Friday specials:

DEFENDING MUNICH
Here’s a forceful, well-composed defense of Steven Spielberg’s Munich, which I think is his most restrained, mature, and challenging film since… oh… 1987’s Empire of the Sun. (It’s at Salon, so if you don’t subscribe, just click and watch the brief advertisement so you can get access to the whole article.) This one’s going in my Top Ten of 2005.

G.K. CHESTERTON … THE BLOG
If Chesterton was blogging today, he’d be my first Web stop of the day. Here’s the next best thing.

CHRISTMAS MOVIES: WHAT’LL IT BE… LOVERS OR KILLERS?
Peter T. Chattaway reviews Cassanova (once again, Lasse Hallström is church-bashing) and Munich.

LONDON GOES FOR TRUE LOVE AND PHARMACEUTICAL CONSPIRACY
The London Film Critics pile up nominations for Pride and Prejudice (Hooray!) and The Constant Gardener (Booooo!)