MOVIES
Ryan Gosling’s character in the admirable indie flick “Half Nelson” should make you stop and ponder why we identify with people in a movie who do such awful things. Gosling’s creation, middle school history teacher Dan Dunne, pats himself on the back after coaching a girls’ basketball game by smoking crack in a bathroom stall. He’s caught by a student (Shareeka Epps), and their uncomfortable relationship forms the heart of the movie. “Half Nelson” is filled with baddies we shouldn’t like but do, including cocaine dealer Frankie (Anthony Mackie), who seems truly sympathetic to his customers’ problems. Go, and go figure.|Michael Booth
CLASSICAL MUSIC
The Englewood Arts’ Concert Series offers an intimate, less-expensive alternative to the metropolitan area’s larger, better-known presentations. It will open its fourth season at 2 p.m. Saturday with “The Romantic Violin,” a recital by Russian-born violinist Robert Stoyanov, a member of the Colorado Symphony, and pianist Alex Maynegre. The event will take place in Hampden Hall at Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Admission is $10 general admission and $5 for students. 303-806-8196|Kyle MacMillan
STAGE
It’s a rare joy to discover a new troupe already operating on a level of excellence others take years to attain. Boulder’s Theatre 13 is an untested company whose players clearly are not. In Stephen Belber’s “Match,” director Michael French has brought three authentic, knowable characters to life. It’s the story of a young Seattle couple who visit a flamboyant old New York choreographer in search of … well, what the title says. Final performances 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St. Tickets 11-$15 (303-443-2122 or bmoca.org) | John Moore
TELEVISION
Aaron Sorkin’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” premieres at 9 p.m. Monday on NBC (KUSA-Channel 9). A stunning cast, including Bradley Whitford, Matthew Perry and Amanda Peet, is matched by Sorkin’s distinctive (some say manic) writing style. Together they shed light on the backstage politics at a late-night variety show much like “Saturday Night Live.”| Joanne Ostrow
VISUAL ARTS
Mel Strawn, a former member of the University of Denver art faculty, ranks among Colorado’s best-known living artists. He will be featured in “Mel Strawn: All Together Now, 1940s-2000s,” an exhibition opening Monday and running through Nov. 18 in the Vida Ellison Gallery on the seventh floor of the Denver Central Library, 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway. With more than 65 paintings, drawings and prints, this retrospective will offer an in-depth overview of the Salida resident’s 50-year career. 720-865-1482 or denver.lib.co.us|Kyle MacMillan
POPULAR MUSIC
That FM radio has lost its grip on the legitimate evolution of rock ‘n’ roll makes Wednesday’s Giraffes/Supagroup show at the Larimer Lounge all the more necessary. Rock music is meant to inspire, offend and move. Both of these guitar rock bands understand that, and this shared approach is what initially brought them together in this co-headling venture. Hailing from Brooklyn, The Giraffes will make your heart race with relentless guitars and searing, shout-along vocals. Supagroup, coming straight out of New Orleans, is more self-effacing, but the music hits every bit as hard. Black Lamb and Krakatou open the rock feast. Bring earplugs. And check larimerlounge.com for more information. |Ricardo Baca
NIGHT LIFE
DenverMix.com, the online handbook for discerning club partiers, helps maintain its rep by sponsoring another tantalizing soiree in downtown Denver. The Body Language Pink Party, to be held Tuesday at the sleek, aerospace-themed DC10, encourages guests to wear pink and rewards them with music and free drinks. Check out mashups of pop, Top 40, hip-hop and Eurohouse from DJ Sway. Want more incentive? Ladies drink free until midnight. 7 p.m.-2 a.m., 940 Lincoln St.| John Wenzel
