Fresh Air, Mark Wahlberg and Colin Firth, February 8, 2008 (Nonfiction‪)‬

Hear actor Mark Wahlberg, actor Colin Firth, and film critic David Edelstein on this edition of
Fresh Air.

Mark Wahlberg was nominated for an academy award for best supporting actor for his role as a police sergeant in the film The Departed. Wahlberg was one of the initial members of the pop bubblegum group New Kids on the Block (with his brother, Donnie) but left before the group became famous. With his brother's guidance, he created Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and recorded the album Music for the People, from which came the hit "Good Vibrations". Wahlberg went on to record one more album and appeared in a number of Calvin Klein underwear commercials. After a number of smaller film roles, he broke through with his role as a porn star in Boogie Nights. His other films include The Perfect Storm, Three Kings, The Italian Job, and Invincible. His film We Own the Night is now out on DVD. (Original Airdate: 2/8/2007)

Then, Colin Firth, who is probably best known for his role as Mr. Darcy in the BBC/A&E production of Pride & Prejudice. The film turned him into a heart-throb. It's being rebroadcast Sunday night on PBS as part of a Jane Austen series. His other films include Bridget Jones's Diary, based on the book of the same name, which borrows from the storyline of Pride & Prejudice. His other films include Love Actually, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Valmont, Another Country, The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, and Fever Pitch. Firth showed off his writing talents in a book edited by Nick Hornby, Speaking with the Angel. (Original Airdate: 5/7/2001).

Finally, David Edelstein reviews the new documentary Taxi to the Dark Side, which sounds like a horror film and - David says - actually is. It's been nominated for an Academy Award. [Broadcast Date: February 8, 2008]