Top Movie News provided by the LA Times©

• James Earl Jones has stepped back from voicing Darth Vader in 'Star Wars' projects
  James Earl Jones has approved of Lucasfilm using artificial intelligence and archival recordings to replicate his Darth Vader voice going forward.
• 'Don't Worry Darling' tops box office as crew denies report of Wilde-Pugh feud
  Olivia Wilde's 'Don't Worry Darling,' starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, performed as well as anticipated at the domestic box office.
• Louise Fletcher, Oscar-winning actor who played Nurse Ratched in 'Cuckoo's Nest,' dies
  Louise Fletcher, who gave an Oscar-winning performance playing villainous Nurse Ratched in 1975's 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' died Friday.
• Nia Long plans to 'focus on my children' after fiancé Ime Udoka's affair
  'The outpouring of love and support from family, friends and the community during this difficult time means so much to me,' actor Nia Long said in a statement.
• Review: Lena Dunham high-fives 'Clueless' with easy, breezy 'Catherine Called Birdy'
  With 'Catherine Called Birdy,' Lena Dunham's best writing and directing work yet shows girl issues are timeless.
• Olivia Wilde, Florence Pugh allegedly had 'screaming match' on 'Don't Worry Darling' set
  Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles would 'just disappear' during 'Don't Worry Darling' filming, a source told Vulture, and Florence Pugh wasn't OK with it.
• 'Riverdale' actor Ryan Grantham sentenced to life in prison for murdering his mother
  Canadian actor Ryan Grantham shot his mother at their home in British Columbia in March 2020.
• 'Avatar' defied the cynics. 13 years later, it's back in theaters to set the stage for 'Avatar 2'
  As James Cameron's 2009 megahit 'Avatar' heads back to theaters, Sam Worthington, Stephen Lang and Jon Landau revisit the epic and tease 'Avatar 2.'
• Jon Hamm donated 60% of his 'Confess, Fletch' salary just to get the movie made
  Star Jon Hamm and director Greg Mottola kicked in their own money to buy a few more days of production on their talky comedy 'Confess, Fletch.'
• Review: 'Confess, Fletch' is a perfect showcase for Jon Hamm's comedic charm
  A low-key winner offers a good time with Jon Hamm and a killer ensemble.
• Review: Alison Janney grows taciturn in the thriller 'Lou,' plus more movies to watch at home
  Kay Cuoco and Pete Davidson 'Meet Cute' on Peacock, Abigail Disney calls out her namesake company with 'American Dream,' and 'Nope' arrives on VOD.
• After protests over 'Fast & Furious,' commercial shoot reignites concern in Angelino Heights
  Neighbors say a Rockstar Energy commercial is part of a pattern of filming, including the "Fast & Furious" franchise, that draws dangerous driving.
• Review: 'Riotsville, USA' evokes a law-and-order past hauntingly similar to the present
  The documentary "Riotsville, USA" looks at the nation in the late 1960s when nightly civil unrest provoked calls for law and order.
• Betty White's belongings will be auctioned, and here are some items you could own
  A sweater from a Super Bowl ad. A finale script from 'The Golden Girls.' Wedding rings from a happy couple. Betty White's things are going on auction.
• Review: 'Sidney' celebrates Poitier's legacy, but does not go deep enough
  The Oprah Winfrey-produced documentary "Sidney," about the groundbreaking actor-director-activist, begs for a deeper exploration of Poitier's life.
• Review: Don't look for a meaningful portrayal of Black life in messy, derivative drama 'On the Come Up'
  Sanaa Lathan's directorial debut is a simplistic and familiar adaptation of Angie Thomas' lackluster novel.
• Review: Vicky Krieps holds a splintered emotional drama together in the piercing 'Hold Me Tight'
  A family's life is ruptured in this lacerating drama from French actor-turned-filmmaker Mathieu Amalric ("On Tour," "The Blue Room").
• Review: Tyler Perry brings passion project to Netflix, but 'A Jazzman's Blues' isn't a huge departure
  Heavy melodrama and shallow characters sit alongside elevated filmmaking and charismatic performances in Tyler Perry's long-in-the-works period romantic drama.
• Olivia Wilde denies Spitgate and Florence Pugh feud, laments 'different standards' for women
  Olivia Wilde tells Stephen Colbert there's nothing to see here, and if you do see something odd with 'Don't Worry Darling,' it's because she's a woman.
• 'Greater delights await' in chilling trailer of Hulu's reboot of horror classic 'Hellraiser'
  Hulu's reboot of the horror classic "Hellraiser" will start streaming on Oct. 7.
• Margot Robbie says leaked 'Barbie' photos were 'the most humiliating moment of my life'
  "We look like we're like laughing and having fun, but we're dying on the inside," Robbie said of the incident.
• Review: 'Athena,' a fiery drama of civil unrest, is mostly blowing smoke
  Romain Gavras' third feature is a brilliantly choreographed but conceptually too-tidy drama of police violence and political resistance in contemporary France.
• Tom Hardy, a 'really nice guy,' secretly wins martial-arts championship in U.K.
  Actor Tom Hardy entered a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition in the U.K. over the weekend — and took home the gold.
• Review: Don't ignore the red flags in 'Speak No Evil'
  Hell is vacation friends in the sophisticated, grisly European horror thriller 'Speak No Evil,' now streaming on Shudder.
• Reports of his films' death are exaggerated: Woody Allen 'has no intention of retiring'
  "Currently, he has no intention of retiring," a representative for Woody Allen said after the director hinted at retirement in an interview.
• A killer monologue. A 'gift' of a role. How Mia Goth brought her maniacal 'Pearl' to life
  Mia Goth and director Ti West explain the origins, process and finding the ending of 'X' horror prequel, 'Pearl.'
• 'The Fabelmans' looks like this year's Oscar front-runner, but here's why that's complicated
  With three major fall festivals now over, most of the year's awards contenders have been revealed, and Steven Spielberg is sitting at the top of the heap. For now.
• Hoping to rebound from the Slap, film academy sets new Oscar producers
  The motion picture academy is turning to veteran live TV producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner to produce next year's Oscars.
• 15 must-see films from the Toronto International Film Festival
  With a return to big crowds and a penchant for buzz-building, this year's Toronto Film Festival offered a mix of world premieres and noteworthy titles from other fests.
• Review: Even under wraps, Naomi Watts is terrific in 'Goodnight Mommy'
  Plus, a Neil LaBute vampire movie, 'House of Darkness,' Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke 'Do Revenge' on Netflix, and Jon Hamm is the new 'Fletch.'
• Review: In 'God's Country,' Thandiwe Newton strikes back against broken systems
  Thandiwe Newton stars in the tense thriller "God's Country," in which microaggressions snowball into a showdown.
• 'Do Revenge' stars Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke discuss teen roles, villains and fake woke men
  'Riverdale' star Camila Mendes and 'Stranger Things' star Maya Hawke team up for Netflix's high school twist on 'Strangers on a Train,' from director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
• The women of 'The Woman King' share their war stories: 'This must happen again'
  'The Woman King' stars Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu and Sheila Atim as an elite team of all-female warriors from 19th century western Africa.
• Review: David Bowie's own sound and vision propel psychedelic 'Moonage Daydream'
  Cosmic traveler and rock god David Bowie receives a worthy tribute in the unconventional documentary "Moonage Daydream," directed by Brett Morgen.
• Review: Let us celebrate the odd, heartfelt gem that is 'The Silent Twins'
  "Black Panther's" Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance are siblings who grow up communicating only with each other in the drama "The Silent Twins."
• Review: Mia Goth is enjoyably demented as 'Pearl' in half-mad/half-funny 'X' prequel
  Director Ti West and star Mia Goth teamed up to write 'Pearl,' a 1918-set prequel to the 1970s-inspired slasher/porn homage 'X.'
• Review: Viola Davis adds another jewel to her crown in a rousing 'Woman King'
  Gina Prince-Bythewood's follow-up to "The Old Guard" is a forceful account of women warriors in the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 19th century.
• From Spielberg to Iñárritu: Evaluating the season's many styles of personal filmmaking
  Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' and Alejandro Iñárritu's 'Bardo' are among an unexpected rush of self-reflexive films due for release this year.
• My Jean-Luc Godard movie marathon: How I watched his collected works, in chronological order
  How many films? Maybe 70? A cinephile's obsession with the French master leads to a years-long hunt for VHS and DVDs, followed by the ultimate binge.
• How 'MVP' spotlights the connections between military vets and retired athletes
  Nate Boyer and Jay Glazer discuss their organization, their movie "MVP" and their mission of helping vets and former athletes.
• Ryan Reynolds got a colonoscopy after losing a bet and it may have saved his life
  'It's not everyday that you can raise awareness about something that will most definitely save lives,' Reynolds said. 'That's enough motivation for me to let you in on a camera being shoved up my a—.'
• Pedro Almodóvar steps away from his first English-language feature film
  Saying he had been 'blinded by excitement,' Pedro Almodóvar decides not to direct the Cate Blanchett movie 'A Manual for Cleaning Women.'
• Why making 'Glass Onion' scared Rian Johnson even more than 'The Last Jedi'
  Fresh from the world premiere of his "Knives Out" sequel, Johnson explains the origins of Benoit Blanc and why he wants his Netflix film in theaters.
• Review: Kevin Smith makes a half-baked return to his roots with 'Clerks III'
  Writer-director Kevin Smith returns to the Quik Stop for "Clerks III," more of a recognition reel for a fan convention than a movie.
• Appreciation: Jean-Luc Godard, a master of cinema who changed the medium forever
  In a six-decade career that included "Breathless," "Week-end" and "Goodbye to Language," the unaccountably great and inventive artist always managed to tick off all the right people.
• Review: Fleeing the violence within him, a man finds forbidden love in a 'Private Desert'
  Brazil's submission for the most recent Oscars, "Private Desert" is elevated by superb performances by Antonio Saboia and Pedro Fasanaro.
• If you're overdue for an intro to Jean-Luc Godard, here are 6 films to start with
  The French New Wave auteur and iconoclast, who died Tuesday at 91, made more than 100 films. Here's where to find six key titles, spanning his long career.
• L.A.-set 'Babylon' trailer lands with mad-eyed Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt
  The 'Babylon' trailer brings the stars and the exploits of Hollywood's Golden Age, setting the scene for Damien Chazelle's newest film.
• Jean-Luc Godard, deeply influential French New Wave filmmaker, dies at 91
  Godard, who made such films as 'Breathless' and 'Weekend,' was widely viewed as the most inventive and radical of the French New Wave directors.
• Original Ariel Jodi Benson: Halle Bailey 'absolutely amazing' in 'The Little Mermaid'
  'I'm SO proud of you & your beautiful performance as Ariel,' Jodi Benson told Halle Bailey, the star of Disney's live-action 'Little Mermaid' remake.
• Harry Styles gets TIFF talking with 'My Policeman' world premiere
  Harry Styles fans were out in full force for the debut of his romantic drama 'My Policeman,' and the role is a sign of the times.
• Acclaimed horror pic 'Barbarian' ushers in spooky season at the domestic box office
  20th Century Studios' 'Barbarian' — starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård and Justin Long — opened atop a slow domestic box office.
• Marsha Hunt, prolific Hollywood actor who was blacklisted, dies at 104
  Marsha Hunt appeared in more than 50 films before being accused of communist sympathies, short-circuiting her career. Hunt died last week at 104.
• 'Barbarian' explained: Unpacking all the twists and the real villain in Airbnb horror
  Scares lurk beneath the surface in Zach Cregger's wild new horror pic "Barbarian." But who's the real villain?
• Toronto Film Festival launches two must see movies in 'The Fabelmans' and 'Glass Onion'
  Steven Spielberg's warm semi-autobiographical memory piece and Rian Johnson's twisty sequel to "Knives Out" deliver old-school razzle-dazzle at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• How the Emma Corrin, Harry Styles drama 'My Policeman' tells a timely story of queer love
  Directed by Michael Grandage and premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, 'My Policeman' is a reminder of the dangers of the recent past.
• What you need to know about Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans': 'This was my way of bringing my mom and dad back'
  Billed as Steven Spielberg's most personal film, the semiautobiographical drama 'The Fabelmans' received its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. The Q&A afterward answers your burning questions.
• Here's what we learned (without spoilers) at the premiere of 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'
  The world premiere of Netflix's much-anticipated sequel from writer-director Rian Johnson revealed a few mysteries while leaving plenty to still puzzle over.
• Why 'Black Panther's' new antagonist, Namor, isn't just 'another Aquaman'
  At D23, "Black Panther Wakanda Forever" actors Tenoch Huerta and Winston Duke talk about Namor and how the character can help bring more reality and representation to the MCU.
• Everything we learned about James Cameron's 'Avatar' sequel from new footage at D23
  Cameron unveiled about eight minutes of footage from the long-awaited 'Avatar: The Way of Water' during Disney's expo Saturday. Here's what to know.
• D23: James Cameron unveils 'Avatar 2,' Harrison Ford retires from 'Indiana Jones'
  "Mandalorian" Season 3, Jude Law's part in the "Star Wars" universe and Brie Larson's team of Marvels are among the highlights from Disney's expo.
• Halle Bailey goes under the sea in first 'Little Mermaid' trailer
  Behold, the first trailer for Disney's remake of 'The Little Mermaid' — starring Halle Bailey, Daveed Diggs, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy — is out.
• Taylor Swift, in the race for an Oscar, brings 'All Too Well' to TIFF
  A report from the scene of "In Conversation With ... Taylor Swift" at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
• How 'Barbarian' brings bonkers horror back with an Airbnb nightmare you won't predict
  The creator and stars of 'Barbarian' discuss one of the scariest movies of the year.
• Why Tyler Perry's passion project 'A Jazzman's Blues' will mark his major film festival debut
  The prolific, wildly successful Tyler Perry wrote historical drama "A Jazzman's Blues" in 1995. It finally world premieres at 2022 Toronto film festival.
• Anna Kendrick says she almost turned down 'Alice, Darling' role because of past abuse
  In a recent interview, the 'Pitch Perfect' actor opened up about processing the events of a previous abusive relationship.
• Inside the 'Weird' (Al Yankovic) world premiere: Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood and Hawaiian shirts
  Co-written by 'Weird Al' himself, "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" is a parody bio-pic made in the same delightfully carefree style as his music.
• The women of 'Women Talking' react to taking festival season by storm
  Sarah Polley, Frances McDormand, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley and more stars of 'Women Talking' reflect on the industry sea change that led to their warmly received festival breakout.
• Review: 'End of the Road' will have you looking for an exit
  Queen Latifah reaches the "End of the Road" on Netflix, Ruth Wilson dreams up the wrong man and "Thor: Love and Thunder" hits Disney+
• Review: 'Medieval' story of Czech folk hero suffers from identity crisis
  Ben Foster stars as a Czech folk hero tasked with protecting a lady in the gory, muddled "Medieval," directed by Petr Jákl.
• When 'Queen Elizabeth' came to Dodger Stadium: Let's revisit that 'Naked Gun' scene
  Jeannette Charles played Queen Elizabeth II opposite Leslie Nielsen's detective Frank Drebin in a classic scene from the 1988 comedy 'The Naked Gun.'
• Review: 'Loving' documentary doesn't break much ground on novelist Patricia Highsmith
  The mercurial life of novelist Patricia Highsmith, author of "Strangers on a Train" and "Carol," is explored in the documentary "Loving Highsmith."
• 'The ultimate mother': How the actors who've played her viewed Queen Elizabeth II
  The thespians who've studied the queen most closely explain what they learned about her life, character and work from the experience.
• Harry Styles himself joins the 'Don't Worry Darling' spit joke bandwagon
  Harry Styles embraced the gossip spiral involving his movie 'Don't Worry Darling' by joking about it onstage Wednesday during a show at Madison Square Garden.
• Detective Daniel Craig returns for silly, suspenseful 'Knives Out 2' teaser trailer
  Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr. and others star in the highly anticipated sequel to 'Knives Out.'
• Review: Robert Zemeckis' 'Pinocchio' is a soulless knockoff of the beloved 1940 animated classic
  Director Robert Zemeckis and star Tom Hanks reunite for "Pinocchio," a live-action update of the Disney animated classic.
• Jane Fonda defiant as ever amid lymphoma fight: 'This cancer will not deter me'
  Screen icon Jane Fonda revealed last week that she has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and was beginning chemotherapy.
• 'Sexy glasses?' Tucker Carlson speculates about starring in Jennifer Lawrence's nightmares
  Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked Jennifer Lawrence's dreams about him — nightmares she said she has due to his influence on her estranged Kentucky family.
• Review: The less you know about 'Barbarian,' the more you'll enjoy one of the year's best horror movies
  Writer-director Zach Cregger delivers a fresh genre surprise in the cult movie in waiting 'Barbarian.'
• 'Knives Out' sequel, Spielberg's latest and 19 more major premieres at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival
  World premieres of films with Harry Styles, Viola Davis, Jennifer Lawrence and more top our picks for the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
• Indian action hit 'RRR' eyes Oscars, sets Beyond Fest S.S. Rajamouli retrospective
  L.A.'s Beyond Fest's monthlong celebration of 'RRR' director S.S. Rajamouli to include rare screenings, a career retrospective and in-person Q&A.
• With 'Bones and All,' 'The Wonder' and 'Lady Chatterley's Lover,' Telluride feeds the hunger
  A cannibal romance starring Timothée Chalamet, a spiritual drama with Florence Pugh and a new adaptation of a D.H. Lawrence classic are among the highlights of this year's Telluride Film Festival.
• Jason Momoa cares about single-use plastics — so much that he shaved his head
  The 'Aquaman' star took to Instagram to document his new haircut and send a message about climate change.
• Did he spit or not? Chris Pine's rep dismisses 'foolish' gossip about Harry Styles
  Chris Pine's rep deigned to respond to the 'ridiculous story' that Harry Styles spit at Pine during 'Don't Worry Darling's' Venice debut.
• The winners and losers of a muted Telluride Film Festival
  Cate Blanchett and Sarah Polley accelerated their Oscar buzz, while Alejandro G. Iñárritu delivered his most divisive movie yet.
• Review: Olivia Wilde's scandal-ridden 'Don't Worry Darling' isn't good — or bad — enough
  Florence Pugh and Harry Styles play a couple who find trouble in paradise in a thriller that's nowhere near as interesting as its production history.
• Brendan Fraser gets teary during 6-minute ovation for 'The Whale' at Venice Film Festival
  Brendan Fraser got emotional and cried as audiences at the Venice Film Festival gave a six-minute standing ovation after the premiere of 'The Whale.'
• Alejandro G. Iñárritu answers critics of his new film: 'There's a kind of racist undercurrent'
  The Oscar winning director's three-hour Netflix film, 'Bardo,' has divided audiences and met with sharp criticism at the Venice and Telluride film festivals.
• Cate Blanchett delivers a Telluride 'Tár' de force, but Olivia Colman can't save 'Empire of Light'
  Todd Field's "Tár," with Cate Blanchett as a conductor, and Sam Mendes' "Empire of Light," with Olivia Colman as a cinema employee, at Telluride Film Festival.
• Florence Pugh skipping 'Don't Worry Darling' press conference at Venice Film Festival
  Florence Pugh is currently shooting the sequel to 'Dune' in Budapest and won't make it to Venice in time for the 'Don't Worry Darling' presser.
• Can Timothée Chalamet's sexy, eerie 'Bones and All' bring cannibals back to the Oscars?
  Timothée Chalamet reunites with Luca Guadagnino on teen cannibal romance 'Bones and All,' a star-making vehicle for Taylor Russell.
• A splendid 'Women Talking' and indulgent 'Bardo' get Telluride arguing from the start
  Sarah Polley and Alejandro G. Iñárritu deliver wildly different movies that kick off the 2022 Telluride Film Festival.
• All the behind-the-scenes drama of 'Don't Worry Darling,' explained
  Few recent films have arrived with as much dramatic backstory as Olivia Wilde's latest, starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. Here's what to know.
• Review: Hugh Bonneville of 'Downton Abbey' plays against type in thriller 'I Came By'
  Netflix's thriller "I Came By" with Hugh Bonneville and rom-com "Love in the Villa" highlight Labor Day weekend streaming options.
• Review: Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown get satirical, and serious, in 'Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.'
  With a loose mockumentary format 'Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul,' nails the particular culture of Southern Baptist megachurches.
• Ana de Armas never expected to play Marilyn Monroe. The opportunity changed her life
  For Cuban native Ana de Armas, playing Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe in Netflix's 'Blonde' was about honoring the truth behind tragedy.
• Oscar hopefuls set to bow as Telluride Film Festival unveils its secret lineup
  The Telluride Film Festival will host world premieres of 'Women Talking' and 'Empire of Light' alongside key titles that played at Venice or Cannes.
• With 'Bros,' Luke Macfarlane proves he's a rom-com natural. (All those Hallmark movies didn't hurt)
  In 'Bros,' the first studio rom-com with an all LGBTQ cast, Luke Macfarlane shines as the knockout love interest opposite comedian Billy Eichner.
• Review: 'Burial' unearths gods, monsters and humanity in the depths of World War II
  An elderly woman recounts her actions on a mission during World War II in the historical action/horror film "Burial."
• Director is 'not condoning anything' but Ezra Miller will still appear in 'Daliland'
  Director Mary Harron said Ezra Miller will not be cut from 'Dalíland,' which will premiere at Toronto IFF next month, despite their legal troubles.

NY Times©

• Women and Gen Z Drive ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Box Office
  Harry Styles powered the critically drubbed and controversy-entangled movie to a solid $19.2 million in estimated ticket sales at North American cinemas.
• Lena Dunham Channels a Voice of a (Different) Generation
  With “Catherine Called Birdy,” she tackles a beloved Y.A. novel set in medieval England. It’s a project she had dreamed of since the start of “Girls.”
• ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Review: Burning Down the Dollhouse
  Florence Pugh plays a seemingly happy housewife whose world starts to crack apart in Olivia Wilde’s wobbly feminist gothic.
• ‘Athena’ Review: Oh Brothers, Where Art Thou?
  A besieged French housing project is the setting for Romain Gavras’s relentlessly kinetic action movie.
• Why Does Hollywood Keep Using Fat Suits?
  The industry’s unforgiving standards are well known. Can it pivot to include a range of sizes and body types?
• ‘Petrov’s Flu’ Review: Roaming a Grim, Rowdy Underworld
  In this fever dream of a movie by Kirill Serebrennikov, a Russian man wanders a wild urban landscape that he regularly hallucinates his way out of.
• ‘Catherine Called Birdy’ Review: Ye Olde Lady Bird
  Bella Ramsey plays a 13th century adolescent in Lena Dunham’s winning film.
• ‘Sidney’ Review: A Lovingly Assembled Career Portrait
  Sidney Poitier is memorialized in this thorough, and thoroughly conventional, documentary.
• Why New Yorkers Still ❤️ Film
  Projectionists are busier than ever, as they serve a demand for obscure 35-millimeter titles, nostalgia and the quirks of analog.
• Just Jaeckin, Whose ‘Emmanuelle’ Was a Scandalous Success, Dies at 82
  His first film, the story of a young woman’s erotic adventures, was initially blocked by French censors but became a runaway hit.
• Sundance Liked Her Documentary, ‘Jihad Rehab,’ Until Muslim Critics Didn’t
  The film festival gave Meg Smaker’s “Jihad Rehab” a coveted spot in its 2022 lineup, but apologized after an outcry over her race and her approach.
• Louise Fletcher, 88, Dies; Oscar Winner for ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’
  She was largely unknown to the public when she was cast as what the American Film Institute called one of cinema’s most memorable villains.
• Will Anyone Give ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ a Chance?
  Olivia Wilde’s new film is trying to fight free of its pre-release reputation.
• Ryan Grantham of ‘Riverdale’ Sentenced to Life for Mother’s Murder
  Grantham, who also appeared in the film “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” had pleaded guilty earlier this year. He will be eligible for parole after 14 years.
• Five International Movies to Stream Now
  This month’s picks include a South Korean queer drama, an erotic German creature feature, a charming caper set in the French countryside and more.
• ‘Lou’ Review: Unfinished Business
  A child’s kidnapping ignites a protracted bid for redemption in this down-and-dirty thriller.
• ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ Review: Tyler Perry Revisits a Jim Crow-Era Romance
  The writer-director returns to his first screenplay — a dark melodrama with soulful musical numbers — after two decades.
• ‘The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales’ Review: A Spotlight on Income Inequality
  This documentary by Abigail E. Disney and Kathleen Hughes is a critique of the Walt Disney Company, but its lessons are basic and obvious.
• ‘My Imaginary Country’ Review: Chile in Revolt
  Patricio Guzmán, Chile’s cinematic conscience, chronicles the uprising that shook the country starting in 2019.
• ‘On the Come Up’ Review: Battle Rap’s Next Big Thing?
  This film adaptation of the Angie Thomas novel follows a teenage rapper with a dream.
• ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’ Review: Vietnam on the Rocks
  Zac Efron plays a man trying to deliver brewskis to his Vietnam War buddies in Peter Farrelly’s film.
• ‘Invisible Demons’ Review: Capturing an Air Quality Crisis
  The filmmaker Rahul Jain assembles a series of devastating panoramas in this documentary about air and water pollution in New Delhi.
• ‘Nothing Compares’ Review: Sinead O’Connor’s Rise and Fall
  This new documentary shows many faces of Sinead O’Connor and highlights her genuinely incomparable voice.
• ‘Railway Children’ Review: A Nostalgia Trip, With Lessons
  This winsome reboot of a British children’s classic, directed by Morgan Matthews, also addresses racial segregation in the armed forces during World War II.
• ‘Carmen’ Review: You Will Live in Bliss
  After her priest brother dies, a woman masquerades as a village’s irreverent new spiritual leader in this delightful drama.
• ‘Goodnight Mommy’ and More: For the Love (and Hate) of Horror Remakes
  With the American update of the Austrian horror film “Goodnight Mommy” now streaming, a horror fan discusses why remakes for him are a must-see.
• ‘The 400 Blows,’ a Directing Debut That Still Astonishes
  In 1959, François Truffaut premiered his first film, about a Parisian boy playing hooky, and moviemaking hasn’t been the same since.
• ‘Meet Cute’ Review: Live. Date. Repeat.
  This time-loop rom-com takes another swing at the tried-and-true “Groundhog Day” premise.
• ‘Escape From Kabul’ Review: Evacuation in Recap
  This documentary from Jamie Roberts on the evacuation of the airport at Kabul in August 2021 feels more like a lengthy news segment.
• Mike Birbiglia to Return to Broadway With a New Show This Fall
  The comedic storyteller, who previously brought a solo show to Broadway in 2018, has a new act for a new age.
• Jack Charles, Grandfather of Aboriginal Theater, Dies at 79
  One of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors, he had a resonant voice, a charismatic personality and a troubled personal life that often landed him in jail.
• The Multiplying Horror of Ti West
  With “X” and “Pearl,” the writer and director has released two related horror movies in the last six months, with a third on the way. The filmmaker discusses his quick building of a little horror universe.
• Alain Tanner, Leading Director in Swiss New Wave, Dies at 92
  With his brainy works of neorealism, he made films that helped establish Switzerland as a film center in the 1970s.
• Bad Bunny, No. 1 Again, Puts a Spotlight on Inequities in Puerto Rico
  Days before his latest album notched its 11th week atop the Billboard 200, the pop superstar released a music video paired with a documentary by Bianca Graulau.

NPR©

• Tamara Lawrence on playing Jennifer Gibbons in the real-life story 'The Silent Twins'
  NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with British actor Tamara Lawrance, co-star of "The Silent Twins" - a movie about two girls who grew up speaking only to each other.
• Tyler Perry talks new film 'A Jazzman's Blues'
  NPR's Michel Martin speaks with filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry about his new movie, A Jazzman's Blues.
• Abigail Disney turns critical lens on her family's company in new doc
  NPR's Michel Martin speaks with documentary filmmaker Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Disney co-founder Roy Disney, about her new film, The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales.
• 'Love and Stuff' is a moving memoir about motherhood
  NPR's Scott Simon talks with filmmaker Judith Helfand about "Love and Stuff," her documentary memoir about taking care of her dying mother while becoming a mother herself.
• Oscar-winning 'Cuckoo's Nest' actor Louise Fletcher has died
  Louise Fletcher, a late-blooming star whose riveting performance as the cruel and calculating Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" set a new standard for screen villains, has died at 88.
• What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing
  Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Industry, The Great British Baking Show, and more.
• 'Sidney' is a look at an actor who pioneered a vision of racial equality in Hollywood
  Executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, directed by Reginald Hudlin and supported by Poitier's surviving family, Apple TV+'s documentary Sidney details the life of actor-director-activist Sidney Poitier.
• 'Blonde,' the new Marilyn Monroe biopic, is an exercise in exploitation, not empathy
  The Netflix film turns Monroe into an avatar of suffering, brought low by a miserable childhood, a father she never knew and an industry full of men who abused and exploited her until her death.
• 'Don't Worry Darling' and the mechanics of a mystery
  The thriller Don't Worry Darling has a satisfying setup and some good performances. But the payoff leaves a lot to be desired.
• Fans have wanted Idris Elba to play James Bond for years, but it likely won't happen
  Idris Elba has been asked about the James Bond role several times through the years, but said a couple weeks ago it isn't a personal goal of his. Producers of the franchise said they understand.
• Brad Pitt and Nick Cave make a surprise art debut in Finland
  Art works by the American actor and Australian musician are featured in an exhibition of sculptures and ceramics. Both acknowledged being excited and nervous about presenting their art in public.
• These are the new movies and TV shows we can't wait to watch this fall
  Our critics' guide lets you search by genre and where to watch — whether on your couch or in the theater. Here's what NPR critics are looking forward to after a busy blockbuster summer.
• Spanish 'Dracula' finds new blood, more than 90 years after its release
  In 1931, an entire new cast and crew reshot Dracula into Spanish on the Universal Studios lot.
• They escape political and economic chaos — and rise as sommeliers
  In a new documentary, four refugees from Zimbabwe compete in an international wine tasting competition. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka about "Blind Ambition."
• South African actress Thuso Mbedu on playing a 19th century warrior in 'The Woman King'
  NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with South African actress Thuso Mbedu about her role in "The Woman King," a new movie about woman warriors in 19th century West Africa.