Thanks to everyone who watched my Instagram Live on some of my favorite movies I've watched on Hoopla and Kanopy recently. If you didn't get a chance to see the video, I've got the movie recommendations here for you! To access these free streaming apps with your library card visit https://www.lakeforestlibrary.org/download-stream/digital-media/movies-music. Both of these services are limited to 10 downloads or streams per month, but they are also offering credit-free streams right now, so you can look for those if you run out of your 10 for the month.
KANOPY FILMS
Kanopy has a great collection of independent, classic, foreign, and Oscar winning films. I just picked three that I've watched recently, but there's a ton of great content in there.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: This is a comedy-drama independent film from 2016. Ben Cash, his wife Leslie and their six children live in the remote Washington wilderness. Ben and Leslie are former left-wing anarchist activists who have chosen to raise their children away from civilization and technology and instead instill them with survivalist skills, left-wing politics, and how to be one with nature. When Leslie is hospitalized and dies, Ben and the rest of the family are forced back into civilization. This movie is heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, and quirky. Definitely a different story.
HEARTS BEAT LOUD: This comedy-drama stars Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson of Parks and Rec) who plays Frank, a former musician who owns a failing vinyl shop in Brooklyn. He is a single father to his daughter Sam after his wife died several years ago in a biking accident. Sam is also musically talented and one night her and Frank record a song together and call it "Hearts Beat Loud". Frank uploads the song to Spotify and it becomes a viral hit. Pretty soon they are offered record contracts, but Frank and Sam both have different life goals and different ideas of what to do with their new found fame. This is a sweet story of the love between a father and daughter.
LADY BIRD: Lady Bird won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in 2017, and it has a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. This film written and directed by Greta Gertwig tells the story of Sacramento high school senior, Christine, who has renamed herself Lady Bird. Lady Bird is determined to go to college on the East Coast, but her parents can't afford it. She struggles in her relationship with her mother, boyfriends, and friends as she finds her place in the world. A great coming-of-age story.
HOOPLA FILMS:
Hoopla has a ton of movies, as well as TV shows, music, eBooks, eAudiobooks and comics. It's a great resource and you never have to wait to rent anything! You can also download content to your device.
A MAN CALLED OVE: This Swedish film based on the popular book by the same title written by Fredrik Backmann was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. It tells the story of Ove, a 60 year old widower who was recently forced into retirement. He is deeply depressed and decides there is nothing left to live for. He decides to hang himself one day when he is interrupted by the new neighbors across the street, and Iranian immigrant family. What unfolds is an unlikely friendship between an old curmudgeon and a young family.
THE FOUNDER: This movie tells the story of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's played by Michael Keaton. Kroc was a milkshake mixer salesman, living a comfortable life in Arlington Heights, Illinois when he heard of a popular well-run drive through restaurant in California called McDonald's. He went out there and convinced the brothers who owned the restaurant to let him franchise it. Kroc stops at nothing to make McDonald's the success it is today. You wouldn't believe the story if it wasn't true!
RETURN TO ME: This rom-com from the early 2000s was filmed in Chicago and is one of my favorite movies! Bob (played by David Duchovny) is an architect who loses his wife in a tragic car accident in the beginning of the movie. Her heart is donated and transplanted to Gracie (played by Minnie Driver), an artist and waitress. When the two meet at a neighborhood restaurant they are instantly drawn to one another. It isn't until later that they discover that Gracie was the recipient of Bob's wife's heart. This is a sweet story of finding love again after heartache.