Tracy Kidder, Pulitzer-winning author who turned unlikely subjects into bestsellers, dies at 80
Tracy Kidder, an award-winning narrative nonfiction writer who turned everything from computer engineering to life in a nursing home into unexpected bestsellers, has died. He was 80. Kidder’s longtime publisher Random House confirmed his death in a statement Wednesday. Kidder won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for his 1981 work “The Soul of a New Machine,” which delved into the work of a fledgling computer company long before most people cared about the inner workings of Silicon Valley. Over the ensuing decades, Kidder immersed himself in worlds he was previously unfamiliar with, including life in a fifth-grade classroom and how two friends maintained their dignity in a nursing home.
‘Stand by Me’ stars reflect on the movie, Rob Reiner and its return to theaters 40 years later
Rob Reiner's beloved coming-of-age film “Stand by Me” is coming back to theaters for one week. The 40th anniversary has reunited stars Jerry O’Connell, Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton who are eager to remember and honor their director, who died in December. They say the timing of the anniversary has given them a shared place to grieve and remember. It also makes them think about their late co-star River Phoenix. They say the film still connects across generation for its simplicity and authenticity. Audiences at screenings range in age from kids to grandparents. The return to theaters starts Friday.
Celine Dion set to perform in Paris two years after triumphant Olympics appearance
PARIS (AP) — Paris will love her again — and soon. Celine Dion is returning to the French capital for a series of concerts. A person involved in the planning told The Associated Press that Dion will play autumn concerts at the La Defense Arena. The return comes after Dion electrified the opening ceremony in the city of the 2024 Olympic Games where she performed Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’Amour” (“Hymn to Love”) from the Eiffel Tower in the rain. In a series of clues, posters recently affixed to lampposts bear the names of Dion song titles, and the singer posted on Instagram a series of shots of her with Paris landmarks.
Stephen Colbert and son will co-write a 'Lord of the Rings' movie
NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Colbert, famous devotee to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is co-writing a “Lord of the Rings” movie with his son. Warner Bros. announced early Wednesday that Colbert will script “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” along with series veteran Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, Colbert’s son. Producer Peter Jackson revealed Colbert’s involvement in a social media video that introduced a “very special partner” on the film. “Shadow of the Past” will come after Andy Serkis’ upcoming “The Hunt of Gollum,” which is set to arrive in theaters next year.
Movie Review: Vince Vaughn, James Marsden lead quirky action-comedy ‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’
Vince Vaughn does double duty in the new action comedy “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” as a time-traveling hit man who has come back to the past to save his friend. The friend is played by James Marsden who happens to be in love with Vaughn's character's wife. Written and directed by BenDavid Grabinski, the film has a few good laughs, some inspired needle drops, quirky references and a go-for-broke energy that should make it an enjoyable, low-stakes click, Associated Press Film Writer Lindsey Bahr writes in her review. Rated R, it's streaming Friday on Hulu and Disney+.
Recommended for you
Movie Review: In 'Miroirs No. 3,' a slender and elegant tale of mutual rehabilitation
Christian Petzold’s beguiling and restorative new drama “Miroirs No. 3” begins with a glance and a car crash. Wreckage and its long-term aftermath have long marked the movies of Petzold, arguably Germany’s foremost filmmaker. In his finest and most exquisitely haunting film, 2014’s “Phoenix,” an Auschwitz survivor and cabaret singer returns unrecognized to her German hometown with a reconstructed face. “Miroirs No. 3” doesn’t have that film’s grandiosity of melodrama. It's more of a lightly enigmatic chamber piece. But it’s likewise preoccupied with piecing life together again after tragedy, and maybe finding some catharsis in music. And its startling power will, like “Phoenix,” sneak up on you, writes AP Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review.
Movie Review: 'They Will Kill You' is a failed attempt at satanic, supernatural horror pulp
“They Will Kill You” follows Zazie Beetz as she storms a New York building run by murderous satanists to find her missing sister. On Friday, the R-rated film hits movie theaters as a Warner Bros. release. Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy says writer-director Kirill Sokolov mixes revenge-movie style with bits of satire, camp and gore but Kennedy says the mix never fully lands as horror or comedy. The story uses Dante’s “Inferno” idea but does not build it out. Beetz still shines in brutal close-combat scenes and the cast also includes Myha’la, Tom Felton, Heather Graham and Patricia Arquette.
Woman pleads not guilty to trying to murder Rihanna and to assaulting the singing superstar’s family
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman has pleaded not guilty to firing shots at Rihanna’s home while the singer and her family were there. Thirty-five-year-old Ivanna Lisette Ortiz of Orlando, Florida, appeared in court in Los Angeles to enter the plea. She is charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna and 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm against people including Rihanna's partner A$AP Rocky and their three young children. Prosecutors haven't described a motive. Ortiz could face life in prison if convicted. Her public defender sought to lower her bail, but the judge declined after a prosecutor said she's a risk to others and would likely flee.
Music Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea realizes lifelong dream with solo jazz album, 'Honora'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After decades with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bassist Flea introduces a jazz-heavy solo debut in “Honora.” The album opens with a psychedelic instrumental that hints at rock, but the album shifts quickly to jazz. That, and trumpet more specifically, is the focus of the album, writes The Associated Press’ Krysta Fauria in her review. The record leans on big collaborators like Thom Yorke and Nick Cave and includes covers, including of songs from Frank Ocean and Funkadelic. The album is easy to enjoy for jazz newcomers. Flea's foray into the genre may come as a surprise, but the rocker has long maintained the trumpet and jazz were his first musical loves.
Savannah Guthrie in NBC News interview appeals for help finding her missing mother
Savannah Guthrie says in a tearful interview on NBC that "'somebody needs to do the right thing” and provide information that leads to a resolution of the case of her missing 84-year-old mother. Guthrie says she wakes up every night wondering about the terror that her mother went through. The “Today” show aired a portion of Hoda Kotb’s interview with her colleague Wednesday and says it will air more on Thursday and Friday — the first interview Guthrie has given since her mother went missing nearly two months ago. Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped or otherwise taken against her will.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.