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 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:33:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Movie Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4467349&ft=1&f=4467349 yes 'Pippa Lee': Escaping The Past, Unsure Of The Future Without any clear sense of herself, Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) has been shaped by others — first her peers, then her husband and children, always living solidly in the present. But with her older husband's health failing, Pippa is forced to confront and ultimately define her identity in a film that gives her a chance to do just that. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:33:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609933&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609933&ft=1&f=4467349 Without any clear sense of herself, Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) has been shaped by others — first her peers, then her husband and children, always living solidly in the present. But with her older husband's health failing, Pippa is forced to confront and ultimately define her identity in a film that gives her a chance to do just that. no Without any clear sense of herself, Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) has been shaped by others — first her peers, then her husband and children, always living solidly in the present. But with her older husband's health failing, Pippa is forced to confront and ultimately define her identity in a film that gives her a chance to do just that.

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]]> At The End Of The World, Another 'Road' To Trudge In an apocalyptic-movie age, <em>The Road</em> is the doomiest. A close translation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, the film tracks a father and son as they fight to survive in an ash-gray world haunted by death and global destruction. Critic David Edelstein says that in its depiction of unbearable extremity, John Hillcoat's film achieves a kind of sublimity. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:35:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120612276&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120612276&ft=1&f=4467349 In an apocalyptic-movie age, <em>The Road</em> is the doomiest. A close translation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, the film tracks a father and son as they fight to survive in an ash-gray world haunted by death and global destruction. Critic David Edelstein says that in its depiction of unbearable extremity, John Hillcoat's film achieves a kind of sublimity. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> 333 no In an apocalyptic-movie age, The Road is the doomiest. A close translation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, the film tracks a father and son as they fight to survive in an ash-gray world haunted by death and global destruction. Critic David Edelstein says that in its depiction of unbearable extremity, John Hillcoat's film achieves a kind of sublimity. (Recommended)

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]]> Exploring The Politics Of 'Defamation' Israeli filmmaker Yoav Shamir's documentary is a bracing inquiry into arguments about the prevalence of anti-Semitism today. If the filmmaker displays an anthropologist's openness to complicated truths, he also has a contrarian's impish appetite for the opposing view — the more intemperately expressed the better, it would seem. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452232&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452232&ft=1&f=4467349 Israeli filmmaker Yoav Shamir's documentary is a bracing inquiry into arguments about the prevalence of anti-Semitism today. If the filmmaker displays an anthropologist's openness to complicated truths, he also has a contrarian's impish appetite for the opposing view — the more intemperately expressed the better, it would seem. no Israeli filmmaker Yoav Shamir's documentary is a bracing inquiry into arguments about the prevalence of anti-Semitism today. If the filmmaker displays an anthropologist's openness to complicated truths, he also has a contrarian's impish appetite for the opposing view — the more intemperately expressed the better, it would seem.

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]]> A 'Ninja Assassin,' Out For Blood (And Revenge) Splattered blood and severed limbs abound, but James McTeigue's new martial-arts extravaganza is more video game than convincingly violent action flick. Hardly realistic, but still a hoot for martial-arts fans, <em>Ninja Assassin</em> makes an entertainingly edgy option among more saccharine seasonal fare. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609604&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609604&ft=1&f=4467349 Splattered blood and severed limbs abound, but James McTeigue's new martial-arts extravaganza is more video game than convincingly violent action flick. Hardly realistic, but still a hoot for martial-arts fans, <em>Ninja Assassin</em> makes an entertainingly edgy option among more saccharine seasonal fare. no Splattered blood and severed limbs abound, but James McTeigue's new martial-arts extravaganza is more video game than convincingly violent action flick. Hardly realistic, but still a hoot for martial-arts fans, Ninja Assassin makes an entertainingly edgy option among more saccharine seasonal fare.

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]]> 'Me And Orson': Welles, He's Quite A Character Zac Efron is the nominal draw in <em>Me and Orson Welles</em>, a backstage drama set during the iconic director's 1937 production of <em>Julius Caesar.</em> But while Efron might bring the audiences, it's Christian McKay's turn as Orson Welles that's the real crowd-pleaser. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120611819&ft=1&f=4467349 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120611819&ft=1&f=4467349 Zac Efron is the nominal draw in <em>Me and Orson Welles</em>, a backstage drama set during the iconic director's 1937 production of <em>Julius Caesar.</em> But while Efron might bring the audiences, it's Christian McKay's turn as Orson Welles that's the real crowd-pleaser. no Zac Efron is the nominal draw in Me and Orson Welles, a backstage drama set during the iconic director's 1937 production of Julius Caesar. But while Efron might bring the audiences, it's Christian McKay's turn as Orson Welles that's the real crowd-pleaser.

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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 — 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. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> 237 no 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 <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. 172 no 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 <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. no "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 <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. no 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. no 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, <em>The Messenger</em> is peopled by characters who seem gratifyingly alive. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> 161 no 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. no 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 <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. 184 no 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, <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. 129 no 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 (<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. no 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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