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Fall Arts Preview

Autumn is upon us, so get ready to enjoy the cooler air, the glorious foliage, and the wealth of fall-arts offerings as the Capital Region comes alive with film, music, theater, dance, visual art and more

Pop Music
Cinema
Film Festivals
Dance
Literary
Art & Exhibits
Theater
Classical

Pop Music

Altamont Fairgrounds
Altamont, tickets: (888) 414-3378, or www.irish2000fest.com.

Sept. 20: Irish 2000 Festival with Maura O’Connell, Eileen Ivers Band, Cherish the Ladies, Danú, Four Men and a Dog, Irish Descendants, the John Whelan Band, the Fenians, Eileen Ivers Band, Seven Nations, Prodigals, Off Kilter, Seamus Kennedy, the Glengarry Bhoys, the McKrells, the Spain Brothers, Kilbrannan, the Highland Rovers Band, Yvonne Mahar, Curragh, Steve Gray and Frank Jaklitsch, Hair of the Dog, Bairbre McCarthy, Ronnie Stewart, Barrett and Byrne, more.

Caffe Lena
47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, 583-0022.

Sept. 21: Matapat. Sept. 22: Masters of Nostalgia. Sept. 27: Cliff Eberhardt. Sept. 28: Kate Blain; 50 Man Machine. Sept. 29: Dafe Brudajo.

Calvin Theatre
19 King St., Northampton, Mass., (800) THE-TICK.

Sept. 21: Bruce Hornsby and His Band featuring Steve Kimock. Sept 27: Chuck Berry. Oct. 2: Aimee Mann. Oct. 7: Ryan Adams. Oct. 30: Richard Thompson. Oct. 31: Phillip Glass. Nov. 3: the Disco Biscuits. Nov. 23: Natalie MacMaster. Dec. 7: Martin Sexton. Dec 8: Dark Star Orchestra.

Club Helsinki
284 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-3394.

Sept. 19: Gloria Deluxe. Sept. 20: Johnny A. Sept. 21: Spookie Daly Pride. Sept. 26: Stephen Kellogg. Sept. 27: Laura Love Duo. Sept. 28: Tarbox Ramblers. Oct. 5: Rene Marie. Oct. 11: Demolition String Band. Oct. 12: Guy Clark, Mary Gauthier. Oct. 18: Jeff Lang. Oct. 26: Richard Shindell. Oct. 31: Sky Smeed. Nov. 2: Babaloo! Nov. 4: Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke. Nov. 16: Superhoney. Nov. 23 (at the Mahaiwe Theater): Richie Havens.

The Egg
Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845.

Sept. 29: Bruce Hornsby. Oct. 6: Will Downing. Oct. 11: Joshua Redman’s Elastic Band. Oct. 12: the Jerry Douglas Band, the Sam Bush Band. Oct. 13: New York Banjo with Béla Fleck, Bill Keith, Richie Stearns, Tony Trischka, more. Oct. 26: Boney James. Oct. 29: the Herbie Hancock Quartet. Nov. 1: Shirley Alston Reeves, the Marcels, Bobby Lewis. Nov. 3: Richard Thompson. Nov. 15: Robert Mirabal. Nov. 22: Claudia Acuna. Nov. 24: Dan Zanes & the Rocket Ship Revue. Dec. 8: Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady.

The Eighth Step
Cohoes Music Hall, 58 Remsen St., Cohoes, 434-1703.

Sept. 28: Patty Larkin. Oct. 4: Kathy Kallick, Nina Gerber. Oct. 5: Jeff Lang. Oct. 11: Reggie Harris & David Roth.

Glens Falls Civic Center
1 Civic Center Plaza, Glens Falls, 798-0202 or 476-1000.

Oct. 26: Rock ’N Roll Revival VII with Jim Yester (of the Association), Johnny Tillotson, Ronnie Dove, Merrilee Rush, the Shadows of Night.

Hilton Center for the Performing Arts
40 Russell Road, Albany, 453-1048.

Sept. 21: Marty Wendell and His Tour Band, Chest’r. Oct. 4-5: A Tribute to Janis Joplin, with Heidi Weinman, Sam Andrew.


Chico MacMurtrie of Amorphic Robot Works at iEAR presents!

IEAR presents!
West Hall Auditorium, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 276-4829.

Oct. 2: Kristin Norderval. Oct. 23: Chico MacMurtrie of Amorphic Robot Works. Nov. 20: Kim Cascone, Pauline Oliveros.









Impulse Response
The Arts Center of the Capital Region, 265 River St., Troy, 273-0552.

Oct. 3: Tom Heasley, Gunda Gottschalk. Nov. 7: Jorrit Dijkstra, Neil Rolnick. Dec. 5: The Space Between.

Iron Horse Music Hall
20 Center St., Northampton, Mass., (800) THE-TICK.

Sept. 19: the Waifs, Dennis Crommett. Sept. 20: Ellis Paul, Andrew Kerr; Alix Olson, Jocelyn Arem. Sept. 21-22: Fred Eaglesmith, Luther Wright & the Wrongs. Sept. 23: open stage with Guy-Michael Grande featuring Russell Wolff. Sept. 24: Willem Breuker Kollektief. Sept. 25: Acoustic Alchemy; Mates of Stage, School for the Dead. Sept. 26: Steve Poltz, Sarah Slean. Sept. 27: Patty Larkin. Sept. 27: Jaya the Cat, Blind Luck Music. Sept. 28: Peter Mulvey and Josh Ritter; Barry Kingston & the Screaming Souls. Sept. 29: Victoria Williams & Mark Olson and the Creekdippers. Oct. 3: René Marie. Oct. 4: Kris Delmhorst; Chronic Pleasure. Oct. 5: Nerissa & Katryna Neilds. Oct. 6: Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise. Oct. 7: Low, Mark Eitzel. Oct. 8: Robert Earl Keen. Oct. 9: Culture featuring Joseph Hill. Oct. 10: J Mascis, Lo-Hi. Oct. 11: Eddie From Ohio. Oct. 12: Stephen Kellogg. Oct. 13: Ferron. Oct. 14: the Big Wu. Oct. 16: David Lindley & Wally Ingram. Oct. 17: Avishai Cohen & the International Vamp Band. Oct. 18: Mark Erelli; Uncle Sammy. Oct. 19: Kim Richey, David Poe. Oct. 25: Antibalus Afrobeat Orchestra. Oct. 26: Deb Talan. Oct. 30: Lou Barlow, Alaska. Oct. 31: Bob Mould. Nov. 1: Vance Gilgert, Lisa Martin. Nov. 2: Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem. Nov. 3: Wholesale Klezmer Band. Nov. 7: Adrian Legg; Lambchop. Nov. 8: Susan Werner, Eliot Bronson. Nov. 9: Gokh-Bi System. Nov. 10: Stacey Earle and Steve Forbert. Nov. 13: Paul Brady. Nov. 14: Dan Bern & the UBC. Nov. 15: Sonya Kitchell Band. Nov. 17: Lucy Kaplansky, Bob Hillman. Nov. 26: Eric Bogle, Joe Keenan. Nov. 29: Johnny A. Nov. 20: Viva Quetzal. Dec. 1-2: Jane Monheit. Dec. 5: Taj Mahal. Dec. 7: Garnet Rogers. Dec. 15: David Mallett.

Miss Mary’s Art Space
5 New Scotland Ave., Albany, info: 439-0041, http://missmarysartspace.tripod.com.

Sept. 20: Rhode Island’s Very Own Daughters. Sept. 21: Lincoln Money Shot, Struction, Madeline Ferguson. Oct. 3: Picastro, Glitter of Cohoes. Oct. 4: Third to None, Random Road Mother, the Flight, Suspect Device. Oct. 7: Doug Van Nort. Oct. 18: Goodwill. Oct. 19: the Wasted, Plastic Jesus. Oct. 24: Bop Ants. Oct. 25: Myke Nightmare. Oct. 27: Dead Wrong, MurderContest, Aeschylus. Nov. 1: Sam Jones. Nov. 7: Picastro, Glitter of Cohoes. Nov. 9: Daniel’s Dead. Nov. 16: Myke Nightmare. Nov. 23: Catlin. Nov. 27: Found Dead Hanging, Ed Gien. Nov. 30: Zhenelle Fish.

Northern Lights
North Country Commons, corner of Routes 146 and 146-A, Clifton Park, 371-0012.

Sept. 20: G. Love & Special Sauce, Standing Wave. Sept. 25: Foreigner. Sept. 27: Joan Osborne. Sept. 29: Marc Ford & the Sinners. Oct. 1: Splender. Oct. 3: Soulfly. Oct. 4: Winger. Oct. 5: John Berry. Oct. 6: CKY. Oct. 8: Hoobastank. Oct. 9: Stone Sour. Oct. 10: Donna the Buffalo. Oct. 12: Deep Banana Blackout. Oct. 13: the Samples. Oct. 18: Antigone Rising. Oct. 26: Accumen Nation, Iron Lung Corp. Nov. 14: Pork Tornado. Nov. 15: Keller Williams.

Pearl Street
10 Pearl Street, Northampton, Mass., (800) THE-TICK.

Sept. 19: Percy Hill, John Butler Trio. Sept 20: Of Montreal, the Billy Nayer Show, Tony Goddess of Papas Fritas. Sept. 21: Antigone Rising, Bleu; Johnny Winter, Jeff Pitchell. Sept. 22: Super Furry Animals, Boom Bip; Mason Jennings and Matt Nathanson. Sept. 23: Public Enemy. Sept. 26: Joan Osborne, Willie King & the Liberators. Sept. 27: the Recipe, Raq. Sept. 28: NRBQ. Oct. 2: Bullfrog featuring Kid Koala. Oct. 3: Deep Banana Blackout. Oct. 4: Black Rebels. Oct. 5: 2 Skinnee J’s. Oct. 9: Pork Tornado. Oct 12: Charlie Hunter and Dean Bowman, Corey Harris. Oct. 14: Rufus Wainwright. Oct. 15: Salif Keita. Oct. 21: Michael Franti & Spearhead. Oct. 22: the Mooney Suzuki, Sahara Hotnights. Oct. 24: Soulive. Oct. 25: the Figgs, the Damn Personals. Oct. 27: Atmosphere. Oct. 31: the Moldy Peaches. Nov. 1: Strangefolk, Railroad Earth. Nov. 8: Frank Black & the Catholics. Nov. 14: the Les Claypool Frog Brigade. Nov. 19: Galactic. Nov. 21: the Slip, the Motet. Dec. 7: Melissa Ferrick.


TG4 plays the Pepsi with Bow Wow.

Pepsi Arena
51 S. Pearl St., Albany, 487-2000.

Sept. 21: Neil Diamond. Oct. 3: George Strait, Jo Dee Messina. Oct. 4: Bow Wow, B2K & TG4. Oct. 24: Nelly and the St. Lunatics. Oct. 29: American Idol Live. Nov. 4: Yes. Dec. 13: Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band.










Proctor’s Theatre
432 State St., Schenectady, 346-6204.

Sept. 26: Indigo Girls, K’s Choice. Oct. 19: Kenny Rogers. Nov. 14: Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Corey Harris, Henry Butler, and Deborah Coleman. Nov. 15: Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Mother’s Wine Emporium, Student Union, Troy, 276-8585.

Sept. 27: Bill Staines. Oct. 4: Lou and Peter Berryman. Oct. 5: Bet Williams. Oct. 18: Bernice Lewis. Nov. 1: Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen. Nov. 8: Scott Alarik. Nov. 15: Tim Harrison. Dec. 6-7: Mark Rust.

West Hall Auditorium, presented by the Eighth Step, 434-1703

Sept. 20: Utah Phillips, Landfill Mountain Boys. Sept. 21: Suede.

McNeil Room

Nov. 23: Lucy Kaplansky.

R.P.I./Houston Field House
1900 Peoples Ave., Troy, tickets: 476-1000.

Oct. 4: Counting Crows, Graham Colton.

Saratoga Winners
Route 9, Cohoes, 783-1010.

Sept. 21: Hatebreed, Six Feet Under. Nov. 1: Thursday, One Line Drawing. Nov. 2: Good Charlotte, Homegrown, Halo Friendlies. Nov. 9: Frank Black and the Catholics. Nov. 26: Saves the Day, Ash. Dec. 21: John Valby.

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
State and Second Streets, Troy, 273-0038.

Sept. 27: Christopher O’Riley, live taping session. Oct. 4: Roger McGuinn and John Sebastian. Oct. 8: Susan Trump. Oct. 11: Dave Brubeck Quartet. Oct. 12: Solas. Oct. 15: Ian Anderson. Oct. 26: Doc Watson. Nov. 23: Emsemble Galilei with Jean Redpath. Dec. 11: George Winston. Dec. 20: Judy Collins.

Turning Stone Casino Resort
Verona, 315-361-6530.

Sept. 23: Pink. Sept. 24: Merle Haggard. Sept. 25: SheDaisy. Sept. 27: Legendary Lead Singers of the Temptations reunion. Sept. 28: Eddy Raven. Oct. 3: Phil Vasser. Oct. 5: Kenny Rogers. Oct. 8: Michael Bolton. Oct. 10: Chely Wright. Oct. 11: Glenn Miller Orchestra. Oct. 17: Ty Herndon. Oct. 18: Diamond Rio. Oct. 24: Gregg Allman. Oct. 25: Three Dog Night. Oct. 27: Alice Cooper. Oct. 28: Wynonna.

Valentine’s
17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572.

Sept. 19: Protecting Loved Ones Against Danger benefit with Lynch, James Scott, DJ Cheez Burger, School for the Dead. Sept. 20: the Stryder, Breaking Pangaea, the Switched On, the Last Year; Helicopter Helicopter, Immobile Homes, Gobhi. Sept. 21: eN~DoR~PhiN, Pile of Heads, Click, Arrow Down; Small Axe, poppawheelie. Sept. 22: Benefit Concert in Memory of James Kopta with Brown Cuts Neighbors, the Phlegmchuckers, Small Girl Boils Water, Laudanum, Jump Cannon, Faking Trains, Wayne Rogers/Seth Cluett/Mike Bullock/Jason Martin Quintet, nickname: Rebel, James Lanni/Tom Burre/Benjamin Chadabe Trio, Kamikaze Hearts, L. Collier Hyams with DJ Flip 1, Damien Catera, Local Jack, Jason Martin, Seth Cluett, Peter Barvoets. Sept. 23: Of Montreal, the Stars of Rock. Oct. 7: Michael Fracasso. Oct. 8: the Damned. Oct. 13: the Mooney Suzuki, Sahara Hotnights. Oct. 18: the Kickovers, the Damn Personals. Oct. 24: Ben Arnold. Oct. 31: Jeff Klein. Nov. 5: Luther Wright & the Wrongs. Nov. 8: Jonathan Richman. Nov. 20: Asylum Street Spankers. Dec. 13-14: the Figgs. Dec. 21: the Dude of Life.

The Van Dyck Restaurant and Brewery
237 Union St., Schenectady, 381-1111.

Sept. 26: Acoustic Alchemy. Sept. 28: Joe Barna & Jazz Odyssey. Oct. 5: Eleanor McEvoy. Oct. 12: David Lindley and Wally Ingram. Oct. 14-16: Pat Metheny Trio.

^ Top ^

Cinema

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Studio bigwigs, industry bean counters and trade-paper hacks uniformly expected that when the summer blockbuster season was over, the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise or Spider-man would be the talk of Tinstletown. Instead, it’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a very low-budget romantic comedy with no stars or special effects. This adaptation of writer-actress Nia Vardalos’ play has grossed more than $110 million so far, and is still in theaters after nearly two months.

Naturally, it was a picture no one wanted to make. Tom Hanks and his wife saw the play, loved it, and arranged for the film to be produced; the result was a tremendous crowd pleaser that might become the most profitable film ever made.

What will Hollywood learn from this? Beyond churning out a spate of ethnically tinged movies about weddings a year from now, probably nothing. The film was hugely popular because it had a funny script grounded in a believable, if exaggerated milieu, and was brought to life by a cast of talented, seasoned performers. The studios can’t be expected to start taking that kind of risk.

In the meantime, this fall we can expect more of the usual: sequels; expensive “event” films; slick action flicks loaded with special effects; overdressed, high-minded Oscar bait; a smattering of independent films.

The Big Ones

These are the films the studios count on most. Each is the latest installment in a profitable franchise or is a collaboration between very important Hollywood names, or costs more money than a pharaoh’s pyramid.

Red Dragon Anthony Hopkins returns yet again as liver-loving Hannibal Lecter; Ralph Fiennes, however, is the main serial killer in this remake of Manhunter. Edward Norton costars.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets The little Brit wizard-in-training and his pals are back, this time battling an evil Kenneth Branaugh and market oversaturation.

Die Another Day Pierce Brosnan, again, as James Bond 007. Will the addition of Halle Berry help revive this franchise, an increasingly outdated Cold War relic?

Analyze That Mobster Robert DeNiro returns to analyst Billy Crystal for more therapy and yuks in this sequel to what was the biggest hit of DeNiro’s career, until Meet the Parents.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers More adventure in Middle Earth with the hobbits and elves and other weird critters. The second installment in this trilogy could be the odd film out; remember, however, The Empire Strikes Back was a middle film, and that didn’t turn out too shabby.

Gang of New York opens in area theaters.

Gangs of New York If this expensive, period crime film with an all-star cast (Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis) is a hit, Martin Scorsese may finally get his props from Oscar. If it tanks, his career might be over. No pressure here.

Catch Me if You Can This is the other film with Leo that happens to open on Christmas Day. Steven Spielberg directs DiCaprio (as a con man) and Tom Hanks (as an FBI agent) in this cat-and-mouse crime drama. Christopher Walken costars.

Old School

Hollywood looks to its past in these old-fashioned genre films. Adventure, romance, melodrama—it’s all here for your moviegoing enjoyment.

The Four Feathers Heath Ledger is an English soldier who must prove he’s not a coward in this drama set when the sun didn’t—on the British Empire, that is.

Moonlight Mile Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman mourn their dead teen in this moody examination of the aftereffects of tragedy.

White Oleander Alison Lohman is a teenage girl trying to escape the influence of Michelle Pfeiffer’s mom-from-hell in this melodrama. Renee Zellweger and Robin Wright Penn costar.

The Truth About Charlie Mark Wahlberg takes the Cary Grant role and Thandie Newton subs for Audrey Hepburn in Jonathan Demme’s remake of Charade. They’ll need all the charm they can muster. The wonderful Anna Karina costars.

Chicago Bob Fosse’s Broadway smash comes to the screen without, unfortunately, Bebe Neuwirth. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger star in this latest attempt to prove that the screen musical isn’t dead.

The Films Most Likely To

These are the movies that seem like the most promising of the season. Whether drama or comedy, they have an edge that might make them worth seeking out.

Heaven Director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) helms this risky story of a revenge bomber (Cate Blanchett) on the road to love and redemption.

The Grey Zone Writer-director Tim Blake Nelson’s Holocaust film about a group of prisoners forced to work in the crematoriums. With David Arquette, Natasha Lyonne and Harvey Keitel.

Auto Focus A drama about murdered ’60s TV icon Bob Crane and his obsession with amateur porn. Greg Kinnear is Crane, with Kurt Fuller as his Hogan’s Heroes costar Werner Klemperer, and Willem Dafoe as Crane’s porn-pal, John Carpenter.

The Ring Naomi Watts follows her breakthrough performance in Mulholland Drive with this bizarre supernatural techno-thriller.

Formula 51 Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle star in this pharmaceutical crime caper about a narcotic 51 times more powerful than heroin. The previews suggest it has a sharp Tarantino-style edge.

Frida Salma Hayek is tortured artist Frida Kahlo in this ambitious biography. Hayek fought long and hard to bring this to the screen, and attracted a first-rate cast: Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Ashley Judd, Antonio Banderas and Edward Norton.

Far From Heaven Todd Haynes’ new film is a stylized ’50s melodrama about a repressed housewife (Julianne Moore), her sexually confused husband (Dennis Quaid), and the family gardener (Dennis Haysbert). Let the tears flow.

8 Mile Word out of the Toronto Film Festival is that Eminem’s film debut, under the direction of Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential), is trés impressive. Kim Basinger is his less-than-lovable mom.

Personal Velocity Indy-film queen Parker Posey stars in this Sundance favorite about three women linked by a catastrophic accident. With Fairuza Balk and Kyra Sedgwick.

Adaptation The latest bizarro story from the folks who made Being John Malkovich. Nicolas Cage is a frustrated screenwriter trying to adapt an unfilmable novel. Meryl Streep costars.

About Schmidt Alexander Payne (Election) cowrote and directs this black comedy with Jack Nicholson as a 60-something businessman who realizes his life is an utter failure.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Quizmaster Chuck Barris wrote an odd 1984 autobiography in which he claimed that his hours away from The Gong Show were spent working for the CIA. First-time director George Clooney has made it into what promises to be an odd little comedy.

The Hours Multilayered, complex story about three characters linked by Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. Stars Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman (as Woolf).

The Pianist Adrien Brody stars as a piano virtuoso in Roman Polanski’s Holocaust drama, which was a big hit at Cannes.

Max or, A Portrait of the Dictator as a Young Artist. Noah Taylor stars as Hitler the painter, with John Cusack as his Jewish art dealer. It certainly sounds interesting.

Thrillers, Serious

For those who like their action hard, fast and straight.

Trapped Charlize Theron is terrorized by Kevin Bacon and Courtney Love in this extortion-kidnapping flick.

Abandon This psychological thriller, set on a college campus, stars Katie Holmes and Benjamin Bratt. First-time director Stephen Gaghan wrote Traffic, so expectations are high.

Femme Fatale Brian De Palma returns to his home turf: mistaken identity, sexual perversity and murder. Can he still pull it off? With Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Antonio Banderas and Eriq Ebouaney.

Phone Booth Colin Farrell (Minority Report) answers the wrong pay phone, and people start shooting at him. Katie Holmes costars in this thriller from director Joel Schumacher.

Thrillers, Delirious

For those who like their violence seasoned with a dollop of comedy or a splash of visual absurdity.

The Tuxedo Jackie Chan puts on a billion-dollar tuxedo and becomes a martial-arts superman. With Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever Antonio Banderas is an FBI agent after master criminal Lucy Liu in this slick, violent thriller. Director Kaos (that’s his one-word moniker) promises a maximum of action with a minimum of computer effects.

The Transporter Luc Besson (Leon, The Professional) directs this fast-paced kidnapping drama starring Jason Statham (Snatch).

I Spy Another 1960s TV show is brought to the big screen, with two comic actors for the price of one: Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson. There may even be time for laughs in between explosions.

It Came From Outer Space

While aliens aren’t landing with the frequency they do in summer, there are still a few gangs of little green men headed for your local multiplex.

The Core Here’s the gimmick: The Earth’s core stops rotating, the planet’s electromagnetic field disappears, and everything starts unraveling. Literally. Hillary Swank and Aaron Eckhart have to travel to the center of the planet to fix things.

Solaris George Clooney stars in Steven Soderbergh’s remake of the 1972 science fiction classic directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. It’s a moody story about a planet that seems to drive orbiting astronauts insane.

Star Trek: Nemesis The Next Generation crew is at it again. Paramount has been teasing that this will be their last big screen appearance; as Flavor Flav said, “don’t believe the hype.”

Love in Bloom

Romantic comedies seem headed for the endangered species list again. Here are a few, none of which, surprisingly, star either Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan.

Sweet Home Alabama Reese Witherspoon is loving the Manhattan high life, but when dragged back to her Alabama home, finds she still has the South in her mouth.

Brown Sugar Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs are longtime friends who can’t decide if they should become lovers. Someone’s gonna have the wedding-bell blues.

The Chambermaid Jennifer Lopez is a maid and Ralph Fiennes is a son of privilege in this Cinderella story. Will Prince Charming turn out to be a louse?

Two Weeks Notice Lawyer Sandra Bullock and real-estate tycoon Hugh Grant hate each other so much they fall in love. But will it work out?

The Children’s Hour

Pokemon 4Ever Picachu, the cute little creature who shoots lightning bolts out of his tail, returns with his big-eyed pals for more fun.

Adam Sandler’s 8 Crazy Nights Adam Sandler branches into animation with this comedy, for which he also provides multiple voices. This guy needs a vacation.

Treasure Planet Disney’s big Christmas release—made with traditional animation—sets Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island in outer space.

Cocaine Decisions

Frank Zappa once suggested that drugs were the only possible explanation for why some movies get made. Also known as the “What were they thinking?” category.

Swept Away Guy Ritchie directs wife Madonna in this remake of Lina Wertmuller’s ’70s art-house hit. This version is unlikely to spark a resurrection of either Wermuller’s vanished reputation or Madonna’s film career.

Punch-Drunk Love Adam Sandler is a pudding-obsessed salesman prone to violent rages in Paul Thomas Anderson’s long-awaited follow-up to Magnolia.

Jackass the Movie Paramount Pictures proudly celebrates its 90th Anniversary with this big-screen version of the MTV pukefest. Featuring the usual idiots from the cable show.

The Santa Clause 2 How many years has it been since Tim Allen donned the red suit and grew a belly? (Eight.) The folks at Disney hope you haven’t forgotten him.

Pinocchio Roberto Benigni (Life Is Beautiful) celebrates his 50th birthday by starring in a live-action remake of Pinocchio. There are no children in the film, presumably so the audience won’t notice how close the star is to collecting his pension.

^ Top ^


Film Festivals

Cinema of the Spirit Film & Video Festival
Various locations in and around Saratoga Springs. Call 548-FILM for details on times and venues.

Oct. 3: The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky (Saratoga Arts Center). Oct. 4: A Sense of the Sacred, A Human Search: The Life of Father Bede Griffiths, Hasten Slowly: The Journey of Sir Laurens van der Post, Jane Goodall: Reason for Hope, A Spiritual Journey (Saratoga Springs Public Library); The Man Who Planted Trees, Yakoana: The Voice of Indigenous Peoples, The Mahabharata (Skidmore College); Himalaya, Genghis Blues (Saratoga Arts Center). Oct. 5: William Segal, Vezelay, In the Marketplace, Sukhavati: Place of Bliss, Meetings With Remarkable Men, The Spirit of Tibet: The Life and Work of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, The Cup (Skidmore College); The Diary of a Country Priest, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (Saratoga Arts Center). Oct. 6: Emperor’s Nightingale, The Man Who Planted Trees, The Master of the Carriage (Saratoga Springs Public Library); Ram Dass: Fierce Grace, Siddhartha (Saratoga Arts Center); Jews and Buddhism: Belief Amended, Faith Revealed, Doing Time Doing Vipassana, Rumi: The Wings of Love, The Hajj: The Journey of a Lifetime, That’s My Face, Lucky People Center International (Skidmore College).

Empire State Film Festival
The Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany. 473-1845, www.empirefilm.com.

Sept. 20: Mother Ghost, Greasewood Flat. Sept. 21: Manna From Heaven, Searching for Paradise, Grownups. Sept. 22: Kumbh Mela, The Last Just Man, Unprecedented. Sept. 23: The Power of Truth, documentary shorts. Sept. 24: An evening of short films. Sept. 25: An evening of short films. Sept. 26: Joyful Partaking in the Sorrows of Life, Zero Day. Sept. 27: Eight Women, Easter. Sept. 28: Life on Jupiter, Grit and Polish, Man of the Year, Paradox Lake, Summer Rain.

FilmColumbia: A Festival of Films From Up and Down the Hudson
The Crandell Theatre, Main Street, Chatham, 392-3289, www.filmcolumbia.com.

Oct. 18-20. See Web site for details.

New York Writers Institute Fall 2000 Classic Film Series
Page Hall, 135 Western Ave., University at Albany’s downtown campus, unless otherwise noted. Call for showtimes. 442-5620.

Sept. 20: Nobody’s Fool. Paul Newman stars as Donald ‘Sully’ Sullivan in this adaptation of Richard Russo’s 1993 novel. Sept. 27: Forgotten Silver and Heavenly Creatures. Two films by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. Forgotten Silver is an imaginative mock-documentary about New Zealand’s greatest silent filmmaker; Heavenly Creatures is a brilliant film about the relationship between two teenagers (Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey), and its bloody, tragic end. Oct. 3: Sneakers. Robert Redford stars as the chief of a group of oddball geniuses working for the U.S. Government. Director Phil Alden Robinson will talk after the screening. Oct. 4: Marius. A youth is torn between his sweetheart and the sea. Video projection. Oct. 11: Lumumba. Raoul Peck directed this powerful film about Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo. Peck will present commentary and answer questions after the screening. Oct. 18: Madame DuBarry. Pola Negri became an international star as the seamstress who slept her way up the royal ranks to Louis XV’s bed in Ernst Lubitsch’s opulent biography. Oct. 25: Sarah. Zoe Caldwell is Sarah Bernhardt in this acclaimed made-for-television film. Video projection. Performing Arts Center, uptown campus. Nov. 1: The Sin of Harold Diddlebock. Preston Sturges directs Harold Lloyd in this comedy about a meek clerk who takes a drink and then runs wild. Nov. 8: Besieged. Thandie Newton and David Thewlis star in Bernardo Bertolucci’s film about the relationship between an African exile and an English composer. Nov. 14: Hello Hemingway. Director Fernando Perez will present his film about a brother and sister in contemporary Cuba. Nov. 15: Madagascar. Examines the generational divide between a mother and daughter living in Havana. Filmmaker Fernando Perez and scholar Ann Marie Stock will answer questions following the movie. Nov. 22: Fever Mounts in El Pao. Luis Bunuel’s film about a Latin dictatorship. Video projection. Dec. 6: Fanny. The sequel to Marius. Video projection.

Saratoga Film Forum Fall Series
The Arts Center, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 584-FILM.

Sept. 19-20: Monster’s Ball. Halle Berry (in her Oscar-winning role) stars with Billy Bob Thornton and Heath Ledger in this emotionally draining film about two dysfunctional families. Sept. 26-27: Kissing Jessica Stein. Jennifer Westfeldt stars in this sweet romantic comedy about a woman who decides to dabble in lesbianism after a series of relationship failures with men. Oct. 13: Gosford Park. Robert Altman deconstructs the drawing room murder-mystery with the help of a fabulous cast of English actors, including Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas, Helen Mirren, Clive Owen and Alan Bates. Oct. 17-18: The Business of Strangers. Stockard Channing and Julia Stiles star in this nuanced drama about a series of power plays between two career women. Oct. 24-25: Italian for Beginners. A completely charming romantic comedy from Denmark. Oct. 31- Nov. 1: The Devil’s Backbone. A horror film set in the final days of the Spanish Civil War. Nov. 7-8: Dogtown and Z Boys. Sean Penn narrates this documentary about Southern California skateboarders. Nov. 10: Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Amy Heckerling’s seminal teen comedy launched the careers of Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold and Forest Whittaker. Nov. 14-15: My Big Fat Greek Wedding. This smash comedy revels in ethnic color and good feeling. Nov. 21-22: Our Song. A critically acclaimed independent film about three teenage girls growing up in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. Nov. 29: The Last Waltz. Martin Scorsese’s 1978 documentary about the Band’s farewell concert. Dec. 5-6: Last Orders. Old friends (Tom Courtenay, David Hemmings, Bob Hoslins) reflect on their late friend Jack (Michael Caine), as they journey to cast his ashes in the sea. With Helen Mirren. Dec. 8: Cinema Paradiso. The restored director’s cut of Giuseppe Tornatore’s beloved film about the power of movies. Dec. 12-13: The Notorious C.H.O. Comedienne Margaret Cho’s hilarious and (and sexually blunt) concert film.

Time & Space Limited
TSL Warehouse, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, 822-8448. (Schedules will be updated as they become available. See listings under Film Specials in Metroland’s weekly movie calendar.)

Sept. 26-28: The Terrorist. This shattering film, based on the events surrounding assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi, is about the making of a suicide bomber. Directed by Santosh Sivan. Presented by John Malkovich, who was so impressed by the film that he was willing to finance its American premiere.

Williamstown Film Festival
Various locations in and around Williamstown, Mass., (413) 458-9700, www.williamstownfilmfest.com

Oct. 18-27, 2002. See Web site for details.

Woodstock Film Festival
Various locations in Woodstock, (845) 679-4265, www.woodstockfilmfestival.com.

This year’s festival, which runs Sept. 19-22, has Focus on Music as its theme. Highlights include Rising Low, a documentary about what happens when 25 bass players come together to record with the power trio Gov’t. Mule; Into the Night: The Benny Mardones Story, a documentary that charts the rise and fall of Mardones, a pop near-superstar of the early ’80s; Standing in the Shadow of Motown: The Story of the Funk Brothers, a documentary about the legendary Motown rhythm section. Tim Robbins will be on hand to receive the festival’s Maverick Award. Other notable guests include legendary filmmaker-cinematographer Haskell Wexler.

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Dance

Maude Baum and Company Dance Theatre/eba Dance Theatre
eba Theatre, 351 Hudson Ave., Albany, 465-9916.

Nov. 2-3, 8-9: Brave New Dances.


Paul Taylor Dance Company at the Egg.

The Egg
Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1845.

Oct. 4: Paul Taylor Dance Company. Oct. 25: Chen & Dancers in Bamboo Oracle. Nov. 17: New York Theatre Ballet in Alice-in-Wonderland Follies. Nov. 22: Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company in From the mind/of a single vine/one hundredopening lives.





Hyde Collection Art Museum
161 Warren St., Glens Falls, 792-1761.

Dec. 7-8: Holiday performances presented by the Adirondack Repertory Dance Theatre.

Kaatsbaan International Dance Center
Tivoli (845) 757-5106.

Oct. 12-13: Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company in From the mind/of a single vine/one hundred opening lives. Oct. 19-20, Nov. 2-3: Buglisi/Foreman Dance. Nov. 9: Gala with the American Ballet Theatre. Nov. 16-17: Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre.

MASS MoCA
1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, Mass. (413) 664-4481.

Sept. 28-29: The Best of Ballet with dancers from the New York City Ballet. Oct. 12-13: Dance Brazil. Oct. 25: Hoi Polloi: Poised.

Maureen Stapleton Theatre
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, 629-7170.

Sept. 19: Taylor 2. Oct. 5: Odadaa! Nov. 23: Kahurangi, the Maori Dance Theatre of New Zealand.

Proctor’s Theatre
432 State St., Schenectady, 346-6204.

Nov. 12-13: Blast II—Shockwave. Dec. 7-8: The Northeast Ballet in The Nutcracker.

Russell Sage College
James L. Meader Little Theater, McKinstry Courtyard, Sage Campus, Troy, 244-2248.

Nov. 1-2: Dancing Before the Snow Flies II.

Skidmore College Dance Events
Skidmore College Dance Theatre, North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, Information, 580-5360; box office, 580-5392.

Sept. 27-28: Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company. Oct. 11-12: Family Weekend Dance Concert presented by the Skidmore Dancers. Dec. 6-7: Winter Dance Concert presented by the Skidmore Dancers.

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery
815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 580-8080.

Nov. 16-17 and 19: In conjunction with the Paul Henry Ramirez exhibition, Elevatious Transcendsualistic, the Skidmore Dancers will perform the choreography of Debra Fernandez.

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Literary

Albany Public Library
161 Washington Ave., Albany, 427-4300.

Sept. 21-28: The Albany Public Library is participating in banned books week, a nationwide event that highlights the importance of free speech and free expression. Sept. 24: Marian Hughs, longtime Albany educator, will read from her book, Refusing Ignorance: The Struggle to Educate Black Children in Albany.

Adirondack Community College
Scoville Learning Center, Queensbury.

ACC will host three award-winning authors this fall as part of The Writers Project at Adirondack Community College. Oct. 8: Doug Anderson. Oct. 18: Colson Whitehead. Nov. 13: Ana Menéndez.

Barnes and Noble
20 Wolf Road, Colonie, 459-8183.

Sept. 26: Meet Diane Roupe, author of The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook, and Armand Vanderstigchel, author of Adirondack Cuisine. Sept. 28: Award winning illustrator of children’s books, Simms Taback, will appear for a storytime and signing of his latest book, This Is The House That Jack Built.

The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
Guilderland, 489-4761.

Sept. 21: Carol Tanzman signs her children’s book Shadow Place. Sept. 22: Bernie Schallehn signs Paradox Outpatient and The Traveling. Oct. 2: Joyce Hackett signs Disturbance of the Inner Ear. Karol Truman signs and discusses Healing Feelings . . .From Your Heart. Oct. 4: Phaedra Hise reads and signs Pilot Error. Oct. 5: Michael Joyce reads and signs copies of his new novel, Liam’s Going. Oct. 9: Tanya Batt is the storytime author, reading and signing Child’s Book of Faeries. Oct. 12: Ray Materson reads and signs his book, Sins and Needles: A Story of Spiritual Mending. Oct. 15: Linda Greenlaw reads and signs The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island. Oct. 22: Dan Lynch signs Hustler, Heroes, Hooligans. Oct. 26: Popular kids author Iza Trapani reads and signs Froggie Went a-Courtin’. Nov. 9: Children’s author Anita Briggs reads and signs Hobart; also, Joseph Persico signs Roosevelt’s Secret War. Nov. 14: Kevin Baker reads and signs Paradise Alley. Nov 17: New Yorker cartoonist Bob Mankoff signs and discusses The Naked Cartoonist.

Center For Photography at Woodstock
59 Tinker Street, Woodstock, (845)679-9957.

Oct. 6: An artist’s talk and book signing with photographer Phyllis Galembo. Her new book is titled Dressed for Thrills: One Hundred Years of Halloween Costume and Masquerade.

The Chatham Bookstore
27 Main Street, Chatam, 392-3005.

Sept. 29: Fordham University professor, Elizabeth Stone, will sign her new book, A Boy I Once Knew: What a Teacher Learned From Her Student.

New York State Writers Institute Visiting Writers Series
Events take place on University at Albany’s uptown and downtown campuses at 8PM. For information, call 442-5620.

Sept. 25: Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Russo, will