Movie Reviews

"(Freak) Showtime!": Billy Bloom (Alex Lawther) gets ready for his close-up in Freak Show.

Arts

In This 'Freak Show,' Conformity Is The Real Bully

5:00pm January 11, 2018

by Scott Tobias

Trudie Stylar's coming-of-age film about a queer kid running for Homecoming Queen at his conservative private school is bright and stylized, if a bit thin on plot and characterization.

Ariane (Louise Chevillotte) gazes winsomely out a window like the Parisian university student she is, in Lover for a Day.

Arts

In The French Film 'Lover For A Day,' A Mai-Décembre Romance

5:00pm January 11, 2018

by Mark Jenkins

Prolific French director Philippe Garrel's latest film once again tells an intimate tale of intersecting Parisian love lives in his signature, timeless manner.

Melody, Unchained: Reda Kateb plays Django Reinhardt — and the guitar — as the music legend attempts to escape German-occupied France in Django.

Arts

'Django': Life — And Music — During Wartime

5:00pm January 11, 2018

by Nate Chinen

In German-occupied France, guitarist Django Reinhardt (Reda Kateb) awakens to the horrors inflicted upon his people in this musically accomplished but "oversimplified, underfed and overburdened" film.

Nick (Alex Pettyfer) and Sam (James Freedson-Jackson) take aim in The Strange Ones.

Arts

'The Strange Ones': A Road Trip With An Enigmatic Destination

11:55am January 05, 2018

by Andrew Lapin

Two brothers (Alex Pettyfer and James Freedson-Jackson) are running from something — and/or running to something — in this stylish but muddled indie thriller.

Ayana Lekach (L) is comforted by Rotem Dar (R) in the documentary In the Land of Pomegranates.

Arts

'In The Land Of The Pomegranates': Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue, Passionate But Fruitless

5:00pm January 04, 2018

by Mark Jenkins

Filmmaker Hova Kohav Beller's documentary focuses on an 2007 encounter session between young Israelis and Palestinians that yields few insights, but starkly illustrates the impasse dividing them.

Salma (Sana Jammelieh), Nur (Shaden Kanboura) and Laila (Mouna Hawa) share a quiet moment In Between.

Arts

Sharp, Bracingly Funny Film About 3 Young Women Living 'In Between'

5:00pm January 04, 2018

by Ella Taylor

In first-time writer-director Maysaloun Hamoud's film, two young, secular Arab women living in Tel Aviv get a devoutly Muslim roommate and struggle "to live between the cracks of several cultures."

Melissa (Spencer Locke) could reeaaally use that key right about now, in Insidious: The Last Key.

Arts

'Insidious: The Last Key' Unlocks The Series' Past. Again.

5:00pm January 04, 2018

by Scott Tobias

The creaky fourth entry in the Insidious film series focuses on its in-house team of poltergeist-busters — a wise move — with a prequel that supplies the origin story for Elise (Lin Shaye).

Arts

'Florida Project' Tops David Edelstein's List Of The Year's Best Films

2:13pm December 26, 2017

by David Edelstein

In a year dominated by stories of sexual harassment and abuse, Fresh Air's movie critic says his favorite films featured voices that aren't heard from enough.

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'Downsizing' Presents A Comic Attempt To Solve Climate Change

6:40pm December 24, 2017

Hong Chau, star of the movie Downsizing, discusses her role and her background, which she said prepared her for a career in acting.

Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain star in Molly's Game.

Arts

'Molly's Game' Is Aces

5:00am December 23, 2017

by Bob Mondello

Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut is a dense, complicated, frenetically paced movie about a woman who runs a high-stakes poker game; critic Bob Mondello is all-in.