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Movies I've Seen A Million Times
The Movie Gustavo Santaolalla's 'Seen A Million Times'
December 8, 2012 Musician and composer Gustavo Santaolalla, best known for his Oscar-winning scores for The Motorcycle Diaries and Brokeback Mountain, could watch Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life a million times. "It gives me hope," he says.
Movies
Knightley's Anna Karenina Loses The Innocence
December 8, 2012 The epic novel Anna Karenina has been adapted for TV and film dozens of times. This time, Keira Knightley plays the leading role. Host Guy Raz talks with the actress about bringing Leo Tolstoy's book to life in 2012.
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
Hugh Bonneville Of 'Downton Abbey' Plays Not My Job
December 8, 2012 We've invited Bonneville to play a game called "Welcome to America, Lord Grantham": three questions about the TLC show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.
Movie Interviews
50 Years On, Sharif Looks Back At 'Lawrence'
December 8, 2012 The Oscar-winning epic Lawrence of Arabia was first released in theaters 50 years ago this month. NPR's Scott Simon talks with Omar Sharif about playing Sherif Ali in the film.
Movies
Hollywood Heights: The Ups, Downs And In-Betweens
December 7, 2012 When we go to the movies, we want our heroes big and our villains bigger. But Hollywood actors are only slightly taller, on average, than their fans. NPR critic Bob Mondello takes a look at actors' heights: who's commandingly short, or diminutively tall.
Best Books Of 2012
A Wintry Mix: Alan Cheuse Selects The Season's Best
December 7, 2012 Critic Alan Cheuse maps out a winter wonderland of fiction and poetry — from ancient Greece to the near-future visions of Walter Mosley, a selection of the best books to give and receive this holiday season. Cheuse says these five books strike the perfect balance between lyricism and narrative.
The Salt
Mushroom Ice Cream, Anyone? Chefs Turning To Veggies For Dessert
December 7, 2012 Unafraid of the supposed barrier between sweet and savory, many chefs are incorporating vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, and even mushrooms into new dessert recipes. But are they any healthier? Actually, yes, says a nutritionist.
The Picture Show
A Look At Brazil's Big Dreamer, Architect Oscar Niemeyer
December 7, 2012 The legendary architect was living proof that sometimes, you have to bend the rules. In doing so, he created the visual language for an entire city.
Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers
NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Fiction, Week Of December 6, 2012
December 7, 2012 Jim Butcher's Cold Days resurrects Harry Dresden into eternal servitude. It debuts at No. 7.
Hanukkah Lights: Stories of the Season
Hanukkah Lights 2012
December 7, 2012 This year's installment of Hanukkah Lights showcases some of the program's most insightful moments. Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz read stories about a mother reconnecting with her daughter, a schoolboy standing up for his heritage and teenagers trying to bridge a bitter family divide.
The Salt
When It Comes To Boxed Wine, The Cooler, The Better
December 7, 2012 From swill of the wine world to hipster fame, boxed wine is growing in popularity. But research suggests that its major impediment is temperature. When stored in the heat, the box ages faster than the bottle, scientists say.
Book Reviews
At Home With Dickens And Lousia May Alcott
December 7, 2012 Two new biographical studies that read like novels explore the familial relationships that shaped two of the 19th century's most beloved authors. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls Great Expectations: The Sons And Daughters Of Charles Dickens "a Gothic nightmare" and Marmee & Louisa "a romance."
Movies
'Playing For Keeps,' But Without Much Panache
December 6, 2012 In Playing for Keeps, Gerard Butler plays a soccer star who begins coaching his young son's team, only to reconnect with his ex-wife and other soccer moms. Critic Mark Jenkins says the supporting cast is relegated to the realm of caricature while the film's tone is dated at best.
Movies
A Relationship Drama That's A Little Too 'Cheerful'
December 6, 2012 Donald Rice's Cheerful Weather for the Wedding calls upon the style and period — and even an actress — from the popular TV drama Downton Abbey. Critic Ian Buckwalter says an unbalanced script makes the central romance seem as inconsequential as the weather.

