Showing results by author "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Film director Barry Sonnenfeld on this edition of Fresh Air. His latest movie is Men in Black 2, the sequel to his film Men in Black. Both films star Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. Sonnenfeld's other films include Wild Wild West, Get Shorty, and The Addams Family. Before directing, he worked as a cinematographer.

On this edition of Fresh Air, the focus is the work of underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar and the new film based on his life and work, American Splendor. Harvey has been described as "working-class Everyman," and "first-class curmudgeon."

Comedian and actor Will Ferrell and film critic David Edelstein, on this edition of Fresh Air. Will Ferrell stars in the new film Blades of Glory. He plays a former Olympic ice skater whom, banned from competition with a fellow competitor (played by John "Napoleon Dynamite" Heder), discovers a loophole which allows the men to compete as a pair.

Hear singer-songwriter Ray Davies on this edition of Fresh Air. Davies first became known as the leader of the band The Kinks, one of the great and enduring British bands to came out of the 60s. Davies' first solo record, Other People's Lives was released in 2006. While recording the album in New Orleans, he was shot in the leg by a man who stole his girlfriend's purse. His new album, Working Man's Cafe, was released this month.

Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and actor Peter Gallagher on this archival edition of Fresh Air. McNamara is the author of In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam which contains the long awaited admission that McNamara felt the U.S. policy in Vietnam was wrong and the war was unwinnable.

Musician, producer, arranger, composer Quincy Jones on this 70th birthday rebroadcast edition of Fresh Air. In his fifty year career he's worked with just about anyone who is anybody in the music business. As a teenager he played backup for Billie Holiday, along with his 16 year old friend, Ray Charles. At 18 he began playing the trumpet in Lionel Hampton's band beside Clifford Brown. He went on to work with Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Lesley Gore and many others.

The late writer, Carol Shields on this edition of Fresh Air. Carol Shields discusses her life, her work, and her diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her best-selling novel The Stone Diaries. Her books are often about middle class people leading quiet lives.

Middle East historian David Fromkin on this edition of Fresh Air. David Fromkin is a professor of International Relations, International Law, and Middle Eastern Politics at Boston University. He's also the author of the best selling book, A Peace to End All Peace: Creating the Modern Middle East 1914-1922.

Humorist Fran Lebowitz and writer Anne Lamott on this archive edition of Fresh Air. The Washington Post called Fran Lebowitz "The funniest woman in America." Humorist Lebowitz has come out with her first children's book, Mr. Chas and Lisa Sue Meet The Pandas. In 1978, she wrote the critically acclaimed book Metropolitan Life a collection of witty essays on life. Writer Anne Lamott's new book is Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

Actor, singer, and drag queen Ru Paul and cartoonist Craig McCracken on this edition of Fresh Air. At 6'7", Ru Paul is even taller in heels and has fashioned for himself a supermodel persona. He attributes his mainstream appeal to his non-threatening sexuality and his "non-bitchy" drag queen personality. Ru Paul is appearing out of drag in the new comedy But I'm A Cheerleader.

Computer programmer Linus Torvalds on this edition of Fresh Air. He is the creator of Linux, a computer operating system intended to improve upon Unix. When Torvalds wrote the original code in 1991, he sent it out on the Internet to allow anyone to make changes and improvements.

British actor Colin Firth on this edition of Fresh Air. Firth is co-starring in the new romantic comedy/holiday feel-good film, Love Actually. Firth is probably best known for his role as Mr. Darcy in the BBC/A&E production of Pride and Prejudice. The film turned him into a heartthrob.

British historian Charles Tripp on this edition of Fresh Air. Tripp is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Studies, at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He's the author of A History of Iraq. Tripp talks about how Iraq became a nation, how Saddam became it's strongman, and what the U-S would likely face if it overthrows him.

Linguist John McWhorter and photographer Joel Meyerowitz on this editin of Fresh Air.

John F. Kennedy biographer Robert Dallek on this edition of Fresh Air. Dallek's new biography of John F. Kennedy called An Unfinished Life. He looked into medical records to reveal new information about Kennedy's health problems. He also discusses Kennedy's extramarital affairs and his life as a soldier.

Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Her latest book is her first novel called My Dream of You.

On this edition of Fresh Air: a discussion of the war on Iraq and an interview with novelist Scott Spencer. To discuss Iraq: former New York Times Balkans Bureau Chief and Middle East Bureau Chief Chris Hedges talks about the mindset of being at war and human rights professor Michael Ignatieff discuss his reluctant support of a war on Iraq, and his concerns. Chris Hedges is currently living in New York.

Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra Benjamin Zander and British actress Brenda Blethyn, on this edition of Fresh Air.

Professor Charles Kupchan and TV host and writer Ruby Wax on this edition of Fresh Air. Charles Kupchan's new book, "The End of the American Era: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Geopolitics of the Twenty-First Century, Kupchan argues that the era of American dominance may be coming to an end; this demise will not be brought on by the Islamic world or China but from an integrated Europe.

Novelist David Benioff and actor Edward Norton on this edition of Fresh Air. David Benioff is the author of 25th Hour. It's about a drug dealer who has one day left on the outside before beginning his seven-year prison sentence. It's the basis of the Spike Lee film of the same name. Edward Norton stars. 25th Hour is just out on video. Edward Norton's new film is The Italian Job. Norton has played Larry Flynt's lawyer in The People Vs. Larry Flynt, and received an Academy Award nomination for his role as a skin head in American History X.