'Rogue One' Is 'A Star Wars Story' With Fewer Stars And A Lot More Wars
A footnote in the Star Wars saga gets its own movie — a tense, grubby, effective tale of interstellar combat that skimps on the series' mythic overtones.
Arts & Life
In 'Collateral Beauty,' Will Smith Meets Love, Time, Death — And A Terrible Script
An ad exec (Will Smith) mourning the death of his daughter meets actors portraying abstract concepts in this absurd, disingenuous film which lays bare Hollywood's inability to grapple with grief.
'Fences': A Major American Play Finally Makes It To Screen; It Was Worth The Wait
Director/star Denzel Washington faithfully adapts August Wilson's searing, Pulitzer-winning play. The brilliant result is "moviemaking as public service," says critic Andrew Lapin.
'Drug Dealer, M.D.': Misunderstandings And Good Intentions Fueled Opioid Epidemic
Psychiatrist Anna Lembke says the medical establishment and drugmakers began telling doctors in the 1980s that opioids were effective treatment for chronic pain. "That was patently false," she says.
Ads For Nicer Living: Frequently Asked Questions, Answered
NPR is inviting listeners to write ads for life's little joys. Find answers to frequently asked questions about the project, and submit your script for an ad here. The deadline is Jan. 15, 2017.
What's A Holiday Without Lutefisk And A Little White Lye?
The whitefish is famous for being repulsive — and divisive. But Scandinavian-Americans in the Midwest consider their seasonal smelly-jelly feast to be an important link to their Viking ancestors.
Postelection Solidarity: A Woman Cooks For Her LGBTQ Community
When people feel isolated, a home-cooked meal can be a reminder they're not alone. So one New Yorker offered to cook and deliver meals for free to LGBTQ people in her area. The idea quickly caught on.
Billy Collins On How To Become A Poet, And Why Poetry Can Be A Game
The former Poet Laureate recently joined NPR fans on Facebook Live. He talked about the inspiration for a poem imagining a Keith Richards-based mythology, and offered a tip to aspiring writers: Read.
A Critic's Year-End 'Ghost File': Books, Movies And TV Shows He Didn't Review
Every year, Fresh Air critic John Powers is haunted by all the terrific things he didn't get a chance to talk about on air. As 2016 winds down, he "un-haunts" himself with these six recommendations.
If TV Has It, Alan Thicke Probably Did It
We remember Alan Thicke, who died this week after a long career as an actor, writer, host and creator of earworm theme songs you may well know by heart.