What a great time to be in Champaign-Urbana if you're a fan of the arts! Next week is the always excellent Ebertfest at the Virginia Theatre, while this week is the seventh annual Boneyard Arts Festival. Not sure what that is? Check inside to learn more. Plus, get the rundown on the latest in movies, CDs, DVDs, and video games. See why Laura Dripps plans to stay away from the new Russell Crowe movie, while Katy Metcalf and Will Fernandez are rejoicing over the new music releases.

MOVIES OPENING IN C-U THIS WEEK

"17 Again"
Rated PG-13, dir. Burr Steers
Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) has found his life at a standstill. Twenty years ago he was a star high school athlete, when he gave up a scholarship offer to marry his girlfriend (Leslie Mann). Now separated, unpromoted at work, and alienated from his children, Mike finds himself wishing he could go back and relive his past. After a strange series of events, his body returns to the state it was when he was 17. Now Mike (Zac Efron) is going back to school, and learning a lot more about his children than he had originally bargained for.

"Crank: High Voltage"
Rated R, dir. Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor
Professional assassin Chev Chelious (Jason Stratham) is back for Part 2 of the "Crank" series. In "Crank" he learned that a rival had injected him with a poison that would end his life if his heart didn't stay at an elevated rate. This time, Chev faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen Chelious' super-powered heart and replaced it with a battery-reliant version that requires intense electric shocks in order to keep working.

"State of Play"
Rated PG-13, dir. Kevin Macdonald
Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is an investigative journalist who is reporting the death of a young congressman's assistant. But when his story begins to uncover a conspiracy with ties to the congressman (Ben Affleck), who is also McAffrey's friend, his ethics are put to the test. What McAffrey uncovers drags him deeper and deeper into the crime, placing him in trouble with the congressman and the police, until he has to wonder just how much he's willing to put on the line in order to get the perfect story.

"Harvard Beats Yale 29-29"
Rated PG, dir. Kevin Rafferty
The New York Times called this documentary film about the 1968 Harvard vs. Yale football game "preposterously entertaining." You don't have to be a football fan to see why; all you need is a fondness for a good story. Both Harvard and Yale were undefeated when they played each other in the season finale that year, but Yale was the prohibitive favorite. Featuring future NFL All-Pro running back Calvin Hill (father of NBA star Grant Hill) and quarterback Brian Dowling, a ridiculously perfect all-American boy who hadn't lost a game since the sixth grade, Yale led by 16 points with 42 seconds left. Yet somehow Harvard managed to come back and tie the Elis — hence the name of the movie, which was the original Harvard Crimson headline about the contest. The film consists of game footage and interviews with former players, including Harvard offensive lineman Tommy Lee Jones. The movie opens Friday at Boardman's Art Theatre in downtown Champaign.

Laura's Pick: "17 Again." Yeah, the whole "old person's brain in a young person's body blahblahblah generational humor" thing has been beaten to death by "Freaky Friday" and the like, but even so, it could maybe be funny. "State of Play" would've been a close second, but it has Ben Affleck.

NEW CD RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"Fantasies"
Metric
Vocalist Emily Haines is back and better than ever with her band, Metric. From what we can tell, the Canadian electro/indie pop group's new album is pretty fantastic. The production style ranges from the relatively untouched "Help, I'm Alive" to the bright, computerized "Sick Muse." Though selections are sure to turn up on every dance mix this year thanks to their fast melodies and heavy backbeats, "Fantasies" easily stands on its own as an album. Definitely worth buying.

"Moving Forward"
Bernie Williams
Many in New York and around the world know Bernie Williams for being the consistent-hitting Yankee powerhouse and Gold Glove outfielder, but this baseball all-star transcends his sport to show his passion for jazz guitar. Bernie's second album lets loose his Puerto Rican sound and features collaborations with the likes of Bruce Springsteen. To go with his creative jazz music, Williams offers a ballad version of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" that baseball fans will fall in love with. Let's play ball!

"The Open Door" EP
Death Cab for Cutie
So, Katy loves Death Cab for Cutie in general, and they definitely don't disappoint here. "The Open Door" isn't really a full-fledged CD, but its five tracks are worth the trouble of downloading. Aside from the demo of "Talking Bird," which appeared on May's release of "Narrow Stairs," the whole EP is new material, all of it quite good. So. Go and listen.

"Swoon"
Silversun Pickups
The LA indie band (what an oxymoron) Silversun Pickups are out with their second album, coming off the success of their 2006 single "Lazy Eye" and full-length debut "Carnavas." Defined by their crunchy guitar and sweet licks, the Pickups succeed in setting that tone again with barely any change to the equation. If you enjoyed "Carnavas," definitely go pick this album up.

Katy and Will's Pick: There's a lot of good stuff out this week. We recommend Metric, but you really can't go wrong.

NEW DVD RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"The Reader"
Rated R, dir. Stephen Daldry  
Starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, "The Reader" is set in post-World War II Germany. A stranger named Hanna (Winslet) helps Michael Berg (David Kross), a teenage boy taken ill by scarlet fever, find his way home. On their journey, the two fall passionately in love and embark on an affair that has to remain secret due to the prejudices of age. Years later, the adult Michael (Fiennes) learns of Hanna's Nazi past and faces a difficult choice.

"The Spirit"
Rated PG-13, dir. Frank Miller
Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht ), a murdered policeman, is reborn as The Spirit. In his new life, The Spirit is still fighting crime and keeping his city safe from perils. The city’s biggest threat is The Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). The Spirit must take down Octopus to protect his city and fight off beautiful women who may or may not be good on the journey.

"Splinter"
Rated R, dir. Toby Wilkins
When a couple (Paulo Costanzo and Jill Wagner) decide to go camping for a weekend, everything goes horribly wrong. They are car-jacked by another couple (Shea Whigham and Rachel Kerbs) hiding from the police. A twisted turn of events will have the four on the run from a bloodthirsty creature in the woods. What are these strangers to do when they must trust each other to survive?

Eleni's Pick: "The Reader," definitely.

NEW VIDEO GAME RELEASES IN STORES THIS WEEK

"Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason"
Microsoft Windows
Russian meteorologist Alex Nesterov is sent to investigate the mysteries revolving around a shipwrecked nuclear icebreaker near the North Pole. When he arrives, he finds out that the dead crewmen of the ship have undergone some abnormal transformation. In order to survive the deadly cold and dangers that lay in wait for him, he must find a way out before it's too late. "Crysotasis: Sleep of Reason" costs $49.99 for the PC.

"DemiGod"
Stardock
The all-mighty God has fallen, and now demigods are at war to determine who will be the next successor. Featuring eight demigods, this real-time strategy game pits your chosen demigod against others to see who will take the throne. "DemiGod" costs $49.99 for the PC.

"Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled"
Graffiti Entertainment
Bel Lenora is a magical kingdom that is strictly prohibited to people who can use magic. However, a man with no magic capabilities named Kairu ventures into the kingdom. In order to be learn magic, Kairu must take on a dangerous quest.

Gordon's Pick: Nothing good this week, so save your money.

EVENTS IN C-U THIS WEEK

Seventh Annual Boneyard Arts Festival
• Thursday, April 16: DOWNTOWN CHAMPAIGN
• Friday, April 17: UIUC CAMPUS
• Saturday, April 18: DOWNTOWN URBANA
• Sunday, April 19: OUT & ABOUT Champaign County
• Times: noon to 2 a.m., all districts
What a great time to be in C-U! Next week is the always superb Ebertfest, while this week is the Boneyard Arts Festival. Not sure what that is? Here's the official description from 40 North | 88 West, the Champaign County arts and culture agency that puts together the celebration each year:

The Boneyard Arts Festival is an annual four-day event showcasing the broad range of creative activity flourishing in our community. Its goal is to bring together local artists and businesses for a special event promoting the art that lives here.

More than a traditional arts walk, the Boneyard is a unique countywide celebration that takes place in a wide variety of venues (over 100!) — both traditional (clubs, galleries & museums) and non-traditional (ice cream shops & real estate offices) — and features the work of hundreds of artists.

Sculptors, weavers, painters, photographers, and other visual artists join musicians, actors, dancers, poets and performers of all kinds in sharing their creativity throughout Champaign, Urbana, Campustown, Dewey, Rantoul and Sidney. 40 North invites artists to partner with local businesses, arts organizations, nonprofits, schools or municipal offices in hosting a performance or display of work … and join the celebration!

For a complete listing of events and times, click here.

Gargoyle pick: Come on, get some art in your life! The Boneyard Festival is the place to be this weekend. Then get your Ebertfest passes ready for next week.