Mystery & Crime

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie "Romeo is Bleeding," a black comedy directed by Peter Medak and starring Gary Oldman, Lena Olin, Annabella Sciorra, Juliette Lewis and Roy Scheider.

Movie critic Stephen Schiff reviews Brian De Palma's new movie "Carlito's Way", starring Al Pacino.

Filmmaker Rob Weiss. His first film, Amongst Friends, draws on his own experiences growing up affluent on Long Island. His characters reject the values of their parents and are attracted by a world of gangsters and gambling.

Film critic John Powers reviews "Lethal Weapon 3."

Actor Larry Fishburne. He was Cowboy Curtis on "Pee-wee's Playhouse," and he played a young G.I. in "Apocalypse Now" when he was only 15. He was last in "Boyz in the Hood" as the main character's father. His latest role is in the soon-to-be-released film "Deep Cover," in which he plays an undercover cop. (Fine Line Pictures).

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie, "Juice."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie "Rush," starring and Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh as a pair of undercover cops trying to stop a drug kingpin.

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."

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.

First, novelist E.L. Doctorow reads from his novel, "Billy Bathgate." (First broadcast March 14, 1989) Then, film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Billy Bathgate," the film adaptation of E. L. Doctorow's best-selling novel. It stars Dustin Hoffman and Bruce Willis.

Actor and director Kenneth Branagh (rhymes with "Savannah"). His new movie, "Dead Again," is a psychological thriller starring Branagh and his real-life wife, Emma Thompson. In 1989, Branagh made a film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry the Fifth," with himself in the title role. That movie was nominated for an Oscar as best film. Branagh studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as acting, managing, and directing other groups and working on several BBC productions.

Two Interviews: 1) Film maker Samuel Fuller. Fuller's B-movies of the 50s and 60s have influenced many other directors. His 1982 movie, "White Dog," about a racist who trains a dog to attacks blacks, was considered too controversial to be released in this country. It's finally being shown, along with all Fuller's other works, during a major retrospective of his work at New York's "Film Forum.
2) Martin Scorsese, one of today's most prominent filmmakers, tells us the movies of Samuel Fuller influenced him.

Actor Gary Busey. Busey electrified audiences and the critics with his starring role in "The Buddy Holly Story." More recently, Busey was the arch villain in "Lethal Weapon." He co-stars with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves in the new movie, "Point Break."

Film critic Stephen Schiff Reviews "The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear," a police movie parody starring Leslie Nielsen and Priscilla Presley.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews what he says is Coppola's best movie since the last Godfather. He says it's not perfect, but it's better than anything else in theaters right now.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie "Dick Tracy." (Partial audio).

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Another 48 Hours," starring Nick Knolte and Eddie Murphy in a sequel to their movie, "48 Hours."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Miami Blues," starring Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Fred Ward.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews a couple of new movies: "House Party" by first time black director, Reginald Hudlin, and "Love at Large," directed by Alan Rudolph, who also directed "Trouble in Mind," and "Choose Me." Schiff says the movies are improbable, but likable.

British film director Mike Figgis. He wrote and directed the film, "Stormy Monday," starring Melanie Griffith, and directed the new movie, "Internal Affairs," starring Richard Gere and Andy Garcia