Movie Reviews

A tryst with Andi (Max Riemelt) makes a captive out of Clare (Teresa Palmer) in Berlin Syndrome.

Arts

A One-Night Stand Takes A Disturbing Turn In 'Berlin Syndrome'

1:17pm May 26, 2017

by Justin Chang

In Cate Shortland's new film, an Australian woman traveling abroad becomes the captive of a mysterious stranger. Critic Justin Chang says Berlin Syndrome is a gripping character study.

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Arts

Trying To Wring Entertainment Out Of A Quagmire In 'War Machine'

10:17am May 26, 2017

by Scott Tobias

War Machine, a Netflix production based on a book about the drawn-out U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, suffers from a one-note Brad Pitt performance and a frustrating lack of focus.

A scene from Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower

Arts

Youthful Protest Gets Serious In 'Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower'

10:07am May 26, 2017

by Mark Jenkins

Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower tells the story of the Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong in 2014. Led by then-teenager Joshua Wong, it ended with a pizza party, but provoked plenty of response.

Katherine Waterston as Daniels in Alien: Covenant.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Alien: Covenant' And 'Veep'

9:22am May 26, 2017

by Linda Holmes

Alien fan Chris Klimek joins us to talk about the newest entry in the decades-old franchise, and we check in with the fast-talking, faster-swearing people of HBO's Veep.

Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Arts

Yo-Ho-Hum: Johnny Depp Returns For More 'Pirates'

9:13am May 26, 2017

by Chris Klimek

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is almost definitely the best fourth sequel ever made to a movie based on a 50-year-old theme park ride.

Omara Portuondo (vocals) and Papi Oviedo (Tres player) perform in the documentary Buena Vista Social Club: Adios.

Arts

A Return To Visit Old Friends In 'Buena Vista Social Club: Adios'

8:52am May 26, 2017

by Andrew Lapin

Buena Vista Social Club: Adios catches up with the musicians who came to prominence with a 1997 album and a 1999 documentary. It's not an entirely satisfying sequel, but you can sure dance to it.

What To Watch For After Cannes Film Festival

8:17am May 24, 2017

Rachel Martin talks with film critic Kenneth Turan about some of the movies to watch for coming out of this year's Cannes Film Festival.

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Arts

Danish Filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg Gets Deeply Personal In 'The Commune'

4:36pm May 19, 2017

by Bob Mondello

NPR movie critic Bob Mondello reviews The Commune, a Danish drama about a living arrangement that doesn't turn out the way its organizers expected.

Arts

'Alien: Covenant' Mixes Blood And Guts With Existential Questions

3:06pm May 19, 2017

by David Edelstein

Ridley Scott's new installment of the Aliens franchise is a face-grabbing prequel featuring two androids. Critic David Edelstein says that though plodding at times, Alien: Covenant does deliver.

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Vera Sung, Jill Sung, and Thomas Sung in Abacus: Too Small To Jail.

Arts

'Abacus': The Small Chinatown Bank That Paid A High Price

7:48pm May 18, 2017

by Mark Jenkins

In Abacus: Too Small To Jail, Steve James, who made Hoop Dreams, tells the story of a very small bank that really was prosecuted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.