Movies: Movie Reviews and Commentary on New and Classic Films : NPR

'Manchester By The Sea' Director Probes The Drama And Humor Of Grief

Fresh Air

November 30, 2016 • Kenneth Lonergan's new film is about a janitor, crippled by guilt and grief, who returns to his hometown after the death of his brother.

'Manchester By The Sea' Director Probes The Drama And Humor Of Grief

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2 New Works Confront The Refugee Crisis With Empathy And Humanity

Gianfranco Rosi's documentary, Fire at Sea, is set on the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa, where tens of thousands of migrants come ashore each year. 01 Distribution hide caption

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01 Distribution

Review

2 New Works Confront The Refugee Crisis With Empathy And Humanity

Fresh Air

November 30, 2016 • Critic John Powers discusses the Italian documentary, Fire at Sea, and the novel, These Are the Names. The works take very different — but nonetheless poignant — approaches to the refugee situation.

2 New Works Confront The Refugee Crisis With Empathy And Humanity

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'Moonlight' Scored At The Gotham Awards, Which Is Why We Have Awards

Alex Hibbert and Mahershala Ali, from a scene in "Moonlight. David Bornfriend/Courtesy of A24 hide caption

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David Bornfriend/Courtesy of A24

'Moonlight' Scored At The Gotham Awards, Which Is Why We Have Awards

November 29, 2016 • The ability of an initially low-profile film like Moonlight to soar at the Gotham Awards is one of the times when awards prove they don't have to just be cynical back-patting exercises.

Carrie Fisher Opens Up About 'Star Wars,' The Gold Bikini And Her On-Set Affair

Carrie Fisher appears as Princess Leia in the first Star Wars film. "I like Princess Leia," Fisher tells Fresh Air. "I like how she handles things; I like how she treats people." Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Author Interviews

Carrie Fisher Opens Up About 'Star Wars,' The Gold Bikini And Her On-Set Affair

Fresh Air

November 28, 2016 • In her new memoir, The Princess Diarist, Fisher looks back on playing Princess Leia when she was 19 and reflects on her romantic involvement with her older, married co-star, Harrison Ford.

Carrie Fisher Opens Up About 'Star Wars,' The Gold Bikini And Her On-Set Affair

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Get To Know A Cuba Without Castro: Recommended Books, Movies And Music

David Gilkey/NPR

Parallels

Get To Know A Cuba Without Castro: Recommended Books, Movies And Music

November 27, 2016 • With the death of longtime dictator Fidel Castro, interest in the island nation has again spiked among Americans. For those looking to learn more about the country, expert Tom Miller has some picks.

Obituaries

Actor Ron Glass Dies At Age 71

November 27, 2016 • Actor Ron Glass died Friday evening. He was 71. In a career spanning more than four decades, Glass is best remembered for his role as detective Ron Harris on the sitcom "Barney Miller."

Actor Ron Glass Dies At Age 71

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Movie Interviews

'Belle' Of The Big Screen: Gugu Mbatha-Raw Stays Busy In Film

November 26, 2016 • British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw made an impression two years ago with her starring role in Belle. Now, she discusses her new movie Miss Sloane.

'Belle' Of The Big Screen: Gugu Mbatha-Raw Stays Busy In Film

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Movie Interviews

Thanksgiving Weekend Ushers In A Feast Of Films

November 26, 2016 • Kristen Page-Kirby, columnist for the Washington Post Express, shares her recommendations for movies to watch over Thanksgiving weekend — both in the theaters and on the small screen.

Thanksgiving Weekend Ushers In A Feast Of Films

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Review

Movie Reviews

In 'Lion,' A Man Uses Google Earth To Search For His Family

November 25, 2016 • NPR movie critic Bob Mondello reviews Lion, a dramatic true story starring Dev Patel as a man who uses Google Earth to search for his family.

In 'Lion,' A Man Uses Google Earth To Search For His Family

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'Mifune' Can't Quite Capture A Screen Legend

Movie star Toshiro Mifune and director Akira Kuroswa on the set of Seven Samurai. Strand Releasing hide caption

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Strand Releasing

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Movie Reviews

'Mifune' Can't Quite Capture A Screen Legend

November 24, 2016 • Critic Mark Jenkins says a new documentary focused on Toshiro Mifune's relationship with director Akira Kurosawa could have used a bit more verve and a few more voices.

Review

Holiday Movie Preview: Lightsabers, Musicals And Jackie

November 24, 2016 • NPR movie critic Bob Mondello has a preview of the would-be awards contenders and blockbusters Hollywood will be opening as the rest of us open presents.

Holiday Movie Preview: Lightsabers, Musicals And Jackie

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'Allied' Revives The Old-Fashioned Wartime Thriller

Brad Pitt plays Max Vatan and Marion Cotillard plays Marianne Beausejour in Allied. Daniel Smith/Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Daniel Smith/Paramount Pictures

Review

Movie Reviews

'Allied' Revives The Old-Fashioned Wartime Thriller

November 23, 2016 • Critic Chris Klimek says Allied, the relatively rare mid-budget studio film made for adults, is more than just a period piece — it's an anachronism.

Proud Grinches Beware: Sentimentality Sinks 'Bad Santa 2'

Brett Kelly stars as Thurman Merman and Billy Bob Thornton as Willie Soke in Bad Santa 2. Jan Thijs/Broad Green Pictures/Miramax hide caption

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Jan Thijs/Broad Green Pictures/Miramax

Review

Movie Reviews

Proud Grinches Beware: Sentimentality Sinks 'Bad Santa 2'

November 23, 2016 • The original Bad Santa has long delighted holiday misanthropes, but an "irredeemably squishy center," says critic Scott Tobias, means its sequel won't give them what they crave.

Disney's 'Moana' Needs No Prince, Just The Land And Sea

The animated Disney movie Moana is a comedy-adventure about a spirited teenager on a mission to fulfill her ancestors' quest. Walt Disney Studios hide caption

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Walt Disney Studios

Review

Movie Reviews

Disney's 'Moana' Needs No Prince, Just The Land And Sea

November 23, 2016 • Critic Andrew Lapin says Disney's new animated film Moana builds a lush visual world for its young Polynesian heroine and makes its most honest effort yet at appreciating the culture where it's set.

'Moana' Actress Grew Up With The Polynesian Myth That Inspired The Movie

In Disney's Moana, a young girl (voiced by Auli'i Cravalho) enlists the help of the demigod Maui to save her people. Disney hide caption

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Disney

Movie Interviews

'Moana' Actress Grew Up With The Polynesian Myth That Inspired The Movie

November 23, 2016 • Hawaiian actress Auli'i Cravalho says she grew up hearing tales of Maui, the Polynesian demigod who could pull up islands with his magical fishhook. Now she stars alongside him in a new Disney movie.

'Moana' Actress Grew Up With The Polynesian Myth That Inspired The Movie

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Wednesday November 30, 2016

Fresh Air

'Manchester By The Sea' Director Probes The Drama And Humor Of Grief

Review

Fresh Air

2 New Works Confront The Refugee Crisis With Empathy And Humanity

Tuesday November 29, 2016

Monday November 28, 2016

Fresh Air

Carrie Fisher Opens Up About 'Star Wars,' The Gold Bikini And Her On-Set Affair

Sunday November 27, 2016

Actor Ron Glass Dies At Age 71

Saturday November 26, 2016

'Belle' Of The Big Screen: Gugu Mbatha-Raw Stays Busy In Film

Thanksgiving Weekend Ushers In A Feast Of Films

Friday November 25, 2016

Review

In 'Lion,' A Man Uses Google Earth To Search For His Family

Thursday November 24, 2016

Review

Review

Holiday Movie Preview: Lightsabers, Musicals And Jackie

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Review

Review

Review

'Moana' Actress Grew Up With The Polynesian Myth That Inspired The Movie