NPR Topics: Movies http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1045&ft=1&f=1045 NPR Movies podcast, movie reviews, and commentary on new and classic films. Interviews with filmmakers, actors, and actresses. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Movies http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1045&ft=1&f=1045 James Franco Checks In To 'General Hospital' The star of <em>Milk</em> and <em>Pineapple Express</em> &mdash; and a little movie franchise called <em>Spider-Man</em> &mdash; will be spending some time in Port Charles over the next couple of months. His guest-starring stint may help "freshen the image of daytime," says the soap opera's executive producer. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120566505&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120566505&ft=1&f=1045 The star of Milk and Pineapple Express — and a little movie franchise called Spider-Man — will be spending some time in Port Charles over the next couple of months. His guest-starring stint may help "freshen the image of daytime," says the soap opera's executive producer.

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]]> 'Broken Embraces': The Very Picture Of Romance Brace yourself: Things are about to get meta. Pedro Almodovar's latest picture strings a colorfully knotty love story across layers of dark film-within-a-film intrigue. Complex of plot, deft in its blending of comedy and melodrama, and a treasure trove of golden-age movie references, the film is what you might call a lushly tragic lark &mdash; a heartfelt, if not quite heartbreaking, paean to romance and to the romance of cinema. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452447&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452447&ft=1&f=1045 Brace yourself: Things are about to get meta. Pedro Almodovar's latest picture strings a colorfully knotty love story across layers of dark film-within-a-film intrigue. Complex of plot, deft in its blending of comedy and melodrama, and a treasure trove of golden-age movie references, the film is what you might call a lushly tragic lark — a heartfelt, if not quite heartbreaking, paean to romance and to the romance of cinema. (Recommended)

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]]> A 'New Moon' Destined For A Quick Eclipse Stephenie Meyers' four-novel <em>Twilight</em> saga set off a rage for lovelorn teen vampires -&mdash;one that only escalated after the release of the first hit movie. The second film, N<em>ew Moon, </em>set box-office records for advance sales, but critic David Edelstein says it's too turgid for the excitement to last. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613720&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613720&ft=1&f=1045 Stephenie Meyers' four-novel Twilight saga set off a rage for lovelorn teen vampires -—one that only escalated after the release of the first hit movie. The second film, New Moon, set box-office records for advance sales, but critic David Edelstein says it's too turgid for the excitement to last.

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]]> Judd Apatow On The Alchemy Of 'Funny People' Judd Apatow, known for films like <em>The 40 Year Old Virgin</em> and <em>Knocked Up</em>, was the guiding force behind the comedy <em>Funny People,</em> out now on DVD. The movie focuses on a comedian (Adam Sandler) who reassesses his life after a dire medical diagnosis. Apatow, a former comic himself, talks about why he made the movie &mdash; and what he finds funny. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:53:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608834&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608834&ft=1&f=1045 Judd Apatow, known for films like The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, was the guiding force behind the comedy Funny People, out now on DVD. The movie focuses on a comedian (Adam Sandler) who reassesses his life after a dire medical diagnosis. Apatow, a former comic himself, talks about why he made the movie — and what he finds funny.

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]]> Under A 'New Moon,' A Surprising Lack Of Passion If you have teenage girls in your life, you don't need to be told that <em>New Moon,</em> the second part of <em>The Twilight Saga</em>, hits movie theaters this weekend. Even though the world may have had enough of star-crossed sweethearts Edward and Bella by the series' end, critic Kenneth Turan says there's not enough of them in this installment. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120451967&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120451967&ft=1&f=1045 If you have teenage girls in your life, you don't need to be told that New Moon, the second part of The Twilight Saga, hits movie theaters this weekend. Even though the world may have had enough of star-crossed sweethearts Edward and Bella by the series' end, critic Kenneth Turan says there's not enough of them in this installment.

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]]> Herzog's 'Bad Lieutenant': He's Crescent City Crazy "A man without a gun, that's not a man," says the pain-wracked, drug-addled anti-hero cop at the center of <em>Port of Call: New Orleans</em>. You get the feeling that director Werner Herzog, that dedicated chronicler of alpha-male lunacy, agrees &mdash; and you can't help but notice that his crime drama is every bit as over-the-top eccentric as its protagonist. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452170&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452170&ft=1&f=1045 "A man without a gun, that's not a man," says the pain-wracked, drug-addled anti-hero cop at the center of Port of Call: New Orleans. You get the feeling that director Werner Herzog, that dedicated chronicler of alpha-male lunacy, agrees — and you can't help but notice that his crime drama is every bit as over-the-top eccentric as its protagonist.

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]]> John Woo's 'Red Cliff': An Epic Cut Down To Size The director of <em>Face/Off</em> and <em>Mission: Impossible II</em> returns to his Hong Kong-cinema roots with a battle epic based on a war fought in China 18 centuries ago. Critic Mark Jenkins says that while <em>Red Cliff</em>'s scope is certainly impressive, the edited-down U.S. release could use some psychological strife to go with its clanging swords and clashing ships. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456018&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456018&ft=1&f=1045 The director of Face/Off and Mission: Impossible II returns to his Hong Kong-cinema roots with a battle epic based on a war fought in China 18 centuries ago. Critic Mark Jenkins says that while Red Cliff's scope is certainly impressive, the edited-down U.S. release could use some psychological strife to go with its clanging swords and clashing ships.

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]]> Daughters Remember Late Father, The Infamous Civil Rights Lawyer The life of civil rights attorney William Kunstler is the subject of a new film, “Disturbing the Universe.” Host Michel Martin speaks with Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, who made the documentary about their father, and life as the daughters of a man who did not shy away from taking chances. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120567770&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120567770&ft=1&f=1045 The life of civil rights attorney William Kunstler is the subject of a new film, “Disturbing the Universe.” Host Michel Martin speaks with Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, who made the documentary about their father, and life as the daughters of a man who did not shy away from taking chances.

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]]> In 'Blind Side,' A Tunnel-Vision Take On A True Story Based on Michael Lewis' acclaimed book, John Lee Hancock's julep-sweet screenplay turns a well-told true story into a feel-good fantasy for white liberals &mdash; a movie that doesn't dig deep and too often seems content to trade in stereotype. But as ever in Hollywood, the based-on-reality defense will provide a certain amount of cover, and Hancock will probably have an audience pleaser on his hands. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456017&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456017&ft=1&f=1045 Based on Michael Lewis' acclaimed book, John Lee Hancock's julep-sweet screenplay turns a well-told true story into a feel-good fantasy for white liberals — a movie that doesn't dig deep and too often seems content to trade in stereotype. But as ever in Hollywood, the based-on-reality defense will provide a certain amount of cover, and Hancock will probably have an audience pleaser on his hands.

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]]> Sexing Up The PG-13 Vampire ... But Not Too Much <em>New Moon</em>, the second movie installment in the hit <em>Twilight</em> saga, opens this Friday. With a target audience of teen and tween girls, the films straddle the line between sexy and chaste. Some fans say this can send mixed messages. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120499965&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120499965&ft=1&f=1045 New Moon, the second movie installment in the hit Twilight saga, opens this Friday. With a target audience of teen and tween girls, the films straddle the line between sexy and chaste. Some fans say this can send mixed messages.

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]]> Marketers Sink Teeth Into 'New Moon' <em>New Moon</em>, the latest movie in Stephenie Meyer's <em>Twilight</em> vampire saga, is sucking in marketers, who are using the franchise's characters to sell everything from bottled water to late-model luxury cars. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120501924&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120501924&ft=1&f=1045 New Moon, the latest movie in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight vampire saga, is sucking in marketers, who are using the franchise's characters to sell everything from bottled water to late-model luxury cars.

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]]> Sacha Baron Cohen And Larry Charles Talk 'Bruno' When Sacha Baron Cohen grants an interview, it's usually in character &mdash; as Borat, the clueless faux-Kazakh journalist; or as Bruno, the outrageously shallow, ostentatiously gay Austrian fashionista at the center of Cohen's most recent film. Today, though, Cohen joins <em>Fresh Air</em> as himself, for a conversation with Terry Gross and <em>Bruno</em> director Larry Charles. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:59:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120464037&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120464037&ft=1&f=1045 When Sacha Baron Cohen grants an interview, it's usually in character — as Borat, the clueless faux-Kazakh journalist; or as Bruno, the outrageously shallow, ostentatiously gay Austrian fashionista at the center of Cohen's most recent film. Today, though, Cohen joins Fresh Air as himself, for a conversation with Terry Gross and Bruno director Larry Charles.

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]]> The Ten Most Annoying Things About Being A Vampire's Girlfriend It probably isn't that much fun to date a vampire, even if the <em>Twilight</em> series wants you to think it is. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114402782&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114402782&ft=1&f=1045 It probably isn't that much fun to date a vampire, even if the Twilight series wants you to think it is.

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]]> Is The Small Screen Replacing The Silver Screen? As DVD sales decline, Hollywood studios are looking for ways to get movies straight to consumers' living rooms. This has some industry insiders worried that Hollywood is jeopardizing its most valuable asset: the theatrical release date. The movie industry is looking to change the way it distributes content. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488558&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120488558&ft=1&f=1045 As DVD sales decline, Hollywood studios are looking for ways to get movies straight to consumers' living rooms. This has some industry insiders worried that Hollywood is jeopardizing its most valuable asset: the theatrical release date. The movie industry is looking to change the way it distributes content.

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]]> 'The Blind Side': When A True Story Is Hard To Tell <em>The Blind Side</em> may be based on a true story, but that doesn't mean the trailer doesn't touch a lot of uncomfortable buttons about Hollywood storytelling. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114401192&ft=1&f=1045 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114401192&ft=1&f=1045 The Blind Side may be based on a true story, but that doesn't mean the trailer doesn't touch a lot of uncomfortable buttons about Hollywood storytelling.

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