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Movie Reviews Reviews of new movies, classic and art films, foreign films, and popular movies. Featuring Bob Mondello, Kenneth Turan, David Edelstein, and Mark Jenkins.

Movie Reviews

'Past Lives' is a story about love and choices

Teo Yoo as Hae Sung and Greta Lee as Nora in Past Lives. Jon Pack/Twenty Years Rights/A24/A24 hide caption

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Jon Pack/Twenty Years Rights/A24/A24

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Past Lives' is a story about love and choices

The new film Past Lives follows Nora (Greta Lee), a writer who lives in New York with her husband, and meets up again with a man she knew long ago as a girl in South Korea. Written and directed by Celine Song, the movie is an emotional study of how Nora tries to understand both the path she took and the many paths she didn't.

'Past Lives' is a story about love and choices

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Little Richard Documentary celebrates the talent — and mystery — of a legend

Rock 'n' roll legend Little Richard is the subject of a new PBS American Masters documentary. He's shown above rehearsing at London's Wembley Stadium in 1972. Tim Graham/Evening Standard/Getty Images hide caption

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Tim Graham/Evening Standard/Getty Images

Little Richard Documentary celebrates the talent — and mystery — of a legend

Fresh Air

A new PBS American Masters documentary showcases the influence of Little Richard, a dynamo performer who never let himself be defined for long by any one musical category or sexual identity.

Little Richard Documentary celebrates the talent — and mystery — of a legend

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'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension

Miles Morales returns in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Sony Pictures hide caption

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Sony Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension

The new animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to the Oscar-winning Into The Spider-Verse. It continues the story of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), as he battles a new villain, The Spot (Jason Schwartzman). The stakes grow as Miles and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) face greater conflicts as they traverse the multiverse.

'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension

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In 'You Hurt My Feelings,' the stakes are low but deeply relatable

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Beth in You Hurt My Feelings. A24 hide caption

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A24

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'You Hurt My Feelings,' the stakes are low but deeply relatable

You Hurt My Feelings is the latest film from the writer and director Nicole Holofcener. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a writer who discovers that her husband (Tobias Menzies) doesn't like her new book. She's rattled so hard that it threatens her marriage. The supporting cast also includes Michaela Watkins, Arian Moayed, and Owen Teague.

In 'You Hurt My Feelings,' the stakes are low but deeply relatable

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These are the new movies and TV shows we can't wait to watch this summer

Clockwise from top left: Elemental, Flamin' Hot, Barbie, Shortcomings, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Secret Invasion. Disney/Pixar, Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Jon Pack/Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Animation, Des Willie/Marvel hide caption

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Disney/Pixar, Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Jon Pack/Sony Pictures Classics, Sony Pictures Animation, Des Willie/Marvel

Pop Culture Happy Hour

These are the new movies and TV shows we can't wait to watch this summer

Studios raced to finish summer attractions ahead of the writers strike. So we're back with a great big, filterable guide of what to watch — and where to find it — as the days get hotter and longer.

Is it see-worthy? The new 'Little Mermaid' is not that bad ... but also not that good

Halle Bailey plays Ariel, a mermaid who wishes she could be part of the human world, in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Is it see-worthy? The new 'Little Mermaid' is not that bad ... but also not that good

Fresh Air

The live-action reboot has its charming moments, but like a lot of Disney remakes, this Little Mermaid feels like a dutiful cover rather than an inspired reimagining.

Is it see-worthy? The new 'Little Mermaid' is not that bad ... but also not that good

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'The Little Mermaid' takes the uncanny valley under the sea

Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Little Mermaid' takes the uncanny valley under the sea

The Little Mermaid is Disney's latest property to receive the live-action remake treatment. While some scenes match the original film, there are changes. Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote several new songs for the film. And it stars Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. The film is directed by Rob Marshall and is in theaters now.

'The Little Mermaid' takes the uncanny valley under the sea

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'Fast X' chases the thrills of the franchise's past

Jason Momoa in Fast X. Peter Mountain/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Peter Mountain/Universal Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Fast X' chases the thrills of the franchise's past

More than 20 years into the Fast & Furious franchise, the saga keeps roaring on with the latest installment, Fast X. With a star-studded cast including Vin Diesel and Jason Momoa and many more, the film has plenty of absurd action sequences and logic-defying stunts that have become a trademark. But after all this time, does the magic of fast cars, backyard BBQs and family persist?

'Fast X' chases the thrills of the franchise's past

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What happened 'The Night of the 12th'? A murder remains a mystery in this French film

After her friend Clara is killed walking home, Nanie (Pauline Serieys) is questioned by a police officer (Bastien Bouillon), who has taken over the local homicide squad. Haut et Court hide caption

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Haut et Court

What happened 'The Night of the 12th'? A murder remains a mystery in this French film

Fresh Air

A vibrant student named Clara is walking home one night when a faceless man steps out of the darkness and sets her on fire. The award-winning film is a study in misogyny — not a simple whodunnit.

What happened 'The Night of the 12th'? A murder remains a mystery in this French film

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Why the 'Fast and Furious' franchise is still speeding

Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel in F9: The Fast Saga. Universal Pictures hide caption

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Universal Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Why the 'Fast and Furious' franchise is still speeding

The Fast & The Furious debuted as a scruffy car-culture movie, and it was a hit. The franchise, fronted by Vin Diesel, has become a blockbuster machine. In anticipation of Fast X, we're encoring our episode about the legacy of the Fast & Furious franchise.

Why the 'Fast and Furious' franchise is still speeding

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In 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' the ladies live, laugh, and love in Italy

Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton, and Jane Fonda in Book Club: The Next Chapter. Riccardo Ghilardi/Focus Features hide caption

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Riccardo Ghilardi/Focus Features

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' the ladies live, laugh, and love in Italy

Book Club: The Next Chapter is a sequel that reunites four legendary actresses: Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen. In this iteration, the ladies jet-set to Italy. It's a light-hearted, very silly romp with a meet-cute, an old paramour, lost luggage, and multiple jokes about meatballs.

In 'Book Club: The Next Chapter,' the ladies live, laugh, and love in Italy

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A new film explains how the smartphone market slipped through BlackBerry's hands

Jay Baruchel plays Research In Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaridis in the film BlackBerry. IFC Films hide caption

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IFC Films

A new film explains how the smartphone market slipped through BlackBerry's hands

Fresh Air

This smartly entertaining new movie tells the story of how the BlackBerry became the hottest personal handheld device on the market — only to get crushed by the iPhone.

A new film explains how the smartphone market slipped through BlackBerry's hands

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Majestic views and unforgettable friendship await you in 'The Eight Mountains'

Bruno (Alessandro Borghi) and Pietro (Luca Marinelli) reconnect in the Italian Alps as adults in The Eight Mountains. Sideshow/Janus Films hide caption

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Sideshow/Janus Films

Majestic views and unforgettable friendship await you in 'The Eight Mountains'

Fresh Air

Two young boys meet in the Alps and forge a life-changing bond. It's not just the visual grandeur of the Italian-language drama that wows you; it's also the way it merges the epic and the intimate.

Majestic views and unforgettable friendship await you in 'The Eight Mountains'

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'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3' overloads on action and sentiment

(l-r): Pom Klementieff, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, and Karen Gillan in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Marvel Studios hide caption

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Marvel Studios

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3' overloads on action and sentiment

In Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, our heroes are attacked by a new mysterious villain, and must embark on a dangerous mission to save the life of Rocket Raccoon. Written and directed by James Gunn, the movie brings back Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel as our ever-expanding Guardians team. It's in theaters now.

'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3' overloads on action and sentiment

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'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' sends off its heroes with a mawkish mixtape

L to R: Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Drax (Dave Bautista), Quill (Chris Pratt) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) go for a walk in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Marvel Studios hide caption

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Marvel Studios

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' sends off its heroes with a mawkish mixtape

The third Guardians film assumes a strangely somber tone and a plot that features more cruelty to animals and children than audiences have any reason to expect from a wacky space yarn.

'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' is a great adaptation of a beloved classic

Rachel McAdams as Barbara and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Dana Hawley/Lionsgate hide caption

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Dana Hawley/Lionsgate

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' is a great adaptation of a beloved classic

Judy Blume's 1970 novel Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. was a staple of countless childhoods. But until now, it's never been adapted into a film. Like the book, the movie tells the story of a preteen girl who moves to New Jersey, makes new friends, and waits for the arrival of her period.

'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' is a great adaptation of a beloved classic

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'Polite Society' kicks butt in the name of sisterhood

Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan in Polite Society. Parisa Taghizadeh/Focus Features hide caption

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Parisa Taghizadeh/Focus Features

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Polite Society' kicks butt in the name of sisterhood

In the fun, genre-mashing action comedy Polite Society, Priya Kansara plays Ria, a spunky teen who aspires to be a movie stuntwoman. When her older sister Lena (Ritu Arya) suddenly gets engaged, Ria becomes determined to sabotage the wedding. The movie is the feature debut of Nida Manzoor, who created the acclaimed series We Are Lady Parts. And it's a sharp, yet loving exploration of sisterhood — though with a bit more fighting and stunts.

'Polite Society' kicks butt in the name of sisterhood

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'Beau Is Afraid' and living a nightmare

Joaquin Phoenix stars in the A24 film Beau Is Afraid. Takashi Seida/A24 Films hide caption

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Takashi Seida/A24 Films

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Beau Is Afraid' and living a nightmare

In the extremely divisive film Beau Is Afraid, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a schlubby, anxiety-ridden man whose existence is an extended nightmare of guilt, shame, dread and paranoia. Written and directed by Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), the film follows Beau as he attempts to visit his mother. But he gets repeatedly frustrated by a series of deeply disturbing obstacles that may be real, or may be entirely of his own making.

'Beau Is Afraid' and living a nightmare

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'Are You There God?' adaptation retains the warmth and wit of Judy Blume's classic

Abby Ryder Fortson plays 11-year-old Margaret Simon and Kathy Bates is her grandmother in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Dana Hawley/Lionsgate hide caption

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Dana Hawley/Lionsgate

'Are You There God?' adaptation retains the warmth and wit of Judy Blume's classic

Fresh Air

Kelly Fremon Craig's terrific adaptation of Blume's 1970 novel doesn't pretend to have all the answers. But by the end, the awkward preteen at its center has achieved her own state of grace.

'Are You There God?' adaptation retains the warmth and wit of Judy Blume's classic

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