Movies

Arts

Rekindling The Spirit Of A Galaxy Far, Far Away In 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

1:59pm December 17, 2015

by David Edelstein

The newest installment of the Star Wars franchise features many of cast members from George Lucas' '77 classic. Reviewer David Edelstein calls the J.J. Adams' film fun — if not particularly original.

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After Years Of Anticipation, 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Opens Tonight

1:40pm December 17, 2015

by Kenneth Turan

Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after Return of the Jedi. The evil Empire has been replaced by the even more ruthless First Order, and the Republic continues to fight the good fight.

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Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is aware that all of her film mentors have been men. "Part of my responsibility is I need to bring other women along," she says.

Arts

Kathleen Kennedy: From Standing In Line For 'Star Wars' To Producing It Herself

1:24pm December 17, 2015

by Mandalit del Barco

The Lucasfilm president was handpicked by George Lucas to take over his company and the franchise. She's aware that all her film mentors have been men; "I need to bring other women along," she says.

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Arts

Fans Anticipate Opening Of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

12:45pm December 17, 2015

by Linda Holmes

NPR's Ari Shapiro asks NPR' pop culture blogger Linda Holmes to put the much-anticipated new Star Wars film into perspective.

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Both Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) return in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Arts

'Star Wars': The Force Of Nostalgia Is Strong With This One

6:55pm December 16, 2015

by Bob Mondello

Star Wars: The Force Awakens brings the old gang back together while also introducing a handful of new, young characters. Critic Bob Mondello says watching it made him feel like a kid again.

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Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling play a married couple forced to reassess their relationship in Andrew Haigh's film, 45 Years.

Arts

A Long-Buried Secret, Once Revealed, Rattles '45 Years' Of Marriage

3:20pm December 16, 2015

Director Andrew Haigh's new film profiles a couple suddenly forced to reassess their decades-long union. "It's always interesting to me how we keep secrets from the ones we love the most," he says.

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John Boyega and Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Arts

The Best-Case Scenario: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

10:27am December 16, 2015

by Linda Holmes

After all the hype and all the talk and all the guessing, the bottom line is pretty simple: Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a really good movie.

World News

'Legend' Chronicles Lives Of London's Identical Twin Gangsters

6:22pm December 15, 2015

by Ari Shapiro

The new movie Legend stars Tom Hardy as both Ron and Reggie Kray, the legendary gangster twins who controlled East London in the 1960s.

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Abraham Attah plays a child soldier and Idris Elba is his commander in Cary Fukunaga's Beasts of No Nation.

Arts

When Children Go To War: A Heartbreaking Portrait In 'Beasts Of No Nation'

6:19pm December 14, 2015

The film tells the story of a child soldier in an unnamed West African country. Director Cary Fukunaga says that he tried to protect the young actors from some of the movie's most violent scenes.

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John Powers, NPR Fresh Air's Pop Culture critic, shares his end of year list.

John Powers' List Of Books, CDs And DVDs He Wishes He Had Reviewed In 2015

2:30pm December 14, 2015

by John Powers

Every year, critic John Powers finds himself compiling a list of praiseworthy work he's read, watched or heard that he neglected to mention on the radio. This year, he's sharing his "Ghost List."

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