Pop Culture

Jenny Slate's new Netflix comedy special is Stage Fright.

Books
Arts

'Sorrow Is Not The Same As Pessimism': Comedian Jenny Slate

7:17pm November 18, 2019

by Audie Cornish

Now that she's released her first Netflix stand-up special (Stage Fright) and her first book (Little Weirds), Slate says she's finally finding her comedic voice in smallness.

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National

In Conversation With The Host Of Mija Podcast

5:23pm November 16, 2019

NPR's Michel Martin talks with Lory Martinez, host and creator of the Mija Podcast, about how it's an audio love letter to Queens, N.Y., and its Latinx communities.

Arts

Epstein's Death Becomes A Meme

8:02am November 16, 2019

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Don Caldwell of knowyourmeme.com about the conspiracy theories about the death of Jeffrey Epstein.

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The royal We may not be amused, but you will be: Olivia Colman is Elizabeth in The Crown Season 3.

Arts

'The Crown' Gets A Fresh Polish

8:03am November 15, 2019

by Glen Weldon

The cast has changed, but the formula — i.e., heavy hangs the (figure)head that wears the crown — remains comfortingly intact.

In The Report, Adam Driver plays staffer following the CIA's paper trail of post-9/11 detention and interrogation tactics.

Arts

'The Report': A 7,000-Page Government Study, Brought To Vivid, Horrifying Life

5:00pm November 14, 2019

by Mark Jenkins

Both didactic and engrossing, director Scott Z. Burns' film about the investigation into post-9/11 CIA interrogation techniques stars Adam Driver as an idealistic Senate staffer.

Breakin' up is hard to do in Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story, starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

Arts

A Couple Faces The Painful End Of The Line In 'Marriage Story'

5:00pm November 14, 2019

by Linda Holmes

Noah Baumbach draws on excellent performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in a drama about a wrenching divorce.

Matt Damon stars as an American car designer in Ford v Ferrari.

Arts

'Ford v Ferrari' Will Get Your Heart Racing

5:00pm November 14, 2019

by Ella Taylor

Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in the story of Ford's attempt to create a car that will best Ferrari at Le Mans in this "rollicking" "wildly entertaining" film.

In Bill Condon's The Good Liar, Roy (Ian McKellan) targets widow (Helen Mirren) and her extensive fortune.

Arts

'The Good Liar,' The Con Is A Pro — As Expected

5:00pm November 14, 2019

by Andrew Lapin

In Bill Condon's film set among London's septuagenarian set, Ian McKellan attempts to con Helen Mirren out of her fortune, but we're always one step ahead of the story.

Elizabeth Banks directs the reboot of Charlie's Angel featuring Ella Balinska (from left), Kristen Stewart and Naomi Scott — and a whole bunch of wigs.

Arts

In A Rote, Rebooted 'Charlie's Angels,' Only Kristen Stewart Earns Her Wings

5:00pm November 14, 2019

by Scott Tobias

Writer-director Elizabeth Banks' take on the franchise plays "like a campy, under-budgeted 'Mission: Impossible,' " that loses momentum whenever Stewart is off-screen.

Olivia Rodrigo and Matt Cornett in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Arts

What's Good, What's Bad And What's Back On Disney+

11:07am November 14, 2019

by Linda Holmes

The Disney streaming service premiered this week with a combination of existing content from several giant brands, new originals and technical difficulties.