Movies

Arts

A new documentary examines the 'Star Wars Holiday Special' and asks: Why?

6:05pm December 13, 2023

by Linda Holmes

A long time ago - November 1978, to be exact - instead of episodes of "The Incredible Hulk" and "Wonder Woman," CBS aired a holiday special that was, well, totally out of this world.

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In Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the chicken factory is like a creepy Disneyland for chickens.

Arts

It took 23 years, but a 'Chicken Run' sequel has finally hatched

5:11am December 13, 2023

by Elizabeth Blair

It's Bond meets The Truman Show in Aardman's sequel to Chicken Run. This time, the chickens break in — not out — to save the flock. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget premieres on Netflix this week.

Arts

Two beloved Christmas classics just joined the National Film Registry

5:11am December 13, 2023

by Neda Ulaby

Every year, the Librarian of Congress selects 25 movies to be added to the National Film Registry. This year, the list included Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

André Braugher, who won Emmys for his roles on Homicide: Life on the Street and Thief, played a cherished police captain on Brooklyn Nine-Nine in recent years.

Arts

André Braugher, star of 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' and 'Homicide,' dies at 61

11:23pm December 12, 2023

by Alina Hartounian

Braugher was known for his strong dramatic presence before he shifted gears and worked in comedy.

Cover of the paperback edition of Erasure.

Books
Arts

Advice from a critic: Read 'Erasure' before seeing 'American Fiction'

1:43pm December 12, 2023

by Carole V. Bell

With the first Percival Everett-inspired screen adaptation American Fiction coming to theaters starting on Dec. 15, we're taking a moment to revisit his provocative and affecting satirical novel.

Jeffrey Wright stars as Thelonious "Monk" Ellison in American Fiction.

Arts

What does it mean to be Black enough? Cord Jefferson explores this 'American Fiction'

1:41pm December 12, 2023

by Tonya Mosley

The film is a satire based on Percival Everett's novel Erasure. It's about a Black author whose editors want him to write clichéd stories of Black life — that rang true to director Cord Jefferson.

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Arts

'Rustin' star Colman Domingo says the civil rights activist has been a 'North Star'

2:20pm December 11, 2023

by Terry Gross

Domingo plays Bayard Rustin, who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, but was forced into the background because he was gay. Domingo also stars as the abusive husband in The Color Purple.

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A new documentary examines the 'Star Wars Holiday Special' and asks: Why?

6:57pm December 09, 2023

by Linda Holmes

A new documentary called A Disturbance in the Force looks back on how the special happened and why it's been locked away ever since.

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Music & Culture

A new biopic of 'La Vie En Rose' singer Edith Piaf will use AI to recreate her voice

8:27am December 09, 2023

by Rebecca Rosman

One of Edith Piaf's famous hits was "La Vie En Rose" but... how about "La Vie En AI"? A new biopic about the singer will be made using artificial intelligence to recreate her voice and image.

In Poor Things, Emma Stone stars as Bella Baxter, a woman created as part of a back-from-the-dead mad science experiment.

Arts

Unhinged yet uplifting, 'Poor Things' is an un-family-friendly 'Barbie'

1:57pm December 08, 2023

by Justin Chang

Emma Stone stars as an adult woman with the anarchic spirit of a very young child in a strangely touching film that's filled with transgressive sex, sadistic power games and grisly violence.

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