Arts & Life

Books
Arts

'Cult X' Asks How Easily You — Yes, You — Might Be Taken In

10:00am May 15, 2018

by Bethanne Patrick

Some of the sex scenes in Fuminori Nakamura's new novel Cult X will disturb you — but that's beside the point, because the book has much more disturbing things to say about groupthink and free will.

A View of the Empire at Sunset, by Caryl Phillips

Books
Arts

'Empire At Sunset' Provides A Mesmerizing View Of Jean Rhys

7:00am May 15, 2018

by Heller McAlpin

Caryl Phillips' new novel, set in the waning years of the British Empire, follows the perpetually alienated Rhys from her birthplace in the West Indies to England and then the Continent.

Ultraviolent super-mercenary Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) references a film that many people will recognize — that's kind of his whole deal — in Deadpool 2.

Arts

Grim 'N' Gritty Is Out, Glib 'N' Smarmy Is In: 'Deadpool 2'

5:00am May 15, 2018

by Glen Weldon

Ryan Reynolds once again assays the role of a deadly mercenary who makes many references to various pop culture properties while disemboweling folk a lot. No fourth wall is safe.

Arts

How The Business Of Buying Canceled TV Show Works

5:34pm May 14, 2018

When Fox announced the cancellation Brooklyn Nine-Nine, fans rioted online, but were met with good news when NBC picked it up. NPR's Ari Shapiro, speaks with Indie Wire's Michael Schneider about the business of buying canceled TV shows.

Actress Margot Kidder is seen here with her Superman co-star Christopher Reeve.

Actress Margot Kidder, Who Played Lois Lane, Dies At 69

4:22pm May 14, 2018

by Bill Chappell

Margot Kidder's acting career spanned decades, from TV series in the late 1960s to seven films in the past five years.

The series finale of the television comedy Seinfeld aired 20 years ago Monday. The '90s TV juggernaut followed the antics of 30-something New Yorkers Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer.

Something From Nothing: 20 Years On, The Enduring Yada Yada Of 'Seinfeld'

3:47pm May 14, 2018

by Samantha Raphelson

The series finale of Seinfeld aired 20 years ago on May 14, 1998. Since then, a new generation of fans continues to follow the antics of Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer on cable and online.

Books
Arts

He Felt He Could No Longer Be Funny, Says Robin Williams Biographer

2:56pm May 14, 2018

by Terry Gross

Dave Itzkoff examines Williams' life and death in a new biography. Williams took his own life in 2014; an autopsy later revealed he had Lewy body dementia.

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Krysten Ritter stars in the Netflix series Jessica Jones. Her novel Bonfire was published in 2017.

Arts

'I'm Just So Invested': Krysten Ritter On Becoming 'Jessica Jones'

2:49pm May 14, 2018

by Sam Briger

Ritter loves the complex role of the atypical superhero. "I am doing the most work when I'm not saying lines," she says. The second season was released on Netflix in March.

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Film director Jean Renoir grappled with his father's legacy. "I have spent my life trying to determine the extent of the influence of my father upon me," he wrote. Renoir is shown above filming his 1962 film, The Elusive Corporal.

Arts

Filmmaker Jean Renoir Inherited An Artist's Eye For Images

11:21am May 14, 2018

by Susan Stamberg

A new exhibition at the Barnes Foundation examines the relationship and the artistic link between 19th-century Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir and his 20th-century filmmaker son.

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Clockwise from top left: Sorry To Bother You, Incredibles 2, Crazy Rich Asians, The Spy Who Dumped Me, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Arts

NPR's Summer Movie Guide: 27 Films Coming Your Way

10:42am May 14, 2018

As ever, the Summer Movie Season is dominated by sequels and special effects. But if you're prepared to look for them, you'll find some smaller, quirkier films flying beneath the radar.