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鈥楽ing Sing鈥�: How one prison performance changed lives鈥淪ing Sing,鈥� which is already generating Oscar buzz, shows the power of the arts to change lives. Its director wanted to film in a way that would give formerly incarcerated men ownership of their own story.
Families in a rural Texas town adopted 77 children. This couple led the way.What compels people to help others, even in the face of challenges? A new film explores how the families in one town, led by a pair of church leaders, found a way to offer dozens of foster children homes.
How director Lagueria Davis brought out the joy and the legacy of Black BarbieWhat did the first Black Barbie mean to a generation of children? A director who says she 鈥渉ated鈥� dolls draws joy and inspiration from an icon.
CommentaryAs the Civil Rights Act turns 60, a call to recommit to what it stands forThe landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which turns 60 on Tuesday, represents a lineage of legislation that protects against discrimination. Whether that legacy endures depends on us, our columnist writes.
With powerful 鈥楪reen Border,鈥� a filmmaker searches for humanity in immigration stories鈥淕reen Border鈥� is one filmmaker鈥檚 response to the treatment of immigrants in Eastern Europe. It is ultimately about moral choices, says the Monitor鈥檚 critic. And the film itself is a moral act.聽
鈥業nside Out 2鈥� offers all the feels 鈥� and a great time at the movies鈥淚nside Out 2,鈥� the first box-office smash of 2024, offers a welcome return to form for Pixar.
鈥楻obot Dreams鈥� review: This animated delight explores friendship and lossWhen an animated film is invested with the full range of feeling, the result is 鈥淩obot Dreams.鈥� The movie is a tribute to the beauty and frailty of friendship, our critic writes.聽
鈥榃e Grown Now鈥� review: Amid gritty Chicago reality, two friends embrace childhoodFor the Monitor鈥檚 reviewer, the young boys in 鈥淲e Grown Now鈥� exude something that is often difficult to find believable amid tough surroundings: innocence.聽The new film, he says, honors 鈥渏ust being a kid.鈥�
鈥楽teve! (Martin)鈥� review: The wild and crazy (and private) guy shares his storySteve Martin is known for turning high-style goofiness into an art form, the Monitor鈥檚 film critic writes. A new documentary offers the notoriously private entertainer an opportunity to consider what it takes for a funnyman to find happiness.
First LookHe survived Hiroshima. What did he think of 鈥極ppenheimer鈥�?鈥淥ppenheimer,鈥� the film about the American scientist who invented the nuclear weapons that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 79 years ago, opened in Japanese theaters March 29, to mixed reactions and strong emotions.
First LookSeven Oscars for 鈥極ppenheimer,鈥� a fittingly foreboding film for the timesChristopher Nolan鈥檚 鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� swept the Academy Awards show with seven wins, including the Oscar for best picture. The awards show was shadowed by the backdrop of wars in Gaza and Ukraine, with pro-Palestinian protests outside the Dolby Theatre.
鈥楾he Lily Gladstone effect鈥�: Will Native actors get boost at Oscars?If Lily Gladstone wins an Academy Award for her performance in 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon,鈥� she would be the first Native woman to receive an Oscar. Before her, there was a century of work that tended to go unrecognized.
First LookHat trick: How Oppenheimer鈥檚 iconic topper made it to the screenTo fans of the film, nothing quite says 鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� like the porkpie crown on Cillian Murphy鈥檚 head. That piece of Hollywood history came courtesy of the hat whisperer Mark Mejia, who has been working with costume designers for more than 30 years.
In a year of meaningful roles, who deserves an Oscar?These actors fully embodied their roles, from an Osage survivor to a grieving mother to ... Ken.
鈥楢merican Fiction,鈥� Black culture, and the nature of joyWhether it鈥檚 Blaxploitation, blackface, or navigating the arts space in a country and world not truly honest about their racial past, the duality of being funny and sad 鈥� think the iconic comedy and tragedy masks 鈥� means something different in the Black experience.
鈥楧une: Part Two鈥�: Sandworms, slick villains, and a would-be savior鈥淒une: Part Two鈥� arrives almost 2 1/2 years after the first installment. With the possible exception of 鈥淟awrence of Arabia,鈥� our film critic writes, he鈥檚 never seen so much sand in one movie.
Lyrical, harrowing 鈥業o Capitano鈥� offers epic immigration taleHow far would someone go to have a better life? Italy鈥檚 Oscar nominee offers an immigration story that features searing realism 鈥� and resilience.聽聽
Beauty and the feast: Savoring 鈥楾he Taste of Things鈥�What happens when you combine sumptuous food with a tender drama? French film 鈥淭he Taste of Things鈥� features one of the most romantic movie moments our critic has ever seen.
鈥楶erfect Days鈥� asks, what constitutes a happy life?What does it mean to live a life of meaning? Wim Wenders鈥� new film argues for the importance of moments.
Oscars go global: Most international best picture lineup in historyFor the first time, two international films have been nominated for best picture. And every nominee for best documentary feature is international, another first.
