A+E

MOVIES: We read the Da Vinci Code in one long, fevered sitting, and now can remember absolutely nothing about it. Someone dies, right? And Da Vinci, accompanied by his uncannily smart cat, turns detective to uncover ... no, no, that's not it. Whatever it was about, it must've been good, or we would've taken a potty break. We can refresh our memory May 19 with the breathlessly awaited debut of Tom Hanks' longish hairdo in the movie version, directed by crowd-pleaser Ron Howard. The Vatican may chafe at the story's Catholic conspiracy theories, but Howard and Hanks say they haven't toned down the book's controversial elements, including something about Jesus getting jiggy with Mary Magdalene. We'll see. If there's a crowd waiting to see Da Vinci Code, get in line for Brick. Building buzz since its premiere at Sundance in 2005, this is a noir homage set in a high school. Sez here it "combines teen angst with old-fashioned gumshoe work in a genre-bending, critically acclaimed mix." Well, hey, that's Sundance for you. Meanwhile, over at the X-Men franchise, Brett Ratner directs X-Men: The Last Stand (May 26), and the sophistication, nuanced character development and deep meaning he brought to the Rush Hour films has us eager to see what he does with the allegedly final installment of this series. Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and Famke Janssen return, along with new addition Kelsey Grammer, swathed in blue fur. We're calling Fandango right now.

MUSIC: Red Hot Chili Peppers. Double disc. Twenty-eight tracks. Still not revved up? We suggest streaming the video for "Dani California"—first single off ninth album Stadium Arcadium (May 9)—which sees the Peppers journey through televised rock history as the Pistols, P-Funk, Misfits and more. From the "such a bad idea we can't wait to hear it" file, Def Leppard unleashes Yeah! (May 23), a covers project including Leppard takes on the Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset," the Faces' "Stay With Me" and Roxy Music's "Street Life." More likely to actually earn repeat spins is Big Star, Small World (May 23), a tribute to power-pop '80s cult outfit Big Star. The compilation, originally set for release in 1999 but inexplicably shelved until now, features tracks by Wilco, Teenage Fanclub, the Afghan Whigs, the Posies and Matthew Sweet.

BOOKS: Is May too early for summer reading? It's certainly getting hot enough for books that demand only a few brain cells' worth of attention, preferably something in which Da Vinci, accompanied by an uncannily smart cat, solves mysteries. In that spirit, let us direct you to Douglas Coupland's latest, JPod. It's about a game designer who's got wacky problems (Mom runs a marijuana farm, brother is smuggling Asians) and drops many pop-culture references. We can't wait until Tom Hanks' hair is long enough for the movie version.

This Book Will Save Your Life

A.M. Homes


Viking, $24.95

The day-trader hero of A.M. Homes' stylish fourth novel is a perfect embodiment of upscale, insular Los Angeles. Rich beyond belief, Richard lives like a 21st-century pasha in his ultramodern house. A nutritionist designs his meals, a trainer sculpts his physique and a house-cleaner makes all the dirt go away. This tableau is shattered by a series of events: Richard feels a pain in his chest; a sinkhole begins to swallow his house; his estranged son heads for LA. Before long, Richard finds himself trying to make amends with his decades of selfishness.

This kind of middle-aged meltdown isn't new, but Homes sticks to a small palate of themes—irony and loss—that she layers into an exquisite portrait of a man attempting to swim against society's decadence. When the inevitable happens, the unobservant say, "Only in LA." As this book reveals, they really should know better.

Tennessee Williams Film Collection (PG) (3 stars)


$68.98

Author of several of the greatest works of the American stage, Tennessee Williams also provided Hollywood with the outlines, at least, for many of its most noteworthy and controversial films. Citing the Hollywood Production Code, the studios took it upon themselves to spare their audiences the strong language and references to homosexuality, sexual dysfunction and kinky behavior that came with the price of a ticket on Broadway. In the case of Baby Doll, for which Williams wrote the screenplay, Francis Cardinal Spellman took to the pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral not only to call for a boycott of Elia Kazan's film, but also to warn Catholics that their patronage might constitute a sin. (You can't buy better advertising than that, really.) Included in this boxed set of Warner Bros. properties are special editions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Baby Doll, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Night of the Iguana, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone and the documentary Tennessee Williams' South. Prominent among the stars on display are Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Vivien Leigh, Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach, Karl Malden, Burl Ives, Ava Gardner and Warren Beatty.

You may know Beth Lano as half of the morning radio team, Mike and Beth, on KSTJ 102.7-FM. You may know that, as a musician, she has performed with Wayne Newton, Andrea Bocceli, Seal and Elton John. You may even know she is a total Wranglers hockey fan (lately you can see her sporting one of the team's promotions, a "Dick Cheney hunting vest"). But the Las Vegas Philharmonic audience is used to seeing her in the brass section, where she is the associate principal French horn player.

This Saturday and Sunday, you can catch Beth playing the horn with the symphony in Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 2 in C minor, the "Resurrection." This is one of Beth's favorite pieces by her favorite composer: "The soloists are world-class and, combined with the local talent, should make this a night to remember."

Would bring a nice girl from Indiana out here to play French horn in Sin City? Wayne Newton, of course. In 1982, he was in Indianapolis as part of his summer tour. Beth and her friend Kim DeLibero (now principal harpist with the symphony) were part of the local Indiana contingent playing with his orchestra. He liked their work and offered them an chance to come to Las Vegas. Ready for adventure, these two young things hit the road in an Olds Cutlass wagon, Kim's harp, Beth's horn and not much else. After three days of driving and jamming with the horn to Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire tapes, they arrived and were pleasantly surprised to find not only the lounge acts and production shows, but a symphony, an opera orchestra and a couple of chamber groups.

She has pretty much performed with them all—the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Nevada Chamber Symphony and the Southern Nevada Wind Ensemble, among others. But she's given up touring. "The radio show is my primary focus. And I spent enough time on the road so that doesn't break my heart."

Back in May 1999, the Las Vegas Philharmonic launched its first classical series with Mahler's Second Symphony, so it fits that Maestro Hal Weller has decided to close his final full season in Las Vegas with this work. One of Mahler's most popular compositions, the 95-minute, five-movement symphony features 110 musicians, two vocal soloists and four choral ensembles and makes the personal statement that, while man is mortal, resurrection is certain. Often considered the bridge between the composers of the Romantic movement and the modernists of the early 20th century, Mahler's music, in its dramatic scope and luscious emotional quality, recalls Brahms and Schubert, while his bold harmonies and unexpected tonal schemes look forward, infusing the works of Copland and Bernstein.