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Movie Reviews Reviews of new movies, classic and art films, foreign films, and popular movies. Featuring Bob Mondello, Kenneth Turan, David Edelstein, and Mark Jenkins.

Movie Reviews

Arts & Life

Summary Judgment: 'Running with Scissors,' 'Babel,' 'Death of a President'

Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan reviews what critics are saying about this weekend's movie releases -- Running with Scissors, Babel and the controversial faux-documentary Death of a President.

Summary Judgment: 'Running with Scissors,' 'Babel,' 'Death of a President'

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Arts & Life

'Catch a Fire' Breathes New Life into an Old Story

Catch a Fire sounds like an awfully familiar story. And, in some ways, it is. Movies on how South Africa suffered under apartheid, and the heroic efforts made to resist that repressive system, are hardly new. So it's tempting to write off this newest look at that era as too familiar and too late. That would be a mistake.

'Catch a Fire' Breathes New Life into an Old Story

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Arts & Life

'Babel' Weaves a Story Out of Noise, Desperation

The latest film from Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu follows multiple story lines. The film reveals the connections between its multicultural cast of characters -- and, as the title suggests, the difficulties they have in communicating.

'Babel' Weaves a Story Out of Noise, Desperation

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Arts & Life

'The Prestige' Tempts Film Fans with Fresh Tricks

The Prestige matches Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as rival magicians who try to sabotage each others' tricks, and steal them when they can. It's a magical mystery tour of subterfuge, directed by brothers Christopher and Jonathan Nolan of Memento fame.

'The Prestige' Tempts Film Fans with Fresh Tricks

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Arts & Life

Summary Judgment: 'Marie Antoinette,' 'The Prestige, 'Flags of Our Fathers'

Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan reviews what critics are saying about this weekend's major movie releases -- Marie Antoinette, The Prestige and the Clint Eastwood epic Flags of our Fathers.

Summary Judgment: 'Marie Antoinette,' 'The Prestige, 'Flags of Our Fathers'

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Arts & Life

'Flags': The Story Behind an Iconic Image of WWII

Flags Of Our Fathers is Clint Eastwood's look at the World War II battle of Iwo Jima, which was symbolized around the country by the photo of six faceless Marines raising the flag over Mount Suribachi.

'Flags': The Story Behind an Iconic Image of WWII

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Movies

'Man of the Year' Is Politics as Usual

Barry Levinson's new film, Man of the Year is about a comedian, played by Robin Williams, who decides to run for president as a joke, but starts winning support from voters. The film falters when it switches from a comedy to a political thriller.

'Man of the Year' Is Politics as Usual

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Arts & Life

Summary Judgment: 'Man of the Year,' 'Shortbus,' 'Grudge 2'

Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan summarizes what critics are saying about the weekend's major new movie releases: Man of the Year, Shortbus and the horror film Grudge 2.

Summary Judgment: 'Man of the Year,' 'Shortbus,' 'Grudge 2'

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Arts & Life

'Infamous' Fails Where 'Capote' Succeeded

Infamous tells the story of Truman Capote as he wrote In Cold Blood. If that sounds familiar, it's because a movie about the exact same thing came out a year ago, and it was a better film.

'Infamous' Fails Where 'Capote' Succeeded

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Arts & Life

'Little Children' Film Rachets Up Tension

Little Children tracks an affair between a dissatisfied housewife and "the prom king," a stay-at-home dad who avoids studying for the Bar as he visits the playground with his son. Things come to a head when a man sent to jail for exposing himself to children is released and moves into the community.

'Little Children' Film Rachets Up Tension

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Arts & Life

Summary Judgment: 'The Departed,' 'Employee of the Month,' 'The Queen'

Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan sums up what film critics are saying about this weekend's major new movie releases: The Departed, Employee of the Month and The Queen.

Summary Judgment: 'The Departed,' 'Employee of the Month,' 'The Queen'

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Arts & Life

'The Queen': Tragicomedy of Post-Diana Royals

The new film The Queen looks at England's royal family following the death of Princess Diana. It's directed by Stephen Frears and features Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II. The movie opened the New York Film Festival on Friday. NPR critic Bob Mondello has a review.

'The Queen': Tragicomedy of Post-Diana Royals

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Arts & Life

Summary Judgment: 'School For Scoundrels,' 'The Last King of Scotland,' 'The Guardian'

Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan sums up what the nation's critics are saying about this week's new movie releases -- School For Scoundrels, The Last King of Scotland and The Guardian.

Summary Judgment: 'School For Scoundrels,' 'The Last King of Scotland,' 'The Guardian'

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