This Week in entertainment

Oakland Tribune, Sep 26, 2008 by Contra Costa Times

DVDs

Tuesday: Robert Downey Jr. dons a suit of armor in the summer blockbuster "Iron Man."

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is hard to do when she (Kristen Bell) shows up with her new boyfriend at the same Hawaiian resort as the man she dumped (Jason Segel).

CDs

Tuesday: Folk icon Pete Seeger is still at it; his new CD, "At 89," includes 32 tracks of songs and spoken word; rapper T.I. unveils his "Paper Trail"; singer-songwriter Ben Folds is back with "To Normal" and hip-hop's T-Pain uncorks "Thr33 Ringz."

Concerts

Thursday-Friday: Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner team up for two concerts benefitting the Richard deLone Special Housing Project, at the Great American Music Hall.

Friday: The San Francisco Jazz Festival kicks off tonight at Davies Symphony Hall with "Miles From India," a concert pairing Indian classical musicians with American jazz artists that have a Miles Davis connection. Go to www.sfjazz.org for the complete festival schedule and other information. Meanwhile, Icelandic art- rock band Sigur Ros brings its unique sound to UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre. The following movies are scheduled to open Friday in the Bay Area:-- "APPALOOSA" (R): Directed by Ed Harris and based on Robert B. Parker's novel, this film follows a pair of lawmen (Harris and Viggo Mortensen) who must unite over their town's crisis as they're divided over their mutual love of a woman (Renee Zellweger).- - "BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA" (PG): In this Disney comedy, a pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua (voice of Drew Barrymore) finds herself lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique in sight.-- "BLINDNESS" (R): When a sudden plague of blindness devastates a city, a small group of the afflicted band together to triumphantly overcome the horrific conditions of their imposed quarantine. Julianne Moore, Gael Garcia Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh and Danny Glover star. Directed by Academy Award nominee Fernando Meirelles ("City of God").-- "THE DUCHESS" (PG- 13): Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley), was the original "It Girl." Like her direct descendent Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out- gamble, outdrink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her.-- "FLASH OF GENIUS" (PG-13): Greg Kinnear stars as Robert Kearns, a man whose 1960s invention became standard in every car on the road. But the automobile industry refused to acknowledge his contribution, and Kearns embarked on a quest for recognition.-- "HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE" (R): An adaptation of Toby Young's biting memoir about his struggles as a Vanity Fair employee. Simon Pegg stars as Young's alter ego, while Jeff Bridges is a Graydon Carter-esque magazine editor.-- "NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST" (PG-13): A comedy about two people thrust together for one hilarious, sleepless night of adventure in a world of mix tapes; late-night living; and, live, loud music. Nick (Michael Cera) frequents New York's indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah (Kat Dennings) is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world.-- "RELIGULOUS" (NR): No religion is safe from the sharp aim -- and still sharper wit -- of comedian Bill Maher in this comic look at organized belief systems around the world.-- "SAVE ME" (NR): Mark (Chad Allen), a lost young gay man, leads a wild life of drugs and meaningless sex, searching desperately to fill the emptiness in his soul. When Mark finally hits bottom, his brother checks him into Genesis House, a 12- step, Christian, "ex-gay" ministry specializing in healing sexual brokenness.