Photograph by Ishika Mohan/Courtesy of fox

British director Danny Boyle, best known for the gritty heroin opus Trainspotting, has accomplished the impossible: He's brought genuine drama to the kitschy roving lights and final answers of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. His latest film, Slumdog Millionaire, tells the story of Jamal, an Indian teenager whose hopes for escaping poverty and getting the girl hinge on winning the Hindi version of your grandma's favorite game show. Amid accusations of cheating, Jamal is forced to explain how he became so knowledgeable during his early life, part of which was spent with a Fagin-like caretaker who blinded orphans to make them more profitable beggars. The film's complexity belies the sparkle of its Regis-y backdrop—right up until the Bollywood song-and-dance number during the closing credits. David Walters

The trailer for Slumdog Millionaire

The BMW 335d. Photograph courtesy of BMW

SUVs like the Audi Q7 aren't the only beneficiaries in this era of diesel love. Here are three sedans that harness the technology to maximize your highway gas mileage. Not surprisingly, all three come from Germany—where the alterna-engine was born 115 years ago. Ian Daly

1. THE PRIUS KILLER
Volkswagen Jetta TDI
$21,990
44 highway mpg

2. THE GENTLEMAN'S DIESEL
Mercedes E320 BlueTEC
$53,775
32 highway mpg

3. THE TWIN TURBO WITH A CONSCIENCE
BMW 335d
$45,000 (estimated)
33 highway mpg

Photograph courtesy of Plusminuszero

Compared with other 12th-century inventions—glass mirrors, movable type, restaurant menus—clocks still inspire an astonishing amount of design innovation. Luckily, their size and price make them the perfect medium for décor experimentation. Monica Khemsurov

1. (pictured above)
For a small alarm clock (it's only 2.3 inches square), the 2.5R Analog is capable of penetrating even the deepest sleep haze, thanks to a neon-green case and exaggerated hands. Another detail: It's sculpted to fit perfectly in your palm.
2.5R Analog Alarm Clock by Plus­minuszero, $69

2.
Up-and-coming French craftsman Cédric Ragot's bell-shaped Mantel Dome is an ode to the carriage clock, the glass-encased portable timepiece that 19th-century somebodies like Jules Verne took on their travels.
Mantel Dome by Cédric Ragot for Innermost, $228

Photograph courtesy of Innermost

3.
Known for making organic, craft-inspired forms—like a quilted stool—feel modern, Dutch designer Kiki van Eijk first hand-stitched this clock out of fabric and then cast it in porcelain, creating a curiously wrinkly, cushioned effect.
Soft Clock by Kiki van Eijk for Moooi, price on request

Photograph courtesy of super-orange.com

4.
There's something nostalgic about the Big City clock, with its Wall Street styling and four time-zone displays. It's one of the hippest offerings from the Dutch company NeXtime, which produces every kind of timepiece imaginable.
Big City wall clock by NeXtime for Habitat, $70

Photograph courtesy of Habitat

Photograph by Tim Hout

In an age when Barnes & Noble's shelves seem to be stocked by a handful of companies and every dinner-party conversation revolves around the same five books, finding a fresh read can be daunting. Rather than plodding through a string of letdowns, seek out niche publishers that curate their lists with care and taste. Here are three of the best bets. Timothy Hodler

THE DALKEY ARCHIVE PRESS

This publisher was launched in 1984 as a side project of the Review of Contemporary Fiction, and landed works by many of the last century's most challenging writers, like Stanley Elkin, Gertrude Stein, and David Markson.

Try If You Like: David Foster Wallace, Thomas Pynchon
Recent Picks: William H. Gass' Cartesian Sonata, Stanley Crawford's Log of the S.S. The Mrs. Unguentine

TWO DOLLAR RADIO

Started in 2005 by Eric Obenauf, a bartender, and his wife and brother, this tiny upstart has already produced an impressive array of subversive fiction from former literary big-leaguers—like Rudolph Wurlitzer and Jay Neugeboren.

Try If You Like: Jonathan Lethem, Cormac McCarthy
Recent Picks: Lawrence Shainberg's Crust, Francis Levy's Erotomania

SMALL BEER PRESS

Founded by Kelly Link (Magic for Beginners) and her husband, this quirky press puts out surreal fiction by such undersung storytellers as Sean Stewart, Maureen McHugh, and John Crowley.

Try If You Like: Susanna Clarke, José Saramago
Recent Picks: John Kessel's The Baum Plan for Financial Independence, Geoff Ryman's The King's Last Song

Photograph courtesy of Kilian

Kilian Hennessy, the grandson of LVMH's founder, knows a little something about luxury. The up-and-coming perfumier is introducing a new scent. By Kilian Prelude to Love, Invitation blends pepper, ginger, citrus, and bergamot for an aroma thats designed to seduce. Katie Hintz

Photograph courtesy of Kenneth Cole

Kenneth Cole continues to use his clothing empire as a political platform, pulling together essays by Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, and more than 80 others in his latest book, Awearness: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference. All proceeds go to Cole's Awearness Fund, which supports volunteer work. Katie Hintz

Photograph courtesy of ZoomWerks

Got a minute? Quantum of Solace director Marc Forster opens up about taking on the 22nd Bond film—and why he did away with the impressive gizmos.

Q: You've said that Daniel Craig convinced you to direct the film. How did he sell it?

A: He humanized Bond. He's such an interesting and incredible actor. In the last five minutes of Casino Royale, Bond lost a lot of his life. I thought it would be interesting to explore the character further—those demons. He's a bit of an emotional mess.

Q: What personal touches did you bring?

A: We have a franchise, and none of the films have the handwriting of their directors. It's like working under political censorship: You have to subliminally insert your message. But I felt I had to create a Bond who is responsible for his actions and isn't just blasé.

Q: So fans can expect tweaks to the template?

A: I included the Bond qualities I loved and threw out the things I wasn't so keen on. I loved the stylistic approach in the early sixties—and the exotic locations. I threw out some of the gadgets. There are so many gadgets in our life today already.

Q: Did you watch Bond movies as a kid?

A: No, the first Bond movie I saw was in the late eighties, with Timothy Dalton. In the early nineties, I had a marathon and watched them all through. That was just before GoldenEye came out. When I decided to do this movie, I went back to watch my favorites—Your Majesty's Secret Service, Dr. No, From Russia With Love, and obviously, Casino Royale.

Q: You've directed several critically acclaimed films—Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner—but none with this much box-office potential. Is that stressful?

A: It's been crazy. It was five times the budget I've had before, and people started saying it might be the most successful Bond film ever. So the expectations are huge. I didn't realize you're constantly under the microscope of the world media.

Q: Why did you turn down an offer to direct the next Bond film?

A: Every film I've done was different from the one before. I like it that way. It keeps me on my toes. Ryan Wenzel

A trailer for the new Bond film

Photographs by John Tsiavis/HBO

HBO's newest comedy, Summer Heights High, melds the mockumentary style of The Office with the quirky, "Who writes this stuff?" appeal of Flight of the Conchords. It's not a one-man show, but it's close: Australian Chris Lilley, who portrays two high-school students and a teacher, proves that multiple-personality disorder can be pretty damn funny. Take a look. David Walters

1. GREG "MR. G" GREGSON, 36 (PICTURED ABOVE)

Portrait: Hamlet 2's Dana Marschz + Waiting for Guffman's Corky St. Clair
Hobbies: Writing/directing stage productions such as IKEA: The Musical, interpretive dance
Quote: "This is a big show I did last year, Tsunamarama, which was about the tsunami tragedy set to the music of Bananarama."

2. JA'MIE (PRONOUNCED JUH-MAY) KING, 16

Portrait: Mean Girls' Regina George + Election's Tracy Flick
Hobbies: Making new friends, gossiping about new friends to newer friends, modeling
Quote: "Students from private schools are more likely to get into UNI and end up making a lot more money, while wife beaters and rapists are nearly all public-school-educated."

3. JONAH TAKALUA, 13

Portrait: Ali G + Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris
Hobbies: Tagging the boys' bathroom, break dancing, trying to convince his teacher she backed over him with her car
Quote: "We weren't even bullying him, sir. We just Punk'd him. I said, 'You got Punk'd!' afterwards, and he didn't even get it!"

This winter the San Francisco-based label Nice Collective launches its first collection, which includes low-key hats, functional bags, and a pair of dusty-gray lace-up boots that take more than 120 steps to make. Katie Hintz

Photograph by K Mazur/TCA 2008/WireImage.com

Got a minute? Last season's American Idol winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta dish about their upcoming albums (out November 18 and today, respectively) and panty-throwing fans.

Q: You guys are putting out albums right after a huge election. Do you keep your political beliefs to yourselves?

Cook: I think voting is a personal right and a privilege. For me it's less about alienating anybody and more about not trying to be a persuasion. People need to vote based on their own ideas.
Archuleta: I try to stay away from taking sides in politics, sports—anything competitive, really, because fans get so into that. I don't want people to base their opinion of me on a small comment I make.

Q: So you'd rather have them judge you on your new albums. What can we expect?

Archuleta: It's a pop album with a little R&B flavor. There's a nice variety, because I didn't want to pigeonhole myself. Being a teenager, I'm always changing my mind.
Cook: Mine is very eclectic, although it's a rock record for sure. There are heavy, guitar-driven songs, very delicate piano songs, and everything in between. I had a chance to work with people I admire, like Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace, Kevin Griffin from Better Than Ezra, Johnny Rzeznik, Zac Maloy. It was great for them to treat me as a peer.

Q: What albums did you look to for inspiration?

Cook: I tried to keep outside influence to a minimum. I found myself relying more on self-evaluation than anything. I wanted to be fresh and untainted.
Archuleta: I listened to Jordin Sparks' first album, because she's another artist my age and she mixed it up, which allowed her to do more with her next album. The guy who wrote "My Hands" on my album actually wrote "No Air" for Jordin.

Q: What's the craziest fan experience you guys have had?

Archuleta: My fans don't do freaky things. They throw stuffed animals. One time, Cook got some underwear, and he threw them on me. I was like, "Oh, nasty!" I freaked out.
Cook: For the record, yeah, I did. But they were thrown at me by a fan first. Katie Hintz

Courtesy of Seattle Art Museum

In November the Seattle Art Museum unveils "Edward Hopper's Women"—a collection of paintings and etchings from the American realist that capture the women of the late 1920s, using New York theaters, cafés, and restaurants as evocative backdrops. Katie Hintz

Courtesy of Audi

Diesel engines once spewed soot and sounded like tractors. The modern versions, though, are quiet, clean, and 50-state-compliant, and they can whip a hybrid in gas mileage on highway commutes. With that in mind, Audi is launching a diesel offensive in early 2009, when it will roll out the Q7. The SUV gets 23 mpg on the highway—four more than its gasoline-powered counterpart—and hits 60 in 8.5 seconds. It's also well-appointed, with a leather-wrapped dash, a rearview back-up camera, and exterior touches that would look at home on the carmaker's flagship R8 super-car. All of which pretty much guarantees that you won't be just a convert—you'll be an evangelist. Expect the price to be between $50,000 and $60,000. Ian Daly

The Audi Q7 in action

The Smiths, The Sound of the Smiths: The Very Best of the Smiths [Rhino]

Our rating: 3 out of a possible 5

The Smiths have released more greatest-hits packages than original albums. For those new to Morrissey's melancholy, this two-CD set is the best intro yet, but serious fans should stick with 1987's Louder Than Bombs. Matt Hendrickson

The music video for "Panic," one of the tracks on The Sound of the Smiths

Photograph by Craig Cutler

Bar food is generally consumed (or, rather, scarfed down) as a means of delivering grease, to soak up the evening's booze. But one item on the menu has a higher calling: the hot wing. Fried or baked—and almost always coated with that familiar spicy-tangy duo of cayenne-pepper sauce and butter—the finger food is a guilty pleasure for even the most accomplished of chefs. Accordingly, they're closing the gap between Hooters and haute cuisine, making their own fiery concoctions, cooking up duck wings, and adding unexpected flavors like licorice and celery root. JJ Goode

WHERE TO EAT THE SOUPED-UP VERSION

1. Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery (San Francisco)
Don't let the pub label fool you: Brandon Jew confits Liberty Farm duck wings, glazes them with chiles, sugar, and vinegar, and pairs them with a slaw of apple and celery root in a blue-cheese vinaigrette.
1398 Haight Street, 415-864-7468

2. Table 8 (Miami Beach)
Govind Armstrong simmers wings in fat for six hours before coating them in panko, frying them to a crisp, and treating them to house-made hot sauce and a buttermilk-blue-cheese dip.
1458 Ocean Drive, 305-695-4114

3. Terroir (New York City)
Boned, braised in olive oil, and deep-fried, Marco Canora's turkey wings come slicked with an Italian-inspired riff on buffalo sauce made of chiles, tomatoes, brown sugar, and red-wine vinegar.
413 East 12th Street, 646-602-1300

4. Toro (Boston)
Ken Oringer rotates two renditions on his menu: a spiffed-up classic bathed in Tabasco-spiked, rosemary-flecked brown butter and a version tossed in a combination of black licorice and soy sauce.
1704 Washington Street, 617-536-4300

5. Gyenari Korean BBQ & Lounge (Los Angeles)
To amp up his double-fried chicken wings, Robert Benson douses them in a sticky soy-garlic glaze and offers sour-cream-based ranch dressing as a cool counterpoint.
9450 Washington Boulevard, 310-838-3131

NEXT-LEVEL BLUE-CHEESE SAUCE

Photograph by C. Fleurent/Veer

Chef Michel Ricard, of Citronelle and Central in Washington, D.C., whips up a simple blue-cheese sauce that can transform even take-out wings into something special.

1 cup mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, peeled
½ red bell pepper, seeded
½ cup sour cream
1 tbsp red-wine vinegar
Salt to taste
Tabasco to taste
2 oz Roquefort cheese

In a blender, purée the first six ingredients until smooth. Add Tabasco, then add half the Roquefort and blend again. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, crumble in the remaining Roquefort, and stir briefly until the cheese is well distributed but the mixture is still chunky.

Courtesy of Openingceremony.us

For shoppers without access to Opening Ceremony's L.A. and New York locations, the store is set to offer its entire stock of designer collections—plus its special artist collaborations—online this fall. Katie Hintz

Photograph courtesy of 42West

Got a minute? Action-movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme opens up about his soft spot for animals and why playing himself in JCVD—in theaters November 7­—was so therapeutic.­­

Q: Was it strange playing the role of Jean-Claude Van Damme?

A: I didn't play—it was a truthful situation. That's why it's so good. Thank God I was 47. It was a good timing for me to peel back the skin and show the inside of the fiber—and that dry blood, those scars, you know? It's very strange—movie therapy.

Q: Was it painful to revisit your divorce drama, child-custody cases, and past drug use?

A: Sometimes you have tears about memories, but in that sadness you find joy. The drama and pain of being alone helps you when you go back to normal. You can appreciate it much more.

Q: Did you help with any of the writing, since you were the central character?

A: The director knew everything about me because he's super-intelligent and grew up with some of my posters on his wall. He can tell what's between the lines. People think they can read articles and go on TV to comment about me. That's like people who are reading the Bible and just following a book—you have to read people, too.

Q: What's next for you?

A: I'm directing this movie Full Love. We'll see how that goes. If I go to the gym at least three times a week and if once a week I have a good dinner with friends, I can be happy. And I love the ocean. I'm not rich enough to own a yacht, but that is my dream. I would love to live on the water, my friend.

Q: You canceled publicity appearances for the film because one of your dogs went into a coma. How's he doing?

A: We call him Scarface. He had a stroke. I talked to him in his ear, and I prayed because I believe in forces. Now he's doing fine. I see dogs on the street, and I adopt them. I took seven dogs from Thailand, and a few of them are paralyzed. One has three paws instead of four. One is limping, so we bought him a wheelchair. After this movie, I spent my own money to fly them back by private jet. In commercial, they can have heart attacks because of stress—it's dark and icy cold.

Q: So you're a dog lover.

A: I love animals. I have nine dogs and a kitty. My biggest orgasm—not in a sexual way—is to walk with my dogs on the beach. In Belgium we have these wide sidewalks. You feel like you're on the Planet Moon, and I can make them feel like movie stars. Ryan Wenzel

The trailer for JCVD

Photograph by Steve Wilkie

It's the year 2056 and organ transplantation is a medical necessity for some, an addictive vanity for others, and an everyday reality for all thanks to GeneCo, a biotech company that sells and finances body parts—and enforces a nonnegotiable repossession clause. This is the conceit of Repo! The Genetic Opera, a musical directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (of Saw II-IV). Amazingly, it's also the most conventional aspect of the film. A soaring duet unfolds around a half-dead stabbing victim, Sarah Brightman gouges out her own eyes mid-aria, Paris Hilton's face falls off—these and a thousand other gimmicks could have made Repo! just a slasher flick with a catchy soundtrack. Instead, it's the sort of brilliant gorefest that might result from a Marilyn Manson-staged revival of The Tap Dance Kid. Bloody good stuff indeed. David Walters

The film's trailer

Courtesy of Whitney.org

William Eggleston—the man who defined American color photography—this month gets his first U.S. solo exhibition in more than 30 years, at the Whitney Museum. Iconic color pictures documenting jewels of Americana and rare video work from the early seventies will be on display through January. Katie Hintz

Eagles of Death Metal, Heart On [Downtown]

Our rating: 3.5 out of a possible 5

On their third album, the EODM prove they're more than a novelty sideshow to drummer Josh Homme's other project, Queens of the Stone Age. Homme's songwriting with partner Jesse Hughes is tight and sadistically funny, especially on "I'm Your Torpedo." Matt Hendrickson

The music video for "Wanna Be in LA," from the new album