Delve into entertainment with Kanopy

Here's a small taste of the wide variety of entertainment you can access through Kanopy. Library cardholders 18 years old and older can stream films at no cost from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku. I was impressed with how easy it was to access videos once I added the Kanopy app to my Roku. I also discovered you don't need to watch the entire item you check out in one sitting. Different items have different times for the checkout. Visit our Kanopy page for details on the checkout process. Let's dive into some recommendations.

Paint (2023) | reviewed by Hayley

I wasn't sure what to expect with this film based on the reviews, but it turned out to be delightfully quirky and surprisingly relaxing. Paint is inspired by real-life artist, Bob Ross (head's up: It's not a biopic), who captivated audiences with his seemingly effortless landscape paintings. Similar to Ross, the film's main character, Carl Nargle (Owen Wilson), is a popular TV artist, especially among elderly viewers. A soft-spoken somewhat arrogant ladies' man, Carl seems to be perpetually stuck in the past and refuses to accept that his golden days are behind him. 

Carl's identity and purpose are challenged when female artist, Ambrosia (Sonia Darmei Lopes) enters the scene. Ambrosia is a gifted painter hired by the same television network to produce a new series. She instantly becomes popular among younger viewers, something Carl hasn't been able to maintain. The two artists develop a rivalry as they compete for relevancy. Carl's patience and persistence are tested as he tries to navigate what it means to be truly successful as an artist.

Overall, this film was amusing and I found myself growing fonder of its elements the longer I watched. The music and 1970s decor made me nostalgic for a time I have not personally experienced. Knowing beforehand that this wasn't a biopic of Bob Ross allowed me to enjoy it for what it was - a lighthearted, humorous film with an entertaining cast (Owen Wilson and Wendi McLendon-Covey in particular) and the perfect amount of John Denver energy.

Jules (2023) | reviewed by Ginger

This is a heartwarming movie about older adults and a benevolent alien. While the story is not unexpected, it is delightfully cozy and entertaining. It's perfect for a time when you just want to relax, smile and snuggle with your favorite pet or person.

Milton (Ben Kingsley) is a widower living alone in a small Pennsylvania town. One night an alien crash lands in his backyard. Milton tries to report this, but no one believes him. Then he begins to develop a friendship with the alien. Two of his neighbors (Harriet Sansom Harris and Jane Curtin) stop by and discover the alien, who they name Jules. The three retirees start spending time together with Jules as the silent fourth to their new friend circle. Then the government's alien task force starts to close in. The three friends must help Jules get home before their secret is discovered.

There are lots of sweet and funny moments in this feel-good movie.

Cold Case Files (2000-2017) | reviewed by Hayley

I'm a pretty big true crime junkie. When I saw Cold Case Files was available on Kanopy, I had to check it out. Similar to shows such as Forensic Files or American Justice, this reality series delves into crimes that have gone "cold" by studying previously collected evidence with advanced forensic technology. Cold Case Files features first-person storytelling from officers and the loved ones of victims who describe their personal experiences with the investigative process. 

Fascinating and full of twists, this series does a remarkable job of delving into the one percent of cold cases that are lucky enough to be solved. The fact that it's narrated by native Topekan Bill Kurtis is a solid bonus.  

Breaking a Monster (2015) | reviewed by Ginger

This a documentary about three Black middle schoolers whose heavy metal band Unlocking the Truth gets signed by Sony Records. I had not heard of this band and I was intrigued by kids this young playing heavy metal and being talented enough to get a record deal.

The documentary follows the boys as they have meetings with their manager, record executives and of course their parents, play concerts, and try to be regular kids. It's fascinating to watch them make very adult decisions about their careers and play in front of adult fans while also being reprimanded for drinking too much soda or spending too much time on video games. It's also interesting to see their parents' roles in their careers.

While I don't listen to much heavy metal, I appreciated their music and I rooted for their success. In addition to the behind the scenes look at the music industry, this documentary gave me more insight into the role race can play in fame and reviewers perceptions.

The Great Tours: Iceland (2022) | reviewed by Ginger

I haven't tried any of The Great Courses before so I was excited to watch this. First I suggest checking these out when you have a decent amount of time to devote to watching. While I had 21 days to watch this, I had a lot going on those three weeks and I didn't have enough time to watch all nine and a half hours (24 episodes). The number of episodes and the full length of the series varies for all the courses.

Knowing very little about Iceland when I started the course worked out well. Every detail was interesting. The series covered culture, geography, volcanoes (Iceland has about 130), glaciers (11% of of country), food, music, language (the hardest language to learn), plants, wildlife, literature, history and folklore. I lots of amazing footage of the country that made me want to visit. The footage is interspersed with lecture PowerPoints. The course is designed and narrated by Univeristy of Arizona Professor Dr. Jennifer Verdolin, an animal behavior scientist and conservationist. She is not native to Iceland, but has spent lots of time there and has mastered the language. 

Since I didn't make it through the whole series, I will check it out again when I have a few days off to finish my armchair adventure. Hopefully someday I'll make it to Iceland to experience some of these wonders first hand.

written by Ginger Park & Hayley Swisher