Film

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new film version of William Burrough's novel, "Naked Lunch."

Film critic Stephen Schiff runs down his picks for the best movies of 1991, and he discusses the trends in movies this year.

Filmmaker and screenwriter James Toback. Toback wrote the script for Warren Beatty's new gangster movie, "Bugsy." His previous films include "The Pickup Artist" and "The Big Bang."

In case you're spending New Year's Eve at home, we've asked a couple of experts to recommend some good home videos to rent...

First, Los Angeles Times film critic Peter Rainer ("RAIN-er") suggests some home videos you might have overlooked.

Then Michael Barson shares his picks for the best "B" movies, rock and roll films, and 50s sci-fi films.

Book critic John Leonard reviews "The Devil's Candy," Wall Street Journal reporter Julie Salamon's account of the making of the movie, "The Bonfire of The Vanities."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Prince of Tides." It stars Barbara Streisand (who also directed the film) and Nick Nolte.

Film critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new Disney animated film "Beauty and the Beast."

Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar. He made the campy comedies "Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down." His new movie, "High Heels" is a more sober story, the tale of a romantic triangle involving a mother, her daughter, and a murder.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Bugsy," Warren Beatty's new movie about gangster Bugsy Siegel.

Film Critic Stephen Schiff reviews "JFK," the new Oliver Stone film about the Kennedy's assassination.

Filmmaker Isaac Julien. His new movie, "Young Soul Rebels," explores the rise of British funk clubs in late 70s London.

Photographer Susan Meiselas (My-SELL-us). She went to Nicaragua in the late 70s to photograph the Sandinista Revolution. She returned to Nicaragua recently to talk to the people she photographed more than ten years ago. Only this time she made a film about it, "Pictures From a Revolution."

Russian filmmaker and Soviet emigre Andrei Konchalovsky (kahn-sha-LAHV-sky) has just completed "The Inner Circle." It is the first major motion picture out of Hollywood filmed inside the Kremlin and the KGB. Konchalovsky was a filmmaker in the Soviet Union for many years, where about 40 of his movies had been banned, before he left for America. Konchalovsky's other films include "Runaway Train" and "Tango & Cash."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Hook," the new Stephen Spielberg movie that retells the story of Peter Pan. It stars Robin Williams as an adult Peter Pan and Dustin Hoffman as Captain Cook.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "Backtrack." It's a thriller movie starring Jodie Foster and Dennis Hopper (who also directed the movie). The film was made back in 1989, and intended for theatrical release, but it's been sitting on the shelf for the past two years. It premieres this Saturday on the Showtime cable network.

Film director Peter Medak. Medak's new movie, "Let Him Have it," is the true-life story of two London teenagers who shot a policeman in 1952. What makes the case controversial is that the boy who actually pulled the trigger was a minor, and therefore couldn't get the death penalty. The other boy was put to death, even though there's evidence that he was trying to surrender.

Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld. He was the cinematographer for the Coen Brothers' "Blood Simple," "Raising Arizona," "Miller's Crossing," and for "Misery." He's just made his directing debut with the new film, "The Addams Family."

Film critic for the Wall Street Journal, Julie Salamon. She's just written a new book about the making of the film, "The Bonfire of the Vanities." The book is "The Devil's Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood," (published by Houghton Mifflin). The movie, based on the Tom Wolfe novel of the same name, was directed by Brian DePalma and was eagerly anticipated but turned out to be a critical and financial bomb. Salamon followed the entire film making process from casting to editing.

The head animator for the character of the Beast in the new Disney film "Beauty and the Beast," Glen Keane. Keane stated at Disney Studios in 1974. He's worked on "The Fox and the Hound" and "The Little Mermaid." (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)