Film

Kevin Whitehead, who normally reviews jazz for Fresh Air, looks at the new movie "The Russia House," an adaptation of the recent John LeCarre spy novel. Whitehead says it's neither good nor bad, but he likes Sean Connery's performance.

Altman is establishing himself as a Hollywood director; he also gained acclaimed for his television series Tanner 88, cowritten by Gary Trudeau. His new movie is "Vincent and Theo," about painter Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo.

Burton's new film is called Edward Scissorhands, starring Johnny Depp as the title character who navigates suburban life. Burton also directed one of the most popular films of all time "Batman," along with "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" and "Beetlejuice."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews Sydney Pollack's new movie, a love story that's supposed to be steamy, but, according to Schiff, lacks both passion and political sophistication.

Pollack faced difficulty filming his new movie, in light of the antagonistic relationship between the United States and Cuba. His other films include Tootsie and the Oscar winning Out of Africa.

Kurys's films include Entre Nous and Peppermint Soda. Her new film, C'est La Vie" is the semi-autobiographical story about the summer when she was a young girl and her parents marriage broke up.

Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews Edward Scissorhands, the new movie directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder. Gleiberman says the film shows Burton's artistry taking a new leap.

Kazan wrote the screenplay for the new movie "Reversal of Fortune." He also wrote the screenplays for "Patty Hearst" and "At Close Range."

The actor started his career during the era of the Hollywood studio system. In 1988, he went to China in 1988, and directed an all Chinese production of "The Caine Mutiny." Heston's written about that project in a new book, Beijing Dairy. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his decades-long career in cinema.

Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the newest Stephen King film adaptation, about a romance novelist who is kidnapped and tortured by an obsessive fan.

Ed Pressman produced movies like "Wall Street," "Conan the Barbarian," and "Badlands." Three of his newest films out now are "Reversal of Fortune," "To Sleep With Anger," and "Waiting for the Light."

Whitelaw is well-known in Britain, but she's little-recognized in America. She can be seen in the new gangster movie, The Krays. Whitelaw also worked with playwright Samuel Beckett.

Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the sequel to the very popular Three Men and A Baby, which he thought was bland. The new movie might not be great, but it's got an enjoyable, clash of cultures story.

Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the home video version of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The movie has been a cult favorite at midnight showings for nearly fifteen years. Gleiberman says it's surprisingly tame and schlocky -- but it may not have been as popular if it were a better movie.

Filmmaker Pierre Sauvage made the film "Weapons of the Spirit," about a small, farming village in France that sheltered 5,000 Jews during World War II. Sauvage's own family was among them.

Owen Gleiberman reviews the latest in the Rocky franchise. Directed by John G. Avildsen, Gleiberman says it tries to recapture the innocence and humanity of the original, but never quite reaches its goal.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the director's new film about the famous painter and his brother. Schiff says it's as much about them as it is the bond between art and commerce.

The stage and screen actor's career has spanned nearly 50 years. One of his most well-known films is the Magnificent Seven. Wallach is currently touring the country in the play Love Letters with his wife Anne Jackson, and also has a role in the upcoming film, Godfather Part III.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Dances With Wolves," starring and directed by Kevin Costner, about a soldier in the 1860s preserving the frontier and forging alliances with American Indians. Schiff says it's corny and overdone, but reminds him of the entertaining Westerns of the 1950s.

Parks directed the early black action film, Shaft. His son, who died in 1979, was also a director. The elder Parks began his career as a photographer for Vogue and Life, and documented difficult aspects of the African American experience. He's just written his memoir, "Voices in the Mirror."