Academy of Music Theater

(584-8435)

"Faithless" is Liv Ullman's emotionally wrenching tale of the disintegration of a happy family following an illict affair.

Ed Harris directs and stars in "Pollock," a biopic of the pioneering abstract painter. Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden co-stars.

Cinemark at Hampshire Mall

(587-4233)

"Along Came a Spider," based on the James Patterson novel, features Morgan Freeman as a detective investigating the kidnapping of two young girls.

Ted Demme's "Blow" recounts the true story of George Jung (Johnny Depp), accused of singlehandedly importing cocaine into the U.S. during the 1970s. From "Goodfellas" to "Scarface," this territory has been covered before (and much more grippingly).

"Bridget Jones's Diary" is reviewed in this issue.

Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat kick major ass as wushu warriors-in-love in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," but the central plot involving spoiled protege Zhang Ziyi lacks urgency. In Chinese with English sub-titles.

World War II snipers Ed Harris and Jude Law face off in "Enemy at the Gates." Joseph Fiennes co-stars.

Mother and daughter (Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt) pull confidence scams in "Heartbreakers," a pleasant if predictable comedy. Gene Hackman co-stars.

Co-written by and starring David Spade, "Joe Dirt" traces a janitor's journey to find the parents he lost at age eight. Spade's trademark crude slapstick humor pervades.

Rock-and-roll girls Rachael LeighCook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson land a recording contract, rise to fame and end up retaliating against their record label's maniacal CEO in "Josie and the Pussycats." (Yes, this is a re-make of the popular '70s cartoon.)

In "Just Visiting," a 12th century French nobleman (Christian Clavier) and his servant are accidentally transported through time to modern-day Chicago. Christina Applegate ("Married with Children") co-stars as the nobleman's descendant.

Petty thief George Clooney flees from the law with two other inmates in the period comedy (and loose Odyssey re-telling) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

"Pokemon 3" is evil.

The romantic comedy "Someone Like You" stars Ashley Judd as a successful career woman who is determined to keep every aspect of her life, especially relationships, in check. Greg Kinnear and Hugh Jackman co-star.

The family adventure "Spy Kids" stars Antonio Banderas and is the story of two kids who must save their spying parents from an evil kidnapper (Alan Cumming).

"Tomcats" stars Jerry O'Connell as Michael, who bets he can get his friend Kyle (Jake Busey) to marry his girlfriend within 30 days. Problems arise when Michael also falls for the girlfriend.

Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh documents the "Traffic" of drugs in America in this powerfully bleak ensemble film starring Michael Douglas and Benicio del Toro.

Pleasant Street Theater

(586-0925)

Aiyana Elliot's "The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack" is a heartfelt documentary which follows her father (legendary folk singer Jack Elliot) on a recent concert tour.

An intricate mystery unfolds as Leonard (Guy Pearce from "L.A. Confidential"), suffering from a rare form of amnesia that makes it difficult for him to remember his immediate past, tries to find his wife's killer in "Memento." To complicate matters further, the story is told backwards. Diabolically clever fun.

STAGE

Augusta Savage Gallery at UMass presents Odissi, an ancient Indian temple dance performed by Bani Ray. (Tonight, 7 p.m., New Africa House at UMass. Free.)

New World Theater presents Latino comedy trio Culture Clash, known for their politically-charged humor. (Thurs., 8 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, Fine Arts Center at UMass. Free. Call 577-2987 for more info.)

Mount Holyoke's theater department presents Bertolt Brecht's "The Good Person of Szechwan," directed by Holger Teschke. The story is a gender-bending parable about the nature of morality. (Thurs. through Sat., 8 p.m; Sat. and Sun., 2 p.m. Rooke Theatre at Mount Holyoke. $3 with student I.D. Call 538-2406 to reserve tickets.)

Pioneer Valley Ballet will present an Adjudication Concert with choreography by Jennifer Kayle and Megan Bonneau McCool. (Sat., 3 p.m., Academy of Music in Northampton. Free, but donations are welcome. Call 584-8435 for more info.)

UMass' New World Theater presents acclaimed performance poets Staceyann Chin and Melinda Corazon Foley whose work is an intersection between theater and contemporary performance, hip-hop and poetry. (Tues., 6:30 p.m., main floor of W.E.B. DuBois Library at UMass. Free.)

TALKS

The departments of anthropology and Sociology at Amherst and Mount Holyoke present a lecture by Dr. Robert Foster of the University of Rochester. Foster will speak on the role of brand-named consumer products and their role in globalization. (Thurs., 4:30 p.m., Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall. Free.)

Author and therapist Mary Pipher will give a talk entitled "Families 2001" about parents making choices regarding media exposure. (Thurs., 7 p.m., First Church in Northampton. $8, tickets are available at Food for Thought Bookstore in Amherst or by calling 1-800-THE-TICK.)

Owen Freeman-Daniels '01 will lecture on "How Our Practical Reasoning Betrays Us." He will discuss "living the good life"-how we do it, what is entailed and how we go wrong. Sponsored by the Philosophy Club. (Tues., 4:30 p.m., Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall. Free.)

Rick Doblin, Ph.D., of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedlic Studies, will lecture on "Ecstasy: The Facts, Myths, and Future of MDMA." (Tues., 7:15 p.m., Merrill 1. Free.)

TUNES

The Men's Glee Club will present its

annual Senior Concert, featuring the seniors' favorite songs from their four

years of participation. (Sat., 8 p.m., Buckley Recital Hall. Free.)

MISCELLANEOUS

The Amherst College Program Board presents "6th Element, Chapter 11: Night Release," a night of trance, hip-hop and everything in between. DJs will include Scott Henry (Washington, D.C.), Yaniv (Germany) and DJ Angeles (Chile). (Sat., 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., LeFrak Gymnasium. $5 with A.C.I.D.)