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.
'Gates Of Gold' Showcases Los Lobos' Musical Influences And Extends The Band's Sound
Now in its fourth decade of music-making, Los Lobos just released its first studio album since 2010. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Gates of Gold is "full of thick, mysterious music."
Singer Blurs The Lines Between East And West On 'Sounds And Cries Of the World'
Singer Jen Shyu was born in Illinois, but spent years in East Asia, studying regional music, languages and literature. Critic Kevin Whitehead says that Shyu's research echoes throughout her new album.
New Complete Recording Restores A Forgotten Trojan War Musical
A two-CD set featuring performers from the Lyric Stage of Irving, Texas, revives the complete score of the 1954 musical, The Golden Apple. Critic Lloyd Schwartz calls it a "game-changing" recording.
The Great Bluff That Led To A 'Magical' Pill And A Sexual Revolution
In the '50s, four people collaborated to create a pill that would allow women to enjoy sex. Jonathan Eig details the history in The Birth of the Pill. Originally broadcast Oct. 7, 2014.
'The Martian' Is A Gripping, Out-Of-This World Space Saga
Ridley Scott's new film stars Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars. Critic David Edelstein says The Martian features special effects that make you feel like you are seeing the real red planet.
Journalist Discusses The Rise Of ISIS And Its Future In Syria And Iraq
Joby Warrick, author of Black Flags, traces the Islamic State's development from an al-Qaida-related insurgency in Iraq to a successful jihadist movement that now holds territory in Syria and Iraq.
