MOVIES
In “The Lives of Others,” set in Berlin in 1984, a blacklisted director gives playwright Georg Dreyman a piece of music for his birthday. The mournfully elegant composition is called “Sonata for a Good Man.” Like that work, writer-director Florian Henckel von Donnersmark’s impressively humane political thriller (up for the best foreign language Oscar tonight) moves with nuance, force and brooding grace as it draws us into the story of Dreyman, his lover Christa-Maria and Captain Wiesler, the Stasi true-believer bent on proving Dreyman disloyal. | Lisa Kennedy
CLASSICAL MUSIC
What is now known as the Czech Republic might not be the equal of Austria as a classical-
music powerhouse, but it has nonetheless had a significant impact on the field. Music by three of the country’s top 19th- and 20th-century composers, including Ervín Schulhoff, who died in a concentration camp, will be featured this week on a Colorado Chamber Players program titled “Prague Prodigies.” Concerts are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Cathedral, 1350 Washington St., and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Foothills Art Center, 809 15th St., in Golden. A modified program with an optional dinner will take place at 6 p.m. March 4 at the Highland’s Garden Cafe, 3927 W. 32nd St. 866-464-2626 or ticketswest.com. | Kyle MacMillan
DVDS
We’re on the verge of March Madness, so a new basketball film to replace the timeworn classic “Hoosiers” is more than welcome. Ward Serrill’s documentary “The Heart of the Game” is one of the more rousing tales you could ever show to your family – or better yet, to your high school sports team looking for motivation. The movie, out on DVD this Tuesday, follows avuncular coach Bill Resler and his Seattle girls’ team on a roller-coaster journey involving race, class, court cases and improbable tournament runs. Darnellia Russell becomes his star player, and his biggest problem. | Michael Booth
STAGE
If you don’t know or don’t remember all of its clever plot (and knife) twists, “Deathtrap” remains a nearly impeccable parlor thriller. It’s the story of a has-been playwright who contemplates killing a student and stealing the perfect play he’s penned – but art and life become quickly intertwined. Robert Kramer’s taut staging, armed with a skillful ensemble and a wall-full of weapons, is the most clean and satisfying at Golden’s Miners Alley Playhouse in some time. Paul Page, Daniel Langhoff and Lori Hansen bring the necessary confidence to navigate the play’s many Hitchcockian turns.
Richard H. Pegg’s set is a character unto itself, with titillating lighting and sound enhancements. Tonight’s performance at 6 is a benefit for former cast member Pete Nelson, recently diagnosed with cancer. The show continues at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 6 p.m. Sundays, through March 10 at 1224 Washington Ave. $18-$20; 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com. | John Moore
TELEVISION
“The Barbara Walters Special,” designed as a warm-up to the Oscar telecast, runs after tonight’s awards show here in the wild West (Mountain and Pacific time zones). The 79th annual Academy Awards’ main event starts at 6:30 p.m. on KMGH-Channel 7. Then Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Helen Mirren and Ellen DeGeneres open up to Walters, locally at 10:35 p.m. on Channel 7. | Joanne Ostrow
VISUAL ARTS
Two concurrent shows belatedly marking last year’s 30th anniversary of the Robischon Gallery, 1740 Wazee St., have been extended through March 3. The gallery is one of the city’s oldest and finest commercial art spaces. For “30 x 30,” it asked 30 of the artists it regularly represents to each create a 30-by-30-inch work. Given the diversity of these creators, the results are all over the place in terms of style, media and success. “Decades” features 25 works by 10 internationally known artists who have had major exhibitions at the space. 303-298-7788 or robischongallery.com. | Kyle MacMillan
NIGHT LIFE
Danity Kane might be the least original musical act in America, and its stripper-turned-pop-star persona is pretty trashy. But that won’t stop the glitterati from turning out for the group’s afterparty at DC10 on Monday. Following the Christina Aguilera and Pussycat Dolls show at the Pepsi Center, openers Danity Kane (and a few members of the Dolls) will show up for the club’s first Celebrity Night, which doubles as the launch party for 303 Magazine. There’s no cover, but you know it’s going to be a zoo by the time the band gets there. Line starts at 8 p.m., doors at 9 p.m. Dress to impress. 720-771-3500 or dc10denver.com for bottle service reservations. | John Wenzel
POPULAR MUSIC
First she was our innocent little genie in a bottle. Then she was Xtina, the oversexxxed. And now she’s our pop-savvy throwback queen. Christina Aguilera has played all over the musical map – including a record entirely en Espanol. And for the most part, it’s worked to her advantage, as her career has maintained … whereas some of her peers (ahem, Britney) are having a harder time of it. Aguilera’s current incarnation is that of a stylish lover of big band, swing and brass instruments – the ’40s and all that brassy goodness. It’s still relatively shallow dance-pop, but at least it has an element of class and authenticity this time. The singer plays the Pepsi Center on Monday. More: ticketmaster.com or 303-830-8497. | Ricardo Baca
