EXHIBITIONS

Casa Mañana: The Morrow Collection of Mexican Popular Arts celebrates the collection of Mexican folk art by Dwight W. Morrow, class of 1895, and his wife Elizabeth Cutter, amassed during Morrow's tenure as United States Ambassador to Mexico in the 1920s. (Mead Art Museum, through April 21.)

SELECT FLICKS

Academy of Music Theater

(584-8435)

A sparkling comedy about a beautiful Parisian waitress with a magical smile, "Amelie" is sure to appeal to your funny bone and your sense of the fantastic.

Cinemark at Hampshire Mall

(587-4233)

Director Ron Howard's skillfully directed but contrived film, "A Beautiful Mind," Golden Globe winner for Best Picture (Drama), features Russell Crowe as the schizophrenic mathematician John Forbes Nash, Jr. and Jennifer Connelly as his wife, Alicia.

"Crossroads" marks the cinematic debut of teeny-bopper sensation Britney Spears (worry not-her acting duties didn't prevent her from appearing on the soundtrack as well). It's formulaic, it's a coming of age drama and it's definitely worth seeing if you're in search of a laugh or two and five bucks happen to be burning an uncultured hole in your pocket.

Based on the book by Marc Bowen, "Black Hawk Down" is a visually and emotionally intense drama about the United States' failed 1993 attempt to bring food and aid to starving Somalis. Directed by Ridley Scott, its ensemble cast includes Josh Hartnett, Tom Sizemore and Ewan McGregor.

Sean Penn delivers a painfully over-the-top performance in Jessie Nelson's "I Am Sam," a drama about a handicapped man attempting to retain custody of his young daughter. Michelle Pfeiffer, however, is effectively touching in her role as Sam's tough but troubled attorney.

In "John Q," Denzel Washington plays a desperate father who takes a hospital over after they refuse to provide a heart transplant to his dying son when his insurance fails to cover the procedure.

In a heartfelt and hysterical follow-up to the brilliant comedy "Rushmore," writer and director Wes Anderson presents "The Royal Tenenbaums," the story of a family of oddballs led by Gene Hackman's tactless but sincere patriarch Royal Tenenbaum.

The first installment of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings," is brought to life in New Zealand director Peter Jackson's lush "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan and Bill Boyd.

TALKS

The Students for a Sensible Drug Policy will bring Sanho Tree, the director of the Institute for Policy Studies' Drug Policy Project, to campus to speak on the role of illegal drugs in American foreign policy. More specifically, Tree will make a timely presentation regarding the various hypocrisies and dangers of the U.S. drug war abroad. (Wed., 8 p.m., Johnson Chapel. Free.)

TUNES

The Amherst College Choral Society (Greg Brown, Acting Director) and the Amherst College Orchestra (Mark Lane Swanson, Director) present the annual joint choral/orchestra concert, "An American Celebration," featuring the music of Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. Free admission. (Sun., 3p.m., Buckley Recital Hall.)

The Massachusetts Sacred Heart Convention will be holding a session of its Shape Note Singing School. Participants will be taught some of the basics of shape note singing and 'sacred harp singing.' Snacks and books provided, no experience necessary! (Thurs., 7 p.m., Marsh House Ballroom.)

Based in Northampton, the Mobius Band bills itself as an innovative act which brings music to life through a fusion of traditional instruments and ambient/synthesized sound. They will perform at Mount Holyoke this Friday at 10 p.m. Free.

STAGE

The Hampshire College Theater presents Brian Friel's "Lovers," a play which explores the ever-entertaining themes of love, marriage and religion in modern Ireland, as two couples struggle with their feelings in a time of political disparities. (Thur.-March 9, 8 p.m., Emily Dickinson Theater, Hampshire College. $3 for students and seniors, $5 for the general public.)