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.
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