Pop Culture Happy Hour : NPR

'The Goldfinch' Turns A Long Book Into An Overstuffed Movie

Ansel Elgort plays Theo Decker in The Goldfinch. Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

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Warner Bros. Pictures

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'The Goldfinch' Turns A Long Book Into An Overstuffed Movie

September 13, 2019 • Donna Tartt's 2013 book The Goldfinch won a Pulitzer Prize for its story of a boy whose mother dies in a bombing. It's an epic tale of grief, abandonment, friendship, drugs, and a stolen painting of a goldfinch. Now, The Goldfinch has been adapted into a movie starring Ansel Elgort, Oakes Fegley, Nicole Kidman, Luke Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Finn Wolfhard and Sarah Paulsen.

'The Goldfinch' Turns A Long Book Into An Overstuffed Movie

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We Get Up In Our Feelings With 'Steven Universe: The Movie'

Garnet (Estelle) and Steven Universe (Zach Callison) return for Steven Universe: The Movie. Cartoon Network hide caption

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Cartoon Network

Review

We Get Up In Our Feelings With 'Steven Universe: The Movie'

September 11, 2019 • The animated show Steven Universe has told the story of a human-alien hybrid boy and the race of alien women called Gems who've helped raise him on Earth. The show has told lighthearted stories of life in the fictional Beach City — and headed to space for a more epic saga about a group of intergalactic leaders, a past rebellion, and a plot to destroy the world. Creator Rebecca Sugar has said that there will be more episodes, but for now, Steven Universe: The Movie has just premiered on the Cartoon Network.

We Get Up In Our Feelings With 'Steven Universe: The Movie'

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'It: Chapter Two': Everybody Loves A Clown, But Why Don't We?

Bill Skarsgård reprises the role of Pennywise in It: Chapter Two. Brooke Palmer/Warner Bros hide caption

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Brooke Palmer/Warner Bros

Review

'It: Chapter Two': Everybody Loves A Clown, But Why Don't We?

September 6, 2019 • The 2017 movie It was a massive blockbuster, and became the highest-grossing R-rated horror film of all time. Adapting the Stephen King novel of the same name, it tells the story of seven misfit kids in the late 1980s, and a supernatural being that preys on children in a small town in Maine. The sequel revisits the kids 27 years later — they're now played by the likes of Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Hader.

'It: Chapter Two': Everybody Loves A Clown, But Why Don't We?

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Toronto International Film Festival 2019 Preview: The Films We're Most Excited About

L to R: Detective Blanc (Daniel Craig), Lieutenant Elliott (LaKieth Stanfield) and Trooper Wagner (Noah Segan) are on the case in Rian Johnson's Knives Out. Claire Folger/TIFF hide caption

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Claire Folger/TIFF

Toronto International Film Festival 2019 Preview: The Films We're Most Excited About

September 4, 2019 • The NPR Movies Team picks the 12 films they're most looking forward to seeing — movies that will likely end up in theaters or on streaming services sometime in the next few months.

Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney, And Kirsten Dunst in the 1999 film Drop Dead Gorgeous. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

Review

Revisiting The Movies Of 1999

September 4, 2019 • Just about every week, we talk about what we're watching or reading or listening to right now. Today, we're doing something different. We're going back 20 years to talk about some of the movies of 1999, including Drop Dead Gorgeous, Office Space, and The Talented Mr. Ripley. We'll talk about what holds up, what looks really different, and what we miss the most.

Revisiting The Movies Of 1999

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'Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance': Gorgeous, Multi-Faceted, Hollow At Its Center

The three sister-princesses of the Vapra clan await the apology they feel they are owed in the Netflix prequel series Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Kevin Baker/Netflix hide caption

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Kevin Baker/Netflix

Review

'Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance': Gorgeous, Multi-Faceted, Hollow At Its Center

August 30, 2019 • Netflix's 10-episode series — a prequel to the 1982 film — is, like the original, breathtaking to look at, but its thinly-drawn characters can't carry their narrative weight.

Review

Our 2019 Fall TV Preview

August 30, 2019 • It's autumn again. And that means we're getting a wave of new television. So it's time for the annual fall TV preview. Whether you like superheros or detectives, broadcast or cable or streaming, we're here to share what we're excited to see.

Our 2019 Fall TV Preview

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NPR's Fall TV Preview: 19 Shows To Watch Out For

(Clockwise from upper left) Kennedy McMann in Nancy Drew, Forest Whitaker in Godfather of Harlem, Ruby Rose in Batwoman, TJ Atoms in Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Kathy Bates in American Horror Story: 1984, Ben Platt in The Politician. Robert Falconer/The CW, David Lee/Epix, Kimberley French/The CW, Courtesy of Hulu, Courtesy of FX, Courtesy of Netflix hide caption

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Robert Falconer/The CW, David Lee/Epix, Kimberley French/The CW, Courtesy of Hulu, Courtesy of FX, Courtesy of Netflix

Review

NPR's Fall TV Preview: 19 Shows To Watch Out For

August 28, 2019 • Whether they're watching sitcoms, prime-time dramas or something else altogether, our television and pop culture critics present a guide to the new programs and series coming out soon.

Taylor Swift attends the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images hide caption

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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

The 2019 MTV VMAs

August 27, 2019 • We just spent three hours watching the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, which are never really about awards so much as moments: big performances and the memes and soundbites we may or may not remember for years to come. This year's show brought lots of Taylor Swift, and Missy Elliott, not to mention Lizzo, Normani, Lil Nas X, Rosalía and more.

The 2019 MTV VMAs

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10 Things You Might As Well Know About The 2019 VMAs

Lizzo performs at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

10 Things You Might As Well Know About The 2019 VMAs

August 27, 2019 • Monday night's MTV Video Music Awards telecast brought viewers lots of Taylor Swift and Missy Elliott, not to mention Lizzo, Normani, Lil Nas X, Rosalía and more.

Kirsten Dunst Is On Top Of The Pyramid In 'On Becoming A God In Central Florida'

Kirsten Dunst is excellent in the Showtime series On Becoming A God In Central Florida, playing struggling mom Krystal Stubbs. Patty Perret/Sony/Showtime hide caption

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Patty Perret/Sony/Showtime

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Kirsten Dunst Is On Top Of The Pyramid In 'On Becoming A God In Central Florida'

August 26, 2019 • Kirsten Dunst shines in Showtime's comedy-drama about a pyramid scheme and the weirdos who operate it.

'90s Kids, Rejoice: 'Invader Zim,' A Cult-Classic Nicktoon, Returns

Our favorite incompetent invader is back in Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

'90s Kids, Rejoice: 'Invader Zim,' A Cult-Classic Nicktoon, Returns

August 23, 2019 • Eighteen years after the short-lived series premiered, Invader Zim is back with a one-off special that lacks the edge of the show's best episodes, but recalls what made it so fun.

A Fun But Familiar Story Of Making Yourself Over In 'Brittany Runs A Marathon'

In her first starring role on the big screen, comedic actress Jillian Bell of 22 Jump Street and Rough Night plays Brittany, an unhappy and directionless ticket-taker who decides to make a change — by running a marathon. Amazon hide caption

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Amazon

Review

A Fun But Familiar Story Of Making Yourself Over In 'Brittany Runs A Marathon'

August 22, 2019 • Jillian Bell and the supporting cast are charming in this underdog story about a young woman who goes from hating exercise to running a marathon. But don't expect too much that's new.

In The Brisk Horror-Comedy 'Ready Or Not,' Bluebloods Are Out For Blood

Come out, come out, wherever you are! In Ready or Not, a bride takes on her new husband's wealthy, murderous family in a twisted game of hide and seek. Eric Zachanowich/Fox Searchlight hide caption

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Eric Zachanowich/Fox Searchlight

Review

In The Brisk Horror-Comedy 'Ready Or Not,' Bluebloods Are Out For Blood

August 21, 2019 • The film, about a wealthy clan who play a deadly game of hide-and-seek with a young woman (the fantastic Samara Weaving) marrying into the family, is fast, fun and not for the squeamish.

'This Way Up' Deserves A Spot On Your Crowded Viewing List

Aisling Bea stars as Aine in This Way Up, a new series available on Hulu. Channel 4/Hulu hide caption

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Channel 4/Hulu

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'This Way Up' Deserves A Spot On Your Crowded Viewing List

August 21, 2019 • It can be hard not to miss lower-profile streaming shows. But This Way Up, a comedy created by Irish actress Aisling Bea and streaming on Hulu, has a sweet and funny story to tell.

'The Righteous Gemstones' Takes Aim At Megachurch Millionaires

Adam Devine, John Goodman and Danny McBride are all members of the family megachurch business in HBO's The Righteous Gemstones. Fred Norris/HBO hide caption

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Fred Norris/HBO

Review

'The Righteous Gemstones' Takes Aim At Megachurch Millionaires

August 19, 2019 • In the HBO comedy created by and starring Danny McBride, a powerful preacher and his adult children are very poor examples to their flock.

True Medical Mysteries Get The TV Treatment On Netflix's 'Diagnosis'

Angel Parker, the subject of the first episode of Diagnosis, rests at the hospital with her boyfriend. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

True Medical Mysteries Get The TV Treatment On Netflix's 'Diagnosis'

August 16, 2019 • The Netflix series is like true crime with diseases instead of murderers, and it's even better when it pauses to consider the real challenges of health care shortfalls.

'Succession': Mogul Money, Mogul Problems

Brian Cox plays Logan Roy, the patriarch of the powerful Roy family. Peter Kramer/HBO hide caption

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Peter Kramer/HBO

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Succession': Mogul Money, Mogul Problems

August 14, 2019 • Of all the TV shows about monstrous rich people, the HBO series Succession might be one of the most cutting. It follows heartless media mega-mogul Logan Roy and his ruthless children as they try to outmaneuver each other. And while the family is awful, the show is great. And if you're not watching it, you're missing out on a lot of high-quality scheming.

'Succession': Mogul Money, Mogul Problems

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'Legion' Ends Its Three-Season-Long Strange Trip

David (Dan Stevens) got his groove on, in more ways than one, in the final season of Legion. Suzanne Tenner/FX hide caption

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Suzanne Tenner/FX

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'Legion' Ends Its Three-Season-Long Strange Trip

August 13, 2019 • FX's surreal, gorgeous, not-quite-a-superhero-show concluded with neither a bang nor a whimper, but instead with time travel, Pink Floyd, forgiveness and an outpouring of empathy.

'Succession': Back To The Pit Of Vipers For Another Season Of Discontent

Kendall (Jeremy Strong, right) is back in season 2, still dealing with members of his father's staff, like Karolina (Dagmara Dominczyk). Craig Blankenhorn/HBO hide caption

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Craig Blankenhorn/HBO

Review

'Succession': Back To The Pit Of Vipers For Another Season Of Discontent

August 12, 2019 • Succession should be too bleak to work, but the combination of strong writing and especially excellent performances across the board keep it going strong as it enters its second season on HBO.

'Veronica Mars' Returns With Melodrama And A New Mystery

Kristen Bell returns to the titular role in the new season of Veronica Mars. Michael Desmond/Hulu hide caption

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Michael Desmond/Hulu

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Veronica Mars' Returns With Melodrama And A New Mystery

August 9, 2019 • Back in 2004, Veronica Mars was a high school student working for her private-eye father on the side. After three seasons on the air and a crowdfunded movie in 2014, Veronica is back. Now an adult and still a detective, Veronica tackles a fresh mystery in a set of new episodes available on Hulu. She still works with her father, she's still in love with reformed bad boy Logan Echolls, and she still has a one-liner for nearly every occasion.

'Veronica Mars' Returns With Melodrama And A New Mystery

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The Old Gang Is Back Together In 'BH90210,' Sort Of

Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling play themselves in BH90210, which both is and isn't a Beverly Hills, 90210 reboot. It's complicated. Shane Harvey/Fox hide caption

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Shane Harvey/Fox

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The Old Gang Is Back Together In 'BH90210,' Sort Of

August 7, 2019 • There's certainly no need to revisit the characters from Beverly Hills, 90210. So to fill what they hope is an appetite for nostalgia, the stars are playing themselves in a showbiz story.