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January 23, 2013 NPR's Renee Montagne talks to actor, comedian, director, writer and all-around funny guy Mel Brooks, the man behind such cracked classics as Blazing Saddles and Spaceballs. He has a new DVD set out that covers his career from the 1950s to today.

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January 22, 2013 The third feature by director Moussa Toure, the danger-at-sea drama distinguishes itself with richly authentic detail and a deep understanding of West African culture.

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January 22, 2013 KUERRobert Redford's annual Sundance Film Festival draws thousands of filmgoers and millions of dollars to snowy Park City, Utah. But a state subsidy contributing to the event is drawing controversy from some conservatives, who say films screened at the festival don't reflect the values of the state.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

January 22, 2013 Melissa Block talks with Steven Zeitchik, arts and entertainment writer for the Los Angeles Times, about the Sundance Film Festival. They discuss the buzz-worthy movies and emerging trends from this year's festival.

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January 18, 2013 In an age of werewolves, hormonal vampires and endless sequels, horror movies have lost some edge. But Mama, starring Jessica Chastain, is an entertaining step in the right — which is to say backward — direction.

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On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

January 18, 2013 In film and TV, pop culture references are meant to give a knowing nod to those in the audience who understand the joke. But in an increasingly segmented and diverse country, those jokes may be pulling in fewer laughs.

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January 17, 2013 Baltimore's criminal underworld is the backdrop for a coming-of-age drama about an 11-year-old and the uncle he idolizes. Critic Joel Arnold says solid performances in the central roles shore up a plot that sometimes strains credulity.

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January 17, 2013 Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in action-hero character for the spaghetti-Western splatterfest The Last Stand. He's having a reasonably good time in a scattershot shoot-'em-up that stumbles too often on its way to an ending.

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January 17, 2013 First-time director Andres Muschietti's Mama follows familiar fright-film guidelines, but the dedication of its lead actress and its somber, chilly tone make for a committed trip to the archetypical cabin in the woods.

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January 17, 2013 Director Bruno Dumont is an odd fit in the modern cinematic landscape, but that doesn't take away from the singular beauty of his new film.

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January 17, 2013 The neo-noir Broken City may be coolly stylish, but its too-neat resolution makes you wonder what's been lost in the edit bay.

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January 16, 2013 The veteran actor makes his directorial debut with a film about four aging opera singers who stage a concert at their retirement home. Starring Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay, the film explores friendship, memory and the time that remains.

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January 15, 2013 Fresh off Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, where he won for best director and his film won for best motion picture/drama, the actor and director talks about his approach to the story of six diplomats who managed to escape a hostile Iran — and the CIA operative who helped them do so.

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On Fresh Air from WHYYPlaylist

January 14, 2013 Already an awards-season staple, German historical dramas are moving beyond the horrors of the Third Reich and delving into the nuanced past of the former East Germany. Films like Christian Petzold's Barbara, a quiet story about a troubled young doctor, tell a different kind of history.

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