John Powers http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101619&ft=1&f=2101619 John Powers is the pop culture and critic-at-large on NPR's <em>Fresh Air</em> with Terri Gross. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 02 May 2013 15:06:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg John Powers http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101619&ft=1&f=2101619 yes Peeling Away The Layers In A 'Portrait Of Jason' In her classic '60s documentary<em>,</em> Shirley Clarke profiles a loquacious 33-year-old gay hustler who dreams of having a nightclub act. Her subject could hardly be more complex — and in examining him, she raises important questions about the relationship between fact and fiction. Thu, 02 May 2013 15:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/02/179876018/peeling-away-the-layers-in-a-portrait-of-jason?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/02/179876018/peeling-away-the-layers-in-a-portrait-of-jason?ft=1&f=2101619 In her classic '60s documentary<em>,</em> Shirley Clarke profiles a loquacious 33-year-old gay hustler who dreams of having a nightclub act. Her subject could hardly be more complex — and in examining him, she raises important questions about the relationship between fact and fiction. 454 no In her classic '60s documentary, Shirley Clarke profiles a loquacious 33-year-old gay hustler who dreams of having a nightclub act. Her subject could hardly be more complex — and in examining him, she raises important questions about the relationship between fact and fiction.

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]]> Hunting For Secrets In 'The Shining's' Room 237 A new documentary looks at obsessive fans of Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film <em>The Shining</em>, starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. These fanatics look for hidden meanings in the movie, and while some of their theories sound outrageous, it's too simple to call such thinking deranged. Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/29/175368561/hunting-for-secrets-in-the-shinings-room-237?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/29/175368561/hunting-for-secrets-in-the-shinings-room-237?ft=1&f=2101619 A new documentary looks at obsessive fans of Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film <em>The Shining</em>, starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. These fanatics look for hidden meanings in the movie, and while some of their theories sound outrageous, it's too simple to call such thinking deranged. 398 no A new documentary looks at obsessive fans of Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. These fanatics look for hidden meanings in the movie, and while some of their theories sound outrageous, it's too simple to call such thinking deranged.

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]]> A Measured Look At Roth As The Writer Turns 80 The celebration of Philip Roth's career reaches its peak in a new documentary — <em>Philip Roth Unmasked</em> — that will screen on PBS next week as part of the <em>American Masters</em> series. There's no doubt that Roth is a master, and not just an American one, but the film tiptoes around the novelist's dark ferocity. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/19/174668097/a-measured-look-at-roth-as-the-writer-turns-80?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/19/174668097/a-measured-look-at-roth-as-the-writer-turns-80?ft=1&f=2101619 The celebration of Philip Roth's career reaches its peak in a new documentary — <em>Philip Roth Unmasked</em> — that will screen on PBS next week as part of the <em>American Masters</em> series. There's no doubt that Roth is a master, and not just an American one, but the film tiptoes around the novelist's dark ferocity. 359 no The celebration of Philip Roth's career reaches its peak in a new documentary — Philip Roth Unmasked — that will screen on PBS next week as part of the American Masters series. There's no doubt that Roth is a master, and not just an American one, but the film tiptoes around the novelist's dark ferocity.

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]]> Voting Pinochet Out Was More Than Just A Yes Or 'No' In the Chilean film <em>No,</em> which is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, a young ad man devises a campaign to vote the dictator Augusto Pinochet out of office using rainbows and catchy theme songs. Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:19:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/20/172427762/voting-pinochet-out-was-more-than-just-a-yes-or-no?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/20/172427762/voting-pinochet-out-was-more-than-just-a-yes-or-no?ft=1&f=2101619 In the Chilean film <em>No,</em> which is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, a young ad man devises a campaign to vote the dictator Augusto Pinochet out of office using rainbows and catchy theme songs. 334 no In the Chilean film No, which is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, a young ad man devises a campaign to vote the dictator Augusto Pinochet out of office using rainbows and catchy theme songs.

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]]> A Mystery That Explores 'The Rage' Of New Ireland Reporter-turned-novelist Gene Kerrigan sets his story in Ireland after the 2008 financial crisis.<em> The Rage</em> is a boundlessly readable portrait of a country in which ordinary citizens have been hit the hardest and all the old certainties have vanished. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:58:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/170164150/a-mystery-that-explores-the-rage-of-new-ireland?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/170164150/a-mystery-that-explores-the-rage-of-new-ireland?ft=1&f=2101619 Reporter-turned-novelist Gene Kerrigan sets his story in Ireland after the 2008 financial crisis.<em> The Rage</em> is a boundlessly readable portrait of a country in which ordinary citizens have been hit the hardest and all the old certainties have vanished. 337 no Reporter-turned-novelist Gene Kerrigan sets his story in Ireland after the 2008 financial crisis. The Rage is a boundlessly readable portrait of a country in which ordinary citizens have been hit the hardest and all the old certainties have vanished.

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]]> Revisiting, Reappraising Cimino's 'Heaven's Gate' When it was released 32 years ago, Michael Cimino's revisionist Western was considered one of the most colossal flops in Hollywood history. Critic John Powers takes a second look at the film and concludes that it's clearly "the work of one man and ... he wanted you to remember it forever." Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:44:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/05/166086756/revisiting-reappraising-ciminos-heavens-gate?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/05/166086756/revisiting-reappraising-ciminos-heavens-gate?ft=1&f=2101619 When it was released 32 years ago, Michael Cimino's revisionist Western was considered one of the most colossal flops in Hollywood history. Critic John Powers takes a second look at the film and concludes that it's clearly "the work of one man and ... he wanted you to remember it forever." 385 no When it was released 32 years ago, Michael Cimino's revisionist Western was considered one of the most colossal flops in Hollywood history. Critic John Powers takes a second look at the film and concludes that it's clearly "the work of one man and ... he wanted you to remember it forever."

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]]> The New British Empire: Pop-Culture Powerhouses James Bond and The Rolling Stones both turn 50 this year. As critic John Powers points out, both may have been born in response to a dying British Empire, but their evolving legacies have reflected the times through which these brands have lived. Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:38:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/15/165053821/the-new-british-empire-pop-culture-powerhouses?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/15/165053821/the-new-british-empire-pop-culture-powerhouses?ft=1&f=2101619 James Bond and The Rolling Stones both turn 50 this year. As critic John Powers points out, both may have been born in response to a dying British Empire, but their evolving legacies have reflected the times through which these brands have lived. 380 no James Bond and The Rolling Stones both turn 50 this year. As critic John Powers points out, both may have been born in response to a dying British Empire, but their evolving legacies have reflected the times through which these brands have lived.

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]]> Portis 'Miscellany' Makes A High-'Velocity' Collection <em>True Grit</em> author Charles Portis is the cult writer for people who hate cult writers. He hasn't published a book since 1991, and reviewer John Powers says the short pieces collected in <em>Escape Velocity</em> have been treasured for decades, passed around like <em>samizdat</em> by Portis fans. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/25/163624535/portis-miscellany-makes-a-high-velocity-collection?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/25/163624535/portis-miscellany-makes-a-high-velocity-collection?ft=1&f=2101619 <em>True Grit</em> author Charles Portis is the cult writer for people who hate cult writers. He hasn't published a book since 1991, and reviewer John Powers says the short pieces collected in <em>Escape Velocity</em> have been treasured for decades, passed around like <em>samizdat</em> by Portis fans. 350 no True Grit author Charles Portis is the cult writer for people who hate cult writers. He hasn't published a book since 1991, and reviewer John Powers says the short pieces collected in Escape Velocity have been treasured for decades, passed around like samizdat by Portis fans.

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]]> Considering Salman Rushdie's 'Joseph Anton' Critic-at-large John Powers has some thoughts on the British author and the publication of his new memoir, <em>Joseph Anton</em>, a chronicle of his time in hiding. Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/06/162513176/-joseph-anton?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/06/162513176/-joseph-anton?ft=1&f=2101619 Critic-at-large John Powers has some thoughts on the British author and the publication of his new memoir, <em>Joseph Anton</em>, a chronicle of his time in hiding. 310 no Critic-at-large John Powers has some thoughts on the British author and the publication of his new memoir, Joseph Anton, a chronicle of his time in hiding.

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]]> Being 'Joseph Anton,' Rediscovering Salman Rushdie John Powers reviews the author's memoir of his time in hiding — the result of a fatwah calling for his murder after the publication of <em>The Satanic Verses.</em> Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/01/162084029/being-joseph-anton-rediscovering-salman-rushdie?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/01/162084029/being-joseph-anton-rediscovering-salman-rushdie?ft=1&f=2101619 John Powers reviews the author's memoir of his time in hiding — the result of a fatwah calling for his murder after the publication of <em>The Satanic Verses.</em> 317 no John Powers reviews the author's memoir of his time in hiding — the result of a fatwah calling for his murder after the publication of The Satanic Verses.

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]]> How Brazil Lives Now, In 'Neighboring Sounds' Brazilian culture is often portrayed as either joyful folk tradition or brutal gang violence. But Kleber Mendonca Filho's <em>Neighboring Sounds</em> penetrates into the daily lives of suburban Brazilians — and critic<em> </em>John Powers says it may be the best Brazilian film since the '70s. Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/08/24/159920457/how-brazil-lives-now-in-neighboring-sounds?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/08/24/159920457/how-brazil-lives-now-in-neighboring-sounds?ft=1&f=2101619 Brazilian culture is often portrayed as either joyful folk tradition or brutal gang violence. But Kleber Mendonca Filho's <em>Neighboring Sounds</em> penetrates into the daily lives of suburban Brazilians — and critic<em> </em>John Powers says it may be the best Brazilian film since the '70s. 422 no Brazilian culture is often portrayed as either joyful folk tradition or brutal gang violence. But Kleber Mendonca Filho's Neighboring Sounds penetrates into the daily lives of suburban Brazilians — and critic John Powers says it may be the best Brazilian film since the '70s.

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]]> In China, A Persistent Thorn In The State's Side <em>Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry</em> follows the famous artist around the world as he repeatedly irks Chinese authorities with his art and political critiques. <em>Fresh Air</em>'s John Powers says the documentary casts important light on the fight for greater freedom in China. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/07/26/157413714/in-china-a-persistent-thorn-in-the-states-side?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/07/26/157413714/in-china-a-persistent-thorn-in-the-states-side?ft=1&f=2101619 <em>Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry</em> follows the famous artist around the world as he repeatedly irks Chinese authorities with his art and political critiques. <em>Fresh Air</em>'s John Powers says the documentary casts important light on the fight for greater freedom in China. 385 no Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry follows the famous artist around the world as he repeatedly irks Chinese authorities with his art and political critiques. Fresh Air's John Powers says the documentary casts important light on the fight for greater freedom in China.

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]]> The 'Political Animals' Running Washington, D.C. Greg Berlanti's new series on the USA Network stars Sigourney Weaver as the secretary of state and former first lady. Critic John Powers says he suspects that "even a Martian" would realize Weaver's character is based on Hillary Clinton — and that's not a bad thing. Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/07/12/156610383/the-political-animals-running-washington-d-c?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/07/12/156610383/the-political-animals-running-washington-d-c?ft=1&f=2101619 Greg Berlanti's new series on the USA Network stars Sigourney Weaver as the secretary of state and former first lady. Critic John Powers says he suspects that "even a Martian" would realize Weaver's character is based on Hillary Clinton — and that's not a bad thing. 369 no Greg Berlanti's new series on the USA Network stars Sigourney Weaver as the secretary of state and former first lady. Critic John Powers says he suspects that "even a Martian" would realize Weaver's character is based on Hillary Clinton — and that's not a bad thing.

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]]> 'Louie': TV's Most Original Comedy Returns <em>Fresh Air</em>'s critic at large, John Powers, says Louis C.K.'s raunchy FX show is changing the way comedy is done — for the better. "More than any TV comedy ever, it's all about capturing moments of truth and freshness," he says. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/28/155912053/louie-tvs-most-original-comedy-returns?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/28/155912053/louie-tvs-most-original-comedy-returns?ft=1&f=2101619 <em>Fresh Air</em>'s critic at large, John Powers, says Louis C.K.'s raunchy FX show is changing the way comedy is done — for the better. "More than any TV comedy ever, it's all about capturing moments of truth and freshness," he says. 364 no Fresh Air's critic at large, John Powers, says Louis C.K.'s raunchy FX show is changing the way comedy is done — for the better. "More than any TV comedy ever, it's all about capturing moments of truth and freshness," he says.

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]]> 'The Newsroom' Caught Up In A Partisan Divide Aaron Sorkin's new HBO series follows the inner workings of a cable news show that sets out to challenge our hyperpartisan, 24/7 news culture. But critic John Powers says Sorkin has created a show that replicates much of what it thinks it's opposing. Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/21/155501538/the-newsroom-caught-up-in-a-partisan-divide?ft=1&f=2101619 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/21/155501538/the-newsroom-caught-up-in-a-partisan-divide?ft=1&f=2101619 Aaron Sorkin's new HBO series follows the inner workings of a cable news show that sets out to challenge our hyperpartisan, 24/7 news culture. But critic John Powers says Sorkin has created a show that replicates much of what it thinks it's opposing. 386 no Aaron Sorkin's new HBO series follows the inner workings of a cable news show that sets out to challenge our hyperpartisan, 24/7 news culture. But critic John Powers says Sorkin has created a show that replicates much of what it thinks it's opposing.

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