Movies

Revenues, But Not Profits, Soar For Hollywood In 2013

2:38pm January 04, 2014

Hollywood set records at the box office in 2013. NPR's Linda Wertheimer speaks with Stephen Galloway of the Hollywood Reporter about the year in movies, from big budget flops to the awards season logjam, and what to expect in 2014.

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Theaters Hope Recliners Lure Homebodies Off Their Sofas

2:38pm January 04, 2014

by Topher Forhecz

Movie theater seats are getting more deluxe. A couple chains are installing recliners in the latest effort to give movie-goers more of the comforts of home. (This story originally aired on Nov. 29, 2013, on Morning Edition.)

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In the sci-fi romance Her, a lonely man (Joaquin Phoenix) finds love in a rather unexpected place — with a computer operating system named Samantha.

Arts

In A 'Miraculous Year' For Movies, Edelstein Picks His Favorites

4:44pm January 02, 2014

In 2013, "you really feel as if directors are taking chances in their storytelling," says film critic David Edelstein. He loved the movie Her, and says the biggest surprises of the year were All Is Lost and Much Ado About Nothing. He also explains why 12 Years a Slave didn't make his top 10.

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Arts

The Trouble With Assessing 'Black Films'

6:54pm December 28, 2013

This year was lauded by many news outlets as an incredible year for black films. CNN heralded "Hollywood's African-American Renaissance;" The New York Times called 2013 a "a breakout year for black films." Shani Hilton, deputy editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed, talks to NPR's Arun Rath about why she think those assertions are overstated.

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Bryan Cranston (left) stars as chemistry teacher turned meth dealer Walter White, and Aaron Paul plays former student and drug-dealing co-conspirator Jesse Pinkman in AMC's Breaking Bad.

Arts

Great New DVD Box Sets: Blasts From The Past And 'Breaking Bad'

4:01pm December 23, 2013

by David Bianculli

In addition to Breaking Bad, critic David Bianculli recommends some rare television treats from the '60s and '70s that are now available on DVD. They include Here's Edie: The Edie Adams Television Collection, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, The Rutles: Anthology and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

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Music & Culture

World's Most Popular Film Industry Turns 100

11:30am December 21, 2013

Bright colors, intricate dance sequences, melodramatic plots and great music are hallmarks of India's movie industry, which got its start 100 years ago. NPR's Scott Simon explores the Indian cinema with Rajinder Dudrah, aka Doc. Bollywood.

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Arts

A Man And His Machine, Finding Out What Love Is

3:24pm December 20, 2013

by David Edelstein

The film Her, written and directed by Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich), follows a lonely man who falls in love with a computer operating system. Critic David Edelstein says it's the best film of the year by far. (Recommended)

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Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate reprise their roles as competing news anchors in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

Arts

A 'Kind Of A Big Deal' Gets Even Bigger In 'Anchorman 2'

2:43pm December 19, 2013

by NPR Staff

In a sequel, Ron Burgundy makes the leap from local to national news. "We felt like we needed to jack up the stakes," says director and co-writer Adam McKay. He and star Will Ferrell join Terry Gross to talk about making movies — and that epic 'stache.

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Joel (left) and Ethan Coen wrote and directed Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man and True Grit. Their latest film is Inside Llewyn Davis.

Arts

The Coen Bros. On Writing, 'Lebowski' And Literally Herding Cats

12:21am December 18, 2013

Inside Llewyn Davis -- starring Oscar Isaac and a disobedient cat — is the latest from the filmmaking duo. The brothers talk with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about their writing process ("It's mostly napping") and the cult status of their 1998 film The Big Lebowski ("How do you explain that? I have no idea.")

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The Pere Marquette 1225 rolls into view in Owosso, Mich. It's been a local favorite for decades and especially gained popularity after inspiring the look and sounds of the train in a 2004 film.

National

All Aboard! Real-Life Polar Express Chugs Through Michigan

6:12pm December 17, 2013

by Tracy Samilton

Every brake screech, whistle and rattle from the movie The Polar Express came from recordings of a historic locomotive, the Pere Marquette 1225. After four years of costly repairs, passengers can once again jump onboard and travel to see Santa Claus at the North Pole (imagination required).

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