Movie Interviews

Arts

Thanksgiving Weekend Ushers In A Feast Of Films

5:13pm 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.

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

Arts

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

4:29pm November 23, 2016

by NPR Staff

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.

Warren Beatty stars as Howard Hughes in Rules Don't Apply — which he says is not a biopic of the legendary moviemaker and recluse.

Warren Beatty's Homage To Howard Hughes Opens In Theaters On Wednesday

2:04pm November 22, 2016

by Renee Montagne

"Don't expect a biopic," Beatty says of his new project, Rules Don't Apply. Instead, it's an interlocking set of stories about two young lovers and a movie mogul trying to keep his empire together.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

Dev Patel On The 'Driving Force' Of Playing The Part Of A Living Person

9:29am November 20, 2016

In the movie, Lion, Dev Patel plays Saroo Brierley, a young man who got separated from his family in India as a child. NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Patel about the role.

In Manchester by the Sea, Casey Affleck plays Lee Chandler, a man who assumes sole guardianship of his teenage nephew after the death of his brother.

Arts

Casey Affleck: At First, Acting Was 'Nothing More Than A Day Off From School'

4:01pm November 17, 2016

Growing up, a family friend was a casting director who would sometimes use Affleck as an extra. Now, years later, he's transitioned to leading man. His latest film is Manchester by the Sea.

Queue Listen Now

Tom Ford Wants You To Separate His Fashion Designs From His Films

7:28am November 17, 2016

by Mandalit del Barco

Tom Ford may be best known as a fashion designer, but he's also an accomplished filmmaker. His first movie was nominated for an Oscar. His second movie, Nocturnal Animals, opens on Thursday.

Queue Listen Now

Amerigo Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) kisses the hand of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) in a scene from Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather.

Books
Arts

To Make 'The Godfather' His Way, Francis Ford Coppola Waged A Studio Battle

6:03pm November 16, 2016

Coppola was 29 years old when he signed on to direct a film. "I was young and had no power," he says, "so [the studio] figured they could just boss me around." But the young director fought back.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

In 'The Eagle Huntress,' A Mongolian Girl Sets Out To Prove Her Elders Wrong

4:26pm November 16, 2016

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to Otto Bell, the director of the new documentary, The Eagle Huntress.

Queue Listen Now

Anna Kendrick began performing in community theater when she was 6; by 12 years old, she had made it to Broadway.

Anna Kendrick Says Acting Is 'The Way That I Learn About Other People'

11:31am November 15, 2016

The Pitch Perfect star started acting when she was 6. Back then, she says, she likely just did it for the attention. "Then it sort of transformed into something that was really meaningful for me."

Queue Listen Now

Amy Adams stars as linguistics professor Louise Banks in the new movie Arrival, adapted from a Ted Chiang short story. The science fiction author spent five years studying linguistics before writing "Story of Your Life."

Books
Arts

'Arrival' Author's Approach To Science Fiction? Slow, Steady And Successful

6:41pm November 11, 2016

by Neda Ulaby

The new film is based on a short story by Ted Chiang — a 49-year-old technical writer based in Seattle. "Fiction writing is very hard for me," he explains — and so Chiang takes his time.

Queue Listen Now