Movies

Orson Welles plays Sir John Falstaff, the portly Shakespearean rapscallion in Chimes at Midnight.

Arts

'Chimes At Midnight' Gives Weight To A Shakespearean Knave

7:10pm December 29, 2015

by Bob Mondello

For our "Ones That Got Away" series, NPR film critic Bob Mondello checks out Chimes at Midnight, an Orson Welles masterpiece that hasn't been available in the U.S. for decades.

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Actor John Boyega attends the world premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Hollywood. Boyega, the son of Nigerian immigrants, grew up in London.

Health & Safety

John Boyega Is Awakening 'Star Wars' Fans In Nigeria

3:11pm December 29, 2015

by Chinelo Onwualu

The actor who plays Finn, a disillusioned Stormtrooper in the new film, has said he's "a confident, Nigerian, black, chocolate man." Nigerian filmgoers are over the moon.

Arts

Remembering Oscar-Winning Cinematographer Haskell Wexler

1:26pm December 29, 2015

Wexler won Oscars for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Bound for Glory, and was nominated for One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and Matewan. He died Sunday. He was 93. Originally broadcast in 1993.

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Samuel L. Jackson is one of the stars of Quentin Tarantino's Hateful Eight, which is showing in 100 theaters in 70-millimeter film — a nearly-obsolete premium format.

Old-School Projection Fans Are Grateful For 'Hateful Eight' In 70-Millimeter

10:18pm December 27, 2015

by Andrew Limbong

Quentin Tarantino's new film is helping revive a nearly obsolete extra-wide film format. Theaters are being retrofitted with old reels and lenses to screen the 70mm version of the movie.

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Dr. Bennet Omalu speaks on stage during the 2015 Health Hero Awards hosted by WebMD on Nov. 5 in New York City.

Doctor Behind 'Concussion' Wanted To 'Enhance The Lives' Of Football Players

5:33pm December 27, 2015

Dr. Bennet Omalu's discovery of a new degenerative brain disease among football players inspired a movie-and the wrath of the NFL.

Arts

How Director David O. Russell Discovered 'Joy'

10:57am December 26, 2015

NPR's Linda Wertheimer speaks with director David O. Russell about his new comedy "Joy," starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.

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Books
Arts

'Our Gang' Chronicles Lives Of African-American Actors In 'The Little Rascals'

4:12pm December 25, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to author Julia Lee about her book Our Gang: A Racial History of The Little Rascals. She chronicles the story of the African-American actors in the films. They were hailed as heroes of the black community for a time but were later reviled for their roles.

Leonardo DiCaprio, as Hugh Glass, bears the elements in a scene from The Revenant.

Arts

'Revenant' Reveals A Breathtaking, Punishing Saga Of Survival And Revenge

11:47am December 25, 2015

by Bob Mondello

NPR film critic Bob Mondello reviews The Revenant, a harrowing survival tale from the director of last year's best picture Oscar winner.

'Joy' Sinks Into A Morass As Its Protagonist Faces Irritating Obstacles

7:28am December 25, 2015

by Kenneth Turan

The last two films by writer-director David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, had 18 Oscar nominations between them. So anticipation is high for his new film, Joy.

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The drama Room tells the story of a boy and his mother (played by Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson) who are being held captive in a windowless room.

Arts

Film Critic David Edelstein Says 2015 Offered An 'Embarrassment Of Riches'

9:48pm December 24, 2015

by David Edelstein

Fresh Air's movie critic had no shortage of material to consider when it came time to make his top 10 list this year.

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