Movies
NPR Film | May 17, 2013
'Into Darkness,' Boldly And With A Few Twists
The 12th film based on Gene Roddenberry's '60s sci-fi TV show is the second to star a new group of actors as Kirk, Spock and their crew. J.J. Abrams returns as director, and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch plays the memorable villain. By David Edelstein
NPR Film | May 17, 2013
Polley's 'Stories': A Family Saga Strikingly Spun
A director's film memoir of her theatrical family is transformed by surprising discoveries about her parents' past -- and her own heritage. Sarah Polley's film becomes a superb meditation on how we dramatize memory. (Recommended) By Bob Mondello
NPR Film | May 10, 2013
'Love Is All You Need,' Unless Character Matters
"There are no guarantees in life," intones a mournful adult in Susanne Bier's wan rom-com. Not in life, perhaps, but critic Ella Taylor says the outcome here is a lock from the word go. By Ella Taylor
NPR Film | May 10, 2013
'Gatsby's' Jazz-Age Excess, All Over The Screen
If anyone could pull off a multiplex-friendly adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby -- a film treatment that might be capable of stepping out of the long shadow cast by the book -- it's Moulin Rouge showman Baz Luhrmann, right? By Keith Phipps
Event | May 09, 2013
OakCatVidFest is in Fact an Oakland Festival of Cat Videos
Proving once again that feline charisma is timeless and unfakeable, and therefore conducive to YouTube celebrity. By Jonathan Kiefer
Festival Report | May 06, 2013
PlayGround's Second Annual Film Festival: From Seed to Stage to a Screen Near You
The PlayGround Film Festival showcases short films based on plays, mixing directors and theater writers in fruitful, cross-disciplinary collaborations. By Erika Milvy
Movies | May 04, 2013
In the Studio with Kirsten Lepore
Artist and filmmaker Kirsten Lepore shares her studio process, unusual materials, and love for stop-motion animation in two video specials. By Kristin Farr
NPR Film | May 03, 2013
'Kon-Tiki:' Seaworthy, And Then Some
The story of Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl and his epic trip across the Pacific Ocean has been told before, and often. But in Kon-Tiki, the how and why of that trip get a robust, dramatic airing -- if one that may not be quite historically accurate. By Ian Buckwalter
NPR Film | May 03, 2013
Between Worlds, A 'Reluctant Fundamentalist'
Mira Nair's powerful, restrained adaptation of the best-selling novel arrives amid intense public debate about the alienation of immigrants in America. By Ella Taylor
NPR Film | May 03, 2013
In 'Iron Man 3,' A Metalhead Gets The Blues
Wiseacre billionaire Tony Stark, uncharacteristically anxious since the events of 2012's The Avengers, must face down a domestic terrorist without backup from his buddies in the latest installment of the Marvel franchise. By Bob Mondello
Movies
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One Couple, Nearly 20 Years, All 'Before Midnight'
We've already met Jesse and Celine, twice. In the 1995 film Before Sunset, they had a romantic encounter in Vienna. Nine years later, they found each other in Paris. In this third film, their relationship has progressed another nine years. The romance hasn't left, says director Richard Linklater, it's simply changed.
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New 'Trek' Goes 'Into Darkness,' But Not Much Deeper
NPR's Bob Mondello says J.J. Abrams' latest Star Trek film knows how to make the sparks and feelings fly, but doesn't bother making the sparks and feeling matter very much.
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'Venus And Serena': An Extraordinary Story, Told On Film
The amazing tale of two sisters from a poor neighborhood — who play tennis unlike anyone before them and each reach No. 1 in the world — is one we're not likely to see again.
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Quinto Turns Inward To Find Spock's Soul
Playing the famous half-Vulcan requires a little meditative depth and a lot of brow-shaving. Heroes villain Zachary Quinto plays Spock in the reboot of the Star Trek franchise, with the blessing of original Spock Leonard Nimoy. Quinto tells NPR about befriending Nimoy, shaping eyebrows and more.












