Film

In the psychological drama "Dreams," Jessica Chastain plays a San Francisco philanthropist whose foundation supports a dance academy in Mexico City. The movie, which also stars the Mexican actor and ballet dancer Isaac Hernández, is the latest from the writer and director Michel Franco, who previously worked with Chastain in the 2024 film "Memory." "Dreams" opens in select theaters this week. And our film critic, Justin Chang, has this review.

Jessie Buckley, who is nominated for an Oscar for her starring role on "Hamnet." She's already won a Golden Globe for her performance.

The new Japanese film "Kokuho" set box office records in its home country. It's now playing in theaters here. The movie, which received an Oscar nomination for hair and makeup, tells the story of a gangster's son who dreams of being a star in Japan's famously rigorous Kabuki theater. Our critic-at-large John Powers says "Kokuho" carried him away into a fascinating subculture whose demands are at once familiar and unfamiliar.

Delroy Lindo, an actor whose presence has shaped film and theater for more than 50 years. From West Indian Archie in Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" to the charming and cruel drug kingpin in "Clockers" to a father guarding an unspeakable secret in "The Cider House Rules," for me, Delroy's characters often feel lived in, complicated and hard to shake. In Ryan Coogler's latest film "Sinners," Lindo plays Delta Slim, a hard-drinking, deeply knowing blues harmonica player in 1930s Mississippi.

Our film critic, Justin Chang, says the new animated film "Hoppers" is the strongest Pixar movie in years. It's a science-fiction comedy about a college student who wants to protect the local wildlife and stumbles on an extremely high-tech way to do it. The movie opens in theaters this week and features the voices of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm. Here is Justin's review.

One of del Toro's early acting teachers taught him to understand his character before learning lines. He's up for an Oscar for his role in One Battle After Another. Originally broadcast June 12, 2025.

Ryan Gosling plays an astronaut in this derivative, carefully manufactured crowd-pleaser; Project Hail Mary doesn't feel like storytelling so much as mechanical engineering.

Justin Chang is a film critic for The New Yorker magazine. He reviewed the new film "Miroirs No. 3."

In addition to his kung fu and action films, Norris, who died March 19, starred in the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1988 about learning karate while stationed in Korea.

Lithgow, 80, plays an intelligence agent in the FX action series The Old Man, and he's currently starring in the Broadway production of Giant, about a troubling side of children's author Roald Dahl.

Torres talks about the obstacles he faced in the immigration system after he came to the U.S. from El Salvador in his 20s. His new HBO Max show is Color Theories. Originally broadcast March 11, 2024.

Robert Pattinson and Zendaya play an engaged couple whose happiness is derailed when a boozy game of "What's the Worst Thing You've Ever Done?" uncovers a dark secret from the past.

A new documentary about Paul McCartney, his life after the breakup of The Beatles and the formation of his band Wings is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film was made by our guest, Morgan Neville. He also directed documentaries about Fred Rogers, Anthony Bourdain and Orson Welles, as well as many prominent musicians, and has won an Oscar, Emmy and Grammy. Morgan Neville spoke with FRESH AIR's Ann Marie Baldonado.

Sophy Romvari's semi-autobiographical drama touches on her childhood in British Columbia and her family's experience of tragedy. Blue Heron has won numerous prizes at international film festivals.

We celebrate the 80th birthday of JOHN WATERS with two rebroadcast interviews from 2019 and 2014

Critic-at-large JOHN POWERS reviews The Devil Wears Prada, 2 starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep.

Film critic JUSTIN CHANG reviews Silent Friend, a century-spanning film about humanity’s relationship with the plant world.

Boots Riley's new film is "I Love Boosters." It opens in theaters on May 22.

John Powers reviewed "The Wizard Of The Kremlin," now in theaters.

Attenborough began hosting and producing nature documentaries for the BBC in the 1950s. He spoke to Terry Gross in 1995 about about traveling the world to film Life on Earth.