I like things that are free.
I like libraries.
Libraries have free things.
Things like our amazing streaming service, Kanopy. Commerce Township cardholders get 15 credits each month to spend on this video-streaming service. There is a staggering array of films from around the world, from throughout film history, and in a lovely array of genres to choose from. Films tend to be 2, 3, or 4 credits for each checkout. TV series are usually 3, 4, or 5 credits each. Most checkouts have a 2 to 7-day window in which to watch.
Below, I listed how I spent my 15 credits during the month of August. I’ve added to my watch-list since then, and it seems grow longer and longer by the day. With new movies being added to Kanopy each month, it will be tough for me to run out of options.
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999) starring Natasha Leone and Clea Duvall
1h25m
2 tickets; 72-hour access
13 tickets left
This delightfully frothy confection of queer cinema pairs nicely with other camp classics like Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Die Mommie Die (2003), Polyester (1981), Valley of the Dolls (1967), and Psycho Beach Party (2000). But I’m a Cheerleader is filled with bright colors, thoughtful characters, and an unbelievable cast which include pre-stardom Melanie Lynskey and Michelle Williams, plus that amazing. RuPaul. Something that really struck me about this film is that while the candy-colored stage and costume design indicate a 1960s setting, the world in a broader context is meant to be contemporaneous to the 1990s. On top of being a fun visual motif, it indicated the archaic nature of homophobia and concealing one’s authenticity to appease a slow-to-progress society at large.
Endless Night (1972) starring Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett
1h39m
2 tickets; 72-hour access
11 tickets left
The first glimpse we get of Hayley Mills depicts her literally frolicking through a verdant meadow. One would expect an attempt to distance oneself from one’s Heidi roots, but one digresses. Endless Night is based on the late-in-her-career Agatha Christie novel of the same name, and I am a total sucker for her work. I am also extremely suspicious of all Christie protagonists, so I had my eye on ol’ Hywel from the start. A big, fancy house is at the center of this plot. It features a room whose floor opens up to reveal a swimming pool and I got pretty hung up thinking of how damp and musty everything must be. Lots of fun, but slow moving in spots. Anyone who watches Mystery on PBS will enjoy this movie.
Galaxy Quest (1999) starring Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver
1h42m
2 tickets; 72-hour access
9 tickets left
I’ve always been a fan of Star Trek, and really anything remotely sci-fi. There’s something special about a movie meant to parody Star Trek, but ends up becoming a cult hit that’s cherished to this day. The movie stars Tim Allen as a parody of William Shatner. He plays Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, and often attends sci-fi conferences where he’s a beloved celebrity. Now, twenty years later, aliens under attack have mistaken the Galaxy Quest television transmissions for "historical documents" and beam up the crew of has-been actors to save the universe. If you recognize Tony Shaloub from the TV show Monk, he’s the incredibly funny scene-stealing ship’s engineer. Even if you aren’t a fan of Star Trek, this movie is funny enough to keep you… engaged.
Dragnet (1951) written, directed, and starring Jack Webb
4h23m (10 episodes)
4 tickets; 5-day access
5 tickets left
I love police procedurals and Dragnet feels like the granddaddy of every police procedural ever made. Dragnet originated as a radio show, which shines through the dialogue of the televised version. I loved the black and white early fifties film stock. The print they used for digitization included a lot of cool artifacts (flaws in the film like faded stock, scratches, and distortion) which lends some good 1950s verisimilitude. I thought the plotting would be more stilted and conservative, but I found these ten episodes thrilling and thoughtful.
The Escape Artist (2013) starring David Tennant
2h53m (three episodes)
3 tickets; 72-hour access
2 tickets left
An English limited series starring David Tennant as a talented junior barrister? Total no-brainer! Although, had I used more brain power initially I would have realized I had already watched this ten years ago when it first aired on PBS. It took me the better part of the first episode to come to this realization. Note to self, I can reliably re-watch tv series after 10 years and it will be a semi-novel experience. At least I only burned 3 tickets. Even though this was originally on PBS, some of the themes can be mature and violent in nature, so beware. It is fantastic though.
Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) directed by Thom Anderson
2h53m
2 tickets; 72-hour access
0 tickets left
Documentaries about film and film history are one of my favorite things in the world. This near 3-hour long meditation on films set in Los Angeles takes us through neighborhoods and architecture that no longer exist. We learn about the Zoot Suit Riots and Angel’s Flight and Bunker Hill and how the myth of Hollywood will always overshadow the city of Los Angeles. Anderson clearly loves the city he grew up in. There’s this famous Roman Polanski quote: “Los Angeles is the most beautiful city in the world, as long as it’s seen at night and from a distance.” Los Angeles Plays Itself is a full-throated, and effective rebuttal to this sentiment. For being 20+ years old, this is a progressive doc in which racial and economic factors in the Hollywood machine are considered and discussed.
Stray observations and criticisms:
When watching a tv series there is no autoplay option that I could find. I had to back up to the episode list and scroll down to find where I’d left off. THEN one must click to select the episode, and then click the little “play now” symbol. Not intuitive, and can be sort of confusing, but I can overlook this because it’s a free service. If this was a PAID subscription, this would bother me more.
The “Browse” feature forces the user to scroll horizontally, so only six or so film titles are visible at a time in any particular category. I like to scroll vertically, and the horizontal scrolling has this annoying way of cutting off the film listed on the far right-hand side of the screen. I will say I prefer Kanopy’s interface over whatever the hell is going on at Disney+.
Keep in mind I am using Kanopy as a child-free adult. Children’s programming on Kanopy is free, Free, FREE for families, but I do not have any base of knowledge about what’s available and worthwhile. If streaming is not your bag, Commerce Twp Community Library is home to a delightful and diverse collection of DVDs and BluRay.
Anyway, I hope you found this useful. If you have any further questions about Kanopy, don’t hesitate to call or visit your librarians at the Commerce Township Community Library reference desk.
