Film

Since the fall of communism, there have been few Eastern European directors who have become as internationally known as Roman Polanksi and Milos Forman. But now from Romania comes Cristi Puiu, whose film The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, premiered at Cannes in 2005 and has been winning awards ever since. Now it's out on DVD. Our critic-at-large says the film does something few movies ever do.

Writer-director Todd Phillips' new film is School for Scoundrels, starring Billy Bob Thornton as a cross between a self-help genius and a scam artist. Phillips' other films include Old School, Road Trip and Starsky and Hutch.

Ben Affleck currently stars as George Reeves in the new film Hollywoodland. The film is about the real-life unsolved murder of Reeves, the actor who played Superman in the original TV series.

A new film of Robert Penn Warren's novel All the King's Men stars Sean Penn as political boss Willie Stark, a role that won Broderick Crawford an Oscar in 1949. The remake also features Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson, and James Gandolfini. It's directed by Steven Zaillian, who won his own Oscar for the screenplay of Schindler's List.

Actor Ed Harris plays Ludwig van Beethoven in the new film Copying Beethoven, and he's also starring in the new play Wrecks, written and directed by Neil LaBute. The play is set to begin previews at New York's Public Theater on September 26 and open on Oct. 10.

Joan Graves, MPAA board chair is the only member of the board that the MPAA does not keep anonymous. Graves responds to some of the contentions in Kirby Dick's documentary, This Film is Not Yet Rated.

Filmmaker Kirby Dick's new documentary, This Film is Not Yet Rated, peers into the secretive world of the Motion Picture Association of America's film ratings system. MPAA board members are anonymous, deliberations are private, and standards are seemingly arbitrary.

Actress Diane Lane co-stars with Adrian Brody, Ben Affleck and Bob Hoskins in the new film Hollywoodland. The film is based on the real-life mystery surrounding the death of actor George Reeves, who played Superman on TV.

Two new films try something different to find audiences: Idlewild is the musical brainchild of OutKast members Andre 3000 (Andre Benjamin) and Big Boi (Antwan Patton). How to Eat Fried Worms is a family drama based on the popular children's book.

Film critic John Powers reviews the DVD release of Billy Wilder's classic Double Indemnity, starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck.

TV critic David Bianculli previews When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, Spike Lee's two-part HBO documentary about New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews Half Nelson, starring Ryan Gosling. Gosling stars as a young inner-city junior high school teacher who develops a drug habit, and the friendship he strikes up with one of his students.

Bruno Kirby died Monday at the age of 57 from complications of leukemia. Kirby played the would-be comedian in Good Morning, Vietnam and Carrie Fisher's boyfriend in When Harry Met Sally. Over the years Kirby played in dozens of movies, TV shows and on Broadway. This interview originally aired on July 27, 1990.

Matt Dillon, who recently starred in the comedy You, Me and Dupree, next plays the lead role in Factotum, based on a novel by Charles Bukowski. Dillon was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the film Crash.

Actress Maria Bello often seems to find herself playing characters involved with men in trouble -- take the films A History of Violence and The Cooler, for example. She now stars as the wife of a Port Authority officer trapped in the rubble of the Sept. 11 attacks, in Oliver Stone's upcoming film World Trade Center.

Oliver Stone's new film World Trade Center, starring Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena, follows two Port Authority policemen trapped in the rubble of the towers. Our critic says the film raises a lot of questions about how we grieve.

Actor John C. Reilly is probably best known for his association with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast Reilly in the films such as Hard 8, Boogie Nights and Magnolia. He also earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in Chicago. Reilly steps into a comedic role along Will Ferrell as a NASCAR driver in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

The black comedy Little Miss Sunshine revolves around a 7-year- old girl and her dream of winning a childrens' beauty pageant. The movie is the feature debut of the husband-and-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who made their names directing music videos for groups such as REM and The Smashing Pumpkins. Our film critic has a review.

Miami Vice, the '80s TV sensation starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two vice squad detectives, has been given a makeover by its former executive producer. Michael Mann directs an updated version for the screen, starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. Our film critic has a review.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews M. Night Shymalan's new film, Lady in the Water.