NPR's Fresh Air

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Jun 29, 2026 Independence Day is easily my favorite of the big summer movies, but I must admit that I wish it were better. Director Roland Emmerich has a certain leaden touch; the movie lumbers rather than glides. Go to Full Review Independence Day (1996) 77% 75%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Feb 6, 2026 At its best, Erin's story takes the so-called "woman's picture" in an interesting new direction. Go to Full Review Erin Brockovich (2000) 87% 85%

Henry Sheehan NPR's Fresh Air Mar 26, 2024 In a movie full of good performances, [Frances McDormand's] stands out like an eagle among doves. Go to Full Review Almost Famous (2000) 91% 92%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Dec 6, 2023 In its furious disputes over immigration, vanishing jobs, nationalism and enlightenment values, R.M.N. depicts a reality that, like it or not, hits very close to home. Go to Full Review R.M.N. (2022) 97% 98%

Henry Sheehan NPR's Fresh Air Sep 28, 2023 Director William Friedkin's crude technique, which is basically borrowed from carnival sideshows, looks cornier than ever. Go to Full Review The Exorcist (1973) 78% 87%

Henry Sheehan NPR's Fresh Air Sep 5, 2023 An eye-popping spectacle, if finally, a cold and timid one. Go to Full Review Moulin Rouge (2001) 75% 89%

Owen Gleiberman NPR's Fresh Air Mar 28, 2023 Playing off Connery, Ford finds a new urgency in the character. There hasn't been an action hero this soulful since... well, since Sean Connery handed the role of James Bond over to lesser mortals. Go to Full Review Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 84% 94%

David Bianculli NPR's Fresh Air Feb 15, 2023 The new Godzilla in this movie is sleek and fast, but the storyline is bloated and slow. Go to Full Review Godzilla (1998) 19% 28%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Jan 19, 2023 The movie itself seems stoned... The Coens have always had a weakness for making us laugh at everything in the name of nothing. When you try to pin down what The Big Lebowski is actually saying, you're told that you're actually missing the point. Go to Full Review The Big Lebowski (1998) 79% 87%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Nov 1, 2022 Although Gladiator is enjoyable enough, it lacks the pop of great pop culture. Roman movies usually have preposterous scripts, but this one is preposterous and doleful. Go to Full Review Gladiator (2000) 80% 87%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Sep 28, 2022 When I first saw it 25 years ago, I couldn't wait to see it again right away. I've been waiting ever since. Go to Full Review The Easy Life (1962) 92% 88%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Feb 2, 2022 Here is serious filmmaking with a vengeance. Go to Full Review Beloved (1998) 72% 71%

Michael Sragow NPR's Fresh Air Feb 3, 2021 It depicts the ties that bind -- and strangle -- with humor and compassion. Go to Full Review High Tide (1987) 93% 83%

Michael Sragow NPR's Fresh Air Feb 3, 2021 Turgidly awful. Go to Full Review Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987) 39% 47%

Michael Sragow NPR's Fresh Air Feb 3, 2021 The depiction of gangs in Colors doesn't go deep enough to arouse any passions. The movie makers are more interested in the cops, and they seem to think that we are too. Go to Full Review Colors (1988) 76% 71%

Michael Sragow NPR's Fresh Air Feb 3, 2021 The Pick-Up Artist has wit, sweetness, and exuberance. Go to Full Review The Pick-Up Artist (1987) 61% 37%

Michael Sragow NPR's Fresh Air Dec 21, 2020 Willow mostly calls to mind dozens of other, better movies, ranging from Lucas's own Star wars to the Ten Commandments and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It's a malformed Tolkien-type fantasy. Go to Full Review Willow (1988) 53% 80%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Jun 5, 2020 Sembene's debut feels as timely today as it did half a century ago... As Westerners, we begin the movie thinking we're watching Africans, but we realize that Africans like Sembene have been watching us, too, and know us far better than we know them. Go to Full Review Black Girl (1966) 94% 76%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Jan 10, 2020 Lopez's Ramona exudes power. She's the sun around which Destiny and the whole movie orbits. Go to Full Review Hustlers (2019) 88% 65%

John Powers NPR's Fresh Air Jan 10, 2020 Portrait Of A Lady On Fire is erotic, but not in the male-gazy (ph) way of movies... Go to Full Review Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) 98% 92%