Bob Mondello
Stories
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The marital standup story 'Is This Thing On?' sneaks up on you like a great punchline
Bradley Cooper's new relationship dramedy Is This Thing On? is about a man who's never done comedy before, working out his marital problems on a stand-up stage.
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From 'The Princess Bride' to 'Misery,' Rob Reiner leaves a legacy of movie magic
Hollywood's Rob Reiner made a virtue of virtuosity, directing such diverse hits as When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, This is Spinal Tap, and Misery.
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What made playwright Tom Stoppard so singular
The playwright Tom Stoppard, who penned shows including Arcadia and Travesties and the screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, died last week.
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Chloe Zhao's 'Hamnet' tells a story of grief and the healing power of art
Based on Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed 2020 novel about William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, Chloe Zhao's beautiful film Hamnet tells a story of tragedy and the healing power of art.
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There's reason to be optimistic about the the movies coming this holiday season
A selective preview of the comedies, action adventures, dramas and awards contenders Hollywood has in store between Thanksgiving and the end of 2025.
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The first 'Wicked' movie was about growing up. 'Wicked: For Good' is about wising up
Wicked: For Good is out this weekend, and while the prequel-sequel may not feel quite as worthwhile as Part 1, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are two powerhouse voices.
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'Jay Kelly' and 'Sentimental Value' are both about fathers, daughters and fame
The American comedy Jay Kelly and the Scandinavian drama Sentimental Value are funhouse mirror versions of the same story about celebrities and their daughters.
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The new film 'Train Dreams' is almost unbearably beautiful
Clint Bentley's intimate historical drama, Train Dreams, is set in the age of the steam locomotive and westward expansion, and centers on a logger in the Pacific Northwest.
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Are movie theaters worth it anymore?
NPR's Bob Mondello and Marc Rivers discuss why movie theaters still matter in the streaming age and what continues to draw audiences to the big screen
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In case 2025 wasn't scary enough, it was a great year for horror, too
From the supernatural to the slightly-too-realistic, it's been a banner year for scary movies, many of which are available to stream from home this Halloween.
