Film

Film critic John Powers reviews the new film The Royal Tenenbaums directed by Wes Anderson.

Wes Anderson co-wrote and produced the new film The Royal Tenenbaums, about a family of geniuses, who despite their talents are ill-suited to deal with everyday problems. The family comes together for an unexpected reunion. The film stars Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Billy Murray, Wyneth Paltrow and Ben Stiller. Anderson also co-wrote and directed Bottle Rocket and Rushmore.

David Atkins directed Novocaine, a new film starring Steve Martin. It's about a dentist who's lured into a life of crime. Atkins is also a drummer and songwriter, and participated in the creation of several songs on the movie soundtrack. He also wrote the screenplay for the film Arizona Dream, starring Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway and Lili Taylor. It something of a cult classic in the U.S., although it was successful overseas. Novocaine is his feature film directorial debut.

It's been twenty-five years since Sissy Spacek's memorable performance in the 1976 horror film Carrie, based on a Stephen King novel. Her new film is In The Bedroom, a family drama/tragedy. It won several awards in this year's Sundance festival. Spacek won an Oscar for her performance in Coal Miner's Daughter, and she's been nominated for Best Actress 5 times. She got her start in the film Badlands. She's had roles in numerous films and TV dramas, including Three Women, Raggedy Man, Night Mother, and The Straight Story.

Actress Angie Dickinson. She played an undercover cop in the TV series Police Woman from 1974-78. Her film roles include Dressed to Kill, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Pretty Maids all in a Row, and Ocean Eleven which she made in 1960 with the rat pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.

Her latest film is David Mamets State and Main. She also starred in Mamets earlier films The Spanish Prisoner and The Winslow Boy. Pidgeon is also known for her work on stage. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and appeared in many plays including the London production of Speed the Plow, and The Old Neighborhood on Broadway. Pidgeon is also a singer/songwriter. Her latest CD is called Four Marys.

Film critic John Powers reviews the French film that has become a hit in France and has received a cult following, Amelie. Its just been released in the US

Bosnian filmmaker Danis Tanovic. His new film No Mans Land (United Artists) is about three soldiers trapped in a trench between enemy lines, during the war in Bosnia. During the war in early 90s, Tanovic was the Bosnian army's cameraman, documenting the war for the army archive. He also directed many documentary films about the war and his hometown of Sarajevo. No Mans Land won the Best Screenplay award at this years Cannes Film Festival. Its also been shown at this years Toronto Film Festival and the Sarajevo International Film Festival.

Critic John Powers reviews the film "Spy Game."

Jazz trumpeter Steven Bernstein. With his quartet, Sex Mob, hes just released a new CD which pays homage to the music of James Bond films. Its called Sex Mob Does Bond (ropeadope records) and is the sextets third album. Bernstein also heads two other groups: Diaspora Soul which specializes in performing versions of ancient Jewish melodies, and Millennial Territory Orchestra with which he explores jazz from the 1920s and 1930s.

Critic Ken Tucker reviews the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.

Film critic John Powers reviews Heist, written and directed by David Mamet and co-starring Ricky Jay. Also starring are Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito and Delroy Lindo.

Film critic John Powers reviews The Man Who Wasn't There, the new film by Joel and Ethan Coen.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the film West Side Story, we speak with cast members. The film is a screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about New York City gangs circa 1960. It won ten Oscars. First, George Chakiris, who played Bernardo in the movie. He won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the role. Chakiris was born in 1935 and made his acting debut at the age of 12. Hes been in many films, TV shows and plays. He got the West Side Story film role after playing the role of Biff in the London theater production of West Side Story.

Film critic John Powers reviews the new David Lynch film, Mulholland Drive.

His 1955 film noir masterpiece RIFIFI was re-released last year. It was virtually unseen since its release because Jules Dassin was blacklisted. He met and married Greek actress Melina Mercouri, and went on to collaborate with her in the hit films Never on Sunday and Topkapi, the inspiration for Mission: Impossible. Mercouri is being honored by New York Film forum.

Film critic John Powers reviews L.I.E., an independent film about a troubled teenage boy and the older man who steps into his life. L.I.E. stands for Long Island Expressway, where the boy's mother died in an auto crash.

Documentary film director Ric Burns. He directed the 7-part Emmy-awarded winning PBS series, New York: A Documentary Film. The last two episodes of the series air on most stations September 30th and October 1st. Also commentator Peter Quinn who appears in the film. Quinn is a novelist, essayist and third generation Irish-American. He is the author of the historical novel Banished Children of Eve.

Film critic John Powers reviews Zoolander