Movie Reviews

In Theaters Now: 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2,' 'Risk'

7:37am May 05, 2017

NPR's David Greene talks with film critic Kenneth Turan about two very different movie options in theaters: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and the new documentary about Julian Assange, Risk.

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Pew! Pew! Pew! Volume Two: Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) gives 'em both barrels in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.

Arts

The Spaceman With A Walkman Is Back: 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.'

5:00pm May 04, 2017

by Andrew Lapin

The sequel to Marvel's tunefully shaggy 2014 space oddity serves up more of the same; the result is "mildly enjoyable while instantly forgettable," says critic Andrew Lapin.

"Go on, do your Michael Caine!": Paul (Steve Coogan), Claire (Laura Linney), Stan (Richard Gere) and Katelyn (Rebecca Hall) get toasted in The Dinner.

Arts

'The Dinner,' Overcooked And Underseasoned

5:00pm May 04, 2017

by Scott Tobias

In this tale of two couples struggling with a moral dilemma, strong performances get drowned in endless flashbacks and needless backstory that render the central drama flavorless.

Linda (Naomi Watts) and Chuck (Liev Schreiber) in Philippe Falardeau's Chuck.

Arts

'Chuck': The Boxer Who Inspired 'Rocky' Gets A Dutiful Biopic

5:00pm May 04, 2017

by Chris Klimek

Critic Chris Klimek says Philippe Falardeau's film about the fall and rise of Chuck "The Bayonne Bleeder" Wepner, starring Liev Schreiber, suffers from a prosaic, just-the-facts approach.

Two members of "The White Helmets" pause to take stock in the documentary Last Men in Aleppo.

Arts

Documentary 'Last Men In Aleppo' Profiles Rescuers Amid The Rubble

5:00pm May 04, 2017

by Mark Jenkins

An intimate and moving examination of the White Helmets, who pull survivors — and corpses — from bombed buildings in Syria's largest city.

Arts

'Obit' Documentary Follows Journalists Who Tell Lively Stories Of Death

4:31pm April 28, 2017

by Bob Mondello

NPR movie critic Bob Mondello reviews Obit, a documentary about obituary writing at The New York Times.

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Arts

Film Adaptation Of 'The Circle' Is Part Satire, Part Moralistic Melodrama

1:29pm April 28, 2017

by David Edelstein

Emma Watson and Tom Hanks star in the remake of Dave Eggers' novel about a giant social media company. Critic David Edelstein says he found much of the acting overheated and the ending confusing.

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Zooler (Tomer Kapon) bonds with his grieving neighbor Eyal (Shai Avivi) in One Week and a Day.

Arts

An Israeli Couple Haltingly Navigate Grief Over 'One Week And A Day'

5:00pm April 27, 2017

by Ella Taylor

They've lost their son. The shiva is over. Now, Eyal (Shai Avivi) and Vicky (Jenya Dodina) "veer off on separate tracks of crazed non-coping" says critic Ella Taylor.

Bert Berns (left) and Jerry Wexler (right) wrote The Drifters' "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" in 1964. (But when the music business drove them apart, they did anyway.)

Arts

'BANG! The Bert Berns Story': The Complicated Man Behind 'Twist And Shout'

5:00pm April 27, 2017

by Mark Jenkins

A new documentary examines the short life — and shady business practices — of the songwriter/producer behind hits like "Tell Him," "Here Comes the Night" and "Hang On Sloopy."

Howard and Lillian: A True Hollywood Love Story chronicles the marriage of Lillian and Howard Michelson, who triumphed over challenges that have doomed many Hollywood couples.

Arts

A Behind-The-Scenes Couple Get Star Treatment In 'Harold And Lillian'

5:00pm April 27, 2017

by Scott Tobias

A new documentary charts the long and loving marriage of a production designer and a film researcher; critic Scott Tobias calls it "sublime and inspiring."