What I’ve Been Watching Fall 2025 Edition

Posted on November 21, 2025November 20, 2025 by Molly

Here is a list of movies I watched this fall and what I thought about them and what you should also watch or watch instead. Many of the movies came off of the New York Times list of the best films of the 21st century, so far. Get your free access to the NYT courtesy of Mead Library by clicking HERE if you’d like to see the list for yourself.

Memories of Murder (2003) dir. Bong Joon Ho
Rural South Korean detectives struggle and fail to bring a serial murderer to justice. Based on true events. This is a must-watch for disciples of international film, true crime, Bong Joon Ho, and Song Kang-Ho. Gripping, disturbing, gorgeous, and frustrating.

Companion movies: The Bone Collector (1999); Frenzy (1972); LA Confidential (1997); Zodiac (2007)

Michael Clayton (2007) starring George Clooney and Tilda Swinton
Fancy attorney “fixer” Michael Clayton must figure out who is killing off everyone related to a multi-billion dollar lawsuit in this taught thriller because he might be next. Great cast. Beautifully shot. Slick narrative devices. Morally grey protagonists. This baby has really got it all.

Companion movies: Collateral (2004); Erin Brockovich (2000); The Insider (1999); Nightcrawler (2014)

Spotlight (2015) starring Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams
The incredible, harrowing, and heartbreaking true story of the Boston Globe breaking the Catholic sex abuse scandal in 2001. This won the Oscar for Best Picture and rightly so. We will be discussing this film at the Feb. 2026 meeting of Movie Club. I am screening it that week, too, check the calendar for details. I watched this slack-jawed and all in one go, and while my mouth is often slack, it is rare that I watch an entire movie all in one sitting.

Companion movies: Broadcast News (1987); Conclave (2024); Doubt (2008); Mystic River (2003)

Black Orpheus (1959) dir. Marcel Camus
A fabulous retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice set against the colorful backdrop of Carnival in Rio with an all-black cast. This dreamy interpretation captured international attention and was awarded the Palme D’or at Cannes.

Companion movies: Singin’ In the Rain (1952); The Red Shoes (1948); Touki Bouki (1973); The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1967)

The Intouchables (2011) dir. Olivier Nakache
Sweet and unexpected buddy comedy in which a good natured recidivist stumbles into employment as the caretaker of a wealthy quadriplegic aristocrat. Worlds collide here to great effect. There is an American remake starring Hal from Malcolm in the Middle and that little fella from Jumanji. I haven’t seen it and cannot attest to its charm or lack thereof. It’s called The Upside (2017).

Companion movies: Amelie (2001); The Bucket List (2007); Captain Fantastic (2016); Notting Hill (1999)

The Menu (2022) starring Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy
A chef and his staff at the height of their celebrity and abilities have a strange reaction to the lofty position they have attained. This one gets bloody but it’s FUNNy blood, you guys. No it isn’t actually. Trigger warning, you guys, actually.

Companion movies: Pig (2021); Ready or Not (2019); Saltburn (2023); Triangle of Sadness (2022)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) starring Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson
Large British men do man things in the service of His Royal Majesty during WWII. Although there were several Large Men featured throughout, I found the movie to be inexplicably boring despite looking slick as heck. What a waste of Large Men and their various abilities. I would watch Alan Ritchson grout tile tho, to be fair. Stick to Ritchie’s early work like Snatch (2000) and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).

Companion movies: The Dirty Dozen (1967); The Great Escape (1963); Inglorious Basterds (2009); Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

All of the movies listed above are available in the Monarch catalog on DVD, BluRay, and/or streaming formats. Don’t forget to check Kanopy and Hoopla when looking for something to watch. Are none of the titles I listed appealing? Consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Movies film-recommendation tool. Take a look HERE. We also offer a book recommendation tool Your Next Five Books if movies are not appealing at the moment.

Film, Horror

Just Some Good Horror Movies

Posted on October 24, 2025October 9, 2025 by Sydney Anderson

There’s nothing like watching a scary movie when fall is in the air. Every year, horror buffs look forward to the countdown to Halloween, when it’s socially acceptable to binge-watch as many horror movies as you want, and even the squeamish might give the genre a try. Today’s list isn’t complicated. It’s just a selection of horror films, all available at Mead, that I really liked, and that I hope you’ll like too. One quick note: these are the preferences of a long-time horror aficionado – viewer discretion is advised for all of these selections. With that out of the way, let’s get started!

Stopmotion

Stopmotion follows Ella, creative assistant to her mother Suzanne, a celebrated stop-motion animator. Ella yearns to find her own artistic voice, but she’s been smothered by Suzanne’s personal and professional mistreatment. When Suzanne’s health takes a turn for the worse, a mysterious young girl begins to haunt Ella. The apparition encourages her to abandon her mother’s unfinished film and tell a different, very macabre story. Ella thinks she’s found her chance to come into her own – until the film begins to haunt her. Stopmotion is a brilliant work of psychological horror – I was literally on the edge of my seat by the end. I really appreciate how the film doesn’t overexplain itself. It’s left up to interpretation whether the haunting represents Ella’s abusive upbringing, the toll of her devotion to art, fear of mortality triggered by her mother’s failing health, or something else entirely. Furthermore, the stop-motion animation sections of the film impress, both on a technical level and in scare factor. Stopmotion is a good story well told, capable of sending shivers up a jaded horror buff’s spine, and it absolutely deserves a place on your watchlist.

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Film, Horror, Uncategorized

Vampire Cinema

Posted on September 19, 2025September 16, 2025 by Sydney Anderson

In my opinion, it’s never too early to start thinking about the scary movies you’re going to watch in the lead-up to Halloween. Vampires are having a bit of a moment right now, so there’s no better time to explore the history of one of the most iconic and enduring subgenres of horror cinema. Unfortunately, it would be pretty much impossible to cover the entire history of vampire movies in a single blog post: there are just too many great ones! So, with the acknowledgement that any short list of vampire movies will also necessarily be an incomplete one, I’d like to use this space to talk about a few of my favorites. Let’s get started!

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula is indisputably the grandfather of the modern vampire story, and I thought for a while about which of its’ many, many cinematic adaptations should go on this list. Should I spotlight F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, the loose adaptation of Dracula that invented the vampire film genre as we know it today? Or should I highlight the legendary performance of Bela Lugosi? How about Christopher Lee? While those are all great options, in the end I decided on this 1992 adaptation by Francis Ford Coppola. Forget what you’ve heard about Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker, because this movie also features excellent performances from Gary Oldman as Dracula, Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, Winona Rider as Mina Harker, and Tom Waits (!) as Renfield. This take on the story departs from Stoker’s novel in that it explores the idea of a potential romantic connection between Dracula and Mina Harker. No matter how you feel about the adaptational changes to the original story, this film is undeniably stylish. With Coppola’s directorial touch, a haunting score by Wojciech Kilar and gorgeous Oscar-nominated costumes by Eiko Ishioka, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is nothing short of an unforgettable cinematic experience .

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Adult, Film, Horror

Horror Movies for Mother’s Day?

Posted on May 9, 2025April 30, 2025 by Sydney Anderson

Hear me out. There are a couple reasons why you might want to watch a scary movie on Mother’s Day. Firstly, maybe your mom just likes horror movies! But if I may put my film nerd hat on for a second, one of the most important tricks in the horror toolkit is taking something people typically think of as safe and comforting and making it frightening. When a director or a screenwriter focuses on familial relationships alongside or within the scares, they can reliably create a memorably chilling cinematic experience. The following films include scared moms, scary moms, and sometimes both, and all of them are excellent picks for any horror fan at any time of year.

Alien

The Xenomorph, the iconic creation of artist H.R. Giger, is technically only doing what comes naturally for the propagation of her species. Unfortunately, that involves using the crew of the Nostromo as hosts. Only Ellen Ripley may have the strength not only to survive, but to fight back. In the forty-six years (!) since this film’s release, Alien has become the gold standard for sci-fi horror. Anchored by Sigourney Weaver’s unforgettable protagonist, the film provides both spine-tingling suspense and heart-pounding adrenaline rushes. The Xenomorph may be one of the all-time feats of cinematic creature design. As far as the film’s applicability to Mother’s Day, the sequel just so happens to contain one of the most iconic Mama Bear one-liners in all of cinema. You know the one.

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Film, Uncategorized

From Stage to Screen

Posted on March 14, 2025March 5, 2025 by Sydney Anderson

Movie musicals are having a bit of a moment right now, best illustrated by the smash success of Wicked. Speaking as a theatrical aficionado, I couldn’t be happier. That being said, I think it’s a bit of a shame that compared to movie musicals past and present, movies based on plays tend to fall by the wayside. After all, where better to see capital-A Acting than with a script meant to be performed live? If you’re interested in seeing world-class performers and great scripts, check out these movies based on plays, selected from Mead Public Library’s catalog.

Amadeus

First thing’s first: this movie’s depiction of the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri isn’t remotely historically accurate. That said, this movie’s version makes for an incredible story. Based on a play by Peter Shaffer adapted from an even earlier play by Alexander Pushkin, this film imagines that Salieri was consumed by jealousy over Mozart’s genius. Salieri, portrayed by F. Murray Abraham in an Oscar-winning performance, falls deeper into resentment and obsession until he finally begins to plot murder. I have to lay all my cards on the table here: this is one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s visually enchanting, and the performances from F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce deserve every bit of their acclaim. I’m also a particular fan of how the soundtrack expertly weaves Mozart’s music into the intrigue. In addition to Abraham’s Best Actor win, the film won Best Picture, Best Director, and much more at the 1985 Academy Awards. I could go on all day, but ultimately, I simply adore this movie, and I hope you will too.

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Fantasy, Film, Uncategorized

’80s Fantasy Movies

Posted on December 6, 2024November 14, 2024 by Sydney Anderson

When you think of a fantasy film, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many people, the answer will be Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, for good reason – those movies are great. However, there’s a whole history of beautiful, imaginative fantasy films that came out before that. As a fan of all forms of fantasy, I thought I’d take the opportunity to spotlight some of the great fantasy films of the 1980s available at Mead Public Library. For some readers, these will be nostalgic old favorites, but for others, they’ll be brand new discoveries. I hope you find both something old and something new to love on this list!

Labyrinth

When I say “1980s fantasy film”, there’s a good chance this is the first movie you think of, and it’s not hard to see why. David Bowie’s performance as The Goblin King, who punishes teenager Sarah for a careless wish by trapping her brother at the heart of a surreal and treacherous labyrinth, is nothing short of iconic. Bowie also lent his voice to the film’s soundtrack, from the playful “Magic Dance” to the dreamy “As The World Falls Down” to the haunting “Within You”, which in my opinion has got to be one of the most underrated cinematic villain songs of all time. The film is also visually gorgeous, from the costumes to the Jim Henson Company’s puppetry, which populates the Goblin King’s realm with a panoply of fantastical creatures. This film is incredibly rewatchable even if you nearly know it by heart, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’ll be lucky enough to have the joy of experiencing it for the first time.

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Adult, Film, Nonfiction

Non-fiction in the DVD Department

Posted on October 27, 2023October 26, 2023 by Molly

The DVD collection at Mead is fascinating. It honestly doesn’t matter what we add to the shelf, it tends to circulate like crazy. I replaced a copy of Harry and the Hendersons last year because the one we had in the catalog circulated OVER THREE HUNDRED TIMES and had been in the collection since 2008, which is bonkers that it played at all by that point (typically a disc is evaluated for condition after 100 circulations, we weren’t born in a barn over here). What I’m getting at, is that this collection doesn’t require a lot of promotion to maintain good circulation numbers. The exception being the non-fiction DVD portion of this collection. It’s arranged by Dewey Decimal, just like the print non-fiction, which makes browsing more difficult. There are comedy specials, nature shows, history lessons, musicals and concerts, you name it, to be found among the non-fiction DVDs. This is also where the documentaries live.

I wanted to give the documentaries a little more visibility apart from the wall of difficult-to-parse spine labels. The discerning Mead Library patron will notice a two-sided display adjacent to where the DVD collection is shelved on our first floor. On one side is a dazzling array of BluRay discs, another collection area that I wanted to highlight, and on the opposite side I have placed a rotating selection of non-fiction DVDs for your browsing convenience and delight. Below, I listed several docs that are total bangers. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and in the case of Dear Zachary, you’ll curl into the fetal position and cry a lot. Titles are linked to the Monarch catalog listing. Descriptions provided by publisher:

Paris is Burning (1991) directed by Jennie Livingston

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade?
This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, it offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion ‘houses,’ from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. PS: Mead owns the Criterion Collection version of this documentary so it will be extra fabulous.

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008) directed by Kurt Kuenne

I am not providing the publisher description here because it’s better to be devastated in real time while watching. Bring kleenex and prozac, and hug your loved ones close. Suffice to say, this particular documentary is excellent as well as devastating.

Gates of Heaven (1978) directed by Errol Morris

Errol Morris changed the face of documentary filmmaking in the US, and his career began with a remarkable tale of American eccentricity. He uses two Southern California pet cemeteries as the basis for a profound and funny rumination on love, loss, and industry.

Summer of Soul (2021) directed by Questlove
In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary, part music film, part historical record, created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion.

Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was largely forgotten, until now. This documentary shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past, and present. The feature includes concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension, and more.

Koyaanisqatsi (1982) directed by Godfrey Reggio

This first work of The Qatsi Trilogy wordlessly surveys the rapidly changing environments of the Northern Hemisphere, in an astonishing collage created by the director, cinematographer Ron Fricke, and composer Philip Glass. It shuttles viewers from one jaw-dropping vision to the next, moving from images of untouched nature to others depicting human beings’ increasing dependence on technology.

The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1994) directed by Ray Müller

At the heart of this film is the question of whether Leni Riefenstahl was a Nazi, as her detractors claim, or whether she was the victim of society – a naïve, young woman who made Triumph des Willens on assignment, and simply did a very good job. This film does not judge, and Riefenstahl (a feisty 90 during production) is genuine in her protest. Or has the passage of 50-plus years simply rewritten history in her mind? Viewers must judge for themselves.

Additional totally awesome, informative, and entertaining documentaries:

Crumb (1994) directed by Terry Zwigoff
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) directed by Penelope Spheeris (we also have Vol. 2 and 3)
Encounters at the End of the World (2008) directed by Werner Herzog
Grey Gardens (1976) directed by Albert Maysles et al
Hitchcock/Truffaut (1966) directed by François Truffaut
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011) directed by David Gelb
Life Itself (2014) directed by Steve James
Man on Wire (2008) directed by James Marsh

Not so keen on reality? Check out these mockumentaries:

Best in Show (2001) directed by Christopher Guest
Borat (2007) directed by Larry Charles
CB4 (1993) directed by Tamra Davis
Room 237 (2012) directed by Rodney Ascher; note, this was filmed as a straight documentary, but the contents cannot be taken seriously despite my best efforts.
This is Spinal Tap (1984) directed by Rob Reiner
What We Do in the Shadows (2014) directed by Taika Waititi

The above selections are a mere sliver of what riches await you within the non-fiction DVD collection. If none of the listed documentaries are appealing, allow me to direct your attention to our exclusive movie recommendation tool, Your Next Five Movies. Not a fan of the celluloid medium? Consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Books tool. We anxiously await your DVD requests. Any questions can be directed to us via telephone at 920-459-3400 option 4, or email us at publicservices@meadpl.org.

Adult, Award Winners, Film

Get Ready for the 2023 Oscars!

Posted on March 4, 2023March 13, 2023 by Aubrey

We are now days away from the 95th Oscars. Whether you’re planning on rolling out your own red carpet or you prefer to just look at the award’s results, here are some other ways you can tap into the Hollywood spirit.

Print off your 2023 ballot!

Click here for a printable ballot. You can keep track of your own guesses or make this into an ultimate ballot battle! Don’t forget that the library offers both black and white and colored printing for a small fee.

Check out Everything Everywhere All at Once... and most of the other best picture best nominees.

I am guessing that Everything Everywhere All at Once will win best picture but you never know… While many of the nominated titles are in too popular to be on our shelves, you can request titles that are high demand or that Mead doesn’t have by using our online catalog. Gone are the days of needing to find something on the shelf; we have this tool as a way to make sure that you get the library items you need.

Read about Oscar history

Click here to view a list of books about the Academy Awards!

Get a Movie Geek Box

Another way to let out your inner cinephile! A Movie Geek Box will take a movie you love and give you even more! Additional reading, music, thematic tie-ins, and games are just some of the examples. See the whole list and place the tiles on hold HERE.

Steam other movies on Kanopy

Unlock even more films and shorts by past and present Oscar winners by creating your Kanopy streaming account. All you need is your Mead Library card to unlock these special screenings.

Check out a soundtrack

Listen to the music of the movies! Swing on by CD collection or listen select soundtracks on Hoopla, a great e-content resource all Mead Public Library card holders have access to.

And the award goes to… you! Because with a library card, we are all winners.

Uncategorized

A Shameless Plug For A24 Movies

Posted on September 16, 2022October 14, 2022 by Aubrey

Fun fact: when I’m out and about and see anything that features an “A” and “24”, I feel a jolt of excitement. No matter where I am, I’ll whip out my phone and snap a photo of this occasion. The picture gets put on my Instagram where I tag the account @a24. I enjoy that I’m far from the only cinephile that does this.

This, my friends, is the power of A24!

Let me explain.

A24 is, at its simplest form, a film company. The company does both production and distribution of films. (Fun history: This wasn’t always the case; A24 started off as just a distribution company.) I believe that A24 is important, even crucial, to the world of cinema. A24 excels at bringing diverse movies into the world. They work hard to have diverse casting, strong female leads, debuting directors, and so many different kinds of stories. A24 has a lineup of movies that spans across literally all genres! Honestly, the most common theme with A24’s movies is that they’re probably going to be hella unique. While I don’t love every A24 movie made, I will happily try out any film their logo is on.

To me, it’s crucial to support a group promoting fresh story ideas and diversity. I hope this is important to you, too.

To watch a plethora of A24 films, check out Mead’s wicked video collection or Kanopy, a library provided movie streaming service. Both are amazing, free options! Not sure where to begin in the A24 catalog? Check out my list of recommended A24 films below!

Eighth Grade
Want to relive the horror of eighth grade? Me either. Still, this film perfectly captures the awkwardness, humor, and heart of an eighth grade girl.

Ex Machina
Would you go on a work trip to see the newest technology breakthroughs if you had to sign a non-disclosure agreement? Our main character says sure. Things get complicated when he meets the almost human AI, Ava.

Moonlight
Best picture winner following an African-American boy growing up.

Under the Silver Lake
A modern Hollywood mystery with Andrew Garfield learning some weird sh*t after his neighbor disappears.

The Farewell
A girl joins her family in China for a fake wedding to say goodbye to her dying Grandma. Grandma doesn’t know this is the reason for this shin-dig. Based on a true story. And I thought my family had drama!

Swiss Army Man
Is Harry Potter dead to you? Well, is this film, he literally is. Danielle Radcliff plays a zealous corpse that helps pass the time when a man marooned on an island bonds with him. Yes, it’s as bizarre as it sounds.

The Florida Project
A coming-of-age tale that takes place at a purple hotel right by Disneyworld. Features Willem Dafoe in not enough scenes.

Saint Maud
Creepy vibes meets religion meets hospice in this psychological thriller. Spooky vibes = perfect for fall.

The Lobster
In this film’s world, if you don’t find a significant other, you’re going to be made into an animal of your choice. Our main character selects a lobster in case this is will be his fate. This is just the start of this film. And I thought online dating was brutal.

Everything Everywhere All at Once
Imagine a superhero multiverse movie with, well, a little bit of everything. Seriously, there’s even bagels.

I had to restrain from listing even more titles in my excitement of gushing about these films. All of A24’s films are so different from each other that I feel comfortable saying there’s something for everyone. Now what are you waiting for? Go to our catalog! Download canopy! Watch new films!

-Aubrey