It's another busy week in entertainment, with choices ranging from an intriguing sci-fi flick starring Bruce Willis to the first-ever Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival. Check inside for the latest releases in movies, CDs, DVDs, and video games, along with a rundown of local events worth checking out this weekend.

MOVIE RELEASES THIS WEEK

"Coco Before Chanel"
Rated PG-13, dir. Anne Fontaine
“Coco Before Chanel” is based on the life of fashion designer Gabrielle Chanel, better known as Coco Chanel. Abandoned by her father and left to live in an orphanage, Gabrielle (Audrey Tautou) is forced to work a series of menial jobs that barely pay the bills. She works at a bar, as a seamstress, and a singer. As a singer she earns the name Coco due to a song she sings with her sister. Eventually, she enters proper society as the mistress of Baron Balsan (Benoît Poelvoorde). Now that she has the right connections, Coco’s designs are an instant success. Soon, she dumps Balsan for Arthur Capel (Alessandro Nivola), an English businessman, allowing her to export her designs. Note: This movie opens in limited release in New York and Los Angeles this week. We'll provide an update when it arrives in C-U.

"Surrogates"
Rated PG-13, dir. Jonathan Mostow
Far into the future, we will be living through robotic surrogates. In this world there is no crime, sadness, or fear. There is no concept of consequence, until the first murder in a utopian society occurs. An FBI agent (Bruce Willis) will unearth a conspiracy to bring down our surrogate world.

"Fame"
Rated, PG, dir. Kevin Tancharoen
An updated version of the 1980 hit film, this version follows students at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. This is a public school with renowned faculty and extraordinary students who must strive to complete a rigorous academic program as well as enrich their arts skills. The school was founded in 1948, originally the School of Performing Arts, to train children for careers in dance, music or drama. Familiar faces in this version include Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Charles S. Dutton, and Debbie Allen.

"Pandorum"
Rated R, dir. Christian Alvart
From IMDb: "Two crew members are stranded on a spacecraft and quickly — and horrifically — realize they are not alone. … With Lt. Payton (Dennis Quaid) staying behind to guide him via radio transmitter, Cpl. Bower (Ben Foster) ventures deep into the ship and begins to uncover a terrifying reality.

Eleni’s Pick: Hands down "Coco Before Chanel." I hope there’s a midnight showing when it comes here!

CD RELEASES THIS WEEK

"The Incident"
Porcupine Tree
Well, I do love concept albums. And you can't get more conceptual than one 55-minute track, all about the emotional detachment of media coverage of "incidents." From bodies found in rivers during fishing trips to religious cults in Texas, "The Incident" promises to be one of the most original alternative rock/metal albums of the year. Though a tad softer than Porcupine Tree's last release, "Fear of a Blank Planet" (reviewed by Carl Zielinski in the OG two years ago), it still carries with it the same dark depths, interspersed with sudden moments of blinding light and clarity.

"Backspacer"
Pearl Jam
Most bands get dull when they play together for so long. Their material is outdated, they lose the ability to write original songs, their concerts are played for a strictly over-40 demographic. Pearl Jam, however, has managed to remain relevant to our generation, and I have high hopes that this new album will be equally good. An upbeat blend of new wave and rock, "Backspacer" is described by the band as a quick record, and I suspect it will be almost sweet. Probably worth hearing.

"Here Comes Science"
They Might Be Giants
OK, I understand that "educational children's music" isn't exactly the most popular thing around, but this album is absolutely hysterical. From "Photosynthesis" to "Speed and Velocity" to "Computer Assisted Design," TMBG have you covered for all your science needs in a 21st-century "Schoolhouse Rock." I mean, seriously, if I had heard "Meet the Elements" as a sophomore, I might have gotten an A in chemistry. This album is pure scientific love with nifty rock beats underneath. I don't know about you, but I'm buying it.

"Vapours"
Islands
I just skimmed a recent review with singer Nick Diamond and caught nothing but the line "and an electric sitar." That's pretty awesome, right there. Unusual stringed instruments aside, Islands are a cute indie band, occasionally delving into pop or art rock, but generally drifting in the domain of a jazzy, sweet acoustic rock. Reminiscent of "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan" in any of its various incarnations, "Vapours" would seem to be another lovely, upbeat album. For any indie fan, this is a definite go.

Katy's Pick: Actually, I can't choose. Pearl Jam is a classic, Porcupine Tree looks quite interesting, They Might Be Giants promises to be funny, and Islands is just so sweet. I mean, really, you can't go wrong.

DVD RELEASES THIS WEEK

"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"
Rated PG-13, dir. Mark Waters
Photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is a committed bachelor who loves women. His brother, Paul (Breckin Meyer), is a hopeless romantic who’s engaged. Just when the Mead family thinks that Connor is hopeless, he gets a wake-up call from the ghost of his Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas), a man after his own heart. Uncle Wayne shows him what life is like alone, after having hurt multiple good-hearted women. Will Connor find love and learn from his uncle’s mistakes?

"Observe and Report"
Rated R, dir. Jody Hill
From IMDb: "Bipolar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper's paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can't bring the culprit to justice, a surly police detective (Ray Liotta) is recruited to close the case."

"O' Horten"
Rated PG-13, dir. Bent Hamer
In this Norwegian film, engineer Odd Horten (Baard Owe) watches the train he’s missed leave him in the dust. As the train moves forward, he realizes the path the train takes has no printed timetables nor a well-known station. He realizes that this is the same train he has taken day-in and day-out for the past 40 years until today, the day he retired. Nothing feels the same. Now Horten questions everything about life and ponders what he will do with his new one.

"Battle for Terra"
Rated PG, dir. Aristomenis Tsirbas
From IMDb: "A peaceful alien planet faces annihilation, as the homeless remainder of the human race sets its eyes on Terra. Mala (voice of Evan Rachel Wood), a rebellious Terrian teenager, will do everything she can to stop it."

Eleni’s Pick: I think I would skip the DVDs this week; see the Chanel movie in theaters instead!

VIDEO GAME RELEASES THIS WEEK

"Halo 3: ODST"
Bungie
The newest installment in the best-selling "Halo" series brings as much excitement as its predecessor, with a fantastic co-op campaign mode, new characters, and a fresh look at the series’ most-beloved aspects. "ODST" is notable for its dark humor, customizable maps, and engrossing storyline. "Halo 3: ODST" costs $59.99, and is available now on the Xbox 360.

"Scribblenauts"
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
“Scribblenauts” allows you to play a game as you would write an essay, except whatever noun you write appears on the screen and can be used to help your character reach his goal. This sounds great, and some will really enjoy it, but several huge flaws prevent it from living up to the lofty praise it has received. The controls are flawed, the graphics are choppy, and the levels repetitive. However, if you can’t keep yourself away, it’s available now for $29.99 on the Nintendo DS and DSi.

"Aion: The Tower of Eternity"
NCsoft
There has been a great deal of hype surrounding the newest unpronounceable game on the MMORPG scene, "Aion." The graphics are amazing, but not amazing enough to make up for a lackluster storyline and bad quests. Furthermore, America isn’t even getting the "full" game, with some of the content being limited to Asia. It is a sad thing that something so beautiful can be so mind-numbing. "Aion" is subscription-based and available for the PC.

Gargoyle Pick: "Scribblenauts" looks like an amazing game … for a fourth grader. "Aion" just looks way too complicated, so let's just pick the animalistic killing-machine that is the "Halo" universe.

LOCAL EVENTS THIS WEEK

Selling Democracy: Films of the Marshall Plan 1948-1953
Thursday, Sept. 24, through Saturday, Sept. 26
Krannert Art Museum, free admission
Sponsored by the European Union Center, this fest will feature short films about the postwar economic recovery of Western Europe. According to the festival's Web site, the main instrument of the recovery, the Marshall Plan, "relied on cinema to bring hope to European citizens after WWII. Short films told the myriad stories of recovery in funny, entertaining and provocative ways. … European filmmakers had tremendous latitude, and they made cartoons, mini dramas, satires, and newsreels. … Americans never saw them at all, for they were banned in the U.S. under the 1948 Smith-Mundt Act. Now that the ban has been lifted, they can be shown for the first time." Each short film will be introduced by film historian Sandra Schulberg.

Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival
Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26
Downtown Urbana, all-event wristbands $15, individual concerts $3-$10
This weekend begins the first-ever C-U Folk and Roots Festival, featuring great food and great music. A Uni highlight is the performance of Don't Ask, the klezmer band with everyone's favorite librarian, Frances Harris.

Gargoyle Pick: How about both? Surely some enlightened history teacher would be willing to give extra credit for attending "Selling Democracy." The Folk and Roots Festival, meanwhile, sounds like the perfect tonic for overworked students and faculty alike.