THURSDAY 1/20


Three Kings

(FILM) If you clenched your teeth and steadfastly ignored the critical praise during its initial fall release, you're in the majority: David O. Russell's Three Kings did lousy box office. Do yourself a favor, though, and put aside everything you feel about George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and war films in general. Honestly. Russell pulls fine, gritty performances out of the two notorious wannabes, and his screenplay scathingly turns ideas about machismo and heroics on their heads. Three Kings is exciting, funny, and has the guts to ask the United States to put human beings before personal gain. If it leaves the Crest, grab it at video stores soon. STEVE WIECKING

Crest Theatre, 16505 Fifth Ave NE, 363-6338, call for showtimes, all shows $3.


FRIDAY 1/21


Wanton Lust

(THEATER) Printer's Devil Theater's production of Free Will and Wanton Lust made a lot of people laugh 'til they hurt in its first incarnation -- it won the 1996 Stranger SPIT award for Best Comedy -- so the folks at Consolidated Works are remounting the wicked Nicky Silver play and hoping to cause more damage. Devil's co-artistic director Paul Willis is back at the show's controls, and his dark, wild ride features the estimable Stephen Hando and Cathy Sutherland. Thursday night shows will get you even more belly laughs for your buck with two-for-one ticket prices. STEVE WIECKING

Consolidated Works, 410 Terry Ave N, between Harrison and Republican, runs Fri Jan 21 through Feb 6, Thurs-Sun at 8, $14.


Arab Film Festival

(FILM) When it comes to anything associated with the Middle East, it's easy to get caught up in the politics and conflict, and to overlook the people, the landscape, and the art of the region. Enter the Fourth Seattle Arab Film Festival to remedy the situation, running for one week starting today. Some films humanize the political conflicts, others push the limits of a more "traditional" society, still others trade on universal coming-of-age themes, and some do all of these at once. Included will be a retrospective of Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine, who for decades has been making edgy work (with a Fassbinder flair). Opening night is 100% Arabica, a lighthearted look at corruption and chaos in Algeria. Seriously, you should buy a series pass and try to see as much as you can. The lineup looks that good. ANDY SPLETZER

Broadway Performance Hall (1625 Broadway), the Little Theatre (610 19th Ave E), and Henry Art Gallery (15th Ave NE at 41st), Fri-Thurs Jan 21-27, call 322-2564 for ticket information.


Re-bar's 10th Anniversary Cabaret

(CABARET) Re-bar, Steve Wells' funky joint on Howell Street, has been the best place to catch scrappy, off-the-wall theater for a decade now, and for one night only it's throwing a celebratory bash highlighting some of its most popular performers. The evening's stellar round-up features the talents of Kevin Kent, Jennifer Jasper, David Schmader, Riz Rollins, and, as Guest of Honor, the priceless Miss Dina Martina, among many others. This is truly a peerless way to enjoy a beer or two, and pay tribute to a haven for original fringe works. STEVE WIECKING

Re-bar, 1114 Howell St at Boren, 323-0388, one night only, door at 7, show at 8, $15.


The Fastbacks/ Minus 5 (LIVE MUSIC) Looks like this week's incarnation of Minus 5 will include R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and John Ramberg of Model Rockets, along with good ol' Scott McCaughey. But you never know who'll show up onstage with Minus 5, as past lineups have featured local luminaries from the likes of Ken Stringfellow to Jason Finn. Word has it that one of Scott McCaughey's New Year's resolutions was to rehearse before a Minus 5 show, which would be something of a first, but surely not necessary: They can rock off-the-cuff just as well. ERIN FRANZMAN

Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave, 441-5611, 9 pm, $8.


Richmond Fontaine

(LIVE MUSIC) Portland's Richmond Fontaine have often been compared to Wilco, but even if genuinely affecting, catchy-yet-twangy music isn't your cup of tea, it's worth seeing this show because THEY'RE NOT FROM SEATTLE AND LATELY, ONLY SEATTLE BANDS HAVE BEEN PLAYING SEATTLE. Am I the only one who's noticed this? No offense to anyone locally, of course, but it's getting a little ridiculous. BARBARA MITCHELL

Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 789-3599, 10 pm, $6.


SATURDAY 1/22


Anyone Can Whistle

(THEATER) Any Sondheim production is reason to leave your home for the evening, and the production of a rare Sondheim is not to be missed. The regrettably named Showtunes!, a new theater company featuring musicals in concert, makes its debut with a one-night-only concert staging of the composer's celebrated early flop, Anyone Can Whistle. Sondheim remains one of the true geniuses of American arts, and Whistle, though dated by overeager material from Arthur Laurents' book, shows you why: a willingness to put darkness on the horizon, combined with sly, intricate, breathtaking songs that have more to say each time you hear them. A great cast -- including Laurence Ballard and Barbara Dirickson -- is helmed by director Victor Pappas. STEVE WIECKING

Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave at Seneca Street, 322-1777, one night only at 8, $25 general, or $50 for show plus gala reception.


SUNDAY 1/23


Lola Montès

(FILM) I know, I know, you meant to attend the Ophuls series at the Grand Illusion, but what with the holidays, and work's been piling up, and besides, they're mostly available on video.... Well here's your last chance, and it's arguably the director's masterpiece. Using the ingenious structure of a circus performance as a framework, Lola Montès shows us once again that love is a sad game leading inevitably to disillusionment and tragedy, but a game so beautiful it's impossible to imagine not playing. Come and see the glorious camerawork, the beautiful colors, the marvelous presence/performance of Martine Carol, then kick yourself for what you've missed previously. BRUCE REID

Grand Illusion, 50th and University Way, 523-3935, Sat-Sun Jan 22-23 at noon.


MONDAY 1/24


Rotten Fruit Cocktail

(FOOD) Here's a little cocktail that doesn't cater to any retro craze -- no sir, it's practicality at its finest. Are your apples starting to get bruised and mushy? Your pears and oranges showing that first sign of fuzzy mold and decay? Why throw them away?! Take old fruit that's threatening to "go bad," cut off the bruised or moldy sections, and slice into small pieces. Put the fruit into a large glass with crushed ice; add equal parts vodka and sour mix; muddle and shake; strain and pour into a glass with ice, then sip and enjoy! It's that easy! The pleasant sweet & tart mix will surely hide any "funny tastes" from the fruit, while the alcohol will kill any potential bacteria. The result? A refreshing, delicious, and above all, economical cocktail. MIN LIAO

Look in your refrigerator. Don't be afraid.


TUESDAY 1/25


Colson Whitehead

(READINGS) Colson Whitehead's debut novel, The Intuitionist, now out in paperback, is a kind of genius portrayal of the relationship between man and machine. Accordingly, the plot is surreal, set in a metropolis where factions of elevator inspectors find themselves at philosophical odds -- some of them prefer empirical evidence in their maintenance, others prefer intuition. Lila Mae Watson, the city's first black female inspector, is an "Intuitionist" at the center of this maelstrom. Whitehead's prose is circuitous, lovely, and should be hypnotic when read out loud. TRACI VOGEL

Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


WEDNESDAY 1/26


La Ciudad

(FILM) New York is the star of La Ciudad. Specifically, the parts of New York populated by Latin American immigrants. In David Riker's beautifully photographed film, the city totally overwhelms the lives of every character in the film. Broken down into four short stories of dislocation and loss, La Ciudad focuses on menial jobs taken out of necessity, the difficulty of placing a daughter in school without a fixed address, getting lost in a maze of similar-looking apartment buildings, and sweatshops that don't pay when they promise to. Throughout, the characters hold on to hope in what seems to be a hopeless situation, dwarfed by the city in which they live. ANDY SPLETZER

Varsity, 4329 University Way NE, 632-3131, Fri-Thurs Jan 21-27 at (Sat-Sun 1, 3), 5, 7, 9 pm.