'Southpaw' Makes A Bruised Bruiser Out Of Jake Gyllenhaal
In the story of a struggling boxer, Gyllenhaal undergoes a physical transformation that's more and more common for actors in a superhero-driven world.
Movie Reviews
'Phoenix': An Unconventional Noir About Two Troubled Pasts
Director Christian Petzold sets his thrillers in critical periods of German history. Phoenix follows a concentration camp survivor returning to 1945 Berlin.
A Big-Hearted, 'Tangerine' Vision Of LA's Crime-Riddled Streets
Reviewer Justin Chang says a new film about transgender sex workers on Christmas Eve is a "warts-and-all immersion in one of L.A.'s seamier subcultures — and a terrific girlfriend movie to boot."
'I Really Like You': Amy Schumer Makes A Fine 'Trainwreck'
The comedy Trainwreck, written by Amy Schumer and directed by Judd Apatow, takes a few risks with the romantic comedy formula on which it ultimately relies. Plus: LeBron James!
Sleuthing With Offbeat Variations In 'Irrational Man' And 'Mr. Holmes'
NPR film critic Bob Mondello reviews two crime movies — Irrational Man and Mr. Holmes — that have different philosophies on logic.
An Aging And Soulful 'Mr. Holmes' Puts A New Spin On Sherlock
While many versions of the classic detective rely on a lack of expression of emotion to define his character, the aging Sherlock played by Ian McKellen has feelings — regrets especially.
In 'Trainwreck', A Screwball Comedy Fades To Family-Values Formulaic
Amy Schumer plays a writer who dodges lovers' pleas for commitment in Trainwreck, directed by Judd Apatow. Critic David Edelstein says the film loses its "delightful momentum" when it gets serious.
A Widely Praised Documentary Gets An Even Better Second Chapter
The documentary The Act Of Killing looked at a brutal slaughter through the lens of action films. Joshua Oppenheimer's follow-up, The Look Of Silence, is just as powerful and more subtle.
'Ant-Man': Not Just Small, But Downright Trifling
Hard as Paul Rudd may try, he can't put a spark in Ant-Man, an underpowered Marvel movie that badly needed the visionary director it unfortunately lost along the way.
Be Your Own Self: The Lessons Of 'Do I Sound Gay?' And 'Tangerine'
Do I Sound Gay? follows a documentarian as he delves into his voice and the stereotypes associated with it, while Tangerine delivers a cinematic portrait of transgender sex workers in Los Angeles.