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Anthony Swofford's memoir of his time as a Marine in the first Iraq war, Jarhead, has been adapted to the screen. Critic Kenneth Turan says the movie has brilliant parts and excellent co-stars, but the picture rarely makes the emotional connection it's after.

Suzanne de Passe is the executive producer of the 2005 Black Movie Awards. She talks about the show, which will honor the achievements of blacks in all areas of filmmaking. The awards air Wednesday night on Turner Network Television.

Sigur Ros, a five-piece band from Iceland, makes spacey progressive music, with often-indecipherable lyrics. Its fourth studio CD is called Takk..., which means "Thanks."

Day to Day television critic Andrew Wallenstein reviews the new ESPN2 movie Four Minutes. The made-for-TV film, which recounts Englishman Roger Bannister's quest to break the four-minute mile, airs Thursday night.

Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan reviews Carroll Ballard's movie Duma about a boy and a cheetah. He says the film has the same magical qualities as Ballard's earlier films, Fly Away Home and The Black Stallion.

Oscar winner Geena Davis stars in the new ABC program Commander in Chief as the first female president of the United States. Television critic Andrew Wallenstein says the series, which premieres Tuesday night, offers an interesting mix of The West Wing and family drama.

Film critic Kenneth Turan reviews director David Cronenberg's latest work, A History of Violence. Cronenberg directed films that many consider bizarre, such as Crash, The Fly and Naked Lunch. Turan says this film is less strange, but more disturbing.

Nicholas Cage stars in Lord of War, a new film about an international arms merchant opening in theaters this weekend. Alex Chadwick talks with the film's writer and director, Andrew Niccol, about creating a plausible story that features an arms dealer as the "hero."

Six Feet Under, rest in peace. The HBO series, which aired its final episode Sunday, followed the Fisher family and its funeral home business for five seasons. It received two Golden Globe awards and six Emmys. Alan Ball, creator and executive producer, reflects on his show about death.

Day to Day television critic Andrew Wallenstein looks back at the legacy of the acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under. After a five-year run, the final episode of the series, charting the quirky and tragic lives of a family that owns a funeral home, airs this Sunday night.

Slate advertising critic Seth Stevenson talks with Madeleine Brand about his listener survey of the most misused songs in television commercials. Listeners chose "Lust for Life," Iggy Pop's ode to drug culture, which is featured in an ad for the Royal Caribbean cruise line.

Lonnie Bunch, director of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, discusses plans for a Smithsonian African-American Museum. Bunch says the museum plans to exhibit an array of objects, including the lunch counter from the legendary Woolworth sit-in in Greensboro, NC. The Smithsonian has not released a date for the museum opening.

The new movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a married, gun-toting couple. Reviewer Bob Mondello says it's a reasonably amusing summer picture, if you can put your critical mind in neutral.

At 80, Carroll is still performing. She's released a number of CDs this year. Her latest is Live At Birdland. For many years, Carroll performed at Bemelman's Bar at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan. This interview was originally broadcast on June 9, 2003.

Azaria is also currently starring in the Broadway production of Spamalot the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He along with Tim Curry has been nominated for a Tony. He also stars in the Showtime series Huff, about an urban psychiatrist with troubles of his own. Azaria does the voices of Apu the convenience store owner and Moe the bartender, among others, on The Simpsons. This interview was originally broadcast on Dec. 6, 2004.

CBS's new drama, The Unit, has been described as part Mission Impossible, part Desperate Housewives.

Out of South Africa comes Tsotsi, one of five Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Language Film. The title means gangster in the slang spoken in Soweto township. The title character is a rough young man who finds hope.

Sanaa Lathan talks about her new film, Something New, and parallels between her onscreen portrayal of a harried urban professional and her real life. Something New follows the story of a Lathan's character, an attorney, who starts an unlikely romance with a white landscape architect.

Late last year, Rick Springfield reprised his role as Dr. Noah Drake on the long-running ABC daytime drama General Hospital. Springfield talks about why he came back, and his new album.

Actor Tommy Lee Jones also directs The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. It's the story of a man killed in Texas and a friend -- played by Jones -- who fulfills his wish to be buried in Mexico. Jones describes it a "journey" movie.

Actor Derek Luke, star of the new movie Glory Road, talks about his career and his new film, about the the true story of the first college basketball team to start five black players. The 1966 Texas Western team went on to win the NCAA championship.

Actress S. Epatha Merkerson just won the triple crown of television honors: an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actor's Guild award. To many Law and Order viewers, Merkerson will always be Lt. Anita Van Buren.

Slate contributor Seth Stevenson offers his take on what seems like the last breath of MasterCard's successful "Priceless" ad campaign, which has lasted nine years and spawned about 160 separate broadcast commercials. The new ad asks for viewers to fill in the blanks.

Black. White. is a controversial new reality TV series where a black family and white family change races. Using extensive make-up, the family members go out and experience living in someone else's skin. Madeleine Brand talks to the show's executive producer and two of the show's participants about the show, which debuts Wednesday night on the F/X Network.

Ed Gordon talks with Paola Mendoza and Michael Skolnik, co-creators of the new film, On the Outs, about three girls struggling with life in and out of juvenile detention. Mendoza also stars in the film as an incarcerated, drug-addicted young mother.