NPR Topics: Arts & Life

NPR Topics: Arts & Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008&ft=1&f=1008 Art and entertainment commentary plus interviews, book reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, comedy, and visual art. Subscribe to podcasts and follow trends in music, painting, art, architecture, photography, and design. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Arts & Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008&ft=1&f=1008 yes 'The Vibrator Play': Why Yes, It Is About Exactly That Any short list of important young American playwrights would have to include Sarah Ruhl, who at age 35 has had work performed at major theaters around the country. She made her Broadway debut Nov. 19, with a period drama called <em>In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play.</em> But as Jeff Lunden reports, it's as much about intimacy and honesty as about sexuality. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120463597&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120463597&ft=1&f=1008 Any short list of important young American playwrights would have to include Sarah Ruhl, who at age 35 has had work performed at major theaters around the country. She made her Broadway debut Nov. 19, with a period drama called <em>In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play.</em> But as Jeff Lunden reports, it's as much about intimacy and honesty as about sexuality. no Any short list of important young American playwrights would have to include Sarah Ruhl, who at age 35 has had work performed at major theaters around the country. She made her Broadway debut Nov. 19, with a period drama called In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play. But as Jeff Lunden reports, it's as much about intimacy and honesty as about sexuality.

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]]> James Franco Checks In To 'General Hospital' The star of <em>Milk</em> and <em>Pineapple Express</em> — and a little movie franchise called <em>Spider-Man</em> — will be spending some time in Port Charles over the next couple of months. His guest-starring stint may help "freshen the image of daytime," says the soap opera's executive producer. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120566505&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120566505&ft=1&f=1008 The star of <em>Milk</em> and <em>Pineapple Express</em> — and a little movie franchise called <em>Spider-Man</em> — will be spending some time in Port Charles over the next couple of months. His guest-starring stint may help "freshen the image of daytime," says the soap opera's executive producer. 204 no The star of Milk and Pineapple Express — and a little movie franchise called Spider-Man — will be spending some time in Port Charles over the next couple of months. His guest-starring stint may help "freshen the image of daytime," says the soap opera's executive producer.

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]]> 'Broken Embraces': The Very Picture Of Romance Brace yourself: Things are about to get meta. Pedro Almodovar's latest picture strings a colorfully knotty love story across layers of dark film-within-a-film intrigue. Complex of plot, deft in its blending of comedy and melodrama, and a treasure trove of golden-age movie references, the film is what you might call a lushly tragic lark — a heartfelt, if not quite heartbreaking, paean to romance and to the romance of cinema. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452447&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452447&ft=1&f=1008 Brace yourself: Things are about to get meta. Pedro Almodovar's latest picture strings a colorfully knotty love story across layers of dark film-within-a-film intrigue. Complex of plot, deft in its blending of comedy and melodrama, and a treasure trove of golden-age movie references, the film is what you might call a lushly tragic lark — a heartfelt, if not quite heartbreaking, paean to romance and to the romance of cinema. <strong><em>(Recommended)</em></strong> 237 no Brace yourself: Things are about to get meta. Pedro Almodovar's latest picture strings a colorfully knotty love story across layers of dark film-within-a-film intrigue. Complex of plot, deft in its blending of comedy and melodrama, and a treasure trove of golden-age movie references, the film is what you might call a lushly tragic lark — a heartfelt, if not quite heartbreaking, paean to romance and to the romance of cinema. (Recommended)

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]]> Real-Life Physics Problems Star On TV The stars of <em>The Big Bang Theory</em> are two fictional Caltech physicists, but the physics problems they study are real. Bill Prady, the program's co-creator and executive producer, talks about including real-world science in the script, from dark matter to magnetic monopoles. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613274&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613274&ft=1&f=1008 The stars of <em>The Big Bang Theory</em> are two fictional Caltech physicists, but the physics problems they study are real. Bill Prady, the program's co-creator and executive producer, talks about including real-world science in the script, from dark matter to magnetic monopoles. 384 no The stars of The Big Bang Theory are two fictional Caltech physicists, but the physics problems they study are real. Bill Prady, the program's co-creator and executive producer, talks about including real-world science in the script, from dark matter to magnetic monopoles.

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]]> Judd Apatow On The Alchemy Of 'Funny People' Judd Apatow, known for films like <em>The 40 Year Old Virgin</em> and <em>Knocked Up</em>, was the guiding force behind the comedy <em>Funny People,</em> out now on DVD. The movie focuses on a comedian (Adam Sandler) who reassesses his life after a dire medical diagnosis. Apatow, a former comic himself, talks about why he made the movie — and what he finds funny. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:53:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608834&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120608834&ft=1&f=1008 Judd Apatow, known for films like <em>The 40 Year Old Virgin</em> and <em>Knocked Up</em>, was the guiding force behind the comedy <em>Funny People,</em> out now on DVD. The movie focuses on a comedian (Adam Sandler) who reassesses his life after a dire medical diagnosis. Apatow, a former comic himself, talks about why he made the movie — and what he finds funny. 2386 no Judd Apatow, known for films like The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, was the guiding force behind the comedy Funny People, out now on DVD. The movie focuses on a comedian (Adam Sandler) who reassesses his life after a dire medical diagnosis. Apatow, a former comic himself, talks about why he made the movie — and what he finds funny.

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]]> 'The Onion': Mocking All Who Deserve It Since 1988 America's Finest News Source has released a book celebrating its 21 years of satire (with a wink). <em>Onion</em> editors Joe Randazzo and Joe Garden talk with Renee Montagne about the serious business of being funny. Also: See the fun <em>The Onion</em> has had at NPR's expense. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114206357&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114206357&ft=1&f=1008 America's Finest News Source has released a book celebrating its 21 years of satire (with a wink). <em>Onion</em> editors Joe Randazzo and Joe Garden talk with Renee Montagne about the serious business of being funny. Also: See the fun <em>The Onion</em> has had at NPR's expense. 439 no America's Finest News Source has released a book celebrating its 21 years of satire (with a wink). Onion editors Joe Randazzo and Joe Garden talk with Renee Montagne about the serious business of being funny. Also: See the fun The Onion has had at NPR's expense.

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]]> Go Pink: Stamberg And Reichl Make Cranberry Relish In an NPR tradition, the Friday before Thanksgiving is the time for Susan Stamberg to share her weird-sounding — but delicious — recipe for cranberry relish. This year, she's found a real fan: food expert Ruth Reichl. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545671&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545671&ft=1&f=1008 In an NPR tradition, the Friday before Thanksgiving is the time for Susan Stamberg to share her weird-sounding — but delicious — recipe for cranberry relish. This year, she's found a real fan: food expert Ruth Reichl. 295 no In an NPR tradition, the Friday before Thanksgiving is the time for Susan Stamberg to share her weird-sounding — but delicious — recipe for cranberry relish. This year, she's found a real fan: food expert Ruth Reichl.

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]]> Under A 'New Moon,' A Surprising Lack Of Passion If you have teenage girls in your life, you don't need to be told that <em>New Moon,</em> the second part of <em>The Twilight Saga</em>, hits movie theaters this weekend. Even though the world may have had enough of star-crossed sweethearts Edward and Bella by the series' end, critic Kenneth Turan says there's not enough of them in this installment. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120451967&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120451967&ft=1&f=1008 If you have teenage girls in your life, you don't need to be told that <em>New Moon,</em> the second part of <em>The Twilight Saga</em>, hits movie theaters this weekend. Even though the world may have had enough of star-crossed sweethearts Edward and Bella by the series' end, critic Kenneth Turan says there's not enough of them in this installment. 172 no If you have teenage girls in your life, you don't need to be told that New Moon, the second part of The Twilight Saga, hits movie theaters this weekend. Even though the world may have had enough of star-crossed sweethearts Edward and Bella by the series' end, critic Kenneth Turan says there's not enough of them in this installment.

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]]> Herzog's 'Bad Lieutenant': He's Crescent City Crazy "A man without a gun, that's not a man," says the pain-wracked, drug-addled anti-hero cop at the center of <em>Port of Call: New Orleans</em>. You get the feeling that director Werner Herzog, that dedicated chronicler of alpha-male lunacy, agrees — and you can't help but notice that his crime drama is every bit as over-the-top eccentric as its protagonist. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452170&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120452170&ft=1&f=1008 "A man without a gun, that's not a man," says the pain-wracked, drug-addled anti-hero cop at the center of <em>Port of Call: New Orleans</em>. You get the feeling that director Werner Herzog, that dedicated chronicler of alpha-male lunacy, agrees — and you can't help but notice that his crime drama is every bit as over-the-top eccentric as its protagonist. no "A man without a gun, that's not a man," says the pain-wracked, drug-addled anti-hero cop at the center of Port of Call: New Orleans. You get the feeling that director Werner Herzog, that dedicated chronicler of alpha-male lunacy, agrees — and you can't help but notice that his crime drama is every bit as over-the-top eccentric as its protagonist.

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]]> John Woo's 'Red Cliff': An Epic Cut Down To Size The director of <em>Face/Off</em> and <em>Mission: Impossible II</em> returns to his Hong Kong-cinema roots with a battle epic based on a war fought in China 18 centuries ago. Critic Mark Jenkins says that while <em>Red Cliff</em>'s scope is certainly impressive, the edited-down U.S. release could use some psychological strife to go with its clanging swords and clashing ships. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456018&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456018&ft=1&f=1008 The director of <em>Face/Off</em> and <em>Mission: Impossible II</em> returns to his Hong Kong-cinema roots with a battle epic based on a war fought in China 18 centuries ago. Critic Mark Jenkins says that while <em>Red Cliff</em>'s scope is certainly impressive, the edited-down U.S. release could use some psychological strife to go with its clanging swords and clashing ships. no The director of Face/Off and Mission: Impossible II returns to his Hong Kong-cinema roots with a battle epic based on a war fought in China 18 centuries ago. Critic Mark Jenkins says that while Red Cliff's scope is certainly impressive, the edited-down U.S. release could use some psychological strife to go with its clanging swords and clashing ships.

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]]> An Actor Reads Health Care Bill Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has proposed reading the 2,074-page Senate health care bill on the floor of the Senate. Floyd King, a veteran actor for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, performs a dramatic reading of a section of the bill. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583692&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583692&ft=1&f=1008 Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has proposed reading the 2,074-page Senate health care bill on the floor of the Senate. Floyd King, a veteran actor for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, performs a dramatic reading of a section of the bill. 185 no Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has proposed reading the 2,074-page Senate health care bill on the floor of the Senate. Floyd King, a veteran actor for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, performs a dramatic reading of a section of the bill.

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]]> Judith Fox Turns A Close-Up Lens On Alzheimer's Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568216&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120568216&ft=1&f=1008 964 no

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]]> In 'Blind Side,' A Tunnel-Vision Take On A True Story Based on Michael Lewis' acclaimed book, John Lee Hancock's julep-sweet screenplay turns a well-told true story into a feel-good fantasy for white liberals — a movie that doesn't dig deep and too often seems content to trade in stereotype. But as ever in Hollywood, the based-on-reality defense will provide a certain amount of cover, and Hancock will probably have an audience pleaser on his hands. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456017&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120456017&ft=1&f=1008 Based on Michael Lewis' acclaimed book, John Lee Hancock's julep-sweet screenplay turns a well-told true story into a feel-good fantasy for white liberals — a movie that doesn't dig deep and too often seems content to trade in stereotype. But as ever in Hollywood, the based-on-reality defense will provide a certain amount of cover, and Hancock will probably have an audience pleaser on his hands. no Based on Michael Lewis' acclaimed book, John Lee Hancock's julep-sweet screenplay turns a well-told true story into a feel-good fantasy for white liberals — a movie that doesn't dig deep and too often seems content to trade in stereotype. But as ever in Hollywood, the based-on-reality defense will provide a certain amount of cover, and Hancock will probably have an audience pleaser on his hands.

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]]> McCann, Stiles Win National Book Awards The 60th annual National Book Awards were handed out Wednesday night in New York. Colum McCann's <em>Let the Great World Spin,</em> a novel about daring, luck and mortality in 1970s New York, won the fiction prize. T.J. Stiles' biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt, <em>The First Tycoon,</em> was the nonfiction winner, and Keith Waldrop's <em>Transcendental Studies: A Trilogy</em> won for poetry. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562910&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120562910&ft=1&f=1008 The 60th annual National Book Awards were handed out Wednesday night in New York. Colum McCann's <em>Let the Great World Spin,</em> a novel about daring, luck and mortality in 1970s New York, won the fiction prize. T.J. Stiles' biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt, <em>The First Tycoon,</em> was the nonfiction winner, and Keith Waldrop's <em>Transcendental Studies: A Trilogy</em> won for poetry. 255 no The 60th annual National Book Awards were handed out Wednesday night in New York. Colum McCann's Let the Great World Spin, a novel about daring, luck and mortality in 1970s New York, won the fiction prize. T.J. Stiles' biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt, The First Tycoon, was the nonfiction winner, and Keith Waldrop's Transcendental Studies: A Trilogy won for poetry.

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]]> Cuba Was A Canvas For Artist Belkis Ayon When Ayon committed suicide in 1999, she was just 32 years old — and already a star in the Cuban art world. A major exhibit of her work now under way in Havana has revived an enduring mystery in Cuba — about art, African myths and the shadowy, all-male secret society known as Abakua. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113846410&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113846410&ft=1&f=1008 When Ayon committed suicide in 1999, she was just 32 years old — and already a star in the Cuban art world. A major exhibit of her work now under way in Havana has revived an enduring mystery in Cuba — about art, African myths and the shadowy, all-male secret society known as Abakua. no When Ayon committed suicide in 1999, she was just 32 years old — and already a star in the Cuban art world. A major exhibit of her work now under way in Havana has revived an enduring mystery in Cuba — about art, African myths and the shadowy, all-male secret society known as Abakua.

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