The Skokie Public Library collection includes thousands of DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHS videos — both feature films and nonfiction films. The Library also has a large collection of foreign films. DVDs and Blu-rays new to the collection are restricted to Skokie Public Library cardholders. All DVDs, Blu-rays and videos may be checked out for one week. DVDs, Blu-rays, and videos may be reserved by Skokie Public Library cardholders.
View a list of recently released and soon to be released films on DVD. The Library shows a variety of feature films each month. Several times each day, a documentary, travelogue, or artistic performance is shown on the screen in the Movies, Music & More area of the Library.
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Staff Recommendations
Annual Staff Film Picks
Skokie Public Library staff members have selected their favorite DVDs and Blu-rays viewed last year. And, in case you missed them, it's not too late to see our Annual Staff Picks for books, films, and music from 2002 to the present!
Movie Lists
Skokie Public Library staff have created many thematic lists of movies found in the Library’s collection. From "Funny Films" to "War Films" you're sure to find a list to match your interests.
Movie Recommendations
Skokie Public Library staff have written hundreds of short reviews of some favorite and recommended movies found in the Library’s collection. You can browse the reviews by title, actor, director, genre, language, or reviewer.
National Film
Registry
In 1988, under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, the Library of Congress established the National Film Registry – a collection of films exhibiting exceptional, aesthetic, cultural, or historic value. Each year, approximately one thousand films from the Library's archive are nominated for inclusion in the Registry. The Librarian of Congress and the National Film Preservation Board select twenty-five of those films for preservation and/or restoration. Many of these titles are available at Skokie Public Library. To view the entire list of films, visit the National Film Registry. To view a list of National Film Registry titles held by the Library, visit our catalog.
Award-Winning Films
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards (the Oscars) are given out each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar.com provides a wealth of information about Oscar nominees and winners past and present. Test your Oscar knowledge with the trivia challenge, check out the answers to frequently asked questions, and view photos of past Oscar ceremonies to trace the evolution of Oscar style.
British Academy of Film and
Television Arts
BAFTA honors outstanding work in the film industry. Although films from other countries are included in the BAFTA awards, the best British film and best newcomer to the British film industry are honored with special awards. BAFTA also hosts a separate ceremony to honor "excellence in British television."
Chicago Film
Critics Association
The Chicago Film Critics Awards were first given out in 1989 and continue to be presented annually to "outstanding film works, performances and individuals." The CFCA site includes information about past award winners, a list of this year's nominees, and brief information about the critics who actually vote for the awards.
Golden Globes
The Golden Globes honor outstanding work in film and television and are awarded each January by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Golden Globe awards are often a good indication of Oscar favorites (the Oscars are awarded in March). Current and past winners are highlighted in a photo and video gallery.
Screen Actors Guild
Awards
The Screen Actors Guild Awards are relatively new and are designed to recognize excellence in acting in film and television by both individuals and ensembles. The awards are presented each March and are televised live. The SAG website profiles past winners, current nominees, and previous Life Achievement Award winners.
Film Festivals
Cannes Film Festival
The first Festival de Cannes was held in 1946 and was designed to "reveal and focus attention on works of quality in order to contribute to the progress of the motion picture arts." An international jury awards prizes each May to deserving feature films and shorts. The website includes a list of past winners, information about the jury, profiles of films and artists, as well as video of past Red Carpet ceremonies and news conferences.
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is the "oldest North American competitive international film festival" and has been held since 1964. The festival highlights new filmmakers and awards their artistry. Recognition is given to feature films, first and second time directors, documentaries and short films. The website includes a schedule of events and ticket information.
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival has been spotlighting films from all over the world for over 25 years. The festival showcases the best in contemporary film. Awards include People's Choice, Best Canadian Feature Film, and the Discovery Award (given to a new director). The website provides festival schedules and travel information.
Foreign Films
Foreign Film Collection at Skokie Public Library
Skokie Public Library has films in different languages from many countries. These materials are shelved in the Movies, Music & More room and may be checked out for one week. The Library also owns books in a number of other languages.
General Sites
All Movie
This site includes features that change periodically. It highlights such things as movies of the 60s. Check out the movie trivia and the list of upcoming releases.
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute works to advance and preserve “the art of the moving image.” To this end they have produced lists such as “AFI’s100 Years…100 Movies” highlighting some of the greatest American movies. Other lists highlight great thrillers, comedies, and stars.
Internet Movie Database
The Internet Movie Database is possibly the most comprehensive movie site available. Search for movies by titles, actors, directors, characters, plots, and more. Features include biographical information for actors and directors, movie awards and nominations, links to external reviews, writing credits, release dates and ratings, and much more.
Movies.com
Movies.com provides a summary of movie reviews, both positive and negative, from a variety of sources. Other features include lists of new movies playing in theaters, the latest DVD releases, and popular trailers.
Reel.com
In addition to basic information about current and upcoming movies, Reel.com provides DVD reviews and a video rental guide. Extensive reviews are provided for some titles.
VideoETA
Want to know when a movie will be available on DVD or video? VideoETA provides release dates, summaries, "news & rumors," and a lot more. The website is searchable by title, actor, director, and month of release. There is an "In Theaters" section that gives information on the newest theatrical releases and a "Star Profiles" section that provides short biographies and filmographies.
Movie Ratings and Guides for Parents
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media uses a 5-point system to rate movies for children by levels of violence; sex; language; consumerism; drinking, drugs, and smoking; message; and role models. Explanations of the nature of the rating are brief and to the point. In addition, a review and a synopsis are provided for each film, a scale illustrating recommended ages for viewers, and a paragraph describing "What Parents Need to Know" about the film with suggested talking points for families.
IMDB
To find the parents' guide, search for a movie title and look at the sidebar on the left side of the results page. The IMDB parents' guide provides "movie viewers additional informaiton about the title that cannot be fully conveyed using a rating system."
Motion Picture
Association Film Ratings
The Motion Picture Association of America's voluntary rating system was started in 1968 and continues to be an important way for moviegoers to gauge the age-suitability of a movie. This site allows you to search for movies by title (to determine a rating) or by rating (to see a list of films with a specific rating). A brief explanation for the a movie's rating is provided.
Movie Mom's Reviews
Movie Mom's Reviews is a compilation of reviews written by Nell Minow, a film critic who is featured on radio stations in the U.S. and Canada. Current and older movies are reviewed. You can browse for a specific title or generate lists of movies sorted by appropriate age group. Minow has included some tips for parents and some guidelines for watching TV and movies.
Movie Reviews
Chicago Reader on
Film
The Chicago Reader offers full reviews of movies currently playing in Chicago area theaters. Over 10,000 "capsule reviews" are provided for older movies as well as current releases. The main reviewer for the site is Chicago Reader film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum.
Chicago
Sun-Times Movie Reviews
Roger Ebert provides reviews of both new and old films. The review archive dates back to 1985 and is searchable by title or name. This site also includes such features as: Ebert's list of "Great Movies," Movie Answer Man, and One Minute reviews.
Jinni
Jinni is an easy- to-use resource for movie and TV show recommendations. It allows you to browse topics by plot, genres, setting, time period, place, mood, and more.
Metacritic
Metacritic is a comprehensive movie site. Reviews are provided for new and older releases and a numerical rating is assigned to each film based on a 10-point scale. Reviews are gathered from a variety of sources including a number of newspapers, magazines and websites.
Movie Recommendations ...Skokie Public Library Staff Reviews
Take a look at movie reviews written by staff at Skokie Public Library!
Movie Review Query Engine
The Movie Review Query Engine allows you to search for reviews on current and older releases. The database contains over 26,000 reviews from a variety of newspapers, magazines and websites.
Nanocrowd
This movie search engine uses a technology called “Reaction Mapping™” to interpret and analyze comments people write about movies from all over the Web. With these insights about what movies are about and what people think about them, Nanocrowd generates recommendations.
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes offers over 87,000 titles and 200,000 review links in its database. Movies are rated on a scale that ranges from "Fresh" (Good) to "Rotten" (Bad). Reviews are gathered from a variety of approved "Tomatometer" reviewers.
TasteKid
Type in your favorite stuff and get instant recommendations. This includes favorite movies, TV shows, musician, authors, and books. There are helpful tabs to restrict search results as well as summaries and links to more information.
