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Arts

Psychic Soldiers Populate 'Throwaways' — With Style

7:00am January 07, 2017

by Etelka Lehoczky

Caitlin Kittredge's comic series about psychic soldiers on the run from government experiments is brisk, colorful fun, complemented by Steve Sanders' stylish character designs and deft illustrations.

Arts

Cuban-Americans Take Spotlight In Netflix Reboot Of 'One Day At A Time'

6:16pm January 06, 2017

by Eric Deggans

Netflix releases a new take on an old show, Norman Lear's One Day at a Time. This time, the show follows a Cuban-American family.

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Arts

'Paterson' Paints A Delicate Portrait Of A Bus Driver Who Writes Poetry

2:01pm January 06, 2017

by David Edelstein

Jim Jarmusch's new film, Paterson, was loosely inspired by William Carlos Williams' epic poem of the same name. Critic David Edelstein says the film expertly evokes the inner state of an artist.

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Manic And Depressed, 'I Didn't Like Who I Was,' Says Comic Chris Gethard

2:00pm January 06, 2017

Gethard talks of hitting rock bottom in his off-Broadway show, billed as a comedy about "suicide, depression, alcoholism and all the other funniest parts of life." Originally broadcast Oct. 24, 2016.

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Benedict Cumberbatch plays the famed detective on Masterpiece Mystery! Presents Sherlock.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Sherlock' And The Entertainers We've Lost

11:32am January 06, 2017

by Stephen Thompson

We dive into the hit show starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, then celebrate Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, George Michael and others. And, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.

On the north side of Detroit, a community farm teamed up with a local arts and culture nonprofit to put its summer harvest to best use â while also honoring the legacy of the city's black families. Their answer: Afro Jam, a line of preserves based on

A Detroit Urban Farm Preserves Black History In Jam Form

10:50am January 06, 2017

by Martina Guzman

Urban farms have flourished in the city's vacant lots. Two nonprofits are using their harvest for a line of jams honoring the history and old family recipes of the local African-American community.

L to R: Sylvie (Veerle Baetens), Kenneth (Kevin Jannsens) and Dave (Jeroen Perceval) in The Ardennes.

Arts

Two Brothers Head Into 'The Ardennes' But Find Little That's Original

5:00pm January 05, 2017

by Mark Jenkins

Belgium's submission for the 2017 best-foreign-film Oscar is a visually stylish but highly derivative crime drama.

Joined At The Tragically Hip: Dianne (Olivia Thirlby) and Henry (Ben Feldman) in Between Us.

Arts

Betwixt And 'Between Us': Hipster Newlyweds Struggle To Stay Cool

5:00pm January 05, 2017

by Scott Tobias

A couple takes pride in rejecting the trappings of a conventional married life — but the form their rejection takes is so marked by cliché that the film fails to sustain interest.

Agony Ent: A grieving Conor (Lewis MacDougall) confronts his local monster (voiced by Liam Neeson).

Arts

In This Surprisingly Mature Kids' Movie, 'A Monster Calls' And A Boy Answers

5:00pm January 05, 2017

by Andrew Lapin

Screenwriter Patrick Ness adapts his YA novel about a monster who helps a boy deal with his mother's illness. The result is a film that confronts grief in a gratifyingly unsentimental way.

In 1972, NPR invited listeners to write ads for stuff money can't buy. We're doing it again this year. But first, to jog your thinking, here are a few examples of the more, well, unique ads back then, including one sung by a toddler about firetrucks.

Arts

Ads For Nicer Living: The Oddball Gems About What Brightens Our Lives

3:44pm January 05, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

In 1972, NPR invited listeners to write ads for stuff money can't buy. We're doing it again this year. But first, to jog your thinking, here are a few examples of the more, well, unique ads back then.