Film offers 'Hard Truths' about why some people are happy — and others are miserable
Marianne Jean-Baptiste gives a phenomenal performance as a profoundly unhappy woman. There isn't a lot of plot, but director Mike Leigh builds his stories from the details and detritus of daily life.
Top CIA 'Spymasters' Agree: We Can't Kill Our Way Out Of Terrorism
Filmmakers Chris Whipple and Jules Naudet discuss their Showtime documentary, Spymasters, which features 12 former CIA directors discussing the tough choices they've had to make in fighting terrorism.
Adele Returns, With A Restrained, Emotionally Controlled '25'
Rock critic Ken Tucker discusses the British singer's popularity and her new album, 25. "In a pop world overflowing with singers who want to blow you away, Adele wants to talk with you," he says.
'Hitchcock/Truffaut' Unspools The Artistry Of The Master Of Suspense
Director Kent Jones discusses his new documentary, which was inspired by a 1962 series of in-depth interviews between French filmmaker François Truffaut and the legendary director Alfred Hitchcock.
Actress Niecy Nash Is 'Getting On' Just Fine
Perhaps best known for her work on Reno 911, Nash talks to Fresh Air contributor Anna Sale about playing a nurse on HBO's Getting On, a series about an extended care facility for elderly women.
Richard Carpenter Weighs In On How To Craft The Perfect Pop Song
In the '70s, Richard Carpenter and his sister, Karen, made up the pop duo the Carpenters. On Dec. 5, PBS will begin airing Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters. Originally broadcast Nov. 25, 2009.
'Better Call Saul' And 'The Great American Dream Machine' Shine As DVD Box Sets
TV critic David Bianculli shares his enthusiasm for two newly released DVD box sets: season one of Better Call Saul and a four-DVD set of the 1970s PBS variety show, The Great American Dream Machine.
For Iris DeMent, Music Is The Calling That Forces Her Into The Spotlight
DeMent describes herself as extremely shy, but says that "when the songs started coming to me, I felt I didn't have the option to hide and avoid" the stage. Originally broadcast Oct. 21, 2015.
High Glamour Infuses A Forbidden Love Affair In 'Carol'
Todd Haynes' new film chronicles a lesbian affair between a middle-aged married woman and a young store clerk. Critic David Edelstein says Carol captures the thrill of a once-forbidden subculture.