Movies

Maya, shown with her newborn, Kip, had to use her wits to rise above her lowly station in the social hierarchy of her group of macaque monkeys.

Arts

A Mother Rises Through The Ranks In 'Monkey Kingdom'

12:01pm April 20, 2015

by NPR Staff

Macaque monkeys born at the top of society live like royalty. The new film from Disneynature follows a monkey born at the bottom of the pile who struggles to makes a better life for her family.

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Asad Ali, 63, was unemployed for four years when Pakistan clamped down on live music in 1977. He now plays the guitar for Sachal Studios Orchestra around the globe and in his hometown, Lahore.

In 'Song Of Lahore,' A Race To Revive Pakistani Classical Music

10:23am April 20, 2015

by Linda Poon

In 1977, classical music virtually died in Pakistan when the government decried music and film. Seven musicians are working to bring the art back, and a film premiering Saturday documents their quest.

Furious 7 has hit the $1 billion worldwide box-office mark, two days faster any other film. Earlier this month, stars Sung Kang, left, and Ludacris attend the film's Los Angeles premiere.

Arts

'Furious 7' Races To New Record, Quickly Hitting $1 Billion Mark

2:50pm April 18, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Universal says the movie is the studio's first to cross the billion-dollar mark during its first run in theaters, putting it above films such as Jurassic Park and Despicable Me.

Antitrust Inquiry Reportedly Looks At How Big Theater Chains Snare Movies

1:18pm April 18, 2015

by Bill Chappell

News of a federal inquiry comes as arguments over preferential treatment and exclusivity have been heating up in recent years.

Ivo (Lembit Ulfsak) is a pacifist. But NPR film critic Bob Mondello says Tangerines is an "object lesson in the resilience of ancient animosities."

A Tart Take On Bitter Realities In 'Tangerines'

10:05pm April 17, 2015

by Bob Mondello

NPR's Bob Mondello reviews Tangerines, an unconventional war drama that was this year's Estonian nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.

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Monkeys on Castle Rock from Disneynature's Monkey Kingdom.

Arts

'Monkey Kingdom' Is Best When It's All Monkeys All The Time

4:44pm April 17, 2015

by Mark Jenkins

There's some too-cute narration and some suspiciously convenient footage in this sort-of documentary from Disneynature, but when the monkeys are at their best, they're quite charming.

Ethan Hawke and January Jones in Andrew Niccol's Good Kill.

Arts

The Challenges Of War At A Distance

4:32pm April 17, 2015

by Linda Holmes

The new film Good Kill is a little too blunt in its treatment of drone warfare, but strong work from Ethan Hawke as a troubled pilot helps it along.

Arts

In 'True Story,' A Shamed Journalist Interviews A Fugitive Who Stole His Identity

1:17pm April 17, 2015

by David Edelstein

In 2001, Michael Finkel was fired for making up a story. Then he learns that a suspected murderer is posing as him, so he gets to know him. The best word for the drama is "dumb," says David Edelstein.

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Shelley Henning stars as Blaire in Unfriended.

Arts

The Internet Of Spooky Things Is Alive In 'Unfriended'

10:41am April 17, 2015

by Andrew Lapin

It's a tradition for horror films to find teenagers where they live, so it makes sense that Unfriended would find them saying nasty things to and about each other online.

Awkward At Times But 'Child 44' Can Hold Audiences' Attention

7:35am April 17, 2015

by Kenneth Turan

It's taken 7 years for the best-selling literary thriller Child 44 to make it to the screen. It's set in the Soviet Union in the last days of Josef Stalin and stars Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace.

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