the collection.
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 app – and you get unlimited plays on Kanopy Kids! If you don’t have a card, you can visit your local branch or register online to get one. Questions? Email info@keyslibraries.org.
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
Why: After the runaway successes of their “Superman” films, father-son producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind would give “the Man with the Bag” (a warm and huggable David Huddleston) his own superhero origin story. Truth be told, it’s the grandeur and reverence in that first act that really stands out in this movie and would make an iconic standalone special. But then, like the first “Superman,” a time jump happens, and then the film takes on a decidedly campier vibe. It’s during these two-thirds that Dudley Moore’s elf character Patch becomes the focus. It’s still charming and worth watching; just buckle your seatbelt for the tonal whiplash, and you’ll find an endearing Christmas watch with a gorgeous score by the great Henry Mancini.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
Pencils vs. Pixels (2023)
Why: This film is a fine introduction to anyone with an interest in animation who doesn’t know all the details of the medium’s evolution. Hosted by Ming-Na Wen (voice of Disney’s Mulan), viewers are taken on a journey of how Western animation both influenced and was influenced by the pop culture surrounding it. Along the way, notable animators and filmmakers from various eras and studios pop up to offer both their knowledge and their first-hand accounts. The documentary eventually touches on the shift from hand-drawn animation to CGI (computer-generated images) and how now technology is helping make hand-drawn a viable artform again. It may not break new ground for animation pros, but there’s enough meat here to satisfy them while offering an accessible starting base for novices.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
The Long Good-bye (1973)
Why: Celebrate Noirvember with a neo-noir film that checks off all the right boxes for established fans of the genre while being modern enough to entice novices. Elliott Gould’s hard-boiled performance is not only memorable but surprisingly funny in a wry, matter-of-fact way. That tone permeates throughout the whole film as he’s the audience’s eyes for every single scene. He’s surrounded by a fascinating and colorful cast of lowlife characters, and the world created for them to play in is handled with skill by director Robert Altman. There’ve been many adaptations of Raymond Chandler’s works, but this remains one of the better ones.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library.
Meet John Doe (1941)
Why: Director Frank Capra is best known for the holiday season TV staple “It’s A Wonderful Life” and the political fable “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.” “Meet John Doe” is a darker tale that really displays Capra’s signature theme of the ordinary guy standing up to nefarious powers. It stars Gary Cooper as a baseball player with a bum arm who agrees to play the role of John Doe, a fictional angry everyman created by a desperate newspaper columnist (a radiant Barbara Stanwyck). His screeds against the establishment, written by the columnist, inspire a populist movement, but that doesn’t lead where he, or their writer, think it will. As a bonus, Walter Brennan, who plays the drunken mate in “To Have and Have Not,” is featured as Cooper’s buddy – and conscience.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Never Surrender (2019)
Why: This is a movie about the fandom and influence of a movie that was itself a love letter to the fandom and influence of the Star Trek franchise. So … yeah, it’s meta. But also, like its subject, heartfelt and entertaining. “‘Galaxy Quest’ is, without a doubt, the best Star Trek movie,” Star Trek’s own Wil Wheaton says in the documentary – which goes on to show why. There are some interesting tidbits of gossip but mostly candid and generous recollections from stars Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Rockwell, Tony Shalhoub and Justin Long as well as director Dean Parisot. In the 25 years since “Galaxy Quest” was released, geeks have come to rule the entertainment world. This film is a wonderful guide to why and how that happened.
Where: “Never Surrender” is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app. “Galaxy Quest” is available from the Library as a DVD.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Suspiria (1977)
Why: Perhaps the most colorful horror film ever made, every frame of “Suspiria” is filled with bold primary hues that would make Douglas Sirk jealous. Director Dario Argento purposely wanted to make a horror film that feels like a fairy tale, citing Walt Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and the original versions of “Pinocchio” and “Alice in Wonderland” as inspiration. That approach makes this film not so much terrifying as it is mesmerizing, and the percussion-heavy score by Italian rock group Goblin adds to the hypnosis. With a body count that’s more creative than ghastly, this is a good Halloween watch for those not usually keen on this genre.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
Why: Douglas Adams’ hilarious radio program-turned-novel is adapted into a 6-episode BBC miniseries with winning results. Unlike the more widely seen 2005 film adaptation, this series has the benefit of Adams himself being actively involved. Thus, the comedic beats and pacing the radio show and book are known for (that the later film couldn’t quite tap into) are here in full force. Sure, the production values are minimal and unconvincing, but that only adds to the off-kilter charm. Anyone familiar with classic Doctor Who will feel right at home here, and the energetic cast rises to the task of giving this wacky world the color and life Adams’ imagination demands.
Where: This series is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library
Teen Witch (1989)
Why: Allow us to preface this with the disclaimer that not every entertaining movie necessarily needs to be good. Case in point is this curiosity that’s completely and hilariously confused as to what kind of film it wants to be. Is it a musical? A John Hughes-esque teen comedy? A steamy romance? A supernatural fantasy? Yes, and then some. Helping ground this insanity is Robyn Lively (sister of Blake Lively) as the winning lead. Surrounding her, though, are voo-doo dolls sending professors through the car wash, annoying family members being turned into animals, and a rap performance played so unironically that it must be seen to be believed. What better way to gear up for Halloween?
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada library.
Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game (2022)
Why: Most biopics follow a tried-and-true formula, and this one is so aware of that that it constantly breaks the fourth wall to poke fun at it. Flashy editing and a catchy score help keep the pace flying, and there’s a cheekiness to its humor that ensures it never takes itself too seriously. Mike Faist as the younger Roger Sharpe convincingly sells the sweet and awkward persona of the subject (even with an unconvincing moustache). Meanwhile, Dennis Boutsikaris as the older, fourth-wall-breaking Roger acting as our narrator is clearly having a great and sassy time. Regardless of your appreciation, or lack thereof, of pinball, the story is fun, stylish, and investing.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, library assistant, Islamorada Library branch
Man on Wire (2008)
Why: Sixty years ago, not long after the completion of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped onto a wire strung between the tops of the two buildings. He was 110 stories above the street. There was, of course, no net. Whether you consider this a prank, a crime or a piece of performance art, it quickly became legend. After the 2001 collapse of the towers in a terrorist attack, it became almost mythic, the heroic conquest of a vanished monument. No one else was likely to attempt such a thing, and now no one ever would. This 2008 documentary tells the incredible story of how Petit and a small group of collaborators conceived and pulled it off. He had already made similar walks at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris and the Harbor Bridge in Sydney. But his 200-foot walk in the sky of New York City is his legacy. This film is a near-perfect documentary, with all the right people and just the right tone.
Where: Man On Wire is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
Why: I’ve never bought Leonardo DiCaprio as a romantic or serious lead – but he’s just about perfect playing identical twin roles as nasty young French King Louis IV and nice Phillippe, the brother imprisoned in the titular iron mask. The real fun of this adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas novel, though, is the actors hamming it up as aging but still legendary former musketeers – Jeremy Irons as Aramis, John Malkovich as Athos and Gérard Depardieu as Porthos. Gabriel Byrne is more restrained as straight man D’Artagnan and that works, too. A young Peter Sarsgaard and a campy Hugh Laurie show up in small roles. One especially smart thing I have always appreciated about this movie: everyone speaks with their actual accents, or close to them. If only more costume dramas took the same approach.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming video app.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Lynch/Oz (2022)
Why: “The Wizard of Oz” is currently celebrating its 85th anniversary, and it’s served as a source of inspiration for people from all walks of life. This documentary examines how the iconic film influenced the work of someone surprising on the surface yet obvious when examined closer: director David Lynch. Structured as a series of video essays, various filmmakers such as John Waters (“Hairspray”), Karyn Kusama (“Jennifer’s Body”), and David Lowery (“The Green Knight”) examine Lynch’s unique filmography, comparing elements of each with the legendary musical. Not only that, but the documentary branches off to show (via engaging split-screen comparisons) how Oz made its stamp on other elements of cinema, as well. It’s a thoughtful and well-edited exploration of what makes the man behind the curtain tick.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Esio Trot (2015)
Why: Based on Roald Dahl’s short story of the same name, this film is a rare example of a romance between a mature couple. When that couple happens to consist of Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench, you know you’re in for a treat. Dahl’s token whimsy is nailed here thanks to a witty screenplay by Richard Curtis of Bridget Jones’ Diary and Love Actually fame, and the soundtrack’s usage of Louis Armstrong songs makes for a cozy and charming atmosphere. Being a Dahl story, it’s appropriate for everyone, but it’s honestly best appreciated by adults who haven’t lost their sense of wonder.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Why: It seemed a little odd when Michael Mann, best known as director of contemporary crime shows and movies – and executive producer of “Miami Vice” – delved into costume drama. Even odder was Serious Method Actor and Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis taking the role of Hawkeye, the character also known as Natty Bumppo in the source material, an 1826 novel by James Fenimore Cooper (here he goes by the much cooler Nathaniel). The plot is altered quite a bit from the novel, which is just fine by all accounts of anyone who has managed to read the thing. Mostly this is a gorgeous – like all Mann films – drama with nonstop action and just the right amount of romance, set around the siege of Fort William Henry during the French and Indian War. North Carolina stands in for the Adirondacks but the setting is so beautiful you don’t stop to think about the implausibility of running on a mountain trail while shooting two long rifles at once, or how a canoe chase over waterfalls would work.
Where: This film is available from the library as a DVD and Blu-Ray.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Why: Screwball comedies are a virtually extinct commodity nowadays, and that’s a shame. The format of the stuffy gentleman crossing paths with a wild and quirky lady makes for absolute fireworks. Nowhere is that better seen than in this film, the textbook example of the insane and outlandish hysterics this genre has to offer. Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn star in the second of four films they made together, and their chemistry is both instant and explosive. With so many comedies nowadays more interested in gross-out humor and shock value, seeing the creativity that stems from pure lunacy is refreshingly timeless.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app, and as a DVD from the Library (including the Criterion Collection edition).
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Victory (1981)
Why: Imagine a movie directed by two-time Oscar winner John Huston, the man behind classics like “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” “Key Largo” and “The African Queen.” Imagine a cast that includes Max von Sydow and Michael Caine and – because this is a movie about soccer – Pelé. Now imagine that the person who receives top billing in this film is … Sylvester Stallone. This movie exists. It is called “Victory.”
This is not a great or even a good movie. It is a movie so gloriously dumb that people remember it for decades after a single viewing. It’s set in a World War II Nazi prison camp and the plot revolves around a soccer game between the German national team and Allied POWs. The game is to be held in Paris for some reason, giving the Allied prisoners an opportunity to try and escape. Michael Caine is a former England soccer player and Pelé is passed off as a Trinidadian, while von Sydow is the German officer who dreams up the event. Stallone is an American with no clue about how to play soccer but he’s the star so he has be involved.
If that’s not enough to get you to use a couple Kanopy tickets on this film, you could think of it as getting ready for a reported remake. The thing basically casts itself – David Beckham in the Caine role, Michael Fassbender in von Sydow’s and, of course, Lionel Messi as a South American soccer phenom who is somehow in a Nazi POW camp. Any action star could be in the Stallone role. Is Vin Diesel available?
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming service.
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, community affairs manager
Paper Moon (1973)
Why: This is probably the textbook example of a road movie pairing a disgruntled adult with a precocious child. Ryan O’Neal and his daughter Tatum O’Neal have a natural chemistry that you don’t always find when family members work together on screen. This chemistry is so dynamic, it earned Tatum an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress – the youngest winner in any competitive category. Peter Bogdanovich’s direction balances striking black and white photography with amusingly understated performances with astonishing ease. On top of that, you’ve got the great Madeline Kahn making the most of her short screentime in this breezy, funny romp.
Where: This movie is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming service.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Grizzly Man (2005)
Why: You probably watched this, or heard about it, when it was released in 2005, but it’s worth a revisit. Legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog follows failed actor and self-styled environmentalist Timothy Treadwell into the wilderness of Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where Treadwell spent 13 summers living among the grizzly bears that congregate there. Using Treadwell’s own video diaries and interviews with friends, family and park employees, Herzog paints a picture of a deeply troubled man convinced that he alone can protect these enormous carnivores from encroaching civilization. In reality, the grizzlies are very well protected—it is Treadwell (and his girlfriend, who accompanies him on the fatal trip) who is in danger. What seems at first merely the tale of an unusual life and tragic death turns out to be an incredibly moving meditation on humans and their place in nature, and a meta-commentary on the power of film. A great starting point for anyone looking to get into Herzog’s incredible body of work.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Laura Bernazzoli, Library Associate, Key West Library
Summertime (1955)
Why: Can’t take that luxurious summer vacation you wanted? Let Katharine Hepburn take it for you, and in Venice, no less. Under the direction of David Lean, this film is a true love letter to the city, beautifully showcasing its architecture and sun-drenched atmosphere in glorious Technicolor. It’s not just a travelogue, however, as it also offers an effective examination of both loneliness and the midlife crisis. If that may sound daunting and depressing, don’t worry. There’s plenty of humor milked out of the fish-out-of-water trope, not to mention a steamy romance at its center with Rossano Brazzi.
Where: This film is available as a DVD from the library.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
The Third Man (1949)
Why: Celebrating its 75th anniversary, this has all the elements of a perfect film noir: Oscar-winning cinematography of postwar Vienna bathed in rich shadows, a plot with more twists than a Chubby Checker song, delightfully droll one-liners, and an enticingly magnetic supporting performance from Orson Welles. Even with its psychologically dark elements, there’s a cheekiness to it found in the best Hitchcock films – no surprise given that this is actually a British production rather than Hollywood. If none of that is enough to entice you, it’s worth pointing out the zither-infused score directly inspired the music for “Spongebob Squarepants.”
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Knox Goes Away (2024)
Why: Though met with mixed reviews when it was released theatrically earlier this year, Knox Goes Away is a sharp character study amid a pulpy film noir with a decidedly convoluted plot that is very much worth seeing. Of course, the film’s primary strength is a first-rate Michael Keaton performance that’s on the same tier as his turns in The Founder, Birdman, and Spotlight. He’s mesmerizing — cold and calculating but devolving into dementia and suddenly wholly vulnerable. I know that a film about a hitman developing dementia seems gimmicky and easily dismissed, but it’s a dark comedy with a genuinely great feat of acting by one of the most accomplished actors around.
Where: You can get this film from the Monroe County Public Library in DVD or Blu-Ray format.
Recommended By: Michael Nelson, Acting Director of Libraries
Shōgun (1980)
Why: With a highly acclaimed remake currently available on FX and Hulu, check out this Emmy-winning adaptation of James Clavell’s epic novel from more than 40 years ago (which we also have, naturally). It still holds up remarkably well thanks to its stately production values and charismatic lead performance by Richard Chamberlain. As an adaptation, it streamlines the story to focus on Jack Blackthorne’s journey yet still manages to feel substantial at an impressive 10 hours. The world-building is so immersive, however, that this running time flies by. It’s worth noting that this miniseries isn’t available to stream anywhere, so physical copies of it have been in high demand since the launch of the remake.
Where: This movie is available as a DVD from the Monroe County Public Library system.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Summer Stock (1950)
Why: Kick off the beginning of summer with one MGM’s most charming musicals starring two of the studio’s greatest stars – Judy Garland (in her last film for them) and Gene Kelly. You’re probably familiar with the iconic number “Get Happy” featuring Garland in a waistcoat and fedora. That alone should be reason enough to recommend this film, but luckily it features much more than that. Where else can you see comedian Phil Silvers lose control of a tractor? Or Gene Kelly use newspapers as part of his choreography? It’s a feel-good piece of cozy Americana, and sometimes that’s just what the doctor ordered.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Why: The Coen brothers have made a lot of excellent movies and “The Big Lebowski” is the cult classic everyone loves to quote, but for my money, “Fargo” is their best work. It’s the story of sad sack Jerry Lundegard (William H. Macy) and his idiot plan to have his own wife kidnapped to raise ransom money from his wealthy father-in-law. Everything goes wrong for him, especially when cop Marge Gunderson (the magnificent Frances McDormand, who won an Oscar for her role) is on the case. The writing is brilliant – there’s a line from Fargo that applies to almost any situation in life. And even if the plot seems initially cartoonish, you wind up caring about these characters and wondering who will survive this mess – and how. Almost 30 years after it first blew me away in a theater, I’m still thinking about this movie. The TV anthology series it inspired is also pretty good – but it wouldn’t exist without the original text.
Where: This is available as a DVD from the Monroe County Public Library
Recommended by: Nancy Klingener, Community Affairs Manager
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Why: Forty years later, this first sequel to the legendary “Raiders of the Lost Ark” has been reappraised by viewers given the controversial sequels that have come since. The very reason the PG-13 rating was invented, it’s the darkest and most violent entry in the series. But don’t let that scare you away. You’ve got the charmingly funny Ke Huy Quan (now experiencing a resurgence himself) as Short Round keeping Indy in check. Plus, the minecart chase is one of the most thrilling setpieces in the franchise. We completely understand, however, the necessity to mute your screen whenever Willie goes into her signature shriek.
Where: This movie is available as a DVD from the Monroe County Public Library system.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Why: Don’t watch silent movies? “Sherlock Jr.” is the perfect gateway. At a brisk 45 minutes, this film doesn’t wear out its welcome nor does it rely on too many title cards for dialogue. Instead, it packs in a great many gags and visual trickery all done in-camera. The story of a projectionist who wants to be a sleuth is a simple one, but it’s just the thing on which to hang enough death-defying stunts by the great Buster Keaton to make you ask, “How did they do that?” Celebrating its 100th anniversary, this still holds up as hilarious and creative.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Why: Every Earth Day, people are reminded of their responsibility in stewarding the resources given to them. “FernGully” to this day remains one of the most relevant and effective arguments for conservationism. Essentially the film James Cameron redressed and called “Avatar,” it offers the same message and same outsider’s journey but with one extra key ingredient: Robin Williams. Williams recorded his role as Batty before taking the world by storm as the Genie in “Aladdin” a few months later, and he brings that same manic energy here. And with rumors of a live-action remake on the horizon, what better time to catch up?
Where: This movie is available as a DVD from the Monroe County Public Library system.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Matilda (1996)
Why: We recently marked National Library Week, and what better way to celebrate than with the patron saint of literacy – Matilda Wormwood? You may have fond memories of Roald Dahl’s classic book as well as this film adaptation directed by Danny DeVito. We’re happy to say it not only holds up, but there are layers to unpack in it as an adult. The film has a dark streak that offsets any potential saccharine qualities you might expect from any story dealing with young children. It also has a quirky sensibility that effectively renders it both funny and timeless.
Where: “Matilda” is available as a DVD from the Monroe County Public Library.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch
Jazz On A Summer’s Day (1959)
Why: Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with this legendary concert filmed at Rhode Island’s Newport Jazz Festival in 1958. Directed by world-renowned photographer Bert Stern, this isn’t a run-of-the-mill concert film. Stern’s eye for interesting subjects means bold colors, dynamic camera angles, and many shots of the attendees on their boats and at the fairgrounds. These cutaways not only keep things visually interesting, but they cement a specific time and place that can no longer be captured. With jazz powerhouses like Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry, Dinah Washington, and Anita O’Day, this is both the perfect introduction to the genre if you’re new or the definitive celebration if you’re already a fan.
Where: This film is available on Kanopy, the Library’s streaming app.
Recommended by: Kelvin Cedeño, Library Assistant, Islamorada Library Branch