Search results for

Peter Jackson's film trilogy The Lord of the Rings has computerized one of the most memorable characters in J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novels. Gollum was a hobbit named Smeagol whose possession and loss of the powerful ring, which he calls his "precious," turned him into a distraught creature of animalistic drive. NPR's Liane Hansen talks to Andy Serkis, the actor who plays Gollum and Smeagol. He documented his experience in the book Gollum: How We Made Movie Magic.

The Sundance Film Festival opens Thursday in Park City, Utah. But so far, festival organizers have largely ignored an independent film genre thriving in their backyard: Mormon cinema. As NPR's Howard Berkes reports, films with Mormon-centered themes fill a niche market, and some have won critical acclaim.

A genre of fiction known variously as "street lit," "ghetto lit," "urban lit" or "hip-hop lit" has begun registering impressive sales, catching the attention of the publishing industry. Previously sold as typewritten photocopies on street corners, these pulp-fiction books now appear in slick paperbacks available in bookstores and online. Karen Michel reports.

Author James McGrath Morris's latest book, Rose Man of Sing Sing relays the true story of Charles Chapin, a tabloid newspaper editor of the early 20th century. Chapin was a pioneer of the tabloid style of journalism who ended up in prison after killing his wife. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Morris.

Actor and comedian Bob Saget's death was caused by a blow to the head that he appeared to ignore before going to bed. Medical experts say you should always seek care if you experience a head trauma.

Lawmakers are pushing for a "do-over" of an Interior Department contract to review tribal jail deaths awarded to a former official. Nearly half of the deaths he was to review occurred on his watch.

Egyptians are preparing to vote on a new constitution, again. When the last constitution was approved, President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood was in power. He was ousted in July. The latest constitution was drafted by the military-backed government that ousted Morsi. Nathan Brown, who studies constitutionalism and rule of law in the Arab world, talks to Robert Siegel about what's at stake in the process, and the criticism the draft constitution has received. Brown is a professor at George Washington University and a scholar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The founder of Pakistan's classic car club hops in his 1954 Austin-Healey and drives from one end of the troubled country to the other with his wife and friends. Why? Mostly because it's fun, but also as a statement of defiance to those causing havoc in Pakistan.

The U.S. men's soccer team will face a tough road in next year's World Cup. They'll face Ghana, Portugal and Germany in the first round.

All this week, All Things Considered and Morning Edition has aired stories about the global journey a T-shirt makes from seed to finished product. Over the months NPR's Planet Money team spent reporting the series, they tackled questions about trade, work and clothes play in the global economy.