Barney’s Weekend Picks

Fresh air fiends, this is your weekend. The nights will get down
to a bracing 31 or 32 above — just the weather for you to take
invigorating tramps through the woods or a post-midnight romp along
a very deserted beach.

But for the rest of us —

Hit the Flicks: With the Santa Barbara International Film
Festival starting Jan. 25, it’s time to get warmed up with a load of a tasty
offerings this weekend. Alpha
Dog, the movie they didn’t want you to see, is at the
Metro 4. Attorneys for Jesse James Hollywood, the
man accused of orchestrating the murder of Nicholas
Markowitz, tried to suppress the film on grounds that it
might influence jurors. “Inspired by true events,” the ads
proclaim. So anyone who thinks he or she might be a juror and be
influenced, think twice about going. Or, perish the thought, if
anyone wants to try to avoid serving on the jury by exposing
themselves to Alpha Dog, it’s playing all weekend. Then
there’s the eagerly-awaited Curse of the Golden
Flower at the Riviera, reuniting famed Chinese director
Zhang Yimou and ex-girlfriend-muse Gong
Li. Notes
on a Scandal unites Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett and
deals with “inappropriate sex across obvious age barriers,” in the
words of Independent reviewer D.J.
Palladino.

There’s much more out there on local screens, including the
intriguing Children of Men, a “gripping film” by Mexican
director Alfonso Cuaron, according to
Indy reviewer Josef Woodward. The hot
movie, of course, is Dreamgirls, at the Arlington and
Camino Real. The Queen, starring Helen
Mirren, who’ll be at the Film Fest, continues at Paseo
Nuevo. For student types not willing to venture far into the cold
night, there’s the Sundance grand jury prize winner
Quinceanera, at Campbell Hall Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., which
concerns a young girl coming of age.

Music Men (and Women): SohO, always a great
venue for music, will have Stephen Malkmus and The
Jicks Saturday at 7:30 p.m. On the serious side,
Adrian Vance will lead the Camarata Pacifica
Friday at 8 p.m. at Lotte Lehmann Hall at the
Music Academy of the West at 8 p.m. An accordion can make you cry
or get up and dance. Rob
Curto and his band will bring their Brazilian beat to
UCSB’s Multicultural Center Friday at 8 p.m.

It’s a bit of a reach for a weekend column, but I have to offer
a heads-up for Wednesday’s CAMA concert at the Arlington, featuring
violinist Hilary
Hahn in recital. She’s young, she’s good. Then there’s
the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra Chamber
Players Tuesday at the Museum of Natural History’s
Fleischmann Auditorium.

Wildlife: Do the earth a favor. Become a volunteer to educate beach
users around threatened habitat of the
snowy plover, which I have never seen but am assured that they
exist. Meet at Coal Oil Point every Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info at
880-1195.

Gena’s in Town: The Notebook is one
of Sue’s favorite movies. Gena Rowlands, who stars
with James Garner, will be present at a 5 p.m.
reception Sunday at the Lobero, with a 6:30 screening. After the
movie Rowlands will take the stage for questions. The Alzheimer’s
Association will benefit. Info at 963-0761.