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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II On Playing Bobby Seale In 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7'

This image released by Netflix shows Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Bobby Seale in a scene from The Trial of the Chicago 7. Niko Tavernise/AP hide caption

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Niko Tavernise/AP

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II On Playing Bobby Seale In 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7'

The Emmy-award winning actor reflects on portraying the co-founder of the Black Panther Party in a new film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin about the landmark 1969 trial.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II On Playing Bobby Seale In 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7'

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Unimaginative 'Witches' Retread Lacks The Magic Of Roald Dahl's Classic

Anne Hathaway is the Grand High Witch in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches. Daniel Smith/Warner Bros. hide caption

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Daniel Smith/Warner Bros.

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Movie Reviews

Unimaginative 'Witches' Retread Lacks The Magic Of Roald Dahl's Classic

Fresh Air

Though Anne Hathaway throws herself into the role of the Grand High Witch with obvious relish, she often seems to be straining for effect — which leaves The Witches feeling flat.

Unimaginative 'Witches' Retread Lacks The Magic Of Roald Dahl's Classic

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Does Netflix's 'Rebecca' Live Up To Its Predecessors?

Lily James plays Mrs. de Winter, and Armie Hammer plays Maxim de Winter in the new Netflix version of Rebecca. Kerry Brown/Netflix hide caption

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Kerry Brown/Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Does Netflix's 'Rebecca' Live Up To Its Predecessors?

You may know Rebecca as a 1938 novel by Daphne du Maurier. You might know it as a 1940 adaptation directed by Alfred Hitchcock that won Best Picture. But if you've always wanted a version with Armie Hammer playing the role once occupied by Laurence Olivier, Netflix is on it. The new Rebecca stars Lily James as a woman who becomes the second wife of Maxim de Winter, played by Hammer. When she gets to his massive estate, she finds it occupied by his housekeeper, played here by Kristin Scott Thomas. It's also haunted by the memory of his first wife. Her name was Rebecca.

Does Netflix's 'Rebecca' Live Up To Its Predecessors?

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'Borat' Sequel Grabs A Political News Cycle — At Least Momentarily

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, has become a political football during this presidential election season. Lisa O'Connor/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Lisa O'Connor/AFP via Getty Images

'Borat' Sequel Grabs A Political News Cycle — At Least Momentarily

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, has become a political football during this presidential election season. A scene involving Rudy Giuliani seized social media attention.

This Sumptuous Retelling Of 'Martin Eden' Stays True To Jack London's Novel

After he meets Elena (Jessica Cressy), Martin Eden (Luca Marinelli) becomes determined to rise above his lowly circumstances and prove himself worthy of her love. Francesca Errichiello/Kino Lorber hide caption

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Francesca Errichiello/Kino Lorber

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Movie Reviews

This Sumptuous Retelling Of 'Martin Eden' Stays True To Jack London's Novel

Fresh Air

An uneducated sailor falls in love and finds fame as a writer — only to become disillusioned by his own success. It's an intensely political work, which London wrote as a rejection of individualism.

This Sumptuous Retelling Of 'Martin Eden' Stays True To Jack London's Novel

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Isn't This A Lovely Day For A 'Top Hat' Tribute?

Jordan Betscher and Courtney Crain dancing to Irving Berlin's "Isn't This a Lovely Day (To Be Caught in the Rain)?" Courtesy of Concord Theatricals hide caption

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Courtesy of Concord Theatricals

Arts & Life

Isn't This A Lovely Day For A 'Top Hat' Tribute?

Irving Berlin's classic musical turns 85 this year, and a group of artists are paying tribute with a brand-new video version of one of its songs, "Isn't This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain)?"

Isn't This A Lovely Day For A 'Top Hat' Tribute?

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The Pandemic Bounceback Abroad: Concerts And Movies In Other Countries

Tourists line up to go up the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, China, earlier this month. As there have been no recorded cases of community transmission in Wuhan since May, life for residents is gradually returning to normal. Getty Images hide caption

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Consider This from NPR

The Pandemic Bounceback Abroad: Concerts And Movies In Other Countries

While U.S. movie theaters continue to struggle, the picture is better for the international box office. NPR's Bob Mondello, who's reported on how domestic theaters are getting by, explains why things look more promising abroad.

The Pandemic Bounceback Abroad: Concerts And Movies In Other Countries

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Disney Warns Viewers Of Racism In Some Classic Movies With Strengthened Label

Disney added a warning on its streaming service to some of its titles with racist depictions, including Dumbo. The crows' appearance and musical number in the movie "pay homage to racist minstrel shows," Disney said. LMPC via Getty Images hide caption

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LMPC via Getty Images

Updates: The Fight Against Racial Injustice

Disney Warns Viewers Of Racism In Some Classic Movies With Strengthened Label

Disney strengthened language used to denounce racist depictions in some of its classic properties on the company's streaming service.

Requiem For A Theme: Film Composer Clint Mansell On The Sound Of Sadness

Clint Mansell is the Grammy-nominated composer whose work on Requiem for a Dream jumpstarted a prolific and distinctive score career. Mike Palmer/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mike Palmer/Courtesy of the artist

Music Features

Requiem For A Theme: Film Composer Clint Mansell On The Sound Of Sadness

Darren Aronofsky's 2000 film Requiem for a Dream spawned a musical motif that's rippled through media — and jumpstarted a new career for Clint Mansell, the composer of its haunted score.

Requiem For A Theme: Film Composer Clint Mansell On The Sound Of Sadness

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Aaron Sorkin Goes Back To The Courtroom In 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7'

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Ben Shenkman, Mark Rylance, Eddie Redmayne and Alex Sharp in The Trial Of The Chicago 7. Nico Tavernise/Netflix hide caption

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Nico Tavernise/Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Aaron Sorkin Goes Back To The Courtroom In 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7'

Writer-director Aaron Sorkin knows his way around a courtroom drama: He wrote the screenplay for A Few Good Men nearly 30 years ago. Now, he's written and directed The Trial of the Chicago 7. The new movie dramatizes the trial of a far-flung group of anti-Vietnam War activists, including Abbie Hoffman, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale, who were each charged with inciting violence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Aaron Sorkin Goes Back To The Courtroom In 'The Trial Of The Chicago 7'

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Filmmaker Finds An Unlikely Underwater Friend In 'My Octopus Teacher'

"The excitement for me has been to slowly uncover the secret lives of many of these cryptic animals," says Craig Foster. "My incredible octopus teacher, she helped me in many ways to uncover many of those lives, because she's in the middle of this food web." Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Animals

Filmmaker Finds An Unlikely Underwater Friend In 'My Octopus Teacher'

Fresh Air

Craig Foster spent a year diving — without oxygen or a wetsuit — into the frigid sea near Cape Town, South Africa. One octopus began coming out of her den to hunt or explore while Foster watched.

Filmmaker Finds An Unlikely Underwater Friend In 'My Octopus Teacher'

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David Byrne And Spike Lee Conjure Up A Joyous Vision Of 'American Utopia'

HBO's David Byrne's American Utopia captures a live performance of Byrne's acclaimed Broadway show. David Lee/HBO hide caption

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David Lee/HBO

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Movie Reviews

David Byrne And Spike Lee Conjure Up A Joyous Vision Of 'American Utopia'

Fresh Air

Lee's new film for HBO captures a live performance of Byrne's acclaimed Broadway show. David Byrne's American Utopia is a rousing blend of song, dance and revival meeting.

David Byrne And Spike Lee Conjure Up A Joyous Vision Of 'American Utopia'

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'Totally Under Control' And 'Time' Are Two Very 2020 Documentaries

Totally Under Control examines the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Neon hide caption

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Neon

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Movie Reviews

'Totally Under Control' And 'Time' Are Two Very 2020 Documentaries

Fresh Air

Two new movies reflect on the passage of time. One is an up-to-the-minute account of the Trump administration's response to COVID-19. The other follows a family impacted by long-term incarceration.

'Totally Under Control' And 'Time' Are Two Very 2020 Documentaries

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Enjoying Radha Blank's Sweet 'Forty-Year-Old Version'

In her directorial debut film The Forty-Year-Old Version, Radha Blank plays "Radha," a struggling playwright who decides to become a rapper. Jeong Park/Netflix hide caption

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Jeong Park/Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Enjoying Radha Blank's Sweet 'Forty-Year-Old Version'

In the wonderful new film The Forty-Year-Old Version, playwright Radha Blank plays a variation on herself. In it, the fictional Radha, frustrated by a stall in her theater career, finds a new passion: she becomes a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version won the dramatic directing award at Sundance, and now it's on Netflix. It's about getting older, getting honest, and, yes, finding yourself.

Enjoying Radha Blank's Sweet 'Forty-Year-Old Version'

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In Newark, A Drive-In Movie Theater Celebrates Black Excellence

Siree and Ayana Morris, the founders of the Newark Moonlight Cinema, and kids. Courtesy of Newark Moonlight Cinema hide caption

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Courtesy of Newark Moonlight Cinema

Arts & Life

In Newark, A Drive-In Movie Theater Celebrates Black Excellence

The simultaneous crises of the pandemic and racism against Black Americans led to the creation of an unusual movie theater located in New Jersey's biggest city: the Newark Moonlight Cinema.

In Newark, A Drive-In Movie Theater Celebrates Black Excellence

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'Charm City Kings' Is An Exhilarating Tale Of Bikes, Boyhood And Baltimore

Charm City Kings is a coming-of-age story set in Baltimore's dirt bike culture. It's based on the 2013 documentary, 12 O'Clock Boys. William Gray/HBO Max hide caption

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William Gray/HBO Max

Movie Interviews

'Charm City Kings' Is An Exhilarating Tale Of Bikes, Boyhood And Baltimore

Charm City Kings is a coming-of-age film based on the 2013 documentary 12 O'Clock Boys -- about riders who take to the city's streets on summer evenings, popping wheelies and performing daring stunts.

'Charm City Kings' Is An Exhilarating Tale Of Bikes, Boyhood And Baltimore

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'The Boys In The Band': Historical Artifact Or Cursed Relic?

Jim Parsons, Robin De Jesus, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Andrew Rannells star in the new Netflix adaptation of The Boys in the Band. Scott Everett White/Netflix hide caption

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Scott Everett White/Netflix

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Boys In The Band': Historical Artifact Or Cursed Relic?

Fifty two years ago, Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band debuted off-Broadway. The structure was simple, and not unfamiliar to anyone who'd seen a play before: Over the course of an evening, characters gather, get drunk and turn on one another. The groundbreaking difference was that it was a group of gay men doing all that gathering and drinking and lashing out. Now, a new Netflix film adapts the recent Tony-winning revival of the play.

'The Boys In The Band': Historical Artifact Or Cursed Relic?

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