Entertainment

NPR Topics: Movies

NPR Movies podcast, movie reviews, and commentary on new and classic films. Interviews with filmmakers, actors, and actresses.

Stories Of 'Appalachia' Unearthed In PBS Series A new PBS series traces the history of the people, wildlife and geology of the Appalachian mountains. The creators of Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People discuss the rich stories that have emerged from one of Earth's oldest mountain ranges. 'Rachel Getting Married' Writer Shares Creative Journey The new film, Rachel Getting Married, isn't just about weddings. Instead, it tells the bittersweet story of a troubled young woman who leaves rehab to take part in her sister's wedding. Farai Chideya talks with Jenny Lumet, the film's screenwriter. Inside Nigeria's Growing Film Industry The Nigerian film industry known as "Nollywood" is hugely popular, but virtually unknown outside of Africa. The documentary, Welcome to Nollywood, goes behind the scenes of the bourgeoning Nigerian movie industry. NPR's Tony Cox talks with the film's director and a Nigerian filmmaker. Robert Jordan, Hemingway's Bipartisan Hero Though fierce political opponents, John McCain and Barack Obama agree on a literary matter: Each picks Ernest Hemingway's 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls, featuring the stoic freedom-fighter Robert Jordan, as a favorite. The 'Last Lynching': How Far Have We Come? The Last Lynching, a new film by Ted Koppel, examines lives deeply affected by acts of hatred and racism and investigates the last recorded lynching. Surprisingly, it took place in 1981. How far has the U.S. come since then, and how far do we still have to go? In 'Rachel,' Director Demme Casts Against Type Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme cast Anne Hathaway — an actress best known for sweetheart roles — as a recovering drug addict in his new film, Rachel Getting Married. He talks about that decision and how he got involved in the project. In 'Happy,' Mike Leigh's World Is Not So Miserable Director Mike Leigh's new film, Happy-Go-Lucky is propelled by a different sort of character: a 30-year-old primary school teacher who likes to party and deflects life's uncomfortable intrusions with an overabundance of good cheer. Not the typical working-class world Leigh usually explores. 'Duck Soup': Take One Fiscal Crisis, Boil Merrily Depression-era comedy sends the Marx Brothers skating through economic territory their namesake Karl would recognize — and it begins with talk of bailouts, tax breaks and other things that Bob Mondello says you'll find familiar, too. 'Lucky' Thing: Mike Leigh's Oddly Happy Heroine A London schoolteacher (the bubbly Sally Hawkins) keeps her cool — and her smile — through a string of mishaps. But Mike Leigh's movie feels decent and affirmative, never cloying or melodramatic. (Recommended). Operatives And 'Lies' In Ridley Scott's New Thriller David Edelstein reviews Body Of Lies, a new spy thriller directed by Ridley Scott and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. Set in Iraq and Syria, the film charts a young CIA operative's growing disillusionment with his superiors in Washington. 'Reel Geezers' DVD Faves: Blood, Sweat And Tears Two 80-something film critics, Marcia Nasatir and Lorenzo Semple, review movies on YouTube. They share some of their all-time favorite films. Crowe, DiCaprio Clash In Tale of Spies And 'Lies' Leonardo DiCaprio, as a CIA field agent, clashes with his spymaster, Russell Crowe, over methods and morals. Ridley Scott's direction is crisp, but this thriller is all surface, no intel. 'Ashes Of Time Redux': Sumptuous All Over Again A leaner, more linear version of a 1994 drama from cult director Wong Kar-wai; entrancingly atmospheric, emotionally elusive and saturated with colors so vivid as to verge on the psychedelic. (Recommended). 'Breakfast' Order: Life Lessons, With A Side Of Nice A sports-mad gay couple doesn't quite know how to cope with the flamboyant boy they end up foster-parenting. Laurie Lynd's cozy comedy aims to say a thing or two about tolerance — without forgetting the laughs. Manic Pixie Dream Girls: A Cinematic Scourge? They're bright, they're perky — and they've got no inner life. In fact, they exist only to soothe the tortured souls of the male lead. A lighthearted look at MPDGs throughout movie history.