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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

Friday

Hulu's New Billie Holiday Biopic Falls Short Of Capturing Her Real Story

Fresh Air

Though Andra Day plays the jazz legend with conviction, The United States vs. Billie Holiday fictionalizes the particulars of Holiday's life, where the real story is dramatic enough.

Hulu's New Billie Holiday Biopic Falls Short Of Capturing Her Real Story

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A Dream Challenges A Family In 'Minari'

Steven Yeun, Alan S. Kim, Yuh-Jung Youn, Yeri Han and Noel Cho star in Minari. Josh Ethan Johnson/A24 hide caption

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Josh Ethan Johnson/A24

Pop Culture Happy Hour

A Dream Challenges A Family In 'Minari'

Written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, Minari follows a Korean-American family who moves to Arkansas in the 1980s to follow their father's dream of becoming a farmer. The grind of trying to make the farm a success strains the parents' marriage and often confounds the kids, but it's a story about the choices families make and the ways they stay together.

A Dream Challenges A Family In 'Minari'

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Thursday

Still A Shoe-In: The Charms Of 'Cinderella'

Brandy Norwood and Whitney Houston play Cinderella and her fairy godmother in Disney's beloved production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. Courtesy of Walt Disney/Storyline/Citadel/Kobal/Shutterstock hide caption

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Courtesy of Walt Disney/Storyline/Citadel/Kobal/Shutterstock

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Still A Shoe-In: The Charms Of 'Cinderella'

There are many versions of Cinderella, but few are as beloved as Disney's production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, starring Brandy as the titular character and Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother.

Still A Shoe-In: The Charms Of 'Cinderella'

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Wednesday

You May Or May Not Care For 'I Care A Lot'

Rosamund Pike stars in the new Netflix film I Care A Lot. Seacia Pavao/Netflix hide caption

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Seacia Pavao/Netflix

Pop Culture Happy Hour

You May Or May Not Care For 'I Care A Lot'

In the new Netflix comedy-thriller I Care A Lot, Rosamund Pike plays a slick grifter named Marla who tricks her way into becoming the legal guardian of elderly people, then drains their bank accounts. It's a well-oiled scheme, until she chooses a woman with a dangerous background as her new target.

You May Or May Not Care For 'I Care A Lot'

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Tuesday

'Minari' Follows A Family's Immigration With Humor, Humanity And Hope

Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from California to farm in rural Arkansas in Minari. A24 hide caption

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A24

'Minari' Follows A Family's Immigration With Humor, Humanity And Hope

Fresh Air

Lee Isaac Chung's semi-autobiographical film centers on a South Korean family trying to make it as farmers in rural Arkansas. Minari proves that a small story can feel bigger than a blockbuster.

'Minari' Follows A Family's Immigration With Humor, Humanity And Hope

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Friday

Review: 'Nomadland,' Chloe Zhao's Heavily-Tipped Drama

Chloe Zhao's tale of a widow (played by Frances McDormand) who is reduced to living in her van after the Great Recession, is regarded as a front-runner for this year's Academy Awards.

Review: 'Nomadland,' Chloe Zhao's Heavily-Tipped Drama

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In 'Nomadland,' Discover The Joy And Sorrow Of The Road Less Traveled

Restless and tired of ordinary life, Fern (Frances McDormand) takes to the road in Nomadland. Searchlight Pictures hide caption

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Searchlight Pictures

In 'Nomadland,' Discover The Joy And Sorrow Of The Road Less Traveled

Fresh Air

Frances McDormand plays a widow who travels the U.S. taking on work wherever she can find it in a new film based on Jessica Bruder's 2017 book. Nomadland understands loss in a way that few movies do.

In 'Nomadland,' Discover The Joy And Sorrow Of The Road Less Traveled

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'Nomadland' Is An Empathetic, Immersive Journey

Frances McDormand stars as Fern in Nomadland. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures hide caption

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Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Nomadland' Is An Empathetic, Immersive Journey

The new film Nomadland is about a woman named Fern who's lost her husband, her home and her entire community: a company town that collapsed when the company did. She's played by Frances McDormand, and in Chloé Zhao's film, she falls into a new community of people who live on the road, out of vans and RVs.

'Nomadland' Is An Empathetic, Immersive Journey

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Thursday

Lara Jean Says Goodbye In 'To All The Boys: Always And Forever'

Lana Condor and Noah Centineo star in To All The Boys: Always And Forever. Katie Yu/Netflix hide caption

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Katie Yu/Netflix

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Lara Jean Says Goodbye In 'To All The Boys: Always And Forever'

In 2018, To All The Boys I've Loved Before was a breakout hit for Netflix. Based on Jenny Han's novel, it followed Lara Jean Covey through the adventure of falling in love with one Peter Kavinsky. A sequel followed in 2020 and now, it's time for the finale, which finds Lara Jean and Peter dealing with the complication of graduating and heading off to college.

Lara Jean Says Goodbye In 'To All The Boys: Always And Forever'

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Tuesday

In 'Supernova', Stanley Tucci And Colin Firth Play A Couple Facing Dementia

Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth star in Supernova. Courtesy of Bleecker Street hide caption

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Courtesy of Bleecker Street

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Supernova', Stanley Tucci And Colin Firth Play A Couple Facing Dementia

In Supernova, Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci play a gay couple coming to terms with the fact that Tucci's character is experiencing early onset dementia. They take one last trip together around the British Lake District and try to enjoy these moments together, even though their shared knowledge of what's to come exposes their fears and secrets.

In 'Supernova', Stanley Tucci And Colin Firth Play A Couple Facing Dementia

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Monday

Desus And Mero On Politics, Fame And Life In The Pandemic

Desus Nice and The Kid Mero in the second season of Desus & Mero. Greg Endries/Showtime hide caption

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Greg Endries/Showtime

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Desus And Mero On Politics, Fame And Life In The Pandemic

A special bonus episode from NPR's It's Been A Minute With Sam Sanders. Desus Nice and The Kid Mero went from calling up "anyone in their phone book" in the early days of their podcast Bodega Boys, to booking big names in politics like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and President Barack Obama on Desus & Mero, their late-night show airing on Showtime.

Desus And Mero On Politics, Fame And Life In The Pandemic

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Friday

'Judas And The Black Messiah' Is A Tense Thriller About The Black Panther Party

Judas and the Black Messiah tells the story of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), who was killed by the police in a 1969 raid. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Picture hide caption

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Courtesy of Warner Bros. Picture

'Judas And The Black Messiah' Is A Tense Thriller About The Black Panther Party

Fresh Air

A powerful new film focuses on the last year in the life of Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Black Panthers' Illinois chapter, who was only 21 when he was killed during a raid planned by the FBI.

'Judas And The Black Messiah' Is A Tense Thriller About The Black Panther Party

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