Arts & Life Sharply funny 'Janet Planet' perfectly captures the feel of a long, hot summer Writing and directing her first film, playwright Annie Baker exhibits uncanny powers of observation. Not much happens in this mother-daughter movie, but something momentous seems to have taken place. Justin Chang
Arts & Life After the Sept. 11 attacks, Michelle Buteau decided: 'I better start living' Buteau says covering the news of the 2001 terrorist attacks crystalized her desire to go into comedy. She stars in the film Babes and in the Netflix series Survival of the Thickest. Tonya Mosley
Arts & Life Ghanaian artist Blitz Bazawule breaks down doors Bazawule is best known for directing the 2023 adaptation of The Color Purple: The Musical. He also co-directed Black Is King with Beyoncé. His new exhibit of paintings is about growing up in Ghana. Tonya Mosley
Arts & Life This time last year, Hollywood writers were on strike. Now, many can’t find work The entertainment industry was shifting dramatically even before the strikes that paused production last year. Now, many Hollywood writers are feeling the pinch. Mandalit del Barco
Arts & Life 'Inside Out 2' scores $100 million in its second weekend, setting records In just a week and a half, Inside Out 2 has become 2024’s highest-grossing film to date, surpassing Dune: Part Two. Inside Out 2 will likely blow through the $1 billion mark in about a week. The Associated Press
Arts & Life Years before intimacy coordinators on Hollywood sets, there was the 1996 film Bound The 1996 film neo-noir thriller "Bound" pushed boundaries in its portrayals of sex and gender on screen. It was re-issued as part of the Criterion Collection this past week.
Arts & Life 'Green Border' is the strongest movie this critic has seen all year Agnieszka Holland's film, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, centers on a refugee family trying to escape to Western Europe and the people who try to help and stop them. John Powers
Politics Judy Garland’s hometown hopes a good witch will help purchase Dorothy’s ruby slippers Minnesota lawmakers set aside $100,000 for the formerly stolen pair this year and the Judy Garland Museum hopes a benevolent figure can help win them at auction.
Arts & Life 'Laughter is disarming': A new documentary traces generations of LGBTQ comedy The new Netflix documentary Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution features interviews with dozens of gay and trans comics, archival footage and lots of jokes. Elizabeth Blair
Arts & Life In 'Ghostlife', a real-life family plays their reel selves NPR's Lauren Frayer speaks with actors Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen and Katherine Mallen Kupferer, a real family of actors, about playing a fictional family in the new movie "Ghostlight." Lauren Frayer