Larry talks with the KPCC film critics about all the week's new film releases including Funny People, Adam, and Thirst among others. Then, Larry is joined by filmmaker Werner Herzog about his new book, “Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo," and about his movie-making career. All that and the latest news.
Cash for Clunkers strapped?
Congress is racing to pass legislation pouring an additional $2 billion into the popular but financially strapped "Cash for Clunkers" program. However, some legislators are demanding higher fuel efficiency standards. Larry Mantle discusses the details of the program and hears from listeners about their experiences.
Guests:
David Welch, Detroit Bureau Chief for Business Week magazine
Dan Weiss, senior fellow with the Centers for American Progress
Paul Lunsford, Co-owner and General Manager, South Coast Toyota, President of Orange County Automobile Dealers Association
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle and critics Claudia Puig of USA Today and Lael Loewenstein of Variety discuss the week’s new film releases including Adam, Funny People, Thirst, The Cove, Local Color, and The English Surgeon, among others.
Guests:
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Lael Loewenstein, Variety
Werner Herzog and Conquest of the Useless
Visionary filmmaker Werner Herzog kept a diary during the making of his epic film "Fitzcarraldo." The lavish 1982 film told the story of a would-be rubber baron who pulls a steamship over a hill in order to access rich rubber territory. The film won the Outstanding Director Prize at 1982's Cannes Film Festival. Shot in the Amazon, Herzog later spoke of the difficulties in producing the film. "Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo" (Ecco, 2009) is Herzog's diary that he kept during the film. From weather conditions, language barriers to casting troubles Werner Herzog joins Larry to talk about one of his greatest achievements.
Winner of 2010 Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI) award for Best Interview, competing against public radio programming nationwide.
Guest:
Werner Herzog, author of “Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo". Herzog has produced, written, and directed more than fifty films, including "Aguirre", "The Wrath of God"; "The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser"; "Rescue Dawn"; and "Grizzly Man". He was a 2009 Oscar nominee for his documentary "Encounters at the End of the World".