Best Bets / DECEMBER 17-23, 2000

Movies

“Cast Away,” above, reunites Tom Hanks with “Forrest Gump” director Robert Zemeckis and “Apollo 13” screenwriter William Broyles Jr. Hanks plays a FedEx systems engineer whose life is ruled by the clock--until he becomes stranded on a remote island. Helen Hunt is also featured. Opens Friday.

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Nicolas Cage stars in the fantasy “The Family Man” as a high-living Wall Street trader who one snowy Christmas morning awakens in an alternate suburban universe as a husband and father of two. Above right, Jeremy Piven and Cage. Opens Friday.

Theater

“For Here or to Go?,” Cornerstone Theatre Company’s holiday comedy special written by Alison Carey, about fast food, lost love and feuding families. Set against a backdrop of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas, it’s the culmination of an almost decade-long collaboration with members of several Southern California communities. Opens today at the Mark Taper Forum.

Music

The premiere performance of Eric Whitacre’s “Winter” is included on the Pacific Chorale’s holiday concert, “Tis the Season,” tonight at 7 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Artistic director John Alexander conducts the new work by the chorale’s composer-in-residence on a program that includes Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and other music of the season.

Dance

This season, the Orange County Performing Arts Center is neglecting the little girl with the nutcracker in favor of the young woman with the glass slipper. Tuesday to Saturday, “Cinderella” reigns in Costa Mesa, where it will be performed by American Ballet Theatre in the full-length version choreographed by Ben Stevenson to music by Prokofiev. Five sets of principals are scheduled during the run.

Pop Music

It’s fitting that the last big hip-hop blowout of the year features a rapper who had one of 2000’s biggest-selling rap albums. Nelly, below, whose “Country Grammar” has sold about 4.5 million copies, is the top attraction on the Cash Money Millionaires Tour, which also brings Ja Rule, Juvenile, Lil’ Wayne, B.G., the Big Tymers, Kandi, Joe and Profyle to the Great Western Forum on Friday.

Jazz

Billy Childs, a major pianist-composer, will make two special appearances this week. At Rocco on Thursday he leads his “jazz chamber” ensemble, while Saturday night at Culver City’s Jazz Bakery he plays a duet date with adventurous and constantly improvising singer Carmen Lundy.

Video

Woody Allen’s “Small Time Crooks” recalls the simplicity and silliness of his “early, funny ones.” Allen plays an ex-con who comes up with a scheme to rob a bank. He and his wife (Tracey Ullman) rent a store to begin a cookie shop as a front. Though the bank robbery plans go awry, Ullman’s cookie business becomes a huge success. Hugh Grant also stars as a British art expert hired to train the uncouth couple in the culture. The farce arrives Tuesday on video and DVD.