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Movie Reviews Reviews of new movies, classic and art films, foreign films, and popular movies. Featuring Bob Mondello, Kenneth Turan, David Edelstein, and Mark Jenkins.

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'Civil War' is a doomsday thought experiment — that could have used more thinking

Kirsten Dunst plays a battle scarred photojournalist in Civil War. Murray Close/A24 hide caption

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Murray Close/A24

'Civil War' is a doomsday thought experiment — that could have used more thinking

Fresh Air

This ambitious thriller comes across as an empty stunt — a democracy dystopia that sidesteps the politics of the present moment. But Kirsten Dunst is excellent as a battle scarred photojournalist.

'Civil War' is a doomsday thought experiment — that could have used more thinking

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'Civil War' envisions a too-near future

Kirsten Dunst as Lee in Civil War. A24 hide caption

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A24

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Civil War' envisions a too-near future

The new film Civil War depicts a contemporary America torn apart by a military conflict between the federal government and an alliance of secessionist states. Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina), the film follows a small band of journalists led by Kirsten Dunst's jaded war photographer. They embark on a harrowing journey to the heart of the conflict, encountering brutality and bloodshed along the way.

'Civil War' envisions a too-near future

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'Girls State' provides hope and disappointment for the state of our democracy

Nisha Murali in the Apple TV+ documentary film Girls State. Apple TV+ hide caption

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Apple TV+

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Girls State' provides hope and disappointment for the state of our democracy

The new Apple TV+ documentary Girls State asks: how would high school girls do things if they were in charge? The film is a follow-up to 2020's Boys State, and this time, follows an annual high school program that gives hundreds of girls a chance to create a mock government, complete with elections and a Supreme Court. It was made during the 2022 session, which ended days before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and the case is very much on the minds of the girls in the program.

'Girls State' provides hope and disappointment for the state of our democracy

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A guide to Stephen King

Stephen King at a press conference in 2013, in Paris. Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

A guide to Stephen King

Stephen King is one of the most successful living writers. He's written more than 50 books that have sold hundreds of millions of copies. And his works have been adapted into a number of classic films, including The Shining, The Shawshank Redemption, and It. This month marks the 50th anniversary of his first novel, Carrie, so we are revisiting our guide to Stephen King.

A guide to Stephen King

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In 'Monkey Man,' Dev Patel gets revenge through gorilla warfare

Dev Patel in Monkey Man. Akhirwan Nurhaidi/Universal Pictures hide caption

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Akhirwan Nurhaidi/Universal Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Monkey Man,' Dev Patel gets revenge through gorilla warfare

The new action film Monkey Man is Dev Patel's film – he serves as star, director, and co-writer. He plays a young man whose village was destroyed and mother murdered by elite members of society. He sets out to infiltrate their corrupt, rarified existence and seek his bloody, bloody revenge. There's plenty of gunplay, knife-play, ax-play, bone-crunching, tuk-tuk chases, and gouts of blood.

In 'Monkey Man,' Dev Patel gets revenge through gorilla warfare

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'Coup de Chance' is a typical Woody Allen film — with one appalling final detail

Niels Schneider and Lou de Laâge star in Coup de Chance. GRAVIER PRODUCTIONS hide caption

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GRAVIER PRODUCTIONS

'Coup de Chance' is a typical Woody Allen film — with one appalling final detail

Fresh Air

Set in France, Allen's latest film covers familiar territory, including an adulterous romance, a premeditated murder and a darkly cynical consideration of the role that luck plays in human affairs.

'Coup de Chance' is a typical Woody Allen film — with one appalling final detail

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'La Chimera' is marvelous — right up to its most magical ending

Carol Duarte and Josh O'Connor in La Chimera. Neon hide caption

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Neon

'La Chimera' is marvelous — right up to its most magical ending

Fresh Air

An archeological tomb robber wanders Italy, haunted by the memory of lost love. La Chimera is a playful fable that builds to not one but two thrilling scenes of underground exploration.

'La Chimera' is marvelous — right up to its most magical ending

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Revisiting the movies of 1999

Ron Livingston in Office Space. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Revisiting the movies of 1999

Movies had a big year in 1999. Today, we're going back 25 years to talk about some of the most interesting movies released in 1999 — including Drop Dead Gorgeous, Office Space, and The Talented Mr. Ripley. In this encore episode, we'll talk about what holds up, what looks really different, and what we miss the most.

Revisiting the movies of 1999

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'Godzilla x Kong' and 'Godzilla Minus One' revamp the classic monster story

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Warner Bros. Pictures

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'Godzilla x Kong' and 'Godzilla Minus One' revamp the classic monster story

Godzilla has been around for 70 years and recently won his first Oscar. The beloved 2023 Japanese production Godzilla Minus One won an Oscar for visual effects. Now, the Hollywood MonsterVerse franchise rolls on with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which pairs the two titans as they face a common enemy. Today, we talk about both movies and how they offer different takes on the decades-old monster story.

'Godzilla x Kong' and 'Godzilla Minus One' revamp the classic monster story

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'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' is a chill hang

Finn Wolfhard, Celeste O'Connor, Paul Rudd, Kumail Nanjiani, Logan Kim and Carrie Coon in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Columbia Pictures hide caption

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Columbia Pictures

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' is a chill hang

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the latest entry in the blockbuster action-comedy franchise. This time, the crew has set up shop in New York, and, with the help of the surviving original Ghostbusters, tries to stop a demon looking to freeze the world and rule over it. The film is packed with both newer and nostalgic cast members, including Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and more.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' is a chill hang

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This recycled 'Road House' can't capture the B-movie spirit of the original

Jake Gyllenhaal is a former UFC star who becomes a bouncer in Road House. Laura Radford/Prime Video hide caption

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Laura Radford/Prime Video

This recycled 'Road House' can't capture the B-movie spirit of the original

Fresh Air

The new remake of the 1989 Patrick Swayze film comes up short, caught between an unironic '80s homage and a more wised-up contemporary sensibility.

This recycled 'Road House' can't capture the B-movie spirit of the original

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Jake Gyllenhaal punches up a 'Road House' remake

Jake Gyllenhaal in Road House. Laura Radford/Prime Video hide caption

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Laura Radford/Prime Video

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Jake Gyllenhaal punches up a 'Road House' remake

The 1989 movie Road House starred Patrick Swayze as a no-nonsense bouncer who saves a honky-tonk bar from a local toughs. Now, in the new remake, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a former UFC fighter who accepts a job to clean up a seaside bar in the Florida Keys that's being terrorized by a motorcycle gang. There's still plenty of fighting and plenty of brooding, but how does it hold up to the original cult classic?

Jake Gyllenhaal punches up a 'Road House' remake

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You can expect a lot from this freewheeling film about the 'End of the World'

Angela (Ilinca Manolache) is an underpaid production assistant on a film about workplace safety in Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World. Unifrance hide caption

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Unifrance

You can expect a lot from this freewheeling film about the 'End of the World'

Fresh Air

A new Romanian film about an underpaid production assistant driving from gig to gig crackles with brains, obscenity, political anger and jokes that will have you laughing out loud.

You can expect a lot from this freewheeling film about the 'End of the World'

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Sydney Sweeney is a devout scream queen in the twisted 'Immaculate'

Sydney Sweeney stars in Immaculate. Neon hide caption

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Neon

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Sydney Sweeney is a devout scream queen in the twisted 'Immaculate'

In the new movie Immaculate, Sydney Sweeney plays Cecelia, an American woman who joins a convent in Italy. But after she arrives, she encounters strange occurrences and mysteriously winds up pregnant. Almost everyone in the convent touts it as a miracle, but Cecelia isn't so sure. Horror, of course, ensues. Immaculate was directed by Michael Mohan – who previously collaborated with Sweeney on the Hitchcock-esque thriller The Voyeurs.

Sydney Sweeney is a devout scream queen in the twisted 'Immaculate'

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Romantic Comedy Guide: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, Upgraded

Ed Speleers and Lindsay Lohan in Irish Wish. Patrick Redmond/Netflix hide caption

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Patrick Redmond/Netflix

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Romantic Comedy Guide: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, Upgraded

If there is a spot in your heart-shaped like a rom-com, we've got some good news for you. You can stream a few playful love stories from your couch, whether you're a fan of Lindsay Lohan's red hair shining in Irish sunlight, Glen Powell's gleaming chest, or Camila Mendes navigating the glamorous art world. Today, we're rounding up three recent romantic comedies: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, and Upgraded.

Romantic Comedy Guide: Irish Wish, Anyone But You, Upgraded

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A Beijing restaurant critic arrives at a crossroads in this absorbing family drama

Gu (Xin Baiqing) struggles with his own sense of impermanence in The Shadowless Tower. Strand Releasing hide caption

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Strand Releasing

A Beijing restaurant critic arrives at a crossroads in this absorbing family drama

Fresh Air

A middle-aged protagonist struggles with his own sense of impermanence — and the return of his long-absent father. The Shadowless Tower is a subtle film that draws you in at every step.

A Beijing restaurant critic arrives at a crossroads in this absorbing family drama

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'Problemista' speaks softly but carries big laughs

Julio Torres wrote, directed and stars in Problemista. A24 hide caption

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A24

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Problemista' speaks softly but carries big laughs

In the very funny and gently surreal new film Problemista, Julio Torres plays Alejandro, a young man from El Salvador scraping by in New York City as he pursues his dreams. But those dreams – and his immigration status – become imperiled. He must turn to a frazzled, fire-breathing art critic played by Tilda Swinton for emotional and financial support, which proves very fraught.

'Problemista' speaks softly but carries big laughs

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'Love Lies Bleeding' is the queer erotic thriller Kristen Stewart fans have wanted

Katy O'Brian and Kristen Stewart in Love Lies Bleeding. A24 hide caption

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A24

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Love Lies Bleeding' is the queer erotic thriller Kristen Stewart fans have wanted

The movie Love Lies Bleeding is a fun and weird erotic thriller. It's set in the late 1980s and stars Kristen Stewart as a brooding gym manager who falls in love with a hitchhiking bodybuilder, played by Katy O'Brian. Directed by Rose Glass (Saint Maud), the film's got a killer electronic soundtrack, and cinematic references of everything from John Waters to Showgirls.

'Love Lies Bleeding' is the queer erotic thriller Kristen Stewart fans have wanted

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Is 'Kung Fu Panda 4' a worthy entry in the fun and thoughtful franchise?

Shifu voiced by Dustin Hoffman and Po voiced by Jack Black return in DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda 4. DreamWorks Animation hide caption

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DreamWorks Animation

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is 'Kung Fu Panda 4' a worthy entry in the fun and thoughtful franchise?

Kung Fu Panda 4 is the latest movie in the popular and surprisingly thoughtful animated film franchise. Jack Black returns to voice Po, a gigantic, adorable panda who becomes the highly unlikely Dragon Warrior. He embarks on a quest alongside a devious fox, played by Awkwafina, to face a new villain, the Chameleon, played by Viola Davis. You got your hero's journey and training montages and some pretty stellar voice acting.

Is 'Kung Fu Panda 4' a worthy entry in the fun and thoughtful franchise?

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2024 Oscars Guide: Documentary Feature

Tayssir Chikhaoui and Eya Chikhaoui in Four Daughters. Kino Lorber hide caption

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Kino Lorber

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2024 Oscars Guide: Documentary Feature

This year's Oscar nominees for outstanding documentary feature are really strong entries that are available on streaming now. They also happen to be pretty heavy, gripping watches — and well worth checking out. Today, we get into what we think will win, what should win, and where to watch this year's nominees.

2024 Oscars Guide: Documentary Feature

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2024 Oscars Guide: International Feature

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Neon

Pop Culture Happy Hour

2024 Oscars Guide: International Feature

This year's crop of Oscar nominees for the best international feature adopt vastly different approaches to tell their disparate stories. There's a couple that tackle the specter of fascism, one about the plight of migrants and one about an infamous real-life plane crash and its aftermath. Also there's one about a guy who cleans toilets.

2024 Oscars Guide: International Feature

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