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A new crop of 25 recipients of the 2006 MacArthur Fellowships -- the so-called genius grants --has been named. The list includes author and illustrator David Macaulay, oceanographer and biologist Edith Widder and jazz violinist Regina Carter. Robert Siegel talks to three recipients about how they'll use the money in their work.

Matt Dillon, who recently starred in the comedy You, Me and Dupree, next plays the lead role in Factotum, based on a novel by Charles Bukowski. Dillon was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the film Crash.

The black comedy Little Miss Sunshine revolves around a 7-year- old girl and her dream of winning a childrens' beauty pageant. The movie is the feature debut of the husband-and-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who made their names directing music videos for groups such as REM and The Smashing Pumpkins. Our film critic has a review.

Richard Linklater's new film, A Scanner Darkly, is based on the book by Philip K. Dick -- a haunting tale of drug addiction, paranoia and surveillance set in the America of the near future. Live-action footage is overlaid with an animation technique first used in Linklater's 2001 film Waking Life.

Oliver Stone's new film World Trade Center, starring Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena, follows two Port Authority policemen trapped in the rubble of the towers. Our critic says the film raises a lot of questions about how we grieve.

Hollywood producer Lee Daniels talks with Ed Gordon about two of his most challenging, and controversial projects, Monster's Ball and The Woodsman. His directorial debut, Shadowboxer, is out now.

Writer-director Kevin Smith returns with a sequel to the indie flick Clerks, the movie that put him on the map. Clerks II once again brings Dante, Randall, and even Jay and Silent Bob, to the big screen. Steve Inskeep talks with Smith about his characters and his career.

Our book critic reviews two new novels: Pound for Pound by late writer F.X. Toole, and The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos.

Michael Mann's movie re-make of his classic 80s TV show Miami Vice is visually stunning. But its poor plot leaves the viewer wanting more. Morning Edition and Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan says its a "B" picture with an "A" picture budget.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is from the same pit crew that brought us Anchorman. Dutifully, Talladega Nights does for NASCAR what the earlier movie did for journalism.