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Movies: Movie Reviews and Commentary on New and Classic Films NPR Movies podcast, movie reviews, and commentary on new and classic films. Interviews with filmmakers, actors, and actresses.

Movies

Wednesday

'Yesterday': The Saga of an African AIDS Victim

The Oscar-nominated film Yesterday provides a contemporary look at the HIV/AIDS pandemic, told through the life of a wife and mother living with AIDS in Africa. Farai Chideya speaks with the star of the film, Leleti Khumalo.

'Yesterday': The Saga of an African AIDS Victim

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National

S. Pearl Sharp Returns to 'The Learning Tree'

Essayist S. Pearl Sharp goes in search of racial diversity in the Kansas hometown of filmmaker Gordon Parks. She returns to the town 40 years after she was a cast member in Park's classic film The Learning Tree.

S. Pearl Sharp Returns to 'The Learning Tree'

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Tuesday

America's Leading Man: Dennis Quaid

Fresh Air

Actor Dennis Quaid's new film is a family comedy called Yours, Mine, and Ours. He first became famous for Breaking Away in 1979; he has starred in a slew of hit films since then. Quaid's resume includes The Right Stuff, The Big Easy, Innerspace, Great Balls Of Fire, Any Given Sunday, The Day After Tomorrow, and Far From Heaven.

America's Leading Man: Dennis Quaid

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Monday

Media

Films Battle over Wal-Mart's Public Image

Two new films offer conflicting perspectives of corporate retailing giant Wal-Mart. The first movie is a documentary by videographer Robert Greenwald, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. The retailer is fighting back with a "war room" for public relations, and it's being helped by Robert Galloway's enthusiastic Why Wal-Mart Works, and Why that Makes Some People Crazy.

Films Battle over Wal-Mart's Public Image

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On Television

A Hospital in Zambia, 'On the Frontlines of AIDS'

In his new documentary On the Frontlines of AIDS, filmmaker Sorious Samura chronicles his experience working as an orderly at a hospital in Zambia. Television critic Andrew Wallenstein reviews the film, which airs Monday on the Discovery Times Channel.

A Hospital in Zambia, 'On the Frontlines of AIDS'

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Sunday

Media

Women Confront 'Celluloid Ceiling' in Hollywood

Women now sit at the head of major studios. But a recent study shows that the number of women working in all other aspects of film remain woefully low. The numbers in TV are a bit higher.

Women Confront 'Celluloid Ceiling' in Hollywood

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Friday

Review

Slate's Summary Judgment: 'Rent,' 'The Ice Harvest,' 'Yours, Mine & Ours'

Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan offers a roundup of what movie critics are saying about the weekend's new film releases: Rent, The Ice Harvest and Yours, Mine & Ours.

Slate's Summary Judgment: 'Rent,' 'The Ice Harvest,' 'Yours, Mine & Ours'

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Thursday

Wednesday

Culture

Ballet vs. Ballet: The Russe Rivalry

A new documentary tells the story of two rival ballet companies: the original Ballet Russe and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. They were two of the most famous and influential ballet companies of the 20th century. Filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine shot many hours of interviews with surviving dancers, including Irina Baronova.

Ballet vs. Ballet: The Russe Rivalry

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Review

Culture

'Syriana': Provoking Thought on the Fight for Oil

A power struggle over oil in the Middle East is the backdrop for the new film Syriana, starring George Clooney and Matt Damon. Critic Kenneth Turan says the movie is one of "paradoxes, contradictions and complications... it takes numerous risks, and thrives on them all."

'Syriana': Provoking Thought on the Fight for Oil

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Tuesday

Music Interviews

'In The Mix' Marks Usher's Film Debut

R&B entertainer Usher is taking on his first starring role in the film In the Mix, which opens in theatres Wednesday. Ed Gordon speaks with Usher about the pressures of "opening" a Hollywood film.

'In The Mix' Marks Usher's Film Debut

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Friday

Culture

Slate's Summary Judgment: 'Breakfast on Pluto,' 'Walk the Line,' 'Harry Potter'

Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan reports on what movie critics are saying about this week's new movie releases -- Breakfast on Pluto, the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the latest installment in the book-to-film series.

Slate's Summary Judgment: 'Breakfast on Pluto,' 'Walk the Line,' 'Harry Potter'

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Review

'Walk the Line' Walks a Straight Line

Movie critic Bob Mondello says Walk The Line, the new biopic about the country music legend known as "The Man in Black, boasts terrific performances from Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, while the film itself is conventional.

'Walk the Line' Walks a Straight Line

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