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.
Jason Isbell's 'Something More Than Free' Rings With The Promise of Joy
The former member of the Drive-by Truckers unleashes his storytelling skills in his new album, Something More Than Free. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Isbell's lyrics reward a close listen.
Fresh Air Weekend: Weighing In On What It Means To 'Sound Gay'
In Do I Sound Gay?, director David Thorpe discusses the so-called "gay voice" and reveals his own attempt (with speech pathologist Susan Sankin) to sound "less gay." Originally broadcast July 7, 2015.
The Man Behind Wonder Woman Was Inspired By Both Suffragists And Centerfolds
Wonder Woman's creator had a few secrets of his own. Historian Jill Lepore describes William Moulton Marstothe's unusual life in The Secret History of Wonder Woman. Originally broadcast Oct. 27, 2014.
Duke Ellington's 'Plank Session' Offers Snapshots Of A Jazz Master At Work
In July 1970, Duke Ellington recorded two tunes engineered by Conny Plank. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says The Conny Plank Session, which is now on CD, is a window onto Ellington's working method.
'Tangerine', A Teeny-Budget Comedy That Packs An Emotional Wallop
Sean Baker's bleak, boisterous farce follows two transgender sex workers on Christmas Eve in Los Angeles. David Edelstein says Tangerine is "brilliantly shaped, edited, scored and performed."
From DOMA To Marriage Equality: How The Tide Turned For Gay Marriage
For 25 years, attorney Mary Bonauto and activist Evan Wolfson helped shape the gay marriage movement. They discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling, which represented the culmination of their efforts.
Was This Past Supreme Court Session 'A Liberal Term For The Ages'?
Adam Liptak of The New York Times discusses the court's most recent session and says the rulings reveal deep philosophical differences regarding the role of judges and the Constitution.
Not All Sequels Are Equal: Following Up To 'Terminator', 'Magic Mike'
Film critic David Edelstein calls Terminator Genesys "strenuously witless" and "lousy." But, he adds, the loose and fun Magic Mike XXL is "anything but a typical machine-tooled sequel."