Review Culture In 2007, 'Top 10' Doesn't Do Hollywood Justice December 31, 2007 • It was a bonanza year for blockbusters — four topped the $300 million mark — but there was a trove of art-house gems, too. Herewith, Bob Mondello's 10 favorite films of 2007, plus an additional baker's dozen that deserve another mention at year's end.
Holidays Bring Movie Madness for Critic December 29, 2007 • The week between Christmas and New Year's is always a box office bonanza for Hollywood. But for movie critics, the biggest week comes a bit earlier, says NPR's Bob Mondello.
Summary Judgment: 'Water' or 'Bucket'? December 28, 2007 • Mark Jordan Legan, with the online magazine Slate, reviews what the critics have to say about new movie releases. This week he tells us about Water Horse, The Great Debaters, and The Bucket List.
World Charlie Wilson Still Wants to Fix Afghanistan December 28, 2007 • Former Sen. Charles Wilson's efforts to help the Afghans defeat the Soviets in the 1980s are featured in the new film Charlie Wilson's War. Charlie Wilson is still agitated about the situation in Afghanistan and shares his thoughts on how to improve it.
Barbershop 'Shop' Discusses Bhutto Slaying, Smith's Bad Press December 28, 2007 • Jimi Izrael, Arsalan Iftikhar, Nick Charles and Ruben Navarrette discuss the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and how recent comments by actor Will Smith have landed him in hot water with the Anti-Defamation League. They also address speculation about Sen. Barrack Obama's Muslim ties.
Culture 'Fresh Air' Reflects: Actress Nancy Cartwright Fresh Air December 28, 2007 • Our weeklong retrospective of the year's most entertaining interviews continues with Nancy Cartwright. You've probably heard her work, but you may not have known it was her. She's the voice of Bart Simpson.
Weekend Movie Releases December 28, 2007 • Get prepped for the cineplex with reviews from Daniel Holloway of Metro.
Denzel Directs 'The Great Debaters' December 27, 2007 • Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington's newest movie, The Great Debaters, opened in theaters yesterday. Washington plays the lead role of Melvin B. Tolson, who led the underdog debate team at the historically black college. He also directed the film.
Culture 'Fresh Air' Reflects: Actor Mark Ruffalo Fresh Air December 27, 2007 • As part of our weeklong retrospective of the most entertaining Fresh Air interviews from 2007, we revisit an October chat with actor Mark Ruffalo, then on the big screen in the film Reservation Road.
In 'Blood,' Day-Lewis Revisits His Darker Side December 26, 2007 • In There Will Be Blood, Daniel Day-Lewis plays an obsessive loner who hits it big in the California oil rush. Day-Lewis says exploring "the darker recesses of one's imagination and psyche" has always appealed to him.
Culture The Starring Roles of Steve Carell Fresh Air December 26, 2007 • Carell, best known for his role in NBC's "The Office," talks about his recent film, Dan in Real Life. Carell also starred in The 40 Year Old Virgin and Little Miss Sunshine. He rose to fame on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." This interview originally aired on Oct. 24, 2007.
Review Culture Oil, Money, Religion and 'Blood' in California December 26, 2007 • There Will Be Blood, a new film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, is a morality play set in the early days of California's oil boom. It involves the unholy trinity of oil, money and religion.
Review Culture 'The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep' December 25, 2007 • The Black Stallion meets Gremlins in this boy-and-his-Loch Ness Monster story. The Brit cast is fine, the digital creature is persuasive enough, and the scenery's certainly pretty — but the story might well prove too alarming for really small kids, and too twee for adults
Culture Reilly and Kasdan, Having Fun with 'Walk Hard' Fresh Air December 25, 2007 • Actor John C. Reilly and director Jake Kasdan talk about their new film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Kasdan woke up in the middle of the night with the concept and even the title for the spoof of music biopics. This interview was initially broadcast on Dec. 3, 2007.
African Immigrants Confront American Dream December 25, 2007 • Dollars and Dreams is a documentary film focused on the pursuits and challenges of numerous West African immigrants as they confront the idea of the American Dream and the reality of the New York experience. Farai Chideya talks with the film's director and an immigrant from the Ivory Coast.