Later this week is the event that all true cineastes in C-U look forward to: Roger Ebert's annual film festival, Ebertfest! The Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and Urbana native has made this one of the treasures of C-U. The Virginia Theatre is surely the place to be from Wednesday through Sunday. Check inside for the Ebertfest schedule and other noteworthy happenings in the world of movies, CDs, DVDs, and video games.

MOVIES OPENING IN C-U THIS WEEK

"Obsessed"
Rated PG-13, dir. Steve Shill
Derek Charles (Idris Elba) has everything. A good family, a nice house, and he's recently been promoted at work. But when a flirtatious temp worker (Ali Larter) turns out to be delusional and starts stalking him, he gets way more than he bargained for. Now he must deal with a woman who will try to get what she wants at any cost, and it's up to his wife (Beyoncé Knowles) to stop her.

"Fighting"
Rated PG-13, dir. Dito Montiel
Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) is just barely getting by selling bootleg goods and hustling on the streets of New York City. But after he's discovered by "agent" Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard), he begins to make money fighting in the city's underground bareknuckle circuit. As his opponents increase in strength, the cash prize amount grows larger and larger, as does the number of wealthy men betting on his bouts. As he's sucked into the circuit, Shawn realizes that he must escape while he's still intact.

"The Soloist"
Rated PG-13, dir. Joe Wright
Journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) is cruising the streets of L.A., looking for a story idea, when he meets Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a homeless Julliard-trained musician down on his luck and battling schizophrenia. The two cultivate a friendship, as Lopez strives to make Ayers' dreams of playing the big concert halls come true — assuming the many obstacles of Ayers' life don’t get in the way.

"Earth"
Rated G, dir. Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield
Narrated by James Earl Jones, this is a feature-length version of the BBC/Discovery documentary television series "Planet Earth." According to the film's Wikipedia entry: "Over the course of a calendar year, 'Earth' takes the viewer on a journey from the North Pole to the South, revealing how plants and animals respond to the power of the sun and the changing seasons." Patrick Stewart narrated the original British version. The film goes into limited U.S. release this week.

"Gomorrah"
Not Rated, dir. Matteo Garrone
Finally, a great mob movie from the motherland. Making its way across the U.S. art-house circuit in recent months, this Italian import has received superb reviews. The film intertwines the stories of five people who are mixed up with the Camorra, the Neapolitan version of the Mafia. By all accounts, "Gomorrah" grimly strips away the romanticism that's grown up around mob life thanks to American classics like "The Godfather," "GoodFellas," and even "The Sopranos" (which did a pretty good job itself of stripping away romantic illusions). Opens Friday at Boardman's Art Theatre in downtown Champaign.

Laura's Pick: "Obsessed," because there's no way anyone should miss out on watching an intense fight scene with Beyoncé and Ali Larter. It just shouldn’t happen. Or "Fighting." Yes, it has been done a zillion times before and it's kind of trashy-looking, but Channing Tatum is attractive! Or go with "Soloist," if you insist on watching clichéd nonsense.

NEW CD RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"Asleep In The Bread Aisle"
Asher Roth
Who says white guys can't rap? Already crowned as the next great white MC by XXL magazine, Asher Roth, the kid from the suburbs of Philadelphia, comes out with his first studio album, riding on the fame of his smash single, "I Love College." It will be interesting to see if this kid can pull off the frat-boy rapper persona for an entire album without getting too repetitive. With a cult-like following around the country, Roth is definitely an up-and-coming artist who demands your attention.

"A Cabinet of Curiosities"
Jane's Addiction
What can we say? Are the original indie darlings presenting us with a box set, including all sorts of fun demos and b-sides? Yes! Alternative rock fans rejoice, because "Cabinet of Curiosities" is a fantastic collection, with all sorts of never-before-heard tracks from the LA four-piece. For anyone with an ear for good old '90s alternative, this is a must-buy.

"Deeper Than Rap"
Rick Ross
The Boss of Maybach Music is back with his third studio album, showing that Miami still is a strong power in hip-hop. The intimidating force that is Ross makes itself felt on these tracks as he takes his low voice into almost Notorious B.I.G. impersonator territory. Though this isn't close to the lyrical genius that Biggie had, we're glad to hear someone who appreciates Big for all he has done. Nice job, Ricky Ross.

"Sounds of the Universe"
Depeche Mode
Well, we haven't liked Depeche Mode since " Personal Jesus." And, we gotta say, they haven't done much to change our mind here. Sure, if you're a big fan of electronica/dance whatever, this album will probably suit your palate pretty well. But if you're like most of us and think electronica should stay in dance halls and bad Eastern European gymnast routines, stay well away.

Katy and Will's Pick: Well, if you've got it for white-guy rappers, go for Asher Roth. Jane's Addiction doesn't look too bad, either. Even so, this might be a good week to save your money.

NEW DVD RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"A Jihad for Love"
Rated: NR, dir. Parvez Sharma  
A documentary that was filmed in nine languages and 12 countries, this film tries to tackle the complex issue of Islam and homosexuality. The director, Parvez Sharma, is a gay Muslim who filmed "A Jihad for Love" in secret.

"The Wrestler"
Rated R, dir. Darren Aronofsky
Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was once one of the most popular professional wrestlers. Twenty years later, he's left trying to evaluate the condition of his life. Randy decides to build stronger relationships in his life, whether it's reconnecting with his estranged daughter or starting a romance with an exotic dancer. "The Wrestler" is a drama centered on Randy's journey, which will eventually lead him back to the ring for the comeback of a lifetime. Rourke received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Randy.

"Frost/Nixon"
Rated R, dir. Ron Howard  
After his resignation from the presidency in 1974, Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) lived a quiet life until three years later, when ambitious broadcast journalist David Frost (Michael Sheen) got him to agree to a series of TV interviews. The result was a dramatic showdown that made TV history as the egos and insecurities of both men played out on a worldwide stage. This was nominated for several Oscars, including best picture.

"Notorious"
Rated R, dir. George Tillman Jr.  
This is a biopic about the legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G./Biggie Smalls/Chistopher Wallace (Jamal Woolard), who was gunned down in 1997 at the age of 24. The film flashes back to his Brooklyn childhood and traces his rise to hip-hop superstardom, which came to a sudden end with his shocking murder.

"House of the Sleeping Beauties"
Rated NR, dir. Vadim Glowna  
"House of the Sleeping Beauties" is a German film. An old widower, Edmond (Vadim Glowna), is told about a secret place where men can spend the night with beautiful women who cannot be awakened. The women bedazzle Edmond; he wants to know their secret. The film is based on a novella written by Yasunari Kawabata.

Eleni's Pick: "A Jihad for Love" looks really interesting.

NEW VIDEO GAME RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine"
Activision
Superhero Wolverine is a mutant with a skeleton made of indestructible adamantium. Using his regenerative abilities, superhuman strength, and quick speed, you'll play through Wolverine's violent past as he attempts to defeat the mutant-killer evangelist Reverend William Stryker. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" costs $59.99 for the Xbox 360 and PS3, and $49.99 for the PC.

"Velvet Assassin"
Gamecock Media Group
Set during World War II, this game features Violette Summer as a deadly spy sent to retrieve crucial information from the Germans. Based on the "Splinter Cell" series, the game play in "Velvet Assassin" focuses on stealth, puzzle solving, and assassinating enemies. The game costs $59.99 for the Xbox 360 and $49.99 for the PC.

"Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce"
Konami
Civil war has broken out in China, and three kingdoms battle it out to see who will be the last one standing. The latest installment of the "Dynasty Warriors" series, this hack-and-slash game features 35 playable characters. "Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce" costs $39.99 for the PSP.

Gordon's Pick: Once again, nothing good. Save your money.

EVENTS IN C-U THIS WEEK

Eleventh Annual Ebertfest!
Roger Ebert's Film Festival 2009
Wednesday through Sunday, April 22-26
Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign
This much-anticipated event takes place at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign each April, and it was started by Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert, an Urbana native who in 1975 won the first Pulitzer Prize for criticism. Ebert selects all the films himself, focusing on those he believes haven't received the attention they deserve. (In the early days, Ebertfest was officially called "Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival.") He also invites directors, actors, producers, designers, and others to attend the festival and talk about their films in Q&A sessions held after each showing. Some of the guests this year include Hollywood star Matt Dillon and Uni High alum Nina Paley, whose animated film "Sita Sings the Blues" will be shown Saturday afternoon. Tickets are $12 for each screening; student tickets are $10 each. For a complete listing of events and times as well as other information about the festival, click here. In the meantime, here is an at-a-glance version of the schedule:

• Wednesday, April 22
  7 p.m. — "Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music, The Director's Cut" (225 min.)
  Guests: Michael Wadleigh, director; Dale Bell, producer

• Thursday, April 23
  1:30 p.m. — "My Winnipeg" (80 min.)
  Guest: Guy Maddin, director
  4 p.m. — "Chop Shop" (84 min.)
  Guest: Ramin Bahrani, director
  8:30 p.m. — "Trouble the Water" (96 min.)
  Guests: Carl Deal & Tia Lessin, directors/producers; Kimberly & Scott Roberts, film subjects

• Friday, April 24
  1:30 p.m. — "Begging Naked" (80 min.)
  Guest: Karen Gehres, director
  4 p.m. — "The Last Command" (88 min.)
  Live Music: Alloy Orchestra
  8:30 p.m. — "Frozen River" (97 min.)
  Guests: Misty Upham, actor; Courtney Hunt, director

• Saturday, April 25
  11 a.m. — "The Fall" (117 min.)
  Guest: Catinca Untaru, actor
  2:30 p.m. — "Sita Sings The Blues" (82 min.)
  Guest: Nina Paley, director, animator, etc
  6:30 p.m. — "Nothing But The Truth" (108 min.)
  Guests: Matt Dillon, actor; Rod Lurie, director
  9:30 p.m. — "Let The Right One In" (114 min.)
  Guest: Carl Molinder, producer

• Sunday, April 26
  Noon — "Baraka" (96 min.)
  Guests: Ron Fricke, director; Mark Magidson, producer
  4:30 p.m. — "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" (118 min.)
  Special screening: This film is free and will be shown following the close of Ebertfest; the screening is sponsored by the Champaign County Anti-Stigma Alliance, with a panel discussion after the film

Gargoyle Pick: Lor is dying to see "Sita Sings the Blues," made by Uni alum Nina Paley. For those of you with a passion for fashion and gorgeous imagery, treat yourself to Saturday morning's showing of "The Fall," a truly stunning visual feast by director Tarsem. (As a bonus, the cute little girl who is at the center of the film's action will be the Q&A guest.) But it doesn't matter what your tastes are; there's probably a movie here for you. The good news is that you don't need an expensive pass, and you don't even have to worry about sold-out shows. Just arrive at the Virginia box office for the film you want to see and wait. Chances are very good that some tickets will become available. Then buy and enjoy.