Film

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie "Born on the Fourth of July," directed by Oliver Stone and starring Tom Cruise. It's based on the autobiography of the same name by Vietnam vet and anti-war activist Ron Kovic.

Critic Laurie Stone reviews the film "The War of the Roses," starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a divorcing couple, and directed by Danny de Vito, who also plays a divorce lawyer.

Film director Jim Jarmusch. After his first feature, "Permanent Vacation," gained a cult as well as a critical following in Europe, Jarmusch made "Stranger Than Paradise," which won the Camera d'Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival. Jarmusch's third feature was "Down By Law." His new film is called "Mystery Train." It's set in a seedy hotel in Memphis, Tennessee and tells the story of two young Japanese tourists.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the movie, "Enemies, a Love Story," based on an Isaac Bashevis Singer novel, directed by Paul Mazursky and starring Angelica Huston, Lena Olin, and Ron Silver.

Actor Ed Begley, Jr. He's best known for his role as the bumbling Dr. Victor Erlich in the television show, "St. Elsewhere." Before that, he's appeared in "Spinal Tap," where he had a non-speaking role as a drummer during the "paisley period," in "The Accidental Tourist," and in "Scenes from a Class Struggle in Beverly Hills." He's also done stand-up comedy. He's starring in the new movie, "She-Devil," with Meryl Streep and Roseanne Barr.

Film critic Owen Gleiberman reviews two new cynical comedies: "The War of the Roses." It stars Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas as the once-perfect couple going through the world's ugliest divorce, and Danny DeVito as divorce lawyer caught in middle. And "She-Devil" starring Meryl Streep, Roseanne Barr, and Ed Begley, Jr.

Character actor Vincent Gardenia.

French actress Isabelle Adjani. Her most famous role was in the film "The Story of Adele H." Her latest film, for which she won the French equivalent of an Oscar for Best Actress, is about the life of Camille Claudel. Claudel was French sculptor Rodin's mistress and a sculptor in her own right.

Academy Award-winning film director Costa-Gavras. His films include, "Z," "State of Seige," "Missing," and "Betrayed." His new film, "The Music Box," stars Jessica Lange as an attorney who must defend her Hungarian immigrant father against accusations of committing a series of war crimes.

Television critic David Bianculli considers the networks' penchant for the docudrama and looks at NBC's upcoming movie, "Howard Beach: Making the Case for Murder."

Film critic Owen Gleiberman (gly-ber-man) reviews the new Walt Disney animated movie, "The Little Mermaid."

Film critic Owen Gleiberman reviews "Back to the Future II."

Actor Jerry Orbach. Orbach has had a long career on Broadway, starring in shows such as "The Three Penny Opera," "Promises, Promises," and "42nd Street." More recently he's appeared on TV and in films. His latest role is in the new Woody Allen movie, "Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "Girltalk." It's a documentary that explores the lives of several women...all of them runaways, many of them from abusive homes. The program airs as part of Public Television's series, "P.O.V." (That's short for point of view).

Critic at large Laurie Stone reviews the new movie, "My Left Foot." It stars Daniel Day Lewis as Christy Brown, an Irish painter and writer with cerebral palsy.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Steel Magnolias," starring Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis, Shirley McLain, and Darrell Hannah as a group of friends in a small Southern town.

Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the video "Vengeance is Mine." It's a Japanese movie made in 1979.

Film maker Gus Van Sant. After years as an independent film maker in Portland, Oregon, and one full-length movie ("Mala Noche"), Van Sant has just finished "Drugstore Cowboy," starring Matt Dillon about a junkie trying to maintain his habit.

World music commentator Milo Miles explains how Peter Gabriel transformed folk music of the Middle East into the world pop sound that became the soundtrack for Scorsese's film "The Last Temptation of Christ."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new version of "Henry V" starring Kenneth Branagh.