Movies

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Composer Says It's A Halloween Movie

5:12am October 31, 2019

People debate whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween or Christmas movie. Music composer Danny Elfman told USA Today it's a Halloween movie to him.

John Witherspoon leaves a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman in New York in December 2009. Actor-comedian Witherspoon, who memorably played Ice Cube's father in the Friday films, has died at age 77.

Arts

Film And Television Comic John Witherspoon Dies At 77

11:06pm October 30, 2019

by Scott Neuman

He was a veteran of 1970s television comedies such as Good Times and What's Happening!!, but was best known for his role in Ice Cube's Friday films.

Books

Monster-Maker Rick Baker On 'Metamorphosis'

5:48am October 30, 2019

by Mandalit del Barco

Monster-maker Rick Baker has won seven Academy Awards for his work in films like An American Werewolf in London and Men in Black. Metamorphosis is a new two-volume book that chronicles his work.

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Robert Evans attends a 2002 book signing for his memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture.

Arts

The Kid Bows Out: Movie Producer Robert Evans Dies At 89

6:01pm October 28, 2019

The Hollywood legend was discovered in a swimming pool by the wife of a movie mogul and went on to helm Paramount Pictures, producing huge hits like Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown and The Godfather.

François Ozon's By the Grace of God dramatizes the child sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church of Lyon, France.

'People Are Afraid Of Cinema': François Ozon Takes On Church Sexual Abuse

7:58am October 26, 2019

by Rebecca Rosman

The French filmmaker first wanted to make a documentary about an accused pedophile priest. But the victims convinced him that fiction would reach more viewers. It's called By the Grace of God.

Frankie, starring Marisa Tomei (left) and Isabelle Huppert (right), follows a family reunion of three generations in Portugal.

Arts

In 'Frankie,' Huppert Struggles To Keep A Secret — And Our Interest

6:14pm October 24, 2019

by Ella Taylor

Flat characters spout banal observations about life against a lush backdrop in Ira Sachs's film, which wastes the considerable talents of its all-star cast.

Why Dan Krauss Turned His Documentary, 'The Kill Team,' Into A Feature Film

5:15pm October 24, 2019

Dan Krauss made a 2014 documentary about five U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan who were accused of murdering civilians. He told NPR's Ari Shapiro why he made the story into a feature film this year.

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Naked and Abroad: Synonyms, staring Tom Mercier took home the 2019 Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

Arts

An Israeli Stranded In Paris, Aching To Blend In: 'Synonyms'

5:00pm October 24, 2019

by Danny Hensel

Yoav (Tom Mercier) finds himself without clothes soon after arriving in Paris, and strives to assimilate into French culture.

Let there be fights! Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Thomas Edison racing to electrify America in The Current War.

Arts

'The Current War: Director's Cut' Shines At Low But Steady Wattage

5:00pm October 24, 2019

by Mark Jenkins

This long-delayed film about Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla is "a sumptuous historical pageant that's stronger on sumptuousness than history."

While serving in Afghanistan, a young American soldier (Nat Wolff, left) is mentally and physically tested by his commanding officer (Alexander Skarsgård, right).

Arts

Inner Life, During Wartime: 'The Kill Team'

5:00pm October 24, 2019

by Scott Tobias

A horrified soldier in Afghanistan witnesses atrocities encouraged by his commanding officer in Dan Krauss' feature film, based on his 2013 documentary of the same name.