MOVIES
“The Island” is far from perfect science fiction, but action director Michael Bay put some thought into creating a believable world. Beautiful people in pristine track suits live inside a sealed building, told they are the last survivors of an ecological disaster. They are well cared for by mysterious handlers, but Ewan McGregor is growing frustrated. He learns the sinister truth and escapes with love interest Scarlett Johansson; from there, it often breaks down into a typical Bay smash-up. But intriguing questions linger, and McGregor returns to answer them. A nice touch of humanity, aided greatly by Steve Buscemi, turns the technology into a good story.
– MICHAEL BOOTH
VISUAL ARTS
With everything going on this summer, don’t forget what is surely the most popular art exhibition in the state at the moment: “Chihuly at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.” The art museum at 30 W. Dale St. hopes to draw at least 75,000 people to its surprisingly ambitious showcase of celebrated glass artist Dale Chihuly. In an attempt to maximize the turnout, the show is on view seven days a week through Aug. 13, with late hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Call 719-534-5581 or visit csfineartscenter.org.
– KYLE MACMILLAN
STAGE
The Arvada Center’s “The Full Monty” is an Americanized and musicalized version of the sleeper 1997 British film, and its stage reincarnation is a miraculously faithful improvement. It is entertaining and meaningful to audiences of both genders. Not to mention all ages, races, sexual orientations – and waistlines. Featuring more great individual performances than you can shake a g-string at. Final performaces 2 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1 p.m. Wednesday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. July 31 at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. Tickets $32-$42 (720-898-7200). Partial nudity, profanity.
– JOHN MOORE
TELEVISION
Turns out Sean Hayes can act, beyond hamming it up as Jack on “Will & Grace.” In “Martin and Lewis,” an above-average made-for-TV movie from 2002, he plays Jerry Lewis opposite Jeremy Northam as Dean Martin. The film, at 8 p.m. on CBS Channel 4, follows the comedy team’s stormy relationship as they team up, fight and fall apart while making showbiz history.
– JOANNE OSTROW
POPULAR MUSIC
Tuesday’s treasure trove of shows calls for making a tough decision. With The Secret Machines, Le Tigre, Louis XIV and Scout Niblett in town at four different venues, what’s an indie rock fan to do? Some will opt for the other box by hitting The Bravery’s show at the Bluebird. The Bravery’s performance at the Coachella Music Festival three months ago proved that, while the band is little more than empty calories, there is a hearty good time to be had at their shows.
– RICARDO BACA
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Few people have done more than conductor James Conlon to promote composers whose lives and careers were hurt or destroyed by the Nazis. Among them is the too-little-known Ervin Schulhoff, an enormously talented Czech composer who died in a concentration camp in 1942. As part of the Aspen Music Festival, Conlon will lead the Aspen Chamber Symphony at 6 p.m. Friday in performances of Schulhoff’s Symphony No. 1 and 3. Tickets are $63. Call 970-925-9042 or visit aspenmusicfestival.com.
– KYLE MACMILLAN
NIGHT LIFE
Cabaret Diosa is throwing a party at Benders 13th Ave. Tavern, 314 E. 13th Ave., on Thursdays to celebrate the release of “Apocalypso,” its new studio album . You can bet that if this 10-piece gypsy mambo rock combo is booked to play the apocalypse, we’ll all exit dancing and having a good time. And that is why their fans credit Cabaret Diosa with the “New Mambo Revival.” Music starts at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $8. Call 303-861-7070.
– ED WILL
