Arts & Life

The Imitation Game, starring Keira Knightley and Benedict Cumberbatch, follows the story of mathematician Alan Turing — from his efforts to break Germany's Enigma code during World War II to his conviction for homosexuality.

Arts

Benedict Cumberbatch On Alan Turing's Awkwardness And Sherlock's Sex Appeal

8:58am January 22, 2015

The actor gained critical acclaim — and a big following — for his role in Sherlock. Now he's up for an Oscar for his portrayal of eccentric mathematician Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.

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Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler play the platonic friends at the very beating heart of Parks And Recreation.

Arts

'Parks And Recreation' Shows The Beating Heart Of Its Great Love Story

8:56am January 22, 2015

by Linda Holmes

Parks and Recreation nears its end with a wonderful close-up episode for its dearest loves.

Books
Arts

In 'The Evil Hours,' A Journalist Shares His Struggle With PTSD

5:35pm January 21, 2015

While embedded with troops in Iraq, David Morris almost died when a Humvee he was riding in ran over a roadside bomb. His book explores the history and science of post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Books
Arts

'The B-Side' Sings A Sad, Sad Song

3:03pm January 21, 2015

by Tomas Hachard

Ben Yagoda uses the battle between music licensing organizations ASCAP and BMI to sketch out a broader lament about the long fade-out of the American Songbook and the segue to modern pop music.

Books
Arts

A Cool, Painstaking Account Of A Difficult Past In 'Fatherland'

2:14pm January 21, 2015

by Etelka Lehoczky

Nina Bunjevac tackles two troublesome subjects in Fatherland: Her Serbian nationalist father, and the occasionally violent, extremist history of his country — all in a controlled, icy-cool style.

Arts

'Leviathan' And 'Red Army' Deliver A Peek Inside Russia, Now And Then

1:27pm January 21, 2015

by John Powers

Leviathan follows a man who fights back after a corrupt mayor uses eminent domain to claim his house, and Red Army recounts the story of the Soviet Union's famous hockey team.

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Books
Arts

'Gateway To Freedom': Heroes, Danger And Loss On The Underground Railroad

11:35am January 21, 2015

While writing his new book, historian Eric Foner relied on a recently discovered record of slaves' escapes. He says the documents paint a "revealing picture" of life on the Underground Railroad.

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Books
Arts

Three-Minute Fiction Round 10: Leave A Message After The Beep

11:07am January 21, 2015

by NPR Staff

This round of the short story contest for weekends on All Things Considered will be judged by author Mona Simpson. For Round 10, she wants original fiction with the "texture of voice."

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Chris Hemsworth plays hacker and furloughed convict Nicholas Hathaway in Blackhat.

Arts

'Blackhat': A Classic Detective Story For A Brave New World

7:07pm January 20, 2015

by NPR Staff

Over his years as a director, Michael Mann has taken on many crime stories. In his new film, malware is a central villain and the hero battles an adversary who resides in the virtual world.

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Larry Wilmore brought The Nightly Show to Comedy Central on Monday night.

Arts

An Uneven But Auspicious 'Nightly' Opener

3:24pm January 20, 2015

by Linda Holmes

Larry Wilmore's The Nightly Show has a few things to iron out with its long panel segment, but his anchor-desk work is tops.