All Movies
How James Earl Jones鈥 iconic voice became our voice of conscienceJames Earl Jones鈥 legacy as a voice of reason is a reminder of what we might overcome when we face our trauma and find our purpose. His voice was a well of dignity, a reservoir of resonance that echoes not only from his career, but in all of us who heard him.
Commentary鈥1992鈥 says something important about race in America 鈥 and Tyrese GibsonThe new film 鈥1992鈥 is a reminder of America鈥檚 cycles of racism and rebellion. Actor Tyrese Gibson stands out as a portrait of hope.
Burton and Keaton resurrect the fun in 鈥楤eetlejuice Beetlejuice鈥Tim Burton and Michael Keaton are clearly having a good time in this sequel to the 1980s cult classic 鈥 and fans of the original will, too. Just watch out for those plot holes.
First LookNo need to stream classics. Old movies are dominating at the box office.Theaters have cracked the code on getting visitors back into their reclining seats: re-released movies. In the past two weeks, the cherished stop-motion Laika Studios film 鈥淐oraline鈥 first released in 2009 has grossed more than $25 million.聽
Indigenous children were abused in Canada. A film seeks answers.鈥淪ugarcane鈥 casts a woeful, compassionate eye on the sordid history of compulsory education of Indigenous Canadian children, the Monitor鈥檚 film critic writes.聽In this powerful documentary, the survivors of atrocities want to move beyond their rage.
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.
