Films opening

A Beautiful Mind The viewing public has lost their "beautiful" minds with all their praise for this Crowe epic. At Showcase: 1:15, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30, 12:10 (Fri. and Sat.). HHH

Birthday Girl All it"s missing is a bunch of old men singing "Like a Virgin." At Showcase: 1:20, 3:20, 5:15, 7:15, 11:20 (Fri. and Sat.). HHH

Black Hawk Down Josh now has some pretty boy company with Chris Klein joining the box-office competition. At Showcase: 12:45, 3:40, 6:40, 9:35, 10:05, 12:15 (Fri. and Sat.) HHH

Brotherhood of the Wolf Monica Belluci is hot! Monica Belluci is the reason to rent this French dud. At Showcase: 12:40, 3:30, 6:30, 9:25, 12:10 (Fri. and Sat.). HH

The Count of Monte Cristo Apparently this film is based on a book, not a sandwich. At Showcase: 1:25, 4:15, 7:10, 9:55, 12:25 (Fri. and Sat.). HHH

Gosford Park Who out there remembers Robert Altman"s show "Gun"? I guess you all were just kids way back then. At Showcase: 8:05. HHHH

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer"s Stone The DVD is coming out soon, hurry up and don"t buy it. At Showcase: 12:05. HHH

I am Sam At least the soundtrack has Aimee Mann on it the movie has one thing going for it. At Showcase: 1:40, 4:25, 7:20, 10:00, 12:30 (Fri. and Sat.) HHH

In the Bedroom No, it is not a porno. At Showcase: 1:05, 3:45, 6:35, 9:10, 11:45 (Fri. and Sat.). HHHH

Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius Now seriously, I keep asking but no one responds, who is still saying to themselves, "Hey, that Jimmy Neutron film has only been out for three months, maybe I should go see it now." At Showcase: 12:00.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring The new lord of the ring is Tom Brady. That Michigan alum could get to Mt. Doom with any offensive line. At Showcase: 1:10, 4:45, 8:15, 11:40 (Fri. and Sat.). HHHHH

The Mothman Prophecies Is that Stacey from "Ned and Stacey" or Grace from "Will and Grace"? At Showcase: 12:10, 2:40, 5:25, 7:50, 10:20, 12:35 (Fri. and Sat.) HHH

Ocean"s 11 Erin Brockovich tackles the North American drug cartels with the help of a Las Vegas posse. At Showcase: 305, 5:30, 7:45. HHHH

Orange County What"s the name of the song? Explosivo! At Showcase: 2:50, 3:35, 4:35, 6:15, 10:30, 12:05 (Fri. and Sat.). H

The Royal Tenenbaums Let"s hope Scwartzman returns to Wes Anderson territory for his next film, no more teen comedy Jason! At Showcase: 12:35, 2:55, 5:10, 7:35, 9:50, 11:55 (Fri. and Sat.). HHHHH

Slackers See "Royal Tenenbaums." By the way, Phantom Planet rocks! At Showcase: 12:00, 6:10. H

Snow Dogs Its no "Men of Honor," that"s for sure. At Showcase: 12:15, 2:25, 4:40, 6:50, 9:05, 11:15 (Fri. and Sat.). H

Vanilla Sky My pick for this years Razzie Awards. But it won"t eclipse "The Postman" for nominations. At Showcase: 10:25. HHH

A Walk to Remember This one time I walked all the way from North Campus to Michigan Stadium. Oh man, what a walk to remember. At Showcase: 2:35, 4:50, 7:05, 9:20, 11:30 (Fri. and Sat.).

Thursday

BOOKS

Michigan Visiting Writers Series Poet Edward Hirsch reads from his new book "How to Read a Poem: And Fall In Love With Poetry." 5 p.m., Hale Auditorium, 701 Tappan, free 647-6471.

Robert Doerschuk Reads Doerschuk reads from and signs copies of his book "88 Giants of the Jazz Piano." 7 p.m., Borders Books & Music, 612 E. Liberty, free 668-7652.

Laura Kasischke Reads Kasischke reads from her book "The Life Before Her Eyes." 8 p.m., Shaman Drum Bookshop, 315 S. State, free 662-7407.

CAMPUS CINEMA

Amelie Jeunet"s film should win this year"s Oscar for best foreign film but then again "Dancer in the Dark" wasn"t even nominated last year. 7:15 & 9:45 p.m., State Theater.

Gosford Park Britain"s hot young actors stake their claim for their own chance at being James Bond. Clive Owen or Jeremy Northam? 7:30 p.m., Michigan Theater.

In the Bedroom Once again this film contains no pornography! 7 & 9:30 p.m., State Theater.

MUSIC

Michigan Symphony Orchestra Graduate students write and conduct music performed by the orchestra. 8 p.m., Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave, Free 764-8350.

Blues Night: The Motor City Sheiks Do you remember when the Iron Sheik returned to wrestle at WrestleMania 17 and Sgt. Slaughter choked him out? That was sad. 5 p.m., The Firefly Club, 207 S. Ashley St., $5 665-9090.

Ron Brooks Trio He made the cover of Current this month, I guess I should stop teasing him. Bird of Paradise, 312 S. Main St., 8 p.m., $5 662-8310.

THEATER

"The Tavern" A comedy full of suspense and satire, "The Tavern" focuses on a mysterious stranger who wanders into an inn one night, taking shelter from a nasty storm. 8 p.m. Mendelssohn Theatre. $15-20, $7 w/ID 764-2538.