Oak Park’s Best of 2024 is back!
See some of our staff’s favorite TV shows, movies, and music on this page or browse more using the links below.
Adult fiction: General | Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships |
Adult fiction: Thriller, graphic novel, sci-fi & fantasy | Adult nonfiction |
Teen fiction & nonfiction | Kids books | Picture books | Movies & TV shows | Music
Movies & TV shows
The Boys in the Boat
Why you should try it: "Being a huge fan of sports films, I enjoyed this feel-good film. It demonstrates resilience in the face of hardship, teamwork, and overcoming adversity. The acting and character development were first-rate, and the film seemed to capture the spirit of the time." —Rashmi, Adult Services Librarian
Description: The story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Why you should try it: "'Did you know that…' I was that person jumping in my seat and pointing out the easter eggs and cameos in this third installment, and laughed until I wheezed at certain parts. While not perfect by any means, if you’ve been a fan of comic book movies for the last 20 years, this is for you. A fan of Wolverine comics? Also for you!" —Cindy, Patron Services Supervisor
Description: Retired from superhero life after a humiliating rejection from the Avengers, Wade Wilson finds himself single and listlessly working retail when the TVA recruits him to help save his timeline. Convinced that only another Wolverine could possibly help in the wake of Logan's death, the merc with the mouth hops through timelines looking for a suitable replacement and finds a slew of other -pools along the way.
Dune, Part Two
Why you should try it: "Even better than the first. This fantastic adaptation is intense and fast-paced even at its whopping 2 hours and 46 minutes." —Natalia, Patron Services Library Assistant
Description: The mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Godzilla Minus One
Why you should try it: "This movie has everything: drama, romance, action, and a giant 164 kaiju." —Andrea, Collection Management Librarian
Description: A disgraced kamikaze pilot returns to his obliterated house after witnessing an unbelievable attack on Odo Island. Rebuilding his home and life out of the detritus of the city, he takes in a displaced baby and the woman who found her, creating a family that gives him the courage to bring his neighbors together to fight when the monster returns to Japan while the citizens are already at their lowest point.
The Holdovers
Why you should try it: "There are not enough words to describe how much I adored this movie. It is just one of the best things that I have seen in quite a while and Da'Vine Joy Randolph will break your heart." —Michelle, Patron Services Supervisor
Description: A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond with one of them, a damaged, brainy troublemaker, and with the school's head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam.
Inside Out 2
Why you should try it: "A feel-good movie with clever humor and a heartwarming message about embracing all aspects of oneself." —Jabez, Adult Services Programming Librarian
Description: A return to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, who've been running a successful operation, aren't sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up—and she's not alone!
The Iron Claw
Why you should try it: "A raw and honest portrayal of the Von Erich family's complex dynamics." —Jabez, Adult Services Programming Librarian
Description: The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.
Love Lies Bleeding
Why you should try it: "This film starts as a gritty crime drama and spins into a Cronenberg-esque body horror experience. Be ready for love, hate, and a BIG twist at the end." —Maya, Materials Handling Supervising Librarian
Description: Reclusive gym manager Lou falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou's criminal family.
The Marvels
Why you should try it: "The day this was available, it became 'The Movie' to watch when I needed a pick-me-up. It's impossible to be sad when Kamala Khan is on the screen! It's hilarious and is the most comic-book-style movie Marvel has ever put out. I could just imagine the panels for the singing planet, and the absolutely perfect scene set to Barbra Streisand's Memory." —Shelley, Children's Services Librarian
Description: Carol Danvers gets her powers entwined with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.
Oddity
Why you should try it: "I found this Irish horror film to be eerie and exciting, and I really dug it!" —Jenna, Collection Management Librarian
Description: After Dani is brutally murdered, her blind occultist twin sister Darcy goes after those responsible using inherited haunted items as her tools of revenge.
Perfect Days
Why you should try it: "Somehow this Japanese movie following a quiet man who works as a toilet cleaner going about his daily life was riveting. Super great soundtrack, too." —Jenna, Collection Management Librarian
Description: Koji Yakusho plays a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo whose rich inner world is gradually revealed through his small exchanges with those around him and with the city itself.
Poor Things
Why you should try it: This "smart, hilarious and unique movie" may "not be for everyone but it is a wild, colorful ride led by an astonishing performance by Emma Stone." Staff said this movie was "so much more than just a plain Frankenstein tale" and "I loved this movie way more than I thought I would". —Margita, Adult Services Supervising Librarian; Michelle, Patron Services Supervisor
Description: The tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter. Under Baxter's protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn, a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
True Detective: Night Country
Why you should try it: Many staff agreed that while they "loved the first season of True Detective, but then struggled to keep enjoying it" or even "never watched True Detective before, but tuned into this season because it sounded unique", this season turned out to be "just wow!" They loved the "women-led" cast especially Kali Reis "who I was not familiar with before, but was obsessed with in the show" and the "Indigenous representation." "Everyone feels real and tangible, you forget that they're acting" and "the atmosphere is so well-done, it would be great to watch in winter." Also recommended are "the bonus features where they go more into the decisions and process of making this new series. They truly cared about what they were making!" —Camille, Bibliographic Services Library Assistant; Cindy, Patron Services Supervisor; Margita, Adult Services Supervising Librarian
Description: Elizabeth Danvers and Evangeline Navarro, former partners, join forces to investigate the mysterious disappearance of eight scientists from the Tsalal Arctic Research Station in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. The story unfolds during the months-long winter nights, and as the two protagonists confront their own personal struggles, they delve into the eerie secrets hidden beneath the eternal ice to solve the complex case.
Twisters
Why you should try it: "This is what a summer movie should be—just enjoyable fun and a really good soundtrack." —Michelle, Patron Services Supervisor
Description: When her friend Javi lures her back into the field for the first time since a devastating tornado encounter, storm chaser Kate crosses paths with Tyler, a charming daredevil with a thirst for tornado-tracking adventures. Kate's caution clashes with Tyler's risk-taking, but as storm season intensifies, they'll need to team up to tame—and survive—an unprecedented outbreak of destructive tornados.
The Weavers' Songs
Why you should try it: "We listen to the sound of the past and observe the director's focus on how his community strives to recapture what it lost. The cinematography is outstanding, and the storytelling is very compelling." —Rashmi, Adult Services Librarian
Description: In San Pedro Amuzgos, Mexico, "the town of the spinners" where the director grew up, children are raised beneath the loom. While Zoila weaves, she listens to her son's first existential questions. Through the warp of their conversation, we weave three threads: that of Zoila herself, that of Donato, the most famous violinist in the town, and that of Lorenzo, his heir.
When Evil Lurks
Why you should try it: "This Argentinian horror film is packed with small-town family drama and gruesome violence." —Maya, Materials Handling Supervising Librarian
Description: The residents of a small rural town discover that a demon is about to be born among them. They desperately try to escape before the evil is born, but it may be too late.
The Wild Robot
Why you should try it: "Beautiful and touching in all of the ways! My whole family loved this movie!" —Nora, Latine Language & Culture Librarian
Description: The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot, Rozzum unit 7134, 'Roz' for short, that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
Music
Brat by Charli XCX
Why you should try it: "Brat is all bops. I listen to this album a lot while running." —Jenna, Collection Management Librarian
Description: In Charli's words, "It's confrontational. It's confident. It's conversational. The lyrics are texts I would send to my friends. It's funny. It's fun. It's a club record so play it loud."
Faith Crisis. Part One by Middle Kids
Why you should try it: "I got to see Middle Kids in concert this year, and they were incredible. I particularly love the song Bend." —Jenna, Collection Management Librarian
Description: The lifelong arm wrestle between head and heart sits at the center of Faith Crisis Pt 1, the third album from Sydney's emotive indie rockers Middle Kids.
Hit Me Hard & Soft by Billie Eilish
Why you should try it: "After her success with the Barbie soundtrack, it was a pleasant surprise for Billie Eilish to release another album so soon. Lovely melodies and catchy songs!" —Andrea, Collection Management Librarian
Description: Billie Eilish's third studio album is her most daring body of work to date; a diverse yet cohesive collection of songs, ideally listened to in its entirety from beginning to end. It does exactly as the album title suggests: hits you hard and soft both lyrically and sonically while bending genres and defying trends along the way.
Megan by Megan Thee Stallion
Why you should try it: "Such a great album with fun collaborators!" —Andrea, Collection Management Librarian
Description: Megan is a reclamation of the fire, fight, whimsy, and craftsmanship that defined her before violence threatened to. It’s a refreshing reintroduction to the Texas party starter and lethal writer, and exuberant fodder for the arenas she’s packing. (Rolling Stone)
New Blue Sun by Andre 3000
Why you should try it: "This album reminds me of Plantasia. Another great album to have playing in the background or to help you stay grounded." —Andrea, Collection Management Librarian
Description: In Andre 3000's words, "We all have aspirations, ideas, or plans, but isn't it the most awesome when life surprises us in a way that becomes greater than anything we could have imagined? 'This album' and the process in which it was recorded is that discovery and witnessing being played out in real time, alive, breathing, and improvised. It's much more than 'Andre's flute album'. Ha."
The Outsiders: A New Musical by Jonathan Clay, original Broadway cast recording
Why you should try it: "The orchestration and harmonies are really beautiful. There is only one bummer, and it is that the score for the rumble is not included." —Dontaná, Collection Management Librarian
Description: Sony Masterworks Broadway is proud to announce the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Outsiders, A New Musical, based on the seminal novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola's landmark motion picture of the same name.
Submarine by The Marias
Why you should try it: "Maria Zardoya could sing the dictionary, and I would listen. You can just melt into their music." —Kathy, Collection Management Librarian
Description: The sophomore album from Grammy-nominated band The Marías. Submarine represents themes of solitude and exploration for The Marías, delving into the complexities of human emotion and what it means to choose solitude, and the pain and beauty so inextricably interwoven within it.
The Warriors by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Why you should try it: One staff member says, "Hey Boppers! Would I normally care about a movie from the '70s based on a book from the '60s about a boy gang trying to get home? No. Do I care that LMM and Eisa Davis have reimagined it as a girl gang trying to do the exact same thing? Absolutely. The cast is stacked with acclaimed musicians, including Lauryn Hill!! The mash-up of genres and influences from traditional musical theatre to hard rock (with growling screams) to salsa to ballroom is just perfect for portraying the vibes of each character and gang." And another just says, "LMM & Lauryn Hill! Enough said." —Dontaná, Collection Management Librarian; Nora, Latine Language & Culture Librarian
Description: Lin-Manuel Miranda joins forces with Pulitzer Prize finalist Eisa Davis for a concept album based on the 1979 film and novel.
