THOMPSON COLUMN: Take books on vacation

Typically I travel solo, but I never go alone. No, I always choose the best of traveling companions, engaging and unfailingly witty men and women with whom one need not compromise on what to do or where and when to do it. Read More

'Abduction'; 'Dolphin Tale'

Parents' guide to new movie releases Read More

Film captures birders

Fanatical bird-watchers have descended on a small town in the Arkansas bayou determined to locate the ivory-billed woodpecker, supposedly declared extinct in tree and sky since the 1940s. Read More

Delving into Abramoff

Kevin Spacey tackles role of lobbyist

On the surface, Kevin Spacey and Jack Abramoff don't appear to share much in common. Spacey is a Democrat. Abramoff is a Republican. Spacey starred in a high school production of "The Sound of Music." During his teen years, Abramoff was a wrestler. Read More

Giamatti thrives in showing life's disorder

NEW YORK -- In characters like the uncommonly candid Harvey Pekar of "American Splendor," the frank, impudent John Adams of the HBO miniseries, and, now, the self-destructive Barney Parnofsky of "Barney's Version," Paul Giamatti has brought very human, messy lives to movie screens more accustom to simpler, neater portraits. Read More

Bond to return in '12

LOS ANGELES -- James Bond finally is getting back into action. The new management at MGM, along with Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced Tuesday that the 23rd film in the spy franchise will arrive in theaters Nov. 9, 2012. Read More

Movies to duel at Globes

'Social Network,' 'King's Speech' top contenders

LOS ANGELES -- Colin Firth quaking before a radio microphone. Jesse Eisenberg keeping friends in touch online. The top prize at tonight's Golden Globes sets old media against new media as the 1930s-era British monarchy saga "The King's Speech" and the up-to-the-minute Facebook drama "The Social Network" square off as front-runners. Read More

Film bio explores Cazale's career

John Cazale. Drawing a blank? Well, then, how about this clue? He played Fredo, the screw-up middle Corleone son in "The Godfather" and "The Godfather: Part II." Oh, you say. That guy. Yeah, that guy. Read More

Striking the right 'Tangled' pose

Donna Murphy, a two-time Tony winner and first-time voice actor, called on her theater training to create the voice of the wicked Mother Gothel in the new animated feature "Tangled," a new take on the fairy tale of the long-haired Rapunzel. Read More

Disposable society focus of film fest

The numbers are staggering. Every year, Americans discard 96 billion pounds of food. That's 263 million pounds a day or 11 million pounds an hour. Most in a disposable society suffer for it, but some survive on it. Read More

Howard to adapt 'Dark Tower'

LOS ANGELES -- The creations of Stephen King have been keeping people up at night for decades, but Ron Howard has been losing sleep lately for a different reason: The Oscar-winning filmmaker is becoming a bit obsessive about his plan to adapt King's most epic creation, "The Dark Tower," as a film franchise and tie-in television series. Read More

When Oscar turns into a royal race

Does the surest path to Oscar gold run through Buckingham Palace? With Colin Firth's portrayal of Britain's King George VI in "The King's Speech" already generating strong Academy Awards chatter, Hollywood's longstanding love affair with English monarchs seems to be burning as strong as ever. Read More

Steve McQueen embodies 'cool'

Commentary

I never wanted to be the grumpy old man who complains incessantly about how everything used to be better in the good old days. But, sometimes, I can't help myself. Read More

Paltrow relishes latest role

Gwyneth Paltrow is the kind of well-mannered celebrity who never, even in her gregarious 20s, raised eyebrows by wearing her skirts too short, swaying boozily on a bar top or kissing a man who wasn't her own. Read More

A grand ride

Trains often provide perfect setting, backdrop for movies of all genres

Since the beginning of the movies, trains have provided splendid backgrounds and set pieces, as well as dynamic platforms for stunts, fights and other forms of derring-do. Read More