Academy of Music Theater
(584-8435)
"Greenfingers" is a British comedy, based on a true story, about Colin and Fergus (Clive Owen and David Kelly), two convicts who are serving their time in an experimental facility located in England. As part of their sentencing and rehabilitation, they must take up gardening under the wing of the resident horticultural expert, Georgina Woodhouse (Helen Mirren). Then, in a plot turn which is usually reserved for the pages of children's fairy tales, the convicts flex their newly honed green thumbs at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
The folks at the Academy of Music Theater have brought back an old favorite for your enjoyment this weekend: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," a film which is worshipped by critics, the general public and its cult following alike. This is the fiercely funny fable of King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his inane ensemble of knights as they traipse across the English countryside in search of the Holy Grail. A primer for low-budget film buffs and comedians everywhere, the film's cast is ripe with hilarious appearances from such comedic notables as John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and the rest of the Monty Python crew. This is one of those rare films which is equally as magical the second, third, fourth (and so on) time around-and we definitely recommend revisiting it while you have the chance.
Cinemark at Hampshire Mall
(587-4233)
"Corky Romano" is, simply, painfully unfunny. Chris Kattan plays a happy-go-lucky veterinarian forced to infiltrate the FBI to gather information to save his "Pops,"-a high-profile Mafia boss. Like the SNL skit this movie is based on, it's full of fidgety acting, second-grade gags and fart jokes. Only reason to see this movie? A hilarious cameo by Tony (Vincent Pastore) of "The Sopranos" fame.
Psychiatrist Michael Douglas must interrogate a catatonic patient in order to save his kidnapped daughter in "Don't Say a Word." While there are some tense and suspensful moments, the film is unfortunately rather predictable and generally undercooked.
"Hearts in Atlantis," based on Stephen King's novel and directed by Scott Hicks ("Shine"), follows the friendship between mystery man Anthony Hopkins and a young orphan.
"Hardball" recycles "Bad News Bears" hijinks for a new generation. It's based on a true story, though, and athletic roles bring out the best in leading man Keanu Reeves ("The Replacements"). Diane Lane co-stars.
"The Others," a horror film starring Nicole Kidman as a mother whose children see dead people (damn, that's original) is notable for Kidman's layered performance and as the English-language debut of director Alejandro Amenabar, whose prior work has been based out of Chile. He directs this somewhat familiar tale with visual flair, delivering some genuine frights along the way.
Pleasant Street Theater
(586-0925)
"Bread and Tulips," which takes place in the breathtaking city of Venice, Italy, follows the life of disaffected housewife Rosalba (Licia Maglietta). When Rosalba gets separated from her family during a vacation, she begins an adventure and takes advantage of her newfound freedom.
"The Charcoal People" is the decidedly artistic debut film from director Nigel Noble. The film is a documentation of the lives of 60,000 labor workers in Brazil, who are employed to cut down forests and produce charcoal for the worldwide pig-iron industry. More than anything else, Noble ventures to show the extremely dangerous situations that the workers are placed in, exploring the unfortunate and somtimes tragic circumstances which surround their health and social status. Originally introduced to film audiences in New York City and then shown at the Sundance Festival in 2000, this film is undeniably an important statement on both the lives of these workers and the human condition in the entire working world.
John Cusack, arguably one of the most adorable and identifiable stars to ever grace the silver screen, is up to his old awkwardly charming antics again in "Serendipity." This time, Cusack plays Jonathon Trager, a (surprise) whimsical male looking for the finer (albeit more complicated) points of love in Manhattan. He stumbles into serendipity (a 'happy accident') when he meets Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale), a beautiful woman who is, like himself, already involved in a relationship. The two spend an evening wandering around the city swimming in holiday traffic and their own reciprocal attraction. At the end of the night, Sara decides that the only thing that will decide their future is fate itself, and their lives and hearts are left up in the air-that is, until serendipity steps in once again.
STAGE
Amherst Works, in cooperation with the Amherst Group Theatre, presents "Duetting" (an Asian Culture House project). Directed by Alice Hsiung '03, Richard Lee '04, Jiehae Park '02, Adam Roffman '02, Kim Rosenstock '02 and Katherine Vondy '02, and produced by Jamie O'Brien '02, these short works were written by Amherst alumnae Julia Cho '96 and Amy Fox '97. October 18 to 20, Studio 3 in Webster Hall, 8 p.m. Free.
TALKS
E.J. Mills, head football coach, will be giving The Coach's Report for the 2001 Season in the Conway Classroom of Alumni Gym. Saturday, Oct. 20, 7:30 a.m.
Amherst College Lewis-Sebring Professor in Latin American and Latino Culture Ilán Stavans will read from and discuss his most recent book, On Borrowed Words: A Memoir of Language this Saturday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. in Merrill 1.
Amherst College Class of 1959 Professor of History and Black Studies David W. Blight will talk about his new book, Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory, 1863-1915, in Merrill 2 on Saturday, Oct. 20. at 9 a.m.
TUNES
The Amherst College Orchestra will give its homecoming concert, "The German Romantics," tonight at 8:30 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall. The program features the "Prelude to Die Meistersinger" by Richard Wagner, the "Siegfried Idyll for chamber orchestra"
by Wagner and Beethoven's "Symphony #5." Directed by the new orchestra director and Director of Instrumental Music at Amherst, Mark Lane Swanson. Free.
The Amherst College Choral Society, under the direction of Conductor and Director of Choral Music Mallorie Chernin and Mollie Stone '01, assistant conductor, will present its annual Homecoming Concert on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 8:30 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall. Music will be performed by the Women's Chorus, Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers and the Glee Club. They will perform music by Brahms, Ligeti, Persichetti, Whalum, Jenner, Karen Tarlow (a local composer) and music from around the world. The concert is dedicated to the victims of Sept. 11 and their families, and especially to Choral Society alumna Maurita Tam, '01. Tickets are $6, $3 seniors/children under 12.
MISCELLANEOUS
Open classes will be held on Friday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Alumni, parents and other visitors can drop in on classes and get an understanding for what an Amherst education is like for students in 2001. A schedule of class times can be obtained at the Alumni Office, located behind Cohan Dormitory.
The Pratt Museum of Natural History will be displaying its collection of Dinosaur Tracks this weekend. The exhibit opened today at 11 a.m.
The Mead Art Museum will be opening its doors for a tour this weekend in order to give alums and visitors a 'sneak peek' at what goes on behind the scenes. Jill Meredith, the director of the museum, will be accompany a tour on Saturday at 9 a.m.
There will be a Service of Remembrance and Community this weekend to reflect upon the events of Sept. 11 in New York, Washington, D.C. and Penn-
sylvania and to remember and honor those who were lost in the tragedies. The service will be held in Johnson Chapel. Alumni, students, faculty and any other members of the Amherst community are encouraged to attend. Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m.
The Emily Dickinson Homestead and The Evergreens are both hosting open houses this weekend. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, two of Amherst's most pleasant historic venues will be open to the public. The Emily Dickinson Homestead is located on 280 Main St., and The Evergreens (another house which once belonged to the Dickinson family) is at 214 Main St.
The College will host a reception to celebrate women athletes at Amherst in the Friends Room of Alumni Gymnasium. Saturday, Oct. 20, 1 p.m.
Professors Stavans and Blight will be signing copies of their most recently published books, at the Jeffery Amherst College Bookshop at 55 South Pleasant Street., this Saturday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m.