Culture An Inside Look at Enron April 29, 2005 • Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan reviews Alex Gibney's award-winning documentary, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. Gibney adapted a book that chronicles the fantastic rise and demise of the company that was engulfed in scandal when its outrageous accounting practices were exposed.
Movies David Bianculli on 'The Hitchhiker's Guide' Fresh Air April 29, 2005 • David Bianculli, usually Fresh Air's small-screen critic, takes a look at the long-awaited big screen adaptation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Culture Slate's Summary Judgment: 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,' 'XXX,' 'Ladies in Lavender' April 29, 2005 • Slate contributor Mark Jordan Legan looks at what movie critics are saying about this weekend's major movie releases, including The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, XXX: State of the Union and Ladies in Lavender.
Fresh Air Documentary: 'Smartest Guys' of Enron Fresh Air April 28, 2005 • Film critic David Edelstein reviews the new documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.
Movies 'The Interpreter': Intelligent but Too Ambitious April 22, 2005 • Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan reviews director Sydney Pollack's The Interpreter. The complex political thriller, which stars Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, is the first movie the United Nations has ever allowed to film at its headquarters in New York.
Culture 'The Interpreter:' Cloak and Dagger at the U.N. Fresh Air April 22, 2005 • Film critic David Edelstein reviews The Interpreter starring Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman. Edelstein says Sydney Pollack's new film could use a lighter touch.
Culture 'Mondovino': Making Wine in a Global Market Fresh Air April 19, 2005 • Critic-at-large John Powers has some thoughts on wine, and globalization after watching the documentary Mondovino by Jonathan Nossiter.
Culture Re-release of 'Major Dundee' Closer to Peckinpah's Vision April 15, 2005 • Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan reviews the re-release of Major Dundee. The 40-year-old Western has been re-edited to more closely reflect director Sam Peckinpah's vision.
Culture Director Todd Solondz Returns with 'Palindromes' Fresh Air April 15, 2005 • The new film from director Todd Solondz, Palindromes, begins with a funeral for Dawn Weiner, the memorable, much-maligned 11-year-old from the 1995 Solondz film Welcome to the Dollhouse. The main character of the new film is Dawn's cousin, but she's played by seven different and distinct actors.
Culture 'Palindromes': A Strange Odyssey from Director Solondz April 13, 2005 • Palindromes is the dark, new film comedy by Todd Solondz. It's a sequel to the writer-director's Welcome to the Dollhouse. Bob Mondello says like that earlier film, this new one deals almost exclusively with discomfiting subjects.
Movies Cannes' Best Screenplay Winner: 'Look at Me' Fresh Air April 8, 2005 • Film critic David Edelstein reviews the French film Look at Me. It won a best screenplay prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Culture 'Lipstick & Dynamite,' Grappling with the Truth April 8, 2005 • Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan reviews Lipstick & Dynamite, a new documentary about women wrestlers of the '40s, '50s and '60s.
Culture 'Kung-Fu Hustle': A Hilarious Martial Arts Primer April 8, 2005 • Hong Kong writer, actor, and director Stephen Chow's new film, Kung-Fu Hustle, is a very funny calling-card for American audiences and an entertaining introduction to a variety of martial arts styles.
Culture French Film Is Well Worth a 'Look' April 1, 2005 • Los Angeles Times movie critic Kenneth Turan reviews the new French film Look at Me, directed by director Agnes Jaoui from a screenplay written by her husband. They are both actors who got so frustrated with the roles offered to them, they decided to make their own movies.
Culture Miller, Rodriguez Stylize Violence in 'Sin City' Fresh Air April 1, 2005 • Film critic David Edelstein reviews Sin City, starring Bruce Willis and directed by Robert Rodriguez and comic writer-artist Frank Miller.