BEST BETS Friday 8/4

all day

Movies

Spotlighting the actor who is Generation X’s everyman, the New Beverly Cinema presents a John Cusack Double Feature this weekend. Cusack has balanced personal projects like “Grosse Pointe Blank” with the occasional big-budget Hollywood venture such as “Con Air,” and his eclectic resume includes more feature film credits than he’s had birthdays. Screening Friday and Saturday will be his two most recent efforts, this year’s adaptation of Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity” (which the actor co-produced and co-scripted) and last year’s Oscar-nominated “Being John Malkovich.”

* John Cusack double feature at the New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. “High Fidelity,” Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3:15 and 7:30 p.m. “Being John Malkovich,” Friday at 9:35 p.m., Saturday at 5:20 and 9:35 p.m. $3 to $6. (323) 938-4038.

8:30 & 10:30pm

Jazz

She can be as playful as Ella, as thoughtful as Sarah, as naughty as Etta. Blues and ballad singer Barbara Morrison, though based in Los Angeles, has gained a national following with her big personality and delicious sense of swing. Someone who knows how to speak to an audience, Morrison should be at her most communicative in this intimate Hollywood setting.

* Barbara Morrison at the Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Also Saturday at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:15 and 9:15 p.m. $12. (323) 466-2210.

8:30pm

Jazz

Though they’re from different generations, vocalists Tony Bennett and Diana Krall share a common love for the American songbook and the jazz rhythms that animate the tunes in it. The veteran entertainer, who’s recorded with Basie and Bill Evans, and the top-selling singer and pianist, who represents the music’s future, appear with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

* Tony Bennett and Diana Krall with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. 8:30 p.m. Also Saturday, 8:30 p.m. $3 to $110. (323) 850-2000.

8pm

Theater

Director Michelle Truffaut stages Pasadena Shakespeare Company’s “The Merchant of Venice” with a modern twist, setting Shakespeare’s classic about love, prejudice, money and power in the near future.

* “The Merchant of Venice” at the Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena. Fridays through Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 3 p.m. Ends Sept. 3. $18. (626) 564-8564.

8pm

Country Music

Vince Gill and Amy Grant recently tied the knot, but they have some work to do before they unseat Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as Nashville’s first musical couple. The husband and wife should be in a festive mood as they play their first shows since raking in a combined eight nominations this week in the Country Music Assn. Awards.

* Tim McGraw and Faith Hill at the Arrowhead Pond, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. 8 p.m. Sold out. (714) 704-2500. Also Saturday at Cox Arena, San Diego State University, San Diego. 7:30 p.m. $42 and $58. (619) 594-6947.

8:15pm

Pop Music

Elvis sighting--big time. There he is performing on the video screen, while members of his original touring band and backing singers accompany him. That’s the premise of “Elvis--The Concert,” which makes its L.A. debut in its third year on the road.

* “Elvis--The Concert” at Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 8:15 p.m. $40 to $69. (818) 622-4440.

all day

Movies

The space program gets a coat of distinguished gray in Clint Eastwood’s new adventure “Space Cowboys.” When a 1960s Soviet satellite goes kaput, threatening a nationwide Russian blackout, NASA is forced to call on the one man who can fix the problem: Skylab designer Frank Corvin (Eastwood). Corvin will only take the job if he can use the team he trusts, a group of retired test pilots (Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner). Long ago they were passed over for space missions, but now these veterans get a chance to show their mettle--if they can get through the rigorous training.

* “Space Cowboys,” rated PG-13 for some language, opens Friday in general release.

Freebie

The California EAR Unit plays at California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Noon and 8 p.m. (213) 687-2159.