We’re back again with another guide to some of the best movies you can now stream at home for free using your library card!
SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER
Alan is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. But he’s spent years searching tirelessly for his missing son, Michael, who stormed out over a game of Scrabble. With a body to identify and his family torn apart, Alan must repair the relationship with his youngest son and identify an online player who he thinks could be Michael, so he can finally move on and reunite his family.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“There’s a terrific ensemble — including Ella-Grace Gregoire as a girl Jack has a crush on — but it’s Nighy who will have you enthralled. He delivers a subtle, nuanced performance that allows the actor to shine while in full support of his costars.” – Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
“This film is a distinct, articulate pleasure.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Director Carl Hunter infuses Sometimes Always Never with creative visual touches, whether he’s using graphics to illustrate certain Scrabble words, or shooting a poignant scene through a patterned glass door, so we feel the emotions of the character in question just through the movement of his silhouette.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
Available Formats:
Hoopla Streaming
CAPONE
Once a ruthless businessman and bootlegger who ruled Chicago with an iron fist, Alfonse Capone (Tom Hardy) was the most infamous and feared gangster of American lore. At the age of 47, following nearly a decade of imprisonment, dementia rots Alfonse’s mind and his past becomes present. Harrowing memories of his violent and brutal origins melt into his waking life. As he spends his final year surrounded by family with the FBI lying in wait, this ailing patriarch struggles to place the memory of the location of millions of dollars he hid away on his property.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Trank’s had to suffer a lot to get to make his art, and Capone is one of the most bravely singular and uncommon films you’ll see this year.” – Scout Tafoya, Consequence of Sound
“Capone is an ambitious, impressive film. But there’s a bittersweetness to it, too.” – Karen Han, Polygon
“Hardy is half of why Capone works. The other is Trank, the wunderkind whose nuanced 2012 superhero movie Chronicle showcased tons of potential that then was questioned with the disastrous Fantastic Four and the loss of a Star Wars film in its aftermath.” – Brian Truitt, USA Today
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
CAPITAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Based on the international bestseller by economist Thomas Piketty, this documentary is an eye-opening journey through wealth and power, a film that breaks the popular assumption that the accumulation of capital runs hand in hand with social progress, and shines a new light on today’s growing inequalities. Traveling through time, the film assembles accessible pop-culture references coupled with interviews of some of the world’s most influential experts delivering an insightful and empowering journey through the past and into our future.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Capital in the 21st Century, in documentary form, is an almost overwhelming alarm bell, a call to action and a fact, chart, animated illustration-and-quote-stuffed history of ‘how we got here’ in the first place.” – Roger Moore, Movie Nation
“This is a movie that provokes a consistent sense of ‘Whoa!’ By the end, you’ll know with greater clarity than you did before why we’re in the mess we’re in.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“The film’s timing is fortuitous, as a worldwide calamity might conceivably make governments more receptive to Piketty’s proposals for redistribution and reform. But it leaves one wishing for a longer-form project.” – John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
PINK WALL
Six scenes. Six years. Six moments that shaped the relationship of Jenna and Leon. Pink Wall examines what defines us, the pressures of gender expectations, and our perpetual struggle between life and ambition.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“It’s not the first of its kind, but compelling performances allow this portrait of a romance a genuine sense of passion. Under Tom Cullen’s sensitive, empathetic direction, this deeply felt picture never loses sight of its people.” – Ella Kemp, Empire
“There may not be much to Pink Wall that you haven’t seen in a dozen other indies about millennials in crisis, but Cullen’s woozy and ultra-watchable debut plunges straight into the heart of the matter, and leaves you wondering what parts of your own relationship might be just beyond your field of vision.” – David Ehrlich, IndieWire
“Though Pink Wall rarely breaks new ground in its focus on the evolution of a couple’s relationship, Cullen’s truly raw, intimate approach helps it feel fresher than it might have otherwise.” – Kimber Myers, The Playlist
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
STONEHEARST ASYLUM
Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess), a recent medical school grad, takes a position at a mental institution and soon finds himself taken with one of his colleagues — though he has no initial idea of a recent, horrifying staffing change.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“A spirited gothic tale, played with welcome black humour.” – Kim Newman, Empire
“Between its distinctly modern intelligence and razor-sharp plotting, Anderson’s clever contraption matches the heights of Gothic grandeur that keep Poe held in esteem today.” – Charles Bramesco, The Dissolve
“With Stonehearst Asylum, director Brad Anderson doles out a vintage Halloween treat — a straightforward Poe adaptation of the sort that Vincent Price used to star in — and gives it a freshness and complexity that make it a delight.” – Rod Staeger, Village Voice
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
UNFINISHED SONG
Grumpy retiree Arthur honors his recently deceased wife’s passion for performing by joining the unconventional local choir, a process that helps him connect with his estranged son, James.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“There’s not too much sentiment, but not too little, either. Just enough to make you feel misty-eyed in a way that doesn’t necessarily indicate incipient glaucoma.” – Bruce Ingram, Chicago Sun-Times
“It’s not exactly giving away anything to reveal that Stamp also sings three numbers in Unfinished Song — the last one so stirring that you should bring at least one box of Kleenex.” – Lou Lumenick, New York Post
“Stamp’s award-caliber performance as a closed-off man on the brink of turning into stone is a miracle of subtlety and feeling. This is acting of the highest order. Redgrave partners him superbly, bringing warmth and nurturing humor to a role she refuses to play for easy tears.” – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Available Formats:
Hoopla Streaming
BULL
After trashing her neighbor’s house in a reckless teen rage, Kris is forced to help her neighbor, Abe Turner an ex-bull rider scraping by on the Texas rodeo circuit. While traveling with Abe, Kris discovers a passion for bull riding. Together, Kris and Abe forge an unexpected connection, helping each other see new possibilities and hope for the future before it’s too late.
Description provided by Kanopy.
“The patient, observant camera captures the sensitive performances by Havard and Morgan, and they are never less than eloquent and honest.” – Nell Minnow, RogerEbert.com
“This movie has a rare sense of place. It preserves an entire world and the fragile people within it.” – Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times
“Set in the unfamiliar world of African-American backyard rodeos, Annie Silverstein’s Bull handles hot-button issues with a cool eye and a calming tone.” – Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
INHERITANCE
A patriarch of a wealthy and powerful family suddenly passes away, leaving his wife and daughter with a shocking secret inheritance that threatens to unravel and destroy their lives.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Like a good thriller, Inheritance draws you in and takes you right into the middle of the action. Then when it’s all over, you’ll want to revisit it as soon as possible to pick up on all the little details and clues. It feels real, which adds to the intensity.” – Alan Ng, Film Threat
“Lily Collins and especially Simon Pegg sell the sometimes preposterous nature of this flick and make it work, more often than not.” – Hollywood News
“Vaughn Stein has crafted a unique and generally satisfying thriller with Inheritance.” – JimmyO, JoBlo’s Movie Network
Available Formats:
Hoopla Streaming
BANANA SPLIT
April (Hannah Marks) has spent the last two years of high school in a relationship with Nick (Dylan Sprouse), from first frantic make-out session to final tear-stained breakup. In the aimless summer between graduation and college, the newly single April mends her heartbreak by striking up an unexpected friendship with an unlikely candidate: Nick’s new girlfriend, Clara (Liana Liberato).
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Bolstered by a thoughtful script and beautifully authentic performances, Banana Split provides a fresh take on the coming-of-age romantic comedy.” – Hannah Hoolihan, Screen Rant
“Even the most egregious issues of the film are quickly forgiven when Marks and Liberto are on the screen. Prepare to be delighted by their interactions and relationship, transporting you back to the times you would needlessly drive long distances on impromptu adventures just to spend time with your best friend.” – Charles Barfield, The Playlist
“Fundamentally, Banana Split isn’t about making unexpected friendships under antithetical circumstances, but about figuring out how to maintain them no matter what difficulties it encounters. It’s an honest film, and unabashedly fun, with a really kickass soundtrack as a bonus.” – Andrew Crump, Paste
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF
Alex Gibney profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, whose most prominent adherents include A-list Hollywood celebrities, shining a light on how the church cultivates true believers, including their experiences and what they are willing to do in the name of religion. The film covers a broad range of material from the church’s origins—punctuated by an intimate portrait of founder L. Ron Hubbard—to present-day practices and alleged abuses as reported in the media.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“If Going Clear were a Hollywood thriller, I’d complain that it’s too over-the-top. But this is real life, which is hard to believe. And it’s disturbingly good.” – Melissa Maerz, Entertainment Weekly
“This impeccably assembled and argued film represents a brave, timely intervention into debates around the organization that have been simmering for some time.” – Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter
“For a group with property assets in the billions, it’s a major piece of the puzzle, revealing a critical failing: For a religion with so much to give, why do they do so little for so few?” – Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
UPSIDE DOWN
Adam and Eden live on twinned worlds with gravities that pull in opposite directions. Their budding but illicit romance ends when Eden suffers an apparently fatal fall. But when Adam learns she is alive and working at a vast corporation whose towering headquarters connects their planets, he sets out on a dangerous quest to reconnect with her.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“True originality is so rare that it’s a treat to welcome a movie as completely different and provocative as Upside Down. It’s unlike anything you have ever seen.” – Rex Reed, Observer
“At a time when so many movies look alike, and studio productions sometimes look aggressively ugly, here’s a quirky vision at the intersection of sci-fi and romance. Upside Down can be beguiling if you’re willing to invert disbelief.” – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
“Simply put, this is one of the craziest films to come along in a while and I can confidently say that anyone who sees it will either hail it is some kind of crackpot masterpiece or dismiss it as one of the silliest damn things they’ve ever seen.” – Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
DIVOS!
Egos collide when a self-proclaimed “Broadway Legend” is forced to share the spotlight with the school’s star athlete in the high school musical.
Description provided by Hoopla.
“Becomes a completely unexpected kind of film that’s much smarter and much wiser than I think people might be expecting.” – Wade Major, NPR Los Angeles
“I have seen far worse than DIVOS! and to be honest, there is a lot to enjoy. Check your standards at the door if you want to enjoy this candy-flossed high school romp.” – Norman Gidney, Film Threat
“Taking a broad approach, this fast and silly comedy backs up the nuttiness with some serious undertones, which helps make the diverse ensemble of goofy characters genuinely engaging.” – Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Available Formats:
Hoopla Streaming
LIQUID TRUTH
Alex is a young boy on the swimming team. His dad is gruff, seemingly always disappointed he never gets first place. Noticing that the father’s pressure has been affecting Alex’s behavior, Coach Rubens tries to offer emotional support. Extremely outgoing, he’s widely popular with the kids. But the personal attention becomes questionable when Alex’s mother says her son confessed that Rubens was inappropriate with him in the locker room.
Description provided by Kanopy.
“Azul Serra’s crisp, desaturated handheld style feels coolly removed from the creeping hysteria it presents, but catches telling details…” – Jessica Kiang, The Playlist
“…Liquid Truth delivers a satisfying cinematic experience…” – Jay Weissberg, Variety
“…this is a bold piece of work with a lot to say.” – Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
PROM NIGHT
At a high school senior prom, a masked killer stalks four teenagers who were responsible for the accidental death of a classmate six years previously.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“A slow-moving but otherwise efficient Canadian B-movie that gives the audience what it came for: blood and guts (the title, coincidentally, of Lynch’s previous film). It is similar but inferior to Carrie, Halloween and When a Stranger Calls; it is similar but superior to Friday the 13th.” – Jay Scott, The Globe and Mail
“Fresh from being terrorized in Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis stars in this slasher clone set to the wonderful thump of disco music. Prom Night is better than most slasher movies, mainly because it’s funnier.” – TV Guide
“…the visual trick-or-treat of slow revenge is entertaining enough: a weirdo janitor dribbling at the window; the victim’s year book photos pinned with shards of shattered mirror. Jamie Lee Curtis is superb as Miss Naturally Popular and Prom Queen-to-be, isolated in empty high school corridors.” – Time Out London
Available Formats:
Kanopy Streaming
37-TEEN
Billionaire software mogul, Adam Pi, has everything in life with the exception of positive memories from High School. He reluctantly goes to his 20th year reunion, has an amazing time, and finds himself wondering “If I knew then what I know now…” and offers the entire grad class one year’s salary to come back and do one more month of High School. What could possibly go wrong?
Description provided by Hoopla.
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