Alvin Ailey, the most influential and celebrated Black choreographer of the 20th Century is the subject of the documentary Ailey.
‘The Woman Who Ran’ Puzzles Out The Mysteries Of Everyday Life
Hong Sang-soo’s new film follows a mild-mannered woman as she makes three different visits. Each chapter is absorbing on its own, but it’s even more intriguing to contemplate how it all fits together.
Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty To Sexual Assault Charges In Los Angeles Court
The disgraced former movie mogul was charged Wednesday with four counts of rape and seven other sexual assault charges in California. He is already serving a 23-year sentence in New York.
For Questlove, The Pandemic Meant Embracing Quiet — And Buying A Farm
The Tonight Show music director has been branching out: In addition to buying a farm, he’s making his directorial debut with Summer of Soul, a documentary about a 1969 concert series in Harlem.
Disney Introduces A Revamped Jungle Cruise Ride, Without The Racist Imagery
The ride, which previously featured racist imagery of African peoples as spear-waving “headhunters,” has been transformed into a slapstick comedy in which the wildlife bests clueless safari-goers.
‘Spaceship’ Dives Into The Relationship Of A Trans Mother, Her Child And Their World
Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Jorge Camarena about “Spaceship,” his student film about a Latina transwoman in East Los Angeles who is on the verge of losing her daughter to child services.
India’s Single-Screen Cinemas Were Struggling Before COVID-19. Now They’re Dying Out
Before multiplex cinemas, India had tens of thousands of single-screen movie houses. But the way Indians watch movies has changed, and the pandemic forced many old cinemas to shut their doors forever.
AI Brought Anthony Bourdain’s Voice Back To Life. Should It Have?
The director of the new Anthony Bourdain documentary Roadrunner says he used AI to generate Bourdain reading from letters he’d never spoken aloud, triggering a debate about technology and ethics.
LGBTQ Characters Got More Movie Screen Time In 2020, GLAAD Study Finds
The advocacy group just released its annual film survey, which found the percentage of LGBTQ characters of color also increased. But it still cited issues with lack of transgender representation.
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Scales’ Tells The Story Of A Girl Versus Herself
Scales was Saudi Arabia’s official entry for the 2021 Oscars. This debut feature from filmmaker Shahad Ameen is an atmospheric art film about women’s place and possibilities in the region.
I Thought I Knew Anthony Bourdain. ‘Roadrunner’ Shows Us Who He Really Was
Chef and food writer Anthony Bourdain died by suicide in 2018. The new documentary Roadrunner gathers people who knew him well to praise and remember him, and also to rage about his death.
In ‘Berserk’ Biopic, A 57-Year-Old Plays Celine Dion At Nearly Every Age — Even 12
NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Rachel Handler, features writer for Vulture and New York Magazine, about the unofficial Celine Dione biopic, Aline, which just screened at Cannes Festival.
The Only ‘New’ Thing About Cross-Cultural Casting Is Who’s Getting The Roles
Dev Patel as a knight of the Round Table, Jodie Turner-Smith as Anne Boleyn, the mostly nonwhite casts of Bridgerton and Hamilton — all belong to a tradition that has its roots in live theater.
After Attending Cannes From Afar, Justin Chang Recommends 7 Bold Festival Films
Reviewer Justin Chang didn’t travel to the Cannes Film Festival this year, but he managed to see a number of the movies in Los Angeles. His favorites include The Souvenir Part II and Stillwater.
Best Actor Or Actress? Gender-Expansive Performers Are Forced To Choose
There’s a growing call for entertainment award categories to no longer be split by gender. Some nonbinary performers say these gendered divisions erase their identity.
After A Violent Winter, The ‘Summer Of Soul’ Was A Musical Moment Of Healing
Music writer Carol Cooper reflects on the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival documented in the new film Summer of Soul as a necessary catharsis for Black America from the collective losses of the 1960s.
The Best Of James Baldwin: Favorite Pieces From The NPR Archive
We are marking 50 years of NPR with a look back at stories from the archive. For this collection, we take a look at our best stories on novelist, poet and activist James Baldwin.
‘Less Lethal’ Doc Details An Undercover Pursuit For Justice For Injured Protesters
Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with student filmmaker Jaime Wilken about her documentary short “Less Lethal,” about a tech worker using video of a protest to uncover how a teenage boy was shot there.
Documentaries ‘Summer Of Soul’ And ‘McCartney 3-2-1’ Celebrate The Sound Of The ’60s
Summer of Soul reveals never-before-seen film from a ’69 Harlem concert series known as the Black Woodstock. McCartney 3-2-1 is a six-part series in which Paul McCartney talks to producer Rick Rubin.
Robert Downey Sr., Director of Experimental American Movies, Dies At Age 85
Downey Sr., who wrote and directed the 1969 film Putney Swope, died Wednesday in his home from complications due to Parkinson’s disease.
Dilip Kumar, Iconic Actor From The ‘Golden Age’ Of Indian Cinema, Has Died At 98
Dilip Kumar was one of the most iconic leading men of what is considered the ‘golden age’ of Indian cinema in the 1950s and 60s. On Wednesday, Kumar passed away in Mumbai at 98.
With Summer Underway, Marvel Returns To Focus On The Origins Of Black Widow
Hollywood had had fingers crossed for months about what might finally happen this weekend. Marvel has aimed to prove that the theater experience is back with Black Widow.
Barry Diller Headed 2 Hollywood Studios. He Now Says The Movie Business Is Dead
In an exclusive interview with NPR, the IAC chairman laments the state of the movie industry, saying the rise in streaming has upended both the business model and the quality of films being made.
Bollywood Icon Dilip Kumar Has Died
Kumar is hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors. He also was known as Bollywood’s only Method actor for his expressive performances identifying a character’s emotions.
Remembering Ub Iwerks, The Father Of Mickey Mouse
Walt Disney’s close friend Ub Iwerks brought Mickey Mouse to life. Fifty years after his death, Iwerks’ legacy is coming into focus.
The Cannes Film Festival Opens With Its Signature Red Carpet Glamour
Thanks to falling COVID-19 infection rates and rising vaccinations, the Cannes Film Festival has returned with couture glamour and cinematic ambition.
Cannes Rolls Out The Red Carpet For An Expanded, More Inclusive Film Festival
After the cancelation of the festival in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Cannes Film Festival returns to the French Riviera with an expanded program and a historic jury led by American filmmaker Spike Lee.
Director Richard Donner, A Pioneer In The Action-Adventure Genre, Has Died
Donner directed 1978’s Superman — which is in the National Film Registry — as well as The Goonies and the Lethal Weapon franchise. He was 91.
NPR Pop Culture Critic Tells Us All About ‘Zola’
The movie Zola opens this weekend. It was inspired by an epic, viral Twitter thread from 2015.
Weekend Edition Student Film Showcase: Watch Standout Student Films
Each week in July, Weekend Edition is talking to student filmmakers about their projects. We found exceptional short films from filmmakers across the country.