Film

Stephen Schiff reviews "Hero," directed by Stephen Frears and starring Dustin Hoffman, Joan Cusack, Geena Davis, and Andy Garcia. It's got a twisting plot reminiscent of films from the 1930s and '40s.

Holland made the critically acclaimed and controversial film, "Europa Europa." Her latest film is "Olivier, Olivier," about a woman reunited with her son six years after he disappeared at the age of nine. Many of her movies deal with the life of Polish Jews, especially during World War II.

Sinise was a founding member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater Company and is best known for his starring role in the Tony-award winning production of "The Grapes of Wrath." Sinise's latest project is as producer, director, and star of the new film "Of Mice and Men," which also stars John Malkovich. The screenplay, written by Horton Foote, is based on the John Steinbeck novel.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the grand, new movie "The Last of The Mohicans," starring Daniel Day Lewis, and directed by Michael Mann.

Antin just made a silent film called "The Man Without a World." It's set in the late 1920s, in Poland, in a Jewish shtetl. The movie appears to be a made by the an imagined, exiled Russian film director, Yevgeny Antinov, and it's supposedly just been rediscovered in some forgotten archive.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews Woody Allen's latest film, which draws inspiration from the director's troubled, real-life relationship with co-star Mia Farrow.

Bergman is responsible for the new hit "Honeymoon in Vegas," starring Nicholas Cage, James Caan and Sarah Jessica Parker. He also wrote and directed "The Freshman," and has a long list of screenwriting credits, including "Blazing Saddles," "Fletch," "The In-Laws," and "Soapdish," to name a few.

Many listeners will know Clennon from his role as Miles Drentell on the ABC TV show "thirtysomething." He received and Emmy nomination for the part. Now he plays a drug dealer in the new Paul Schrader film "Light Sleeper" along with Willem Dafoe and Susan Sarandon. He's also been in the films "Missing," "the Right Stuff," "Sweet Dreams," "The Thing," "The Paper Chase," and many others. Offscreen, he's very active in Central American politics.

Band founded Full Moon Entertainment, which specializes in low-budget B-films of sci-fi, horror and fantasy. The movies go straight to video distribution. His older films include, "Re-Animator," "Ghoulies" and "Trancers." Some of the videos currently out include, "Demonic Toys," about a Jack-in-the Box, baby doll, and a teddy bear that come to life and terrorize adults trapped in a warehouse; and "Subspecies," about a demon hoard that come to life when a vampire breaks off his fingers at the joint.

One of America's best known literary figures, Gore Vidal was once called "the Gentleman Bitch of American Letters." He has two new books out, "Screening History," part memoir and part film commentary, and "Live from Golgotha," about what would happen if the crucifixtion happened in the age of television. Vidal is also starring in a new movie,"Bob Roberts," directed by Tim Robbins. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his frustration with current American politics.

Film critic John Powers reviews "Bob Roberts," directed by and starring Tim Robbins. Powers says it takes courage to make a political movie today, but Robbins' effort lacks nuance.

The new movie, about a lovestruck private-eye, also stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Andrew Bergman. Film critic John Powers has this review.

Primus is also an actor, and appeared in the TV-show, "Cagney & Lacey," and the films "Absence of Malice," and "New York, New York." He's taught acting and directed for the stage. His first film is a Hollywood satire, "Mistress," about a man trying to get his film made. The idea of it came from his own experience in Hollywood. It stars Robert DeNiro, Eli Wallach, and Laurie Metcalf. It's also the first film to be produced out of De Niro's new production company, Tribeca.

Film critic John Powers of the L.A. Weekly reviews "The Best intentions," a three-hour film based on Bergman's parents' troubled relationship.

Dafoe was once pigeonholed as a villain, but he's since earned a wide variety of film roles. He's starred in "Platoon," "The Last Temptation of Christ," "Mississippi Burning," and "Wild at Heart." He's currently starring in the new Paul Schrader film, "Light Sleeper," along with Susan Sarandon.

Riklis's new film, "Cup Final," takes place in 1982: the Israelis have just invaded Lebanon and the World Cup soccer games are taking place in Barcelona. Riklis makes a point of humanizing Palestinians and painting a complex picture of Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Critic John Powers reviews "Single White Female," the new psychological thriller starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bridget Fonda.

Morris's films include, "The Thin Blue Line," a movie credited with helping to free an innocent man from death row, and "Gates of Heaven." His latest film is "A Brief History of Time," about the work and life of physicist Stephen Hawking. Hawking has ALS, a muscle-wasting disease, which has taken away much of his ability to move. But his billiant mind has been untouched by the disease. Hawking wrote a book about the birth and fate of the universe that was a bestseller, "A Brief History of Time."

Film critic Stephen Schiff says "Unforgiven" is a return to form for the director; every aspect of the movie is excellent, from the acting to the screenplay.

DiCillo's new film is a strange comedy about a untalented musician and housepainter with a ridiculously high pompadour, and a love for Ricky Nelson. Docillo created the character for a one-man show he performed in New York. Before that, he was cinematographer for two of Jim Jarmusch's early films, "Stranger Than Paradise," and "Permanent Vacation."