Movies

Arts

'Ida' Director Made Film To 'Recover The Poland' Of His Childhood

1:35pm February 12, 2015

The film is set in 1962 in Poland where director Pawel Pawlikowski lived until he was 14. Up for an Oscar for best foreign language film, Ida is about identity, faith, guilt and socialism.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

And The Oscar Goes To ... Wait, Who Hasn't Had One In A While?

2:12pm February 11, 2015

by Neda Ulaby

It's happened enough that it's a thing: A stellar actor is awarded for a not-so-stellar role. Many feel it happened again this week with the Oscar nominations.

Queue Listen Now

Sissako works on set with Timbuktu actors Mehdi A.G. Mohamed (left) and Layla Walet Mohamed.

Filmmaker Takes Stand Against Extremism In Oscar-Nominated 'Timbuktu'

8:02pm February 09, 2015

by Bilal Qureshi

Abderrahmane Sissako's film was inspired by the seizure of the Malian city by Islamist fighters in 2012. It has won international accolades with its lyrical beauty and critique of religious extremism.

Queue Listen Now

Randall Park and Constance Wu co-star as husband and wife Louis and Jessica Huang in Fresh Off the Boat.

Arts

Korean Dictator, All-American Dad: One Actor's 'Very Unique Year'

9:53am February 09, 2015

by NPR Staff

When Randall Park realized how important the sitcom Fresh Off The Boat was going to be, he got cold feet — until the real-life Eddie Huang talked him down. Then came the storm over The Interview.

Queue Listen Now

Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (top) play bloodsucking housemates struggling with mundane things like rent and chores.

Arts

What Do We Do 'In The Shadows'? Dishes, Mostly

6:31am February 09, 2015

by NPR Staff

Jemaine Clement, famed Flight of the Conchords member, is now a vampire. He and co-star/director Taika Waititi play squabbling bloodsucker flatmates in the new mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows.

Queue Listen Now

Some DVD vendors in Shanghai still sell on the street, but a government crackdown forced most out of business or into storefronts.

World News

The Oscar Nominees Are In; The Shanghai DVD Sellers Are Stocking Up

11:40pm February 08, 2015

by Frank Langfitt

The Academy Awards are coming this month, and if you're still trying to see all the nominated films, it may be easier to find them in China than in the U.S. — if you don't mind the pirated versions.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

Second 'SpongeBob' Movie Is A Nonsensical, Loud, Choppy Triumph

1:43pm February 06, 2015

by David Edelstein

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water is visually an eyesore — a kaleidoscope of bright, mismatched colors, and in 3-D to make your headache stronger. The movie makers hit the bull's-eye.

Queue Listen Now

Sony's Amy Pascal Steps Down In Aftermath Of Cyber Attack

6:23pm February 05, 2015

Audie Cornish talks to Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Fritz about Amy Pascal. The Sony co-chairman will stay at the company to launch a new production venture.

Queue Listen Now

Fiona (Gemma Arterton) and Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) in The Voices.

Arts

In 'The Voices,' The Dog And The Cat Talk, But The Film Says Little

5:03pm February 05, 2015

by Mark Jenkins

Director Marjane Satrapi is best-known for her graphic novel Persepolis. But her foray into the psyche of a regular Joe who ships toilets for a living and talks to pets goes a bit astray.

This year's Sundance Film Festival generated buzz for Dope, an indie film with an African-American director, Latino and Asian-American producers and starring a multicultural cast.

Sundance Festival Opens Doors For Minority Filmmakers

3:18pm February 05, 2015

by Mandalit del Barco

The festival has become a launching pad for emerging filmmakers of color who face challenges in historically white, male-dominated Hollywood.

Queue Listen Now