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. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 23 May 2013 04:38:16 -0400 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 Cannes Film Festival Keeps Kenneth Turan Coming Back David Greene talks with our film critic Kenneth Turan about some of the movies at this year's Cannes Film Festival in France. They include a standout from American director Alexander Payne called <em>Nebraska</em>. Turan first covered that movie festival 42 years ago. Thu, 23 May 2013 04:38:16 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186172679/cannes-film-festival-keeps-kenneth-turan-coming-back?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186172679/cannes-film-festival-keeps-kenneth-turan-coming-back?ft=1&f=4467349 David Greene talks with our film critic Kenneth Turan about some of the movies at this year's Cannes Film Festival in France. They include a standout from American director Alexander Payne called Nebraska. Turan first covered that movie festival 42 years ago.

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]]> New 'Trek' Goes 'Into Darkness,' But Not Much Deeper NPR's Bob Mondello says J.J. Abrams' latest <em>Star Trek</em> film knows how to make the sparks and feelings fly, but doesn't bother making the sparks and feeling matter very much. Sat, 18 May 2013 18:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185120495/new-trek-goes-into-darkness-but-not-much-deeper?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185120495/new-trek-goes-into-darkness-but-not-much-deeper?ft=1&f=4467349 NPR's Bob Mondello says J.J. Abrams' latest Star Trek film knows how to make the sparks and feelings fly, but doesn't bother making the sparks and feeling matter very much.

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]]> 'Frances Ha' Is a 'Small Miracle Of A Movie' The new film <em>Frances Ha</em> is a joint creation of star Greta Gerwig and director Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote the screenplay. <em>Morning Edition's</em> reviewer says it is everything an American independent film is supposed to be — an incisive, thoughtful portrait of an original character. Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700652/frances-ha-is-a-small-miracle-of-a-movie?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700652/frances-ha-is-a-small-miracle-of-a-movie?ft=1&f=4467349 The new film Frances Ha is a joint creation of star Greta Gerwig and director Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote the screenplay. Morning Edition's reviewer says it is everything an American independent film is supposed to be — an incisive, thoughtful portrait of an original character.

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]]> 'Bidder 70,' Still Raising His Hand To Be Heard Scientist Terry Root, author and activist Terry Tempest Williams and filmmaker Robert Redford all turn up in this documentary on eco-activist Tim DeChristopher, who bid on — and won — mineral rights to a chunk of federal land just to tie them up. He was prosecuted and sentenced to federal prison. Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183693383/bidder-70-still-raising-his-hand-to-be-heard?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183693383/bidder-70-still-raising-his-hand-to-be-heard?ft=1&f=4467349 Scientist Terry Root, author and activist Terry Tempest Williams and filmmaker Robert Redford all turn up in this documentary on eco-activist Tim DeChristopher, who bid on — and won — mineral rights to a chunk of federal land just to tie them up. He was prosecuted and sentenced to federal prison.

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]]> Greta Gerwig, Blithely Spirited As 'Frances Ha' The indie darling returns in a winning collaboration with Noah Baumbach that tracks her developmentally arrested dancer heroine through the transition from protracted adolescence to reluctant adulthood. <em><strong>(Recommended)</strong></em> Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183719540/greta-gerwig-blithely-spirited-as-frances-ha?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183719540/greta-gerwig-blithely-spirited-as-frances-ha?ft=1&f=4467349 The indie darling returns in a winning collaboration with Noah Baumbach that tracks her developmentally arrested dancer heroine through the transition from protracted adolescence to reluctant adulthood. (Recommended)

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]]> 'Pieta': Suffering Toward ... Redemption? Controversial Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk (<em>The Isle</em>) turns in a meditation on cruelty, criminality, mortality and grace.<em><em><strong> (Recommended)</strong></em></em> Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183724912/pieta-suffering-toward-redemption?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183724912/pieta-suffering-toward-redemption?ft=1&f=4467349 Controversial Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk (The Isle) turns in a meditation on cruelty, criminality, mortality and grace. (Recommended)

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]]> 'Augustine' And Her Diagnosis Get Another Look A 19th-century neurologist develops an intense relationship with an illiterate teenage maid who experiences erotic pleasure during intense bouts of "hysteria." French writer-director Alice Winocour's feature debut is based on an actual 19th-century case history. Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183644625/augustine-and-her-diagnosis-get-another-look?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183644625/augustine-and-her-diagnosis-get-another-look?ft=1&f=4467349 A 19th-century neurologist develops an intense relationship with an illiterate teenage maid who experiences erotic pleasure during intense bouts of "hysteria." French writer-director Alice Winocour's feature debut is based on an actual 19th-century case history.

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]]> 'Re-Emerging': In Nigeria, A People Finds A Faith Jeff L. Lieberman's documentary explores the story of 30,000 Nigerians who claim a Jewish heritage dating back centuries — and who have carved out a singular culture amid the post-colonial turmoil that still affects their country. Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183725132/re-emerging-in-nigeria-a-people-finds-a-faith?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/183725132/re-emerging-in-nigeria-a-people-finds-a-faith?ft=1&f=4467349 Jeff L. Lieberman's documentary explores the story of 30,000 Nigerians who claim a Jewish heritage dating back centuries — and who have carved out a singular culture amid the post-colonial turmoil that still affects their country.

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]]> 'Into Darkness,' Boldly And With A Few Twists The 12th film based on Gene Roddenberry's '60s sci-fi TV show is the second to star a new group of actors as Kirk, Spock and their crew. J.J. Abrams returns as director, and <em>Sherlock</em> star Benedict Cumberbatch plays the memorable villain. Thu, 16 May 2013 12:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184485990/into-darkness-boldly-and-with-a-few-twists?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184485990/into-darkness-boldly-and-with-a-few-twists?ft=1&f=4467349 The 12th film based on Gene Roddenberry's '60s sci-fi TV show is the second to star a new group of actors as Kirk, Spock and their crew. J.J. Abrams returns as director, and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch plays the memorable villain.

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]]> Polley's 'Stories': A Family Saga Strikingly Spun A director's film memoir of her theatrical family is transformed by surprising discoveries about her parents' past — and her own heritage. Sarah Polley's film becomes a superb meditation on how we dramatize memory. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> Fri, 10 May 2013 16:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182892997/polleys-stories-a-family-saga-strikingly-spun?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182892997/polleys-stories-a-family-saga-strikingly-spun?ft=1&f=4467349 A director's film memoir of her theatrical family is transformed by surprising discoveries about her parents' past — and her own heritage. Sarah Polley's film becomes a superb meditation on how we dramatize memory. (Recommended)

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]]> Luhrmann's 'Gatsby': Bracingly Novel The movie is loud and obvious, but it's not a desecration of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 masterpiece. Baz Luhrmann's interpretation of <em>The Great Gatsby</em> is more like a cartoony Broadway musical version of <em>Gatsby</em> in which no one, alas, sings. Fri, 10 May 2013 12:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/181971647/luhrmanns-gatsby-bracingly-novel?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/181971647/luhrmanns-gatsby-bracingly-novel?ft=1&f=4467349 The movie is loud and obvious, but it's not a desecration of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 masterpiece. Baz Luhrmann's interpretation of The Great Gatsby is more like a cartoony Broadway musical version of Gatsby in which no one, alas, sings.

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]]> Baz Luhrmann's Style Suffocates 'Gatsby' <em>The Great Gatsby</em>, F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic, has been turned into a film five times. <em>Morning Edition's</em> reviewer says the latest version is nothing to brag about. Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182800283/baz-luhrmanns-style-suffocates-gatsby?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182800283/baz-luhrmanns-style-suffocates-gatsby?ft=1&f=4467349 The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic, has been turned into a film five times. Morning Edition's reviewer says the latest version is nothing to brag about.

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]]> In 'Sightseers,' A Killing Spree Gone South Its tone is ultimately sour, but at its brittle, nasty core, Ben Wheatley's slasher-tourism comedy fits squarely in the tradition of British class-resentment pictures like <em>Kind Hearts and Coronets</em> and <em>The Ruling Class.</em> Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182246086/in-sightseers-a-killing-spree-gone-south?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182246086/in-sightseers-a-killing-spree-gone-south?ft=1&f=4467349 Its tone is ultimately sour, but at its brittle, nasty core, Ben Wheatley's slasher-tourism comedy fits squarely in the tradition of British class-resentment pictures like Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ruling Class.

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]]> 'Gatsby's' Jazz-Age Excess, All Over The Screen If anyone could pull off a multiplex-friendly adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's <em>The Great Gatsby — </em>a film<em> </em>treatment that might be capable of stepping out of the long shadow cast by the book — it's <em>Moulin Rouge</em> showman Baz Luhrmann, right? Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182244161/gatsbys-jazz-age-excess-all-over-the-screen?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182244161/gatsbys-jazz-age-excess-all-over-the-screen?ft=1&f=4467349 If anyone could pull off a multiplex-friendly adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby — a film treatment that might be capable of stepping out of the long shadow cast by the book — it's Moulin Rouge showman Baz Luhrmann, right?

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]]> 'Venus And Serena': Champs Atop Their Game What's left to know about tennis's superstar sisters? Probably not much they'd be willing to share, given how eager the press has been to wedge them into ready-made narratives about race, celebrity or the daughters of a Svengali. Thu, 09 May 2013 16:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182245586/venus-and-serena-champs-atop-their-game?ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/09/182245586/venus-and-serena-champs-atop-their-game?ft=1&f=4467349 What's left to know about tennis's superstar sisters? Probably not much they'd be willing to share, given how eager the press has been to wedge them into ready-made narratives about race, celebrity or the daughters of a Svengali.

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