Eight More Great Kanopy Films

You've probably heard about Kanopy, Carnegie-Stout's streaming movie collection and all of the independent films, documentaries, international films, and children's movies available. If you're not sure how to get started, visit the library's YouTube page to watch a video on how to use Kanopy.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of the great films available on Kanopy and aren't sure what to watch first, I've gathered together another eight great suggestions you can watch this month! If you missed it, be sure to check out the earlier blog post Eight of the Best Films on Kanopy.

• Loving Vincent: In the first fully painted feature film, 2018 Oscar-nominated LOVING VINCENT tells the story of the mysterious and tragic death of the world's most famous artist, Vincent van Gogh.
• Melancholia: Acclaimed filmmaker Lars von Trier grapples with his own experiences with depression in this 2011 dark sci-fi drama and Palme d'Or nominee.
• Mister Rogers: It's You I Like: This 2018 documentary pays tribute to the beloved Fred Rogers and the nearly 900 episodes of his landmark children's television program first seen in 1968 on PBS that continues to resonate with children and adults alike.
• Moonlight: The 2016 Oscar-winner for Best Picture, this is a moving and transcendent look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young man growing up in Miami.

• Nebraska: This 2013 comedic drama about a father and his adult son on a journey to claim a million-dollar prize, from the Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne.
• Oldboy: Director Park Chan-wook's 2003 film of revenge features stunning plot twists and arresting action sequences. 
• Rashomon: Director Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film that investigates the nature of truth and the meaning of justice is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made.
• Robot & Frank: This 2012 film starring Frank Langella and Peter Sarsgaard is the story of an ex-jewel thief who receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team.

-Sarah, Adult Services

Eight of the Best Films on Kanopy

Your Dubuque resident library card gives you access to all sorts of incredible online resources and digital collections, so many that it can be overwhelming sometimes. Carnegie-Stout Public Library staff are here to help, whether you have questions about how to get the technology to work or you need a suggestion for a book, movie, or music you might enjoy!

If you're a movie buff or a fan of educational documentaries, you should definitely check out Kanopy, Carnegie-Stout's streaming movie collection. Need help getting started? Visit the library's YouTube page to watch a video on how to use Kanopy. Not sure what Kanopy has to offer? Keep reading for a list with eight great films available now on Kanopy!

• Bill Cunningham New York is a 2010 documentary of the decades long career of New York Times fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.
• A Cat in Paris is a 2010 nominee for the Academy Award for Best Animated feature about a Parisian cat, and a Parisian cat burglar.
• Florence Foster Jenkins is a 2016 film based on a true story of a woman who dreams of stardom, starring Meryl Streep in an award-nominated performance.
• The Hours is a 2002 film inspired by the works and life of Virginia Woolf, actress Nicole Kidman won the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance.

• Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a 2016 comedy from director Taika Waititi about a child and his uncle on a journey through the New Zealand wilderness.
• I Am Big Bird is a 2015 film about Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer responsible for creating Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
• Lady Bird is a 2017 film by director Greta Gerwig starring Saoirse Ronan in a Golden Globe winning performance as a teen struggling with her mother in her last year of high school.
• Midsommar is a 2019 horror film about an American couple who attend a Swedish festival that hides a sinister secret.

-Sarah, Adult Services

Bingeworthy TV: Red vs. Blue

Red vs.Blue (or RvB) is a series created using voice-over enhanced game play videos from the video game Halo*. So it’s kind of like watching a first-person-shooter video game with dialogue added. This doesn't mean you need to have ever played Halo to enjoy the show!

The show was only supposed to run for one season of six to eight webisodes. RvB had an unexpected popularity and went on for sixteen seasons and five mini-series, becoming the longest running episodic web series of all time.

The show centers on two teams of soldiers (you guessed it): red team and blue team. These teams are fighting what is originally assumed to be a civil war. Each team has a base on the least desirable piece of real estate in the known universe: a box canyon in the middle of nowhere. It seems each team's only reason for having a base in this location is that the other team has a base in this location.

Mostly this show consists of the characters (identically armored people in varying shades of red and blue) arguing with each other. Each team has standing orders to defeat the other and capture the other's flag (because isn’t that what war is all about?), but neither team is much motivated to do anything and only does so grudgingly.

I would give this show an R rating for language. It is definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. The first time I watched it I had no idea what to think other than, "This show is crazy stupid but also crazy funny." I’m not sure I can think of a show in recent memory that has made me laugh as much or shake my head as often as the first five seasons of Red vs. Blue.

~Becca, Technical Services

*Librarian's note: You can also borrow official Halo novels or watch official Halo live-action TV series or the official Halo anime from Carnegie-Stout Public Library.

Bingeworthy TV: Avatar: The Last Airbender

“Water... Earth... Fire... Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his airbending skills are great, he still has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world.”

This is a lot of pressure for a twelve-year-old boy who just came out of an iceberg. Aang, the last of the airbenders and title character of Avatar: The Last Airbender, has been encased in suspended animation for a hundred years. During that time, a war has raged and the Fire Nation has committed genocide against the Air Nomads, leaving Aang as the last of his people. In order to restore balance to the world, Aang has a year to master the remaining three elements. In each nation there are individuals who can “bend” or control their element through psychokinetic martial arts. The avatar is the only person who can master all four elements and is tasked with maintaining peace and order in the world and acting as mediator between humans and spirits.

Aang sets out on his flying bison, Appa, with his new friends Katara and Sokka to find the water, earth, and fire bending teachers so that he can realize his potential as the Avatar and end the war before it is too late. As awesome as this responsibility is, Aang is still a child and finds plenty of time to have fun and get into all kinds of shenanigans while evading and a couple times escaping Fire Nation custody. This show is fun for the whole family; children and adults alike will be riveted by Aang’s adventures, heartbreaks, and transformation into a young man with the weight or the world on his shoulders.

~Becca, Technical Services

Bingeworthy TV: Star Wars Rebels

The animated series Star Wars Rebels takes place 14 years after Revenge of the Sith and 5 years before A New Hope. Galactic forces are getting stronger and Imperial forces are hunting down the remaining Jedi Knights all the while a fledgling rebellion is forming. A crew of rebels unite aboard a ship called The Ghost and their activity takes place around the planet Lothal. Kanan Jarrus, a Jedi Knight, discovers 15-year old orphan Ezra Bridger on Lothal and realizes he has a strong connection to the Force. The rest of the crew includes pilot Hera Syndulla, a Twi'Lek*, Sabine Wren, a 16-year old Mandalorian, Zeb Orrellios, a Lasat honor guard, and Chopper, a C1-10P droid.

I've watched all the Star Wars movies, but I never watched the animated series The Clone Wars.  There are several references to characters from The Clone Wars and some of them even show up on Rebels. Versions of characters from the movies also appear in Rebels. Basically Rebels is the story of what is going on in the universe leading up to and during Rogue One. Fun Fact: A few of the Rebels characters show up in Rogue One. You have to have an eagle eye to see them, but if you want a heads up on when they appear, check out this interview with Lucas Film Story Group's Matt Martin on StarWars.com.   

Initially Ezra is a whinier version of Luke Skywalker. He grows both in character and power as the series progresses. Kanan is a surlier version of Obi Wan Kanobi. He is a reluctant teacher and has a lot of anger over the destruction of the Jedi Order. Hera, Zeb, Sabine, and Chopper round out the cast nicely, each with their own set of skills. As with all the Star Wars movies, I find the droids to be the stars of the show and Chopper is no exception. He/it is a droid with attitude! There are only 4 seasons of Rebels; the last episode aired on March 5, 2018.

If you are wondering how all the Star Wars stories fit chronologically check out this Digital Spy article. The list does contain spoilers.

*There are a lot of different species in the Star Wars universe. Wookipeedia is a great place to go for information. 

~Amy, Adult Services

Bingeworthy TV: Bob's Burgers

Even if you've never seen Bob's Burgers, you probably recognize Louise's pink bunny hat. In fact, the entire Belcher family has been one of the more popular group-costume options in recent years. This is a cartoon with a wider appeal than most due in large part to the great family dynamic at its heart. Though the humor ranges from silly to adult, Bob's Burgers is an overall bright and optimistic show.

I haven't seen every episode of this series, and the episodes that I have watched were almost entirely out of order. This isn't a long-running plot show, but rather a traditional sitcom where no matter how crazy things get, everything returns to almost normal by the end of the episode. So if the Belchers's restaurant is horribly damaged in one episode, everything will be fine by the next. While new viewers aren't punished for jumping in wherever, there are rewards for loyal viewers. You'll discover running jokes and recurring characters who gradually build depth and personality beyond a single gag, .

While I enjoy the visual humor and quick wit, the use of music and original songs are probably my favorite element. In fact, I started watching after a co-worker played a song about Thomas Edison electrocuting an elephant. Not only is it a catchy song, it's hilarious in context. (The song below is an official cover animated in the style of the show.)


~Sarah, Adult Services