Best Bets / MAY 27 - JUNE 2, 2001

Movies

The comedy “What’s the Worst That Can Happen?” pits Martin Lawrence, right, against Danny DeVito, far right, in vengeful rivalry that grows increasingly hostile after DeVito’s unscrupulous billionaire turns the tables on Lawrence’s professional thief. With John Leguizamo and Glenne Headley. Opens Friday.

Music

The winter musical season at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art closes this week with a final Monday Evening Concert featuring a return visit by the acclaimed Arditti Quartet, assisted by guest double bassist Stefano Scodanibbio. The string ensemble plays a program of music by Webern, Nono, Pascal Dusapin, Hilda Paredes and Julio Estrada in the Bing Theater.

Pop Music

Champions of old-school soul who haven’t warmed up to new revivalists such as D’Angelo and Jill Scott take their pleasures where they can get them, and they’ll have a tough choice Saturday, when L.A.’s Greek Theatre features James Brown, above, and the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City packages the Stylistics, the Dramatics, the Chi-Lites and other exemplars of soulful harmony.

Video

Steven Soderbergh swept the majority of critics’ awards and won the best director Oscar for “Traffic,” the gripping ensemble drama about America’s war against drugs. Winner of four Oscars, including adapted screenplay (Stephen Gaghan) and supporting actor (Benicio Del Toro), “Traffic” also stars Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Dennis Quaid. Available Tuesday on VHS and DVD.

Art

From Funny Farm Tattoo to House of Pies, 21 local businesses along Vermont Avenue in Hollywood will serve as art galleries in “Target Hollywood: North Vermont Neighborhood Project” beginning Friday. The special event, sponsored by the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery and Gallery Theatre in Barnsdall Art Park, will feature work by more than 30 artists.

Theater

Gladys Knight (without the Pips) stars in “Smokey Joe’s Cafe--The Songs of Leiber & Stoller.” Directed by Jerry Zaks, this celebration of first kisses, last dances, cool rock ‘n’ rollers and hot summer nights features such ‘50s and ‘60s hits as “Hound Dog,” “On Broadway” and “Jailhouse Rock.” Opens Tuesday at the Wilshire Theatre.

*

Also: In another part of town, disco lives again in the nationally touring “Saturday Night Fever--The Broadway Musical,” inspired by the 1977 film and featuring those era-defining Bee Gees songs “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep Is Your Love?,” “You Should Be Dancing.” It plays Tuesday through June 24 at the Shubert Theatre in L.A., and June 26-July 8 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Below, Jeanine Meyers and Richard H. Blake.