Movies

Arts

Trying To Wring Entertainment Out Of A Quagmire In 'War Machine'

10:17am May 26, 2017

by Scott Tobias

War Machine, a Netflix production based on a book about the drawn-out U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, suffers from a one-note Brad Pitt performance and a frustrating lack of focus.

A scene from Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower

Arts

Youthful Protest Gets Serious In 'Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower'

10:07am May 26, 2017

by Mark Jenkins

Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower tells the story of the Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong in 2014. Led by then-teenager Joshua Wong, it ended with a pizza party, but provoked plenty of response.

Katherine Waterston as Daniels in Alien: Covenant.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Alien: Covenant' And 'Veep'

9:22am May 26, 2017

by Linda Holmes

Alien fan Chris Klimek joins us to talk about the newest entry in the decades-old franchise, and we check in with the fast-talking, faster-swearing people of HBO's Veep.

Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Arts

Yo-Ho-Hum: Johnny Depp Returns For More 'Pirates'

9:13am May 26, 2017

by Chris Klimek

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is almost definitely the best fourth sequel ever made to a movie based on a 50-year-old theme park ride.

Omara Portuondo (vocals) and Papi Oviedo (Tres player) perform in the documentary Buena Vista Social Club: Adios.

Arts

A Return To Visit Old Friends In 'Buena Vista Social Club: Adios'

8:52am May 26, 2017

by Andrew Lapin

Buena Vista Social Club: Adios catches up with the musicians who came to prominence with a 1997 album and a 1999 documentary. It's not an entirely satisfying sequel, but you can sure dance to it.

Pitt's War Machine character, Gen. Glen McMahon, is loosely based on the real Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

Arts

'Our Film Is Funny Until It's Not': Brad Pitt On The Darkly Comic 'War Machine'

7:41am May 26, 2017

by David Greene

Pitt plays a semi-clueless four-star general charged with overseeing the war effort in Afghanistan. He says the film uses comedy to lure viewers in, then shows them some harsh realities.

Queue Listen Now

A man dressed in a Chewbacca costume throws his arms aloft in what can only be a confounding mix of emotions: triumph, sure — but also righteous indignation at all the decades lost to reckless misspelling.

40 Years After 'Star Wars' Error, Newspaper Apologizes To Wookiee Community

4:39pm May 25, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

In its 1977 review, The Dallas Morning News called Chewbacca a "Wookie." Now, on the film's 40th anniversary, the long national nightmare has ended. On that note: We, too, have something to confess.

Music & Culture

40 Years Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away, An Iconic Film Score Was Born

3:38pm May 25, 2017

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Star Wars was released 40 years ago today — and it wasn't just the light sabers that changed pop culture. John Williams' epic music, played by the London Symphony Orchestra, became a touchstone.

Arts

ABC Bets On Nostalgia With Remake Of 'Dirty Dancing'

4:30pm May 24, 2017

by Linda Holmes

The new ABC version of Dirty Dancing will air on television Wednesday night. NPR looks at the legacy of Dirty Dancing and why it's been a favorite — albeit corny — movie over generations.

'Top Gun 2' Means One More Ride Into The Danger Zone

3:38pm May 24, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

It's been 31 years since Top Gun. Cruise told an Australian TV show that a sequel will start filming "probably in the next year."