'The Golden Era' Follows A Path From Northern China To Tokyo
The biographical drama tells the story of a Chinese novelist and poet who spent her brief life in so-called "interesting times."
Movie Reviews
Beauty And Loss In 'The Tale Of Princess Kaguya'
The latest film from the celebrated Studio Ghibli follows a girl far from home who must inevitably return there.
'Kill The Messenger' Incompletely Unravels A Complex Tale
Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb, Kill the Messenger spins a yarn of Washington intrigue, spy drama and investigative journalism.
In 'Whiplash,' A Young Drummer Plays Till He Bleeds
Director Damien Chazelle's second film centers on the agony of a drummer in a high-powered music school. The movie ties you into knots: The fear of failure is omnipresent. So is the jazz vibe.
'I Am Ali' Doesn't Open Many New Doors, But It Offers Fresh Voices
A new documentary accesses tapes of Muhammad Ali in conversation with those closest to him, and uses new interviews with others to shed light on him as a father and friend.
Bang The Drum Ever Faster In The Different Sports Arena Of 'Whiplash'
Damien Chazelle's heart-pounding teacher-student drama, Whiplash, sets a combination of a sports film and a genius tale like The Social Network in the world of jazz drumming.
Bill Murray Doesn't Do Much, But He Does It So Well In 'St. Vincent'
Murray plays a grumpy geezer in this gentle comedy alongside a dialed-back Melissa McCarthy. There's nothing new here, but Murray is the perfect guy to carry the movie's pleasantly ordinary tune.
Who's Worth Your Trust In Fincher's Moody, Atmospheric 'Gone Girl'?
NPR's Bob Mondello says David Fincher's screen adaptation of the marriage-in-trouble thriller Gone Girl offers all the twists and jolts of the original novel, but gets a little pulpy toward the end.
Latin American Icon Simon Bolivar Gets Biopic Treatment In 'Liberator'
Bolivar liberated six countries from Spanish rule in the early 19th century. A new film about his life features epic battles, rousing speeches and stunning landscapes in the spirit of Braveheart.
In 'The Blue Room,' An Uncertain Path Through An Affair
Actor-director Mathieu Amalric's adaptation of a Belgian mystery novel features two lovers caught in a web of adultery and crime.