Movies

Kubo is swept up by origami wings in the new film, Kubo and the Two Strings, an action-adventure, stop-motion animation by Laika studios.

Arts

A Samurai's Son Makes Stop-Motion Magic With Music And Origami

5:19pm August 19, 2016

by NPR Staff

Kubo and the Two Strings is a sprawling new fantasy film from Laika animation studios. Filmmaker Travis Knight says it's all about merging brand new technology with age-old art and craft.

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Arts

'War Dogs' Puts A Satirical Spin On The Business Of War

1:26pm August 19, 2016

by John Powers

Todd Phillips' new comedy, which is loosely based on a true story, follows two 20-somethings from Miami who become international arms dealers. Critic John Powers calls War Dogs "jauntily enjoyable."

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Movie Review: Paramount Remakes The MGM Classic 'Ben-Hur'

8:01am August 19, 2016

by Kenneth Turan

In 1959, Charlton Heston starred in Oscar-winning movie Ben-Hur. The question is: Why take another turn at making a film that defined epic when it was released, and was itself a remake?

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Toby Kebbell (rear) plays Messala Severus and Jack Huston (front) plays Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur.

Arts

Q&A: How Does The New 'Ben-Hur' Compare With Its Predecessor(s)?

7:00am August 19, 2016

by Chris Klimek

Critic Chris Klimek gets so excited about the various film versions of an epic set in the Roman Empire that he opens a Socratic dialogue with his editor. (Yes, Socrates was Greek, not Roman. We know.)

In the 10 years it took Natalie Portman to adapt Amos Oz's autobiographical novel, A Tale of Love and Darkness, she grew into the role of the lead character, Fania — the mother of young Amos, who has immigrated to Palestine from Eastern Europe.

Arts

It Took A Decade, But Portman 'Just Had To Make' Her Latest Film

6:28pm August 18, 2016

by NPR Staff

In the years it took Natalie Portman to adapt Amos Oz's autobiographical novel, A Tale of Love and Darkness, she grew into the role of the lead character, Fania — the immigrant mother of young Amos.

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Rape Allegations Against Actor-Director Nate Parker Resurface

6:28pm August 18, 2016

The Birth of a Nation director is facing controversy after details about his acquittal of sexual assault resurfaced recently. NPR's Audie Cornish talks about the case with Variety reporter Brent Lang.

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Miles Teller and Jonah Hill play war profiteers in director Todd Phillips' War Dogs.

Arts

'War Dogs' Cries Havoc And Lets Slip The Dudes Of War

5:00pm August 18, 2016

by Mark Jenkins

Director Todd Phillips' heavily fictionalized, testosterone-fueled account of two bros who engage in war profiteering ultimately loses its way.

Beetle (Matthew McConaughey), Kubo (Art Parkinson) and Monkey (Charlize Theron) set off on a promising path in the animated adventure Kubo and the Two Strings.

Arts

Dreamlike 'Kubo And The Two Strings' Offers A Gorgeous, Richly Textured Adventure

5:00pm August 18, 2016

by Scott Tobias

The latest animated film from Laika Studios owes more to the emotional impressionism of Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki than the comparatively rigid and familiar story structure of Disney/Pixar.

Arts

In A Sweet Coming-Of-Age Tale, 'Morris From America' Brings Hip-Hop To Heidelberg

5:00pm August 18, 2016

by Andrew Lapin

The charismatic Markees Christmas plays Morris, a 13-year-old aspiring rapper from New York who moves to Germany with his widowed father (Craig Robinson).

YouTube Videos Lead 'Morris From America' Director To Markees Christmas

7:56am August 18, 2016

by Mandalit del Barco

Morris From America debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The buzzed-about movie stars actor Markees Christmas as a 13-year-old hip-hop loving American who moves to Germany with his father.

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