Movies

World News

'Insurrection Of The Elite': Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker On Rise Of Brazil's Far-Right

8:01am February 09, 2020

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Petra Costa about the backlash she's faced from Brazil's right-wing government for her Oscar-nominated documentary "The Edge Of Democracy."

Lee Sun-kyun and Jo Yeo-jeong play the wealthy Parks in Parasite.

Arts

Yes, 'Parasite' Could Win Best Picture

5:00am February 09, 2020

by Linda Holmes

This year's best picture race doesn't have as clear a frontrunner as it sometimes has. But just as Moonlight came through on a shocker of an evening in 2017, Parasite might pull it off this year.

Oscar statues are displayed at the 2007 "Meet the Oscars" event on February 12, 2007 in New York City.

Arts

Oscars 2020: A Podcast Playlist For The Best Picture Nominees

7:00am February 08, 2020

Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour's coverage of 1917, Parasite, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and more.

Image of a black woman wearing a white face mask.

Arts

When Bias Is Coded Into Our Technology

6:03am February 08, 2020

by Jennifer 8. Lee

Facial recognition systems from large tech companies often misidentify black women as male — including the likes of Michelle Obama and Serena Williams. A new documentary, "Coded Bias" unpacks why.

Musicians perform a song from Slumdog Millionaire during the 81st Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 22, 2009, in Hollywood, Calif. The film won 8 Oscars including Best Picture that year — and had box office returns to show for it.

Arts

In An Age Of Streaming, 'Oscar Bounce' At The Box Office Is ... Less Bouncy

5:12pm February 07, 2020

by Bob Mondello

Films used to get a boost at the box office from Academy Award nominations — and the bounce still exists for films hanging on at the multiplex. But changes in the industry are altering the calculus.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

'Fresh Air' Remembers Hollywood Star Kirk Douglas

1:41pm February 07, 2020

by Terry Gross

One of Hollywood's biggest stars of the 1950s and '60s, the Spartacus and Lust for Life actor went on to run his own production company. Douglas died Feb. 5. Originally broadcast in 1988.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

'The System's Broken' And 'Joker' Director Aimed To Explore That On Screen

1:35pm February 07, 2020

by Terry Gross

Todd Phillips has been nominated for an Oscar for his film, a Batman villain origin story (of sorts) that explores mental health and the lack of social services. Originally broadcast Jan. 6, 2020.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

'Beanpole' Captures The Devastation That Lingers, Even After War Has Ended

1:35pm February 07, 2020

by Justin Chang

Set in Leningrad shortly after World War II, Beanpole centers on two women who find themselves deeply scarred by their wartime experiences with the Red Army.

Queue Listen Now

Elsa sings "Into the Unknown" in Frozen II.

Music & Culture

The 2020 Oscars' Best Original Song Nominees, Cruelly Ranked

11:17am February 07, 2020

by Stephen Thompson

Let's pick a winner and some losers from among a crop that includes a Disney showstopper, an Elton John banger, Randy Newman's latest Pixar romp and two songs about standing.

Steppe Up: Irakli (Bachi Valishvili) and Merab (Levan Gelbakhiani) share a moment between dance moves in And Then We Danced.

Arts

'And Then We Danced': Queer As Folk Dance

11:10am February 07, 2020

by Scott Tobias

Levan Akin's tale of two male Georgian dancers who find happiness in stolen moments together goes through all the usual dance-movie paces, but the chemistry between its two leads is strong.