Film

Puzo's new novel is "The Last Don." He is best known for "The Godfather." This new book returns him to that genre: the inner workings of the Mafia. The main character is an old man trying to secure his family's future in an era of legalized gambling, motion picture investments and the threat of government informers. His goal is threatened by familial in-fighting. The two-time Academy Award winner has also written several screenplays, including are all three Godfathers and Superman I and II.

Fresh Air film critic John Power reviews the movie version of John Grisham's novel, "A Time To Kill."

Hill's best known for his blaxploitation films, "Coffy" and "Foxy Brown" which he both wrote and directed. He was a classmate of Francis Ford Coppola and during the 60s he and Coppola worked for the master of the exploitation films, Roger Corman. Hill worked on the last of Boris Karloff's films. His 1975 film "Switchblade Sister" is now being re-released under the aegis of Quentin Tarantino's Rolling Thunder Films.

Film critic John Powers reviews "Trainspotting," the gritty tale of heroin addicts in Scotland, which somehow makes for riveting entertainment.

Lisa Schwarzbaum reviews the new film "Courage Under Fire," starring Denzel Washington, about events surrounding the Persian Gulf War.

Fresh Air film critic John Powers reviews the new sci-fi film "Independence Day."

Fresh Air's movie critic John Powers reviews Striptease, a new film starring Demi Moore.

Film director Bernardo Bertolucci. His new film is "Stealing Beauty". It's the first time in 15 years that he has worked in his native country, Italy. At the age of 20, he began his career working for filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini and wrote his first screenplay the next year. In 1973, Bertolucci achieved international, critical and commercial success with the release of the controversial "Last Tango in Paris" with Marlon Brando.

Film critic John Powers reviews the film "Eraser."

Film critic John Powers reviews director Bernardo Bertolucci's latest film. "Stealing Beauty" stars Liv Tyler and Jeremy Irons.