Top Movie News provided by the LA Times©

• Roger Corman, independent cinema pioneer and king of B movies, dead at 98
  Roger Corman, the legendary independent Hollywood producer and director whose long string of profitable low-budget movies such as "Attack of the Crab Monsters," "The Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Wild Angels" earned him a reputation as the "King of the B's," has died.
• Review: 'Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg' supplies belated respect for a rock muse
  Utilizing a narration by Scarlett Johansson, co-directors Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill offer an unflinching portrait of an iconic presence in her own right.
• Review: Coolly argued but driven by fury, 'Power' examines the history of American policing
  Yance Ford, an Oscar nominee for the personal documentary 'Strong Island,' returns with a wider-scoped analysis of the methods and bias of police work.
• In a push for revenue ahead of the 100th Oscars, academy announces $500-million campaign
  Looking ahead to the 100th Oscars, the motion picture academy is kicking off a four-year, $500-million fundraising campaign aimed at shoring up its revenues and extending global its influence.
• Filmmaker Yance Ford presents the police as the 'armies that they have become' in 'Power'
  As a follow-up to his Oscar-nominated "Strong Island," the documentarian turns to the history of American policing, why it was established and how it functions.
• 'The Lord of the Rings' will return with two new movies. First: 'The Hunt for Gollum'
  Original 'Lord of the Rings' director Peter Jackson, screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and star Andy Serkis will reunite for 'The Hunt for Gollum.'
• Review: 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' monkeys with a durable sci-fi concept, to smart ends
  After successful sequels helmed by Matt Reeves, director Wes Ball, best known for the 'Maze Runner' movies, brings youthful energy to the still-vital franchise.
• Review: In 'Poolman,' a familiar kind of laid-back L.A. sleuth rises to the occasion
  For his directorial debut — a neo-noir very much about Los Angeles — the 'Star Trek' actor has assembled a cast that includes Annette Bening and Danny DeVito.
• 'Fallout' is fun, but the reality of a post-nuclear apocalypse is nightmare fuel
  Prime Video's hit show "Fallout" and other pop culture depictions of the post-apocalypse are pretty far from reality, as this writer learns from Annie Jacobsen's "Nuclear War: A Scenario."
• How 'The Fall Guy' became a live show at Universal Studios Hollywood, complete with Ryan Gosling cameo
  "The Fall Guy Stuntacular Pre-Show" is the live show, based on the movie, based on the TV show. Got that? It's at Universal Studios Hollywood through next weekend.
• Susan Buckner, 'Grease' actor who played cheerleader Patty Simcox, dies at 72
  Actor Susan Buckner, best known for portraying peppy cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 movie 'Grease,' died last week, The Times has confirmed. She was 72.
• A new doc contains fresh allegations against Kevin Spacey. Our takeaways from 'Spacey Unmasked'
  'Spacey Unmasked,' which premiered Monday on the U.K.'s Channel 4, details allegations of misconduct from 10 men against the actor, all but one of whom have never before spoken publicly.
• Justin Chang wins criticism Pulitzer for Los Angeles Times
  Former L.A. Times film critic Justin Chang wins Pulitzer Prize for work singling out those he felt deserved praise for artistry, humanity and sheer storytelling.
• We strap in with director George Miller, the 'Mad Max' mastermind, back with 'Furiosa'
  Australia's leading export of postapocalyptic mayhem, Miller reflects on 45 years of action, the lure of digital and the summer's most anticipated blockbuster.
• Review: In 'Wildcat,' director Ethan Hawke — and daughter Maya — bring a literary life to screen
  A complex, pivotal moment in the life of author Flannery O'Connor receives sensitive treatment by the father-daughter filmmaking duo, joined by Laura Linney.
• Review: In 'Evil Does Not Exist,' a woodsy community confronts malice of a modern stripe
  After winning an Oscar for "Drive My Car," Japanese filmmaker Ryûsuke Hamaguchi returns with an exquisitely subtle portrait of a community at war with a company.
• Kate Beckinsale, after a 'rough year' and hospitalization, returns to the red carpet
  Kate Beckinsale trades her 'Tummy Troubles Survivor' T-shirt for something a little more glam as she makes her red carpet return after March hospitalization.
• Rumer Willis hopes being transparent about Bruce Willis' health will give people hope
  Bruce Willis is great amid dementia battle, Rumer Willis says. 'My dad is so beloved, and that's been so evident in the transparency with which we've been sharing.'
• 'The Phantom Menace' dominated 1999's box office. History has been kinder to it
  "The Mandalorian," "Ahsoka" and 25 years of spinoffs show the stealth power of George Lucas' 1999 prequel, which, for all its controversy, laid the groundwork.
• 'The Idea of You's' meet-cute is set at Coachella. How realistic is it?
  A new rom-com starring Anne Hathaway on Amazon Prime Video has a divorced mom and a Harry Styles-esque pop star meet at Coachella. Could it happen in real life?
• May the 4th be with you! Here's everything our critics have said about the 'Star Wars' franchise
  May the 4th be with you! Like many 'Star Wars' fans, we have loved and loathed the various parts of the space franchise. Here's what we've written over the last half a century or so.
• Review: 'I Saw the TV Glow' gets stranded in a glum gaze from which it never stirs
  Writer-director Jane Schoenbrun turns a shared obsession over a fictional TV series into an inchoate story of teenage semi-friendship and arrested development.
• Tiffany Haddish goes to the extreme over online trolls: 'I have called people, honey'
  Don't tempt fate by trolling Tiffany Haddish online. She will hunt you down: 'Sometimes, I get so mad that I'll get they phone number and I'll just call them.'
• Review: In 'The Fall Guy' with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, what's a stuntman to do? Shake it off
  At its best, director David Leitch's movie is a romantic comedy that coasts on the chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. The stunts aren't bad, either.
• How do you follow up 'Drive My Car'? Director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi finds a new lane
  The Oscar-winning filmmaker recalls the frenzy of awards season and discusses his mysterious new movie, "Evil Does Not Exist," an attempt to dodge expectations.
• 'The Contestant' tells the bizarre story of a Japanese man who lived a real-life 'Truman Show'
  A Hulu documentary looks at the story of a Japanese comedian named Nasubi who became the unwitting star of a reality show in 1998.
• Review: Ralph Fiennes, an older Macbeth, builds sympathy for a killer with soulful weariness
  A cinematic presentation of a London production of "Macbeth" starring Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma has a limited engagement in movie theaters.
• For the first time ever, 'Blood In Blood Out' will be available for streaming
  More than 30 years after its release, the 1993 cult classic will be available on streaming for the first time.
• For Anne Hathaway, going five years without booze is a bigger milestone than 'middle age'
  Anne Hathaway put alcohol (and hangovers) on a shelf more than five years ago. Now, she's expressing gratitude for the gifts and opportunities she's been given.
• A 'Buffy' obsession became an opening door. Now Jane Schoenbrun returns the favor
  Loaded with teenage confusion and intense fandom, 'I Saw the TV Glow' speaks to its audience in an intimate way. Its trans director made the film as a lifeline.
• The Slamdance Film Festival is moving to Los Angeles with its next edition
  Founded by filmmakers who had been rejected by Sundance, Slamdance is stepping out of Park City's shadow, relocating to Los Angeles and picking February dates.
• Bob Bakish is ousted as CEO of Paramount Global as internal struggles explode into public view
  Paramount CEO Bob Bakish's ouster comes a day after David Ellison's Skydance Media sweetened its offer for Shari Redstone's National Amusements, with money earmarked for Paramount's Class B shareholders.
• Blue Ivy joins mom Beyoncé in 'Lion King' prequel 'Mufasa.' Can you feel the love?
  Blue Ivy Carter, 12, is making her feature film debut alongside her mom, Beyoncé, in Disney's upcoming film 'Mufasa: The Lion King.'
• Russell Brand: Baptism is 'opportunity to leave the past behind' amid sexual assault allegations
  Russell Brand, finding solace in Christianity amid rape and sexual assault allegations, reveals he was baptized over the weekend. 'This is my path now,' he said.
• Zendaya's tennis drama 'Challengers' tops box office
  'Challengers' scored more than $15 million at the box office, according to ComScore. But overall box office sales are still down from a year ago.
• Oh, Zendaya knows all about that 'Spider-Man' female lead-to-tennis player 'prophecy'
  'Challengers' actor Zendaya, who played MJ in three recent 'Spider-Man' movies, reacts to a fan's viral comparison of past leads who've gone on to tennis films.
• Emma Stone would like to be called by her real name, if you don't mind
  'Emma Stone' is not Emma Stone's real name. Now the two-time Oscar winner has decided she prefers to be called by her given moniker: 'I would like to be Emily'
• This is what Billie Eilish talks about when she's not promoting 'Barbie, Barbie, Barbie'
  Billie Eilish says she needed a break from the constant 'Barbie, Barbie, Barbie' questions that came at her on the movie's press tour and the awards circuit.
• Review: Generic from its title onward, 'Boy Kills World' does little to differentiate its gore
  Junky, manic and action-laden in an enervating manner, director Moritz Mohr's debut feature doesn't seem to be made for audiences to enjoy so much as endure.
• 'Rebel' redacted: Rebel Wilson's book chapter on Sacha Baron Cohen struck from some copies
  Rebel Wilson and team opt to keep parts of her book 'Rebel Rising' from hitting some shelves — to avoid legal backlash from former co-star Sacha Baron Cohen.
• Review: In 'Unsung Hero,' a family's musical success story comes to life via the clan itself
  Brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, better known as Christian pop duo For King & Country, dramatize their own rise in a movie that could use some distance.
• Review: In the sexy, adrenalized 'Challengers,' tennis competitors don't skimp on the foreplay
  Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the tennis drama stars Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor as longtime friends whose relationships combust on and off the court.
• Nicole Kidman on making 'Birth' and why she chooses films that aren't a 'soothing bath'
  On the occasion of her receiving AFI's Life Achievement Award, the actor goes deep on the filming of one of her pivotal and signature roles.
• Casting directors from Anne Hathaway films deny 'gross' chemistry tests during auditions
  Casting directors from Anne Hathaway's films 'The Princess Diaries' and 'Brokeback Mountain' denied conducting 'gross' on-screen chemistry tests in auditions.
• Terry Carter, actor known for original 'Battlestar Galactica' series and 'McCloud,' dies at 95
  Actor Terry Carter, who starred in television's original 'Battlestar Galactica' series and 'McCloud' and appeared in the movie 'Foxy Brown,' has died. He was 95.
• Anne Heche's 'insolvent' estate cannot settle debts, actor's son claims in legal docs
  Homer Laffoon, Anne Heche's son and the executor of her estate, said in legal documents that his mother's estate is 'not in a condition to be closed.'
• Sydney Sweeney orchestrated faux Glen Powell romance to plug 'Anyone But You.' And it worked
  Sydney Sweeney was behind those Glen Powell affair rumors to plug their rom-com: 'I was on every call. I was in text group chats. ... I couldn't stop with ideas.'
• Melissa Barrera is not afraid
  After being fired from the 'Scream' franchise, Melissa Barrera reclaims her scream queen status with 'Abigail,' the latest campy, gory romp from Radio Silence Productions.
• Anne Hathaway recalls 'gross' chemistry tests from the early 2000s: 'Now we know better'
  Anne Hathaway explains that chemistry tests from the early 2000s required her to kiss 10 guys. Now, as a producer, she runs her auditions differently.
• 'Our Words Collide' documents 5 L.A. teen poets testifying to spoken word's transformative power
  "Our Words Collide," a documentary executive produced by Rosario Dawson and now streaming, follows five spoken-word poets from Los Angeles throughout their senior year of high school.
• Sydney Sweeney claps back at critics (again), this time in new Hawaiian vacation pictures
  Sydney Sweeney clapped back during her Hawaiian vacation at the Hollywood executive and the random folks who have been making negative comments about her body.
• Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman battle it out before joining forces in 'Deadpool and Wolverine' trailer
  In the trailer for 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman unite to save the universe.
• David Mamet slams Hollywood's 'garbage' DEI initiatives. 'It's fascist totalitarianism'
  At the L.A. Times Festival of Books, playwright and filmmaker David Mamet blames age, not his conservative politics or inflammatory statements, for his fall from grace.
• Documentary filmmaker and social activist Lourdes Portillo dies at 80
  Portillo's film debut, 'The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo,' received an Oscar nomination for best documentary feature. She fused art and social activism into her work to elevate the plight of working people.
• Provocative 'Civil War' prevails at the box office in its second weekend
  The dystopian thriller about journalists attempting to cover the collapse of the U.S., starring Kirsten Dunst, held off a challenge from Universal's 'Abigail,' in the horror film's first weekend.
• How accurate is a new movie about the real-life spies who inspired Bond? We checked
  Guy Ritchie's latest follows a group of British special forces who took on German U-boats during World War II — and helped inspire James Bond. Here's what's fact and what's fiction.
• 'The Sympathizer' depicts war from a Vietnamese point of view, but how does the community see it?
  HBO's adaptation of "The Sympathizer" reflects a distinctly Vietnamese point of view, and while reactions to the series differ, community members agree that it bolsters Vietnamese representation.
• Sydney Sweeney's team fires back at producer who said 'she's not pretty' and 'can't act'
  Sydney Sweeney's rep called out Carol Baum for 'unjustly' disparaging a fellow female producer after Baum said that Sweeney's film 'Anyone But You' was 'unwatchable.'
• Review: In the well-researched 'We Grown Now,' a family hangs tough in Chicago's projects
  Writer-director Minhal Baig mounts a sensitively directed drama about life in Chicago's Cabrini-Green, where pride and violence both found a foothold.
• David Fincher talks us through the off-screen torture of making 'Seven'
  Known for his perfectionism, the director has sweetened his dark 1995 thriller (only slightly) for an Imax version, debuting at the TCM Classic Film Festival.
• Review: Long before Bond, 'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare' kicked off British covert ops
  Director Guy Ritchie isn't subtle but supplies this lesser-known chapter of spycraft with verve and a cast that includes Henry Cavill and Eiza González.
• Indie creatures to the core, David and Nathan Zellner cut their own path through the wild
  The filmmaking brothers have found a deep emotional connection to a family of mythical creatures led by an unrecognizable Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg.
• Broadway makes way for 'Crazy Rich Asians' with new musical directed by Jon M. Chu
  Filmmaker Jon M. Chu will find familiar material in his Broadway debut as he directs a musical adaptation of author Kevin Kwan's 'Crazy Rich Asians' trilogy.
• Sundance Film Festival could leave its longtime Park City home in 2027. It would be the end of an era
  Though the festival is not definitely leaving Park City, Utah, after 2026, it has begun the process of exploring other host cities.
• Kate Beckinsale's 'Tummy Troubles Survivor' shirt hints at ailment that hospitalized her
  Kate Beckinsale wore a T-shirt emblazoned with 'Tummy Troubles Survivor,' an apparent reference to the mystery medical issue that hospitalized her in March.
• It's time for an Oscar for stunts. 'The Fall Guy' is the best argument for it
  Director David Leitch tops himself with his new action-comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, but his greatest legacy may be ahead of him — if the motion picture academy takes notice.
• Review: 'Home Alone' with fangs, 'Abigail' is a comedy that goes violently wrong for kidnappers
  "Scream" queen Melissa Barrera stars in a new horror-comedy from the Radio Silence filmmaking collective about a gang of criminals who battle a tiny terror.
• Classic film lovers: See James Dean's apartment and more on new TCM tour at Warner Bros.
  Warner Bros. is now offering a Turner Classic Movies behind-the-scenes tour that will bring guests to previous off-limit areas of the lot.
• Dad of Steel! Henry Cavill expecting first child with Vertigo exec Natalie Viscuso
  'Man of Steel' alum Henry Cavill is expecting his first child with girlfriend Natalie Viscuso, with whom he's also adapting 'Warhammer 40,000' into a live-action franchise.
• What 'Civil War' gets right and wrong about photojournalism, according to a Pulitzer Prize winner
  Carolyn Cole, a veteran L.A. Times photographer who won a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of civil war in Liberia, breaks down the depiction of her profession in A24's 'Civil War.'
• 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez sentenced to 18 months in prison
  A New Mexico judge excoriated the 26-year-old Arizona woman, who loaded Alec Baldwin's gun with five dummy rounds and one lead bullet, which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021.
• In trying to hedge its politics, 'Civil War' betrays its characters — and the audience
  Alex Garland's powerful war drama is ostensibly a tribute to the fourth estate. But the film is absent the examination of causes and consequences central to great journalism.
• On 'Saturday Night Live,' Ryan Gosling can't stop cracking up as guest host
  Ryan Gosling returned to host 'SNL' for a third time, kicking off the episode with Kate McKinnon in the cold open, but he couldn't keep the chuckles down in sketch after sketch.
• Review: 'Blackout,' a new take on one of horror's oldest myths, is claws for celebration
  Starring Alex Hurt and featuring a clutch of indie legends, writer-director Larry Fessenden's latest is manna for fans of unusual horror made with intelligence.
• Review: Director Ken Loach's compassion remains a sturdy, reliable virtue in 'The Old Oak'
  Co-starring Ebla Mari and Dave Turner, the new movie from the esteemed English filmmaker bears his signature solidarity, even if his characters aren't perfect.
• Inside the most unnerving scene in 'Civil War': 'It was a stunning bit of good luck'
  With a deeply disturbing turn by Jesse Plemons, one scene in "Civil War" encapsulates the film's combustible political balancing act. It almost didn't happen.
• Review: Once again, 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead,' but the remake still has vital signs
  Simone Joy Jones, Donielle T. Hansley Jr., Ayaamii Sledge, Carter Young and June Squibb star in a freshening-up of the 1991 comedy with Christina Applegate.
• Review: 'Chicken for Linda!' evokes a missing parent, a favorite dish and a bold way forward
  Co-directed by Sébastien Laudenbach and Chiara Malta, this uniquely hued marvel weds a sophisticated domestic story to a kinetic mother-daughter adventure.
• Review: In 'Sasquatch Sunset,' actors go wild as shaggy beasts with a lifestyle of their own
  Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough — you'll have to take our word for it — suit up as woodland creatures in David and Nathan Zellner's goofy, wordless wonder.
• Review: In 'The People's Joker,' an iconic villain is co-opted for sly trans expression
  The uninhibited passion project of co-writer, director and star Vera Drew, the movie takes well-known superhero mythology and subverts it with a campy wink.
• Review: 'Civil War' shows an America long past unraveling, which makes it necessary
  Starring Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny as journalists chronicling a war at home, writer-director Alex Garland's action film provokes a shudder of recognition.
• How the creators of HBO's 'The Sympathizer' explore the 'American War' through a Vietnamese lens
  Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, the creators of HBO's 'The Sympathizer,' discuss how they adapted Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
• Margot Robbie boards Lionsgate and Hasbro's 'Monopoly' movie as producer
  Lionsgate revealed that Margot Robbie's production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, has boarded its Monopoly movie at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
• Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant are reuniting for fourth 'Bridget Jones' movie
  Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant will reunite for the fourth 'Bridget Jones's Diary,' 18 years after the last movie in the beloved British comedy franchise.
• 'Joker 2' trailer: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga lead twisted, musical fever dream
  Warner Bros. debuted the first trailer for 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
• 'The Beast' explores the heart of loneliness, in Los Angeles and beyond
  Starring Lea Seydoux and George MacKay, director Bertrand Bonello's latest is set across three time periods, drawing from a notorious killer for inspiration.
• Billy Dee Williams approves actors using blackface for work: 'Why not? You should do it'
  'Star Wars' actor Billy Dee Williams cited Laurence Olivier's performance in 'Othello,' in which he wore dark makeup to portray Shakespeare's Moor of Venice.
• Jonathan Majors avoids jail time in assault of ex-girlfriend, must attend domestic violence program
  Jonathan Majors, who was found guilty in December of two counts of assault and harassment against his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, must complete a one-year in-person abuse intervention program.
• Review: 'The First Omen' plays to the faithful, but more nun fun is to be had elsewhere
  Directed with visual flair by Arkasha Stevenson, the prequel to the 1976 horror sensation is somewhat diminished by a forgone conclusion, but gets the job done.
• Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have split after 13 years of marriage, three kids
  Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have called it quits after 13 years of marriage, they announced Friday. They jointly filed to end their union last year.
• Fore! 'Happy Gilmore 2' is indeed in development, per Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
  Adam Sandler validated actor Christopher McDonald's leak that 'Happy Gilmore 2' is in development, and Drew Barrymore further confirmed it on her talk show.
• Review: Muted yet unbowed, Woody Allen releases 50th feature with Paris-set "Coup de Chance"
  The controversial director secures French actors for his latest, a thriller in the vein of "Match Point" and "Crimes and Misdemeanors" but without the verve.
• 'Scoop' depicts Prince Andrew's infamous interview. These were the women behind it
  "Scoop" stars Billie Piper and Gillian Anderson and author Sam McAlister break down the four women involved in the 2019 Prince Andrew interview that caused a stir, as depicted in a new Netflix film.
• Review: In 'The Beast,' two lovers can't connect — and maybe AI is to blame
  Starring Léa Seydoux and George MacKay and unspooling in three different decades, director Bertrand Bonello's latest adds to the canon of romantic dislocation.
• Julia Stiles privately welcomed third child while directing her first movie
  '10 Things I Hate About You' alum Julia Stiles privately welcomed her third child with husband Preston Cook while directing her first film.
• Review: 'Kim's Video' is a meandering shrine to a shuttered media palace with an afterlife
  At its peak, the New York City rental chain boasted a collection of 55,000 titles and cultivated both an attitude of cool and a clientele of future directors.
• Rebel Wilson's memoir suffers delays amid Sacha Baron Cohen harassment allegations
  Publication of Rebel Wilson's memoir 'Rebel Rising' has been delayed in Australia and the U.K. because of Sacha Baron Cohen harassment allegations.
• Review: In 'Farewell, Mr. Haffmann,' survival chafes against an erotic thriller's contrivances
  Daniel Auteuil, Gilles Lellouche and Sara Giraudeau co-star in a story about a Parisian Jew gone into hiding who finds his protector has a request of his own.
• Review: In 'Housekeeping for Beginners,' a makeshift family evokes universal pain
  The compassionate filmmaker Goran Stolevski ("You Won't Be Alone") returns with a keenly observed queer domestic drama that explores racial and sexual tensions.
• Review: Kinetic 'Monkey Man' announces a bold new action director, one you already know
  After starring in 'Slumdog Millionaire' and landing an Oscar nomination for 'Lion,' Dev Patel pours blood, sweat and tears into his pounding directorial debut.

NY Times©

• What Ethan Hawke’s ‘Wildcat’ Gets Right About Flannery O’Connor
  Those familiar with her menagerie of grotesques, her views of Southern society, her tortured faith and inner contradictions will get what his film is doing.
• ‘Back to Black,’ and the Challenges of Dramatizing Amy Winehouse
  Several depictions of the singer’s life have explored her tense relationship with fame. The new biopic “Back to Black” instead centers her romantic life.
• How a Village Comes to Life in ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’
  The director Wes Ball narrates a sequence from his film.
• What’s Your Favorite Soundtrack? We Want to Know.
  We’re asking readers to share the movie-related albums that they return to again and again.
• Film Academy Looks Overseas for Donors
  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a global $500 million campaign to shore up its financial future.
• What to Know Before Seeing ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’
  Who is Caesar? And how did apes learn to talk, anyway? Your burning questions about the “Planet of the Apes” franchise answered.
• 6 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About This Week
  Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or an avid buff, our reviewers think these films are worth knowing about.
• Yance Ford’s “Power” Documentary Argues That Policing and Politics Are Inextricable
  Though Yance Ford’s new Netflix documentary takes on a much-explored topic, its mix of personal and polemic makes for a strong argument.
• ‘Poolman’ Review: Chris Pine’s Shaggy, Sunbaked Debut Feature
  Chris Pine’s shaggy debut feature has a charismatic cast that rambles along with him on a Los Angeles detective adventure.
• Cannes Film Festival: 5 Things to Look For
  With the most prestigious festival in the world starting Tuesday, here are the movies, artists and events we’ll be keeping an eye on.
• Susan Backlinie, First Shark Attack Victim in ‘Jaws,’ Dies at 77
  Ms. Backlinie, a stunt woman, appeared in the terrifying opening scene of the 1975 blockbuster in which a great white shark attacks.
• Roger Corman’s Best Movies: A Streaming Guide
  The producer and director ran what was essentially a trade school for future stars and filmmakers like Jack Nicholson, Francis Ford Coppola and Pam Grier.
• Why ‘The Jinx’ Owes Its Existence to a Bizarre Movie About Robert Durst
  Film can be influential in strange ways. The HBO series and follow-up wouldn’t have been made if a killer hadn’t taken a liking to a fictional portrayal.
• Anya Taylor-Joy Went Through the Wringer for ‘Furiosa’
  Playing the title character in “Furiosa,” the 28-year-old star says, “I’ve never been more alone than making that movie.”
• Roger Corman, Producer of Low-Budget Horror Films, Dies at 98
  He had hundreds of horror, science fiction and crime films to his credit. He also helped start the careers of Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and many others.
• Jeannie Epper, Groundbreaking Stunt Double on ‘Wonder Woman,’ Dies at 83
  Her first stunt was riding a horse bareback down a cliff when she was 9. She went on to soar on the hit TV series “Wonder Woman” and in many other places.
• Cannes: Coralie Fargeat Doesn’t Shy Away From Gore in Her Films
  The director Coralie Fargeat’s films don’t shy away from violence and gore, including her latest which is vying for the top prize at Cannes.
• At Cannes, Un Certain Regard Offers a Different Perspective
  While not receiving the same attention as the main competition, the sidebar is where you often glimpse the future of cinema.
• Cannes Film Festival: More From India Than Just Bollywood
  This year’s edition of the annual film festival features a prominent presence of Indian stories and storytellers that celebrates the country’s independent cinema.
• Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now
  In this month’s sci-fi picks, surviving a pandemic and predicting a catastrophe.
• ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ | Anatomy of a Scene
  The director Wes Ball narrates a sequence from his film.
• For an Uncool Car, the Chevy Malibu Made a Huge Mark on the Culture
  An unassuming car had a surprisingly large cultural footprint.
• New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie Will Put Gollum Center Stage
  Andy Serkis, who played the creature in the trilogy, will direct and star in “The Hunt for Gollum,” an expansion of the fantasy epic scheduled for 2026.
• By the Book Interview With Judi Dench
  “They’re snapshots of the past: first-night gifts, holidays abroad, memories of lost friends and loved ones,” the award-winning actress says. Her latest, written with Brendan O’Hea, is “Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent.”
• ‘Mother of the Bride’ Review: Brooke Shields Comes Face to Face With an Old Flame
  Brooke Shields plays a single mother who comes face to face with her college ex-boyfriend at her daughter’s destination wedding in this tired romantic comedy.
• ‘Aisha’ Review: Seeking Asylum in Ireland
  The “Black Panther” star Letitia Wright shows understated vulnerability in this immigrant drama by Frank Berry. Josh O’Connor (“Challengers”) also stars.
• ‘A Prince’ Review: Let New Passions Bloom
  Sex, death and domination fuel this beautifully enigmatic pastoral drama from France, which presents the gay coming-of-age of an apprentice gardener.
• ‘Aggro Dr1ft’ Review: Glow-Stick Dreams and Thermal Nightmares
  Harmony Korine (“Spring Breakers”) parties too hard in this fusion of feature filmmaking and video game.
• Andy Serkis and Owen Teague on ‘Planet of the Apes’ Franchise
  A conversation with Serkis, the star of the earlier films in the “Planet of the Apes” franchise, and Teague, the lead of the latest film, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”
• ‘Gasoline Rainbow’ Review: We’re on a Ride to Nowhere
  This semi-fictional tale of a road trip for weirdos is full of joy.
• Disney, Hulu and Max Streaming Bundle Will Soon Become Available
  The offering from Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery shows how rival companies are willing to work together to navigate an uncertain entertainment landscape.
• Why Britain Keeps Giving Classic Movies New Ratings
  As the attitudes of moviegoers evolve, so do the guidelines of the ratings board, which has reclassified dozens of films including “Mary Poppins” and “Rocky.”
• ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Review: Hail, Caesar
  The latest installment in an excellent series finds mythology turning into power.
• Dan Stevens and the Allure of Kooky Characters
  Despite his “Downton Abbey” roots, the co-star of “Godzilla x Kong” and “Abigail” likes the kind of role “that makes the filmmaker smile.”
• ‘Time of the Heathen’: Postwar Life and Death, an American Tale
  Newly excavated and restored, Peter Kass’s 1961 movie, full of trippy distortions and grim associations, gets its first New York run at Film at Lincoln Center.
• ‘Challengers’ and That Ending: Our Critics Have Thoughts
  The tennis movie comes to an abrupt stop midmatch, so we don’t know who won. Does that matter?
• Robert Downey Jr. to Make Broadway Debut in Ayad Akhtar Play
  The Oscar-winning actor will star as an A.I.-curious author in “McNeal,” starting performances in September at Lincoln Center Theater.

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• Francis Galluppi on 'The Last Stop In Yuma County', his feature debut
  Francis Galluppi wrote and directed the new film "The Last Stop In Yuma County." His says his feature debut is a genre mix of neo-noir and westerns. He talks to NPR's Ayesha Rascoe.
• Roger Corman, the B-movie legend who launched A-list careers, dies at 98
  Over some five decades, Corman filled America's drive-ins with hundreds of low-budget movies. Many of Hollywood's most respected directors have at least one Corman picture buried in their resumes.
• Critics hated 'The Phantom Menace.' It might be time to reconsider
  When Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace hit screens across the country in 1999, Return of the Jedi felt like ancient history to Star Wars fans. But after 16 long years, the movie let down fans and critics alike. Twenty-five years have changed how a lot of people feel. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
• What 'Pop Culture Happy Hour' thinks of Jerry Seinfeld's Pop-Tart movie 'Unfrosted'
  The Netflix movie Unfrosted tells a made-up version of Pop-Tarts' origin story. It hasn't been received favorably, including by NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts.
• Kristen Lovell, co-director of 'The Stroll,' knows sex work is real work
  NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Kristen Lovell, co-director of the HBO documentary The Stroll. It's the story of the trans women who worked the streets of the Meatpacking District in New York City.
• The adventures of Middle Earth will soon continue in theaters
  Andy Serkis, the actor who portrayed Gollum, the tormented creature obsessed with the One Ring to rule them all, in Lord of the Rings, will reprise the role in two films centered around the character.
• 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' swings us back to a familiar franchise
  Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes follows Noa (Owen Teague), an extraordinary chimpanzee whose clan is enslaved by a mercenary ape king named Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). As he sets out to gets them back, he's joined by a sage orangutan (Peter Maykin) and a scavenging human (Freya Allan). The movie is set hundreds of years after the recent Planet of the Apes trilogy, but the spirit of Andy Serkis' revolutionary character Caeser still looms large over this new film.
• Issa Rae on the belief that gets her through 'stupid mistakes and bad decisions'
  Last year, Issa Rae was in three Oscar-nominated movies (Barbie, American Fiction and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) and she also won a Peabody. Despite her success, the Insecure creator tells Rachel there have been forks in the road that still keep her up at night. Issa explains why she loves writing from a place of fear, and connects with Rachel over the way they keep lost loved ones close.
• Jane Schoenbrun tells story of two outcast teens in the 1990s in 'I Saw the TV Glow'
  It's Been a Minute's Brittany Luse talks with Jane Schoenbrun, the writer and director of I Saw the TV Glow, about two suburban teens in the 1990s who bond over a show.
• The 1970 documentary 'Let It Be' is getting its first official release since 1981
  The documentary is about the making of the Beatles' album of the same name. Its raw footage was the basis of Peter Jackson's eight hour series Get Back. The new release is only 80 minutes long.