‘Alien: Romulus’ is another franchise movie that brings more nostalgia than novelty
The latest installment of the “Alien” series is an efficient and reasonably entertaining thriller. But dwelling too obsessively on the past won’t guarantee a franchise’s future.
Elliot Page’s new movie explores the relationship between a trans man and his family
NPR’s Leila Fadel talks with actor Elliot Page as he makes his return to the big screen in “Close to You.” The film tells the story of a trans man reuniting with his family.
‘Alien: Romulus’ goes deep (space) into the horror
Alien: Romulus is the latest entry in the venerable Alien sci-fi/horror film franchise, and it leans hard into the horror. The new movie stars Cailee Spaeney as one of a young crew of space miners, along with David Jonsson as her android brother. You’ll never guess what species of slimy extraterrestrial evil they encounter. Faces get hugged, chests get burst, and acid blood eats through everything.
Film on U.K.’s complicated relationship with race and identity is as timely as ever
A new film released this past week in the U.K. addressed the country’s complicated relationship with racial and religious identities. It hit the screens amid far-right protests.
‘Didi’ captures the awkwardness of adolescence almost too well
The movie Didi is a vibrant coming-of-age dramedy and was a Sundance film festival favorite. It stars Izaac Wang as a 13-year-old just trying to survive the awkwardness of puberty as a Taiwanese-American kid living in the Bay Area. He’s got a crush to …
Gena Rowlands, a luminous leading lady of independent film, has died
Actress Gina Rowlands has died. She collaborated with husband John Cassavetes on nearly a dozen films.
$#@*! we’re talking profanity in pop culture
We’ve got dirty words on the brain, and we’re chatting about the use and functions of profanity in entertainment. In this encore episode from 2013, we cover everything from Anchorman to South Park to Shakespeare.
Hunter Schafer’s ‘Cuckoo’ serves up Alpine horror
In the new, stylishly odd horror film Cuckoo, Hunter Schafer plays an American teenager who reluctantly moves with her family to a mysterious resort in the German Alps. Her rebellious spirit clashes with the resort’s creepy proprietor, played by Dan Stevens. When weird stuff starts happening, long-buried family secrets come to light and the resort’s true nature stands revealed.
‘Sebastian’ re-writes the sex work movie
Director and writer Mikko Mäkelä says he wasn’t interested in creating yet another sex worker drama focused on trauma. Instead, Sebastian is a knowing but conflicted young man learning about himself.
The trailer for Disney’s live-action ‘Snow White’ remake has some people very Grumpy
The film, set to be released in March 2025, has been mired by a string of controversies on everything from its new “woke” messaging to its depiction of dwarfism.
Joan Chen on her role in coming-of-age film ‘Dìdi’
NPR’s Scott Simon talks to Joan Chen. The actor is getting Oscar buzz for the new film, “Dìdi,” in which Chen plays the mother of a Taiwanese-American skater kid in the Bay Area.
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