Movie Reviews : NPR

In 'Unlocking The Cage,' A Man Fights To Achieve Legal Rights For Animals

May 30, 2016 • Unlocking the Cage is the latest from filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus. Pennebaker made his name with the Bob Dylan documentary, Don't Look Back, and Monterey Pop. For some 40 years, he and Hegedus, his wife, have collaborated on award-winning films such as The War Room, about Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.

In 'Unlocking The Cage,' A Man Fights To Achieve Legal Rights For Animals

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Military Veterans Take On Zombies In 'Range 15'

May 27, 2016 • Range 15 is a new zombie movie made by war veterans for veterans. It's a dark comedy with a cast that includes a Navy Cross recipient, amputees and William Shatner.

Military Veterans Take On Zombies In 'Range 15'

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'Weiner' Offers A Riveting, Close-Up View Of A Scandal In Progress

Fresh Air

May 27, 2016 • In 2013, a documentary team followed former Congressman Anthony Weiner in his bid to become mayor of New York. When a scandal hit, the cameras kept rolling. Film critic David Edelstein reviews Weiner.

'Weiner' Offers A Riveting, Close-Up View Of A Scandal In Progress

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Competitive Men Are At Sea In 'Chevalier'

Panos Koronis in Chevalier. Strand Releasing hide caption

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Strand Releasing

Competitive Men Are At Sea In 'Chevalier'

May 26, 2016 • Athina Rachel Tsangari's black comedy about men who undertake a petty but brutal competition while aboard a yacht together may or may not be a political allegory.

'X-Men' Issues: Hiding Oscar Isaac Is Only The Beginning

They promise us that's Oscar Isaac under there playing Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse. Twentieth Century Fox hide caption

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Twentieth Century Fox

'X-Men' Issues: Hiding Oscar Isaac Is Only The Beginning

May 26, 2016 • The latest period installment of the mutant franchise gets the gang back together, but the time machine seems to be running out of juice.

Johnny Depp in Alice Through The Looking Glass. Walt Disney Pictures hide caption

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Walt Disney Pictures

There's No Wonder Left For 'Alice'

May 26, 2016 • Other than brand extension, there seems to be no reason at all for Alice Through The Looking Glass to exist. And it shows in the final product.

In 'The Idol,' A Singer Faces More Than Just Harsh Judges

The Idol recounts the true-life story of Mohammed Assaf, winner of "Arab Idol". Courtesy of The BFI London Film Festival hide caption

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Courtesy of The BFI London Film Festival

In 'The Idol,' A Singer Faces More Than Just Harsh Judges

May 26, 2016 • Based on the real story of Mohammed Assaf's run on Arab Idol, the film follows a boy whose dreams as a singer eventually lead him into a tricky journey toward his big moment.

Dear Hollywood, This Is How You Make A Movie With African Characters

A scene from the movie Timbuktu, nominated in 2014 for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Youtube hide caption

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Youtube

Dear Hollywood, This Is How You Make A Movie With African Characters

May 25, 2016 • Sean Penn's new movie set in Africa got booed at Cannes. Critics said its African characters were "bleeding wallpaper." Here are 4 films that give African characters (and actors) their due.

'Weiner' Is An Intriguingly Nuanced Look At An Easy Punch Line

Weiner is an inside look at the ups and downs of a fiery political figure. Courtesy of Sundance Selects hide caption

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Courtesy of Sundance Selects

'Weiner' Is An Intriguingly Nuanced Look At An Easy Punch Line

May 23, 2016 • Two years after he was caught texting crotch shots, former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner was back in the spotlight, running for mayor. A new documentary chronicles his scandal-plagued campaign.

'Weiner' Is An Intriguingly Nuanced Look At An Easy Punch Line

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Pop Culture Happy Hour: Movie Stars And Eurovision

George Clooney stars as Lee Gates in Money Monster. Atsushi Nishijima/Sony Pictures hide caption

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Atsushi Nishijima/Sony Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Movie Stars And Eurovision

May 20, 2016 • We do spend some time with movie stars this week, but let's face it: You're all here to talk about the Eurovision Song Contest.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Movie Stars And Eurovision

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A Political Study With No Diagnosis, But Plenty Of Access

A new documentary follows the 2013 mayoral campaign of former Rep. Anthony Weiner. IFC Films hide caption

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IFC Films

A Political Study With No Diagnosis, But Plenty Of Access

May 19, 2016 • Weiner is a documentary about the fall of Anthony Weiner's 2013 campaign for mayor. The access that Weiner and his wife allowed the filmmakers is a little baffling, but it makes for quite a story.

Ethan Hawke and Greta Gerwig in Maggie's Plan. Jon Pack/Sony Pictures Classics hide caption

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Jon Pack/Sony Pictures Classics

A Romance Askew In 'Maggie's Plan'

May 19, 2016 • There's not quite enough chemistry to elevate the story of a young woman determined to make herself a family, despite a typically clever turn from Greta Gerwig in the lead.

Female Students Flip The Script For 'Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'

Zac Efron and Seth Rogen reunite in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Universal Pictures hide caption

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Universal Pictures

Female Students Flip The Script For 'Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'

May 19, 2016 • The follow-up to the successful film about a couple menaced by a nearby frat house does an interesting gender reversal as girls rebel against a rule that prevents them from holding their own parties.

Crowe And Gosling Bumble Appealingly Through 'The Nice Guys'

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling star in The Nice Guys, an action comedy from Shane Black — a writer-director who has long shown a fondness for sending up LA noir. Daniel McFadden/Warner Bros. hide caption

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Daniel McFadden/Warner Bros.

Crowe And Gosling Bumble Appealingly Through 'The Nice Guys'

May 19, 2016 • Writer-director Shane Black's first feature script, Lethal Weapon, made him a star. His latest proves that he's still got the stuff when it comes to buddy-cop action comedy.

'Loving' Stands Out At Cannes Film Festival, Our Reviewer Says

May 18, 2016 • Renee Montagne talks with critic Kenneth Turan about some of the movies coming out of this year's Cannes Film Festival. Turan reviews movies for Morning Edition and the Los Angeles Times.

'Loving' Stands Out At Cannes Film Festival, Our Reviewer Says

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Movie Reviews

Movies

In 'Unlocking The Cage,' A Man Fights To Achieve Legal Rights For Animals

In 'Unlocking The Cage,' A Man Fights To Achieve Legal Rights For Animals

Military Veterans Take On Zombies In 'Range 15'

Military Veterans Take On Zombies In 'Range 15'

'Weiner' Offers A Riveting, Close-Up View Of A Scandal In Progress

Fresh Air

'Weiner' Offers A Riveting, Close-Up View Of A Scandal In Progress

Competitive Men Are At Sea In 'Chevalier'

'X-Men' Issues: Hiding Oscar Isaac Is Only The Beginning

There's No Wonder Left For 'Alice'

In 'The Idol,' A Singer Faces More Than Just Harsh Judges

Goats and Soda

Dear Hollywood, This Is How You Make A Movie With African Characters

'Weiner' Is An Intriguingly Nuanced Look At An Easy Punch Line

'Weiner' Is An Intriguingly Nuanced Look At An Easy Punch Line

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Movie Stars And Eurovision

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Movie Stars And Eurovision

A Political Study With No Diagnosis, But Plenty Of Access

A Romance Askew In 'Maggie's Plan'

Female Students Flip The Script For 'Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'

Crowe And Gosling Bumble Appealingly Through 'The Nice Guys'

'Loving' Stands Out At Cannes Film Festival, Our Reviewer Says

'Loving' Stands Out At Cannes Film Festival, Our Reviewer Says