Movies & TV

  • A Trio of Unsettling Films

    If you like to escape times of high anxiety in this world by transporting yourself to those of another, here are three psychologically unsettling films you must visit: Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Richard Kelly’s 2001 cult classic, Donnie Darko, about an emotionally unstable high school student who is visited by a large ominous rabbit from… Continue reading

  • Dinner in a Movie: Dining In with SPL Streaming Services

    When our video streaming queue, filled with murder mysteries and whodunnit crime documentaries, no longer looked as inviting, or the pile of books we had brought home stayed unread, or the housework we said was going to get done remains as unfinished as ever, it seems many of us are resorting to the kitchen to… Continue reading

  • Meditation for Tough Times

    We live amongst our stressors and our struggles. Anxiety manifests as feelings, physical symptoms, and in how we connect or disconnect with the people around us. We so often think “I’ll be more relaxed when-” but there is always the journey of getting to “when.” Mindfulness is the practice of finding peace wherever we are,… Continue reading

  • The Story of Film, Part 3: The Golden Age of World Cinema

    The Story of Film, Part 3: The Golden Age of World Cinema

    In the last column exploring Mark Cousin’s The Story of Film, we looked at the early years of Hollywood and the beginnings of what Cousins’ refers to as “the bauble.” This column will focus on what was happening in other countries, where other directors were making films that were very different from Hollywood and featured… Continue reading

  • Hoopla and Chill (with Penguins)

    It seems that the penguin is still a huge mystery to some. Penguins are some of the coolest (no pun intended) creatures around, but the majority of us never have any first-hand experience with them. This is usually due to geographical limitations; however, with our current climate of being stuck indoors, we can now digitally… Continue reading

  • The Story of Film, Part 2: The Hollywood Dream

    The Story of Film, Part 2: The Hollywood Dream

    Our travel through Mark Cousin’s history, The Story of Film, now takes us to the years 1918-1928 and the work of the great American silent comedians. Let’s start with Charlie Chaplin, probably the most famous of all the silent film stars. Like most silent comedians, Chaplin got his start acting and directing in comedy shorts… Continue reading

  • Missing Live Music? We’ve Got You Covered, Part 3

    Welcome back to our Live Music series! We certainly hope you’re hanging in there during these especially strange times. Certainly, one of the best ways to get through a difficult period is through music, and that’s why we’ve been writing this series. The next film in our lineup is one that has a true community… Continue reading

  • Escape to Hoopla!

    Right now the world can be a lot, but Hoopla has something for all ages to escape when you need to check out for a bit. ALL AGES Avatar, the Last Airbender: Fun for the whole family! Ang, the last Airbender, finally comes back to help save the world after being trapped in ice for… Continue reading

  • Reduce Stress with the Library

    There comes a time when it’s best to just turn off the news. With all that’s going on in the world it is easy to get caught up in the 24-hour news circus. However there is also a point when hearing more about what’s happening is no longer giving you any new information, it’s just… Continue reading

  • Films about Obsession Available for Streaming in Kanopy

    These days it’s hard not to be preoccupied with the pandemic. Are you constantly refreshing the news? Stuck on social media? If so, here are three films about obsession to help you get out of your head and into someone else’s. Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo are all in peak form in… Continue reading

  • Missing Live Music? We’ve Got You Covered, Part 2

    Welcome to the second installment of our Live Music series. We hope you enjoyed basking in the glory of all things 1990’s riot grrrl last time. Today, we’re taking a look at the 2015 hip-hop/fashion fusion documentary Fresh Dressed from director Sacha Jenkins, available on Kanopy. Continue reading

  • The Story of Film, Part 1: Birth of the Cinema

    In 2004, Irish film critic Marc Cousins published The Story of Film. Focusing on the history of innovation in cinema, it attempted to explore the full breadth of world filmmaking, discussing the work of artists of all races, genders, and nationalities, including many whose work has gone unacknowledged by mainstream, Hollywood-biased histories. That book became… Continue reading

  • Cinema for the “Queerantine” from Kanopy and Hoopla

    In a time when we are physically disconnected from one another, maybe even from ourselves, watching a film can be a great way to reconnect with the world. For queer folks who feel isolated, watching an LGBTQ+ film can help alleviate that sense of loneliness and reignite a connection to community. And what better time… Continue reading

  • Mental Health during Quarantine

    As someone who struggles with mental health, I know that things have been especially hard while in quarantine. Anxiety is heightened, depression flares up, and a sense of hopelessness can become overwhelming. First, please don’t judge yourself if you feel your mental health is struggling right now. Be gentle with yourself.  You are not alone… Continue reading

  • It Could Always Be Worse

    I don’t know about you, but the idea of being quarantined for a few days sounded like a great idea with all the books and movies I have on my list. Now that I am stir crazy and want to get out of the house that is highly inadvisable, so I decided to put together… Continue reading

  • Missing Live Music? We’ve Got You Covered

    If you’re a live show junkie, Washington’s new “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order might have you feeling a little stir-crazy. Not to worry: we’ll be writing a series of posts that might help you get your music fix with the aid of streaming services like Freegal, Hoopla, and Kanopy.  First up, let’s take a deep… Continue reading

  • Move That Body

    One of the things I noticed the most about being home the first few days of self-isolation was my lack of movement. With gyms and some parks and playgrounds closed, and with more people sheltering in place, innovation began to occur. My local yoga studio started doing free yoga classes online via YouTube. Talking to… Continue reading

  • Stay-at-Home Drive-In Movie Madness!!

    After regular movie theaters have suspended operations, many couples and families have rediscovered Drive-In Movie Theaters, where social distancing is a standard feature! My sister is a drive-in movie buff, and so she and her husband love to go to the Blue Fox Drive-In up on Oak Harbor, one of five still running in our… Continue reading