NPR Columns: Movie Reviews

NPR Columns: Movie Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4467349&ft=1&f=4467349 Reviews of new movies, classic and art films, foreign films, and popular movies. Featuring Bob Mondello, Kenneth Turan, David Edelstein, and Mark Jenkins. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Movie Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4467349&ft=1&f=4467349 '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 — 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=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452447&ft=1&f=4467349 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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]]> 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=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120451967&ft=1&f=4467349 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 — 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=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452170&ft=1&f=4467349 "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=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456018&ft=1&f=4467349 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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]]> 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 — 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=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456017&ft=1&f=4467349 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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]]> 'The Messenger': After The Battle, Brothers In Arms A soldier returns home from Iraq, his mind is on his own griefs. Assigned to notify families about war casualties, he finds wise counsel in the person of his more experienced partner. Critic Bob Mondello says that for a film that comes bearing sad reminders about the costs of war, <em>The Messenger</em> is peopled by characters who seem gratifyingly alive. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120164385&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120164385&ft=1&f=4467349 A soldier returns home from Iraq, his mind is on his own griefs. Assigned to notify families about war casualties, he finds wise counsel in the person of his more experienced partner. Critic Bob Mondello says that for a film that comes bearing sad reminders about the costs of war, The Messenger is peopled by characters who seem gratifyingly alive. (Recommended)

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]]> 'Disturbing the Universe': William Kunstler 101 Lawyer William Kunstler famously took on controversial cases: from radical Abbie Hoffman to mobster John Gotti to Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, Kunstler's clients earned him both praise and loathing. In a new documentary, his own daughters ask whether his choices made Kunstler a great man — a question critic Mark Jenkins says they never really answer. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120313385&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120313385&ft=1&f=4467349 Lawyer William Kunstler famously took on controversial cases: from radical Abbie Hoffman to mobster John Gotti to Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, Kunstler's clients earned him both praise and loathing. In a new documentary, his own daughters ask whether his choices made Kunstler a great man — a question critic Mark Jenkins says they never really answer.

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]]> '2012': Disaster Strikes (And Strikes, And Strikes) Roland Emmerich's latest cinematic apocalypse posits that the end of the world is due in a little over three years from now. Critic Bob Mondello says it's surprisingly convincing — at least in the sense that by the time it's over, you'll feel like it <em>is</em> 2012 already, and you'll have such a headache that it'd be kind of nice if the whole world went away. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120125624&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120125624&ft=1&f=4467349 Roland Emmerich's latest cinematic apocalypse posits that the end of the world is due in a little over three years from now. Critic Bob Mondello says it's surprisingly convincing — at least in the sense that by the time it's over, you'll feel like it is 2012 already, and you'll have such a headache that it'd be kind of nice if the whole world went away.

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]]> In 'Fantastic Mr. Fox,' The Dazzle Is In The Details Director Wes Anderson's first foray into animation, <em>The Fantastic Mr. Fox,</em> is based on the charmingly wicked children's book by Roald Dahl. The film follows a battle of wits between the sly fox (voiced by George Clooney) and three formidable farmers. Critic Kenneth Turan says the film's stop-motion animation is tailor-made for the sort of quirky details that Anderson employs. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120289148&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120289148&ft=1&f=4467349 Director Wes Anderson's first foray into animation, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, is based on the charmingly wicked children's book by Roald Dahl. The film follows a battle of wits between the sly fox (voiced by George Clooney) and three formidable farmers. Critic Kenneth Turan says the film's stop-motion animation is tailor-made for the sort of quirky details that Anderson employs.

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]]> 'Pirate Radio' Tunes Into Rock-Revolution Nostalgia The latest film from British writer-director Richard Curtis (<em>Notting Hill, Love Actually</em>) is a true-story-inspired comedy about the bawdy crew of an oceangoing rock-music radio station in '60s Britain. Critic Ella Taylor calls the film "endearingly inept," and suggests that the soundtrack might be its saving grace. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120287823&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120287823&ft=1&f=4467349 The latest film from British writer-director Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, Love Actually) is a true-story-inspired comedy about the bawdy crew of an oceangoing rock-music radio station in '60s Britain. Critic Ella Taylor calls the film "endearingly inept," and suggests that the soundtrack might be its saving grace.

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]]> The (Surprisingly) Real Feel of 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' Director Wes Anderson's first animated film is based on Roald Dahl's cheerfully wicked children's book about a wily fox who wages war on three farmers. Critic David Edelstein says the film — with its stop-motion animation, big-name voice talent and quirky mannerisms — achieves a degree of realism that isn't always apparent in the cult director's work. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:18:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120348665&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120348665&ft=1&f=4467349 Director Wes Anderson's first animated film is based on Roald Dahl's cheerfully wicked children's book about a wily fox who wages war on three farmers. Critic David Edelstein says the film — with its stop-motion animation, big-name voice talent and quirky mannerisms — achieves a degree of realism that isn't always apparent in the cult director's work.

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]]> When Life Is This Hard, Stubbornness Is A Virtue Claireece "Precious" Jones is living a nightmare: she's morbidly obese, twice impregnated by her father, mentally and physically abused by her mother. But just as her life seems entirely untenable, fate offers a way out — and slowly, with a mulish persistence, Precious starts to come into her own. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120058151&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120058151&ft=1&f=4467349 Claireece "Precious" Jones is living a nightmare: she's morbidly obese, twice impregnated by her father, mentally and physically abused by her mother. But just as her life seems entirely untenable, fate offers a way out — and slowly, with a mulish persistence, Precious starts to come into her own. (Recommended)

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]]> 'Men Who Stare At Goats': GIs Use Their Third Eyes A quirky comedy based on the true story of "psychic warriors" in the '70s and '80s, <em>Goats</em> stars George Clooney and Kevin Spacey as offbeat officers turned fearsome foes when their hippie leader (Jeff Bridges) goes missing. Critic Kenneth Turan says watching these practiced farceurs at work can't help but provide some laughs. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120023635&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120023635&ft=1&f=4467349 A quirky comedy based on the true story of "psychic warriors" in the '70s and '80s, Goats stars George Clooney and Kevin Spacey as offbeat officers turned fearsome foes when their hippie leader (Jeff Bridges) goes missing. Critic Kenneth Turan says watching these practiced farceurs at work can't help but provide some laughs.

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]]> Michael Ruppert, Explaining The Coming 'Collapse' In <em>Collapse</em>, former Los Angeles Police Department officer and noted conspiracy theorist Michael Ruppert states things that are clearly true, makes claims that are fairly plausible and delivers predictions that no viewer without a time machine can adequately evaluate. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120064790&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120064790&ft=1&f=4467349 In Collapse, former Los Angeles Police Department officer and noted conspiracy theorist Michael Ruppert states things that are clearly true, makes claims that are fairly plausible and delivers predictions that no viewer without a time machine can adequately evaluate.

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]]> 'Fourth Kind': She Can See Aliens From Her House In an Alaska town, a series of mysterious disappearances leads a psychologist (Milla Jovovich) to conclude that extraterrestrials have been interfering with the locals. Olatunde Osunsanmi's faux-documentary thriller has its share of effective shocks, says critic Ian Buckwalter, but the truth is, it's kinda out there. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120053750&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120053750&ft=1&f=4467349 In an Alaska town, a series of mysterious disappearances leads a psychologist (Milla Jovovich) to conclude that extraterrestrials have been interfering with the locals. Olatunde Osunsanmi's faux-documentary thriller has its share of effective shocks, says critic Ian Buckwalter, but the truth is, it's kinda out there.

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