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Movies

Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dies at 89

Nichelle Nichols made history for her role as communications officer Lt. Uhura on Star Trek. CBS via Getty Images hide caption

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CBS via Getty Images

Television

Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dies at 89

Nichols broke ground and paved the way for Black actors in Hollywood as Uhura. Her castmate George Takei wrote, "We lived long and prospered together."

Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dies at 89

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B.J. Novak learned a lot about himself — and Texas — while working on 'Vengeance'

Boyd Holbrook (left) as Ty Shaw and B.J. Novak as Ben Manalowitz are pictured in a still from the movie Vengeance, which marks Novak's directorial debut. Patti Perret/Focus Features hide caption

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Patti Perret/Focus Features

B.J. Novak learned a lot about himself — and Texas — while working on 'Vengeance'

Novak wrote, directed and starred in the new movie, which he says is all about breaking down false assumptions. He told Morning Edition about what surprised him on set and behind the scenes.

B.J. Novak learned a lot about himself — and Texas — while working on 'Vengeance'

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In 'Vengeance,' a podcast bro messes with Texas

Ashton Kutcher and B.J. Novak in a scene from the film Vengeance. Focus Features hide caption

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Focus Features

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Vengeance,' a podcast bro messes with Texas

B.J. Novak (The Office) wrote, directed, and stars in the new indie comedy Vengeance. He plays Ben, a New York City journalist who decides to turn the mysterious death of his former hookup into fodder for a podcast. The film features Issa Rae as his podcast editor and Ashton Kutcher as a record producer.

In 'Vengeance,' a podcast bro messes with Texas

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Like a mob hit – the passing of a generation of movie gangsters

James Caan was so persuasive as "Sonny" Corleone in The Godfather, that he got turned down when he tried to join a country club because its members thought that he, like his character, was a "made man." CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images hide caption

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CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images

Like a mob hit – the passing of a generation of movie gangsters

Funerals for Ray Liotta, Paul Sorvino, James Caan, Paul Herman, and Tony Sirico — all in a few weeks. It's the passing of a generation of Hollywood's most celebrated "mobsters."

Like a mob hit – the passing of a generation of movie gangsters

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Blaster used in the first 'Star Wars' film could break memorabilia auction record

The original blaster used in the first Star Wars film could break records when it goes up for auction next month. The futuristic weapon was wielded by Han Solo.

Blaster used in the first 'Star Wars' film could break memorabilia auction record

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It's man vs. moustache on 'The Gray Man'

Ryan Gosling in The Gray Man. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

It's man vs. moustache on 'The Gray Man'

The Netflix movie The Gray Man stars Ryan Gosling as an inmate who becomes an assassin for the CIA in exchange for his freedom. When a mission goes awry, he has to contend with a sociopathic ex-agent played by Chris Evans. It's directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who made the Captain America and Avengers movies for Marvel.

It's man vs. moustache on 'The Gray Man'

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Seeing double: Near-identical films that came out at the same time

In 1998, animated insects skittered onto movie screens in A Bug's Life and Antz. AJ Pics/Alamy hide caption

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AJ Pics/Alamy

Seeing double: Near-identical films that came out at the same time

What happens when two studios are making the same movie and neither studio blinks?

Seeing double: Near-identical films that came out at the same time

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Presenting 'The Limits': Colman Domingo on success, grief and powerful characters
Photo illustration by Jackie Lay/NPR

It's Been a Minute

Presenting 'The Limits': Colman Domingo on success, grief and powerful characters

In this episode from our friends at The Limits with Jay Williams, host Jay Williams speaks with Colman Domingo, the ultimate character actor, known for stealing scenes in films like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Selma and If Beale Street Could Talk. He embodies every character he takes on, most recently earning an Emmy nod for his role as father-figure Ali to Zendaya's Rue on HBO's Euphoria.

Presenting 'The Limits': Colman Domingo on success, grief and powerful characters

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Pop Culture

What makes a death scene 'immortal?' A writer explains his favorite fictional deaths

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Dan Kois about his list of "The 50 Greatest Fictional Deaths of All Time" in Slate.

What makes a death scene 'immortal?' A writer explains his favorite fictional deaths

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Obituaries

Bob Rafelson, 'Five Easy Pieces' director, has died at age 89

Filmmaker Bob Rafelson, a key figure in the 1970s New Hollywood movement and director of Five Easy Pieces, has died at 89 from lung cancer.

Bob Rafelson, 'Five Easy Pieces' director, has died at age 89

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Yup, we're spoiling 'Nope'

Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea in Jordan Peele's latest film, NOPE. Universal Pictures hide caption

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Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Yup, we're spoiling 'Nope'

The film Nope stars Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as siblings and horse wranglers living in a small California town where things get weird, people disappear, and a threat must be stopped. Jordan Peele wrote and directed the film, so there are bound to be some surprises. So we're hitching a ride on horseback into spoiler territory.

Yup, we're spoiling 'Nope'

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Bob Rafelson, 'Five Easy Pieces' director and 'The Monkees' co-creator, has died

American film director, writer and producer Bob Rafelson, pictured in this 1981 photo, died at his home in Aspen, Colo., on Saturday. He was 89. AP hide caption

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AP

Obituaries

Bob Rafelson, 'Five Easy Pieces' director and 'The Monkees' co-creator, has died

Rafelson, who became an influential figure in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s, died on Saturday at his home in Aspen, Colo. He was 89.

Bob Rafelson, 'Five Easy Pieces' director and 'The Monkees' co-creator, has died

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