Monica Castillo

Singer and actor Leslie Grace stars as Nina Rosario (center), the beloved and brilliant neighborhood sweetheart in the film adaptation of the musical <em>In the Heights.</em>

The limitations of 'Latinidad': How colorism haunts 'In The Heights'

Monica Castillo

Film critic Monica Castillo reflects on the glaring absence of Afro-Latino actors from the new screen adaptation of In the Heights and how colorism still affects Latino representation on screen.

Star Samkus, who works at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colo., and knew three of the victims of a mass shooting there a day earlier, kneels in front of crosses put up for the victims outside the store on Tuesday.

National headlines

Here's What We Know About The Victims Of The Boulder Shooting

Bill Chappell, Laurel Wamsley, Rachel Treisman, May Ortega, Andrew Kenney, Monica Castillo, Vanessa Romo

Ten people died in the shooting at a Colorado grocery store on Monday. They ranged in age from 20 to 65. Here are their stories, as we learn them.

This Denver Bar Once Welcomed Frank Sinatra And Jack Kerouac. Now It's Closed

Monica Castillo

The legendary El Chapultepec has closed after 87 years in business — not only because of the pandemic, but also because Denver has changed.

Summer (Zoe Renee) comes to terms with her mother's new faith in <em>Jinn</em>, one of only a handful of films to deal with the experience of being young, female and black in America.

NPR Headlines

From 'Jinn' To 'Just Another Girl On The I.R.T.': Black Girlhood On Film

Monica Castillo

Too few movies have made black girls their main characters. The release of Nijla Mu'min's Jinn caused critic Monica Castillo to reflect on some of the traits these films share, and how they differ.

"I ... am! Your singing tel-a-gram!": Michael Myers (Nick Castle) pays a visit to Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) in David Gordon Green's <em>Halloween</em>.

NPR Headlines

'Halloween': This Time, Laurie Strode Is Locked And Loaded

Monica Castillo

Critic Monica Castillo says this Halloween sequel takes as its true subject the lingering effects of the trauma Jamie Lee Curtis' character experienced in the 1978 original. (Also there's stabbing.)

Guests attend the Film Independent Brunch during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

National headlines

In Conversation About Diversity In Hollywood, Where Does Sundance Fit In?

Monica Castillo

Sundance may be just one part of a much bigger puzzle, but filmmakers of color say it has an important role to play.