Movies

In his inventive 2004 documentary about the fast food industry, Spurlock consumed only McDonald’s fast food for a month. He died Thursday from complications of cancer.

Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jasmine Crockett exchanged heated words on the House floor. Greene commented on Crockett's eyelashes, and Crockett referred to Greene's body as "butch." We dive into the history of these two attacks, and look at what history the two representatives were pulling from — from misogynoir to transphobia. And what does this say about what we want from our politicians? Brittany is joined by NPR's Alana Wise and writer Kerry Manders.

Then, 'The Matrix' came out 25 years ago, and became an instant classic. It's a powerful story for both trans people and incels who "took the red pill." What makes the movie's core metaphor so widely appealing (and widely applicable)? Brittany is joined by critic Emily St. James and critic James Wilmes.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is packed with bone-crunching practical stunts and lots of gnarly, diesel-powered chase scenes. It also shows a commitment to worldbuilding that grapples with themes of feminism, environmentalism, and humanity. Directed by George Miller, the prequel film tells the story of a Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy), who was taken from her home as a girl, raised to be a warrior in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and now seeks revenge on an evil warlord (Chris Hemsworth).

It's rare to find a series with such an impeccable pedigree as HBO's The Sympathizer. It's based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, co-created by auteur director Park Chan-wook, and features Robert Downey, Jr. in four supporting roles. Set during and after the Vietnam war, the series follows a man (Hoa Xuande) juggling a position with the South Vietnamese military and one as a spy for the North Vietnamese. But is it a worthy adaptation?

In the new movie IF, a 12-year-old girl (Cailey Fleming) discovers she can see other people's imaginary friends. It stars Ryan Reynolds, and directed by John Krasinski. It mixes the real world and animation, but does it capture the heart of the Pixar movies that inspired it?

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with filmmaker Vinay Shukla and journalist Ravish Kumar about the new documentary While We Watched.

Actor and first-time director Chris Pine joins NPR's Rachel Martin to draw a card from the Wild Card deck.

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Jamila Wignot, the filmmaker behind a new documentary series called Stax: Soulsville USA, about the story of the legendary record label.