Movies

Arts

Jerry Lewis On His Borscht Belt Childhood And The Lonely Work Of Comedy

2:37pm August 21, 2017

by Terry Gross

In 2005, Lewis told Fresh Air about his partnership with singer Dean Martin and how he honed his comic skills while working as a busboy. The comedian, actor and director died Sunday at the age of 91.

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Jerry Lewis, Comic Icon And Titan Of Telethons, Dies At 91

10:53am August 21, 2017

Lewis, whose comedic duo with Dean Martin launched him to the peak of showbiz, starred and directed in dozens of films. He was perhaps just as famous for his charity work fighting muscular dystrophy.

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Arts

In 'Patti Cake$,' An Aspiring Rap Artist Reaches For The Stars

6:10pm August 19, 2017

NPR's Dwane Brown speaks with director Geremy Jasper and lead actress Danielle Macdonald about the film's message of finding yourself.

Smith has played the role of Marjorie both on screen and on stage.

Arts

A Hologram Husband Keeps Lois Smith Company In 'Marjorie Prime'

8:12am August 19, 2017

by Scott Simon

Smith has been acting for more than 60 years, and she's earned rave reviews for her performance in Marjorie Prime. How does she explain her continued success? "I'm very lucky," she says.

Arts

High Spirited 'Patti Cake$' Dresses Its Cinderella Story In Dirty Jersey Drag

3:14pm August 18, 2017

by Justin Chang

A hard-working aspiring rapper rises above her dead-end existence with the help of some supportive friends and her own irrepressible talent. Critic Justin Change says Patti Cake$ is irresistible.

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Solar eclipses like this one have inspired filmmakers as far back as 1907.

Arts

In Movies, A Solar Eclipse Means Change Is Coming

6:06pm August 17, 2017

by Glen Weldon

Over the years, Hollywood filmmakers have used solar eclipses as devices to mark moments of irrevocable transformation for their characters.

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Brothers Clyde (Adam Driver) and Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) in Steven Soderbergh's Logan Lucky.

Arts

A NASCAR Caper Comedy Fueled By Thick Southern Accents: 'Logan Lucky'

5:41pm August 17, 2017

by Chris Klimek

Steven Soderbergh's return to filmmaking after a brief hiatus features strong chemistry between its two leads, a great cast, and the faint whiff of condescension.

L to R: Jheri (Siddharth Dhananjay) and Patti (Danielle Macdonald) on the road to success in Patti Cake$.

Arts

'Patti Cake$' i$ $weet But $light

5:28pm August 17, 2017

by Ella Taylor

A Jersey girl dreams of rap stardom in this "conventional dramedy" that highlights star Danielle Macdonald's charisma but reduces other characters to types.

Tom Hanks, one of the interviewees featured in California Typewriter, has over 250 typewriters in his personal collection.

Arts

'California Typewriter': A Love-Letter To The Carriage-Return Lever

5:00pm August 17, 2017

by Andrew Lapin

Doug Nichol's documentary profiles the stubborn holdouts — collectors, repairmen, and a few celebrities — who treasure the tactile pleasures of the humble typewriter.

A Corrugated Community: Annie (Meera Rohit Kumbhani) and Dave (Nick Thune) in the Kubrick Corridor — an attraction of Dave's Maze.

Arts

'Dave Made A Maze,' But Dave Forgot A Script

5:00pm August 17, 2017

by Mark Jenkins

In this gorgeously designed movie, the walls of an elaborate cardboard maze are more substantial than the characters inside it.