Three-day forecast

MOVIES

Praise flowing for ‘River’

Since it debuted at Cannes in May, critics have been calling Clint Eastwood’s “Mystic River” his best film since “Unforgiven.” Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins head a powerful ensemble cast in this dark drama set in Boston dealing with a group of childhood friends, now middle-aged, whose lives have taken very different paths. The death of one’s daughters reunites them under tragic and complicated circumstances. Brian Helgeland adapted Dennis Lehane’s bestselling novel.

“Mystic River,” rated R for language and violence, now playing exclusively at the AMC Century 14, Century City, (310) 289-4262; Pacific’s the Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A. (323) 692-0829; and Edwards Big Newport 6, 300 Newport Center Drive, East, Newport Beach, (800) FANDANGO #150; opens Wednesday in additional theaters.

EVENTS

They go to the extreme

If you’re ready for some high-octane intensity, Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom HuckJam Tour, the action sports and music show, rushes through complete stops at the Arrowhead Pond and Staples Center this weekend. Among the skateboarders, BMX bikers and motocross riders featured will be Bucky Lasek, Bob Burnquist, Andy MacDonald, John Parker, Mat Hoffman and Carey Hart. The show’s set design resembles an actual street with ramp features such as the “Loop of Death” and the “30 Foot Fall.” For a musical backdrop, the Anarchy Orchestra will provide extended instrumental versions of classic punk and alternative music tunes. For more information, see www.boomboomhuckjam.com

Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom HuckJam Tour, Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, Friday, 7:30 p.m. $25-$75. (714) 704-2500. Also: Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., L.A. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. $25-$75. (213) 742-7340.

ART

Artists’ complex opens doors

Take a walk -- a leisurely walk through the rustic complex once the home of Pabst Blue Ribbon Breweries. Now a 23-building community of artists, the artisans open their doors to the public for the Brewery ArtWalk. Visitors can stroll between the live-in and work spaces of more than 175 artists. Every discipline from painters and sculptors to photographers, cinematographers and composers, dancers, furniture designers and other fine artists will have their works on display and some for sale.

Brewery ArtWalk, 2100 N. Main St., L.A. Free parking at 600 Moulton Ave. L.A. Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. (213) 694-2911

THEATER

‘Phantom’ returns

That bad boy in the mask is ba-a-a-ck. “The Phantom of the Opera,” the Andrew Lloyd Webber box office-busting phenom of 1989 -- it played here for more than four years -- returns to the Ahmanson, presented by the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company Inc. and directed by Harold Prince. In the title role: Broadway veteran Brad Little, who’s been part of the Broadway and touring productions since 1994.

“The Phantom of the Opera,” Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Opens Sunday, 4 p.m. Runs Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2 p.m. Also Oct. 16, Nov. 26, 28, Dec. 4, 2 p.m.; Dec. 1, 8 p.m.; Nov. 8, 2 and 7 p.m. Dark Thanksgiving; ends Dec. 6. $30-$85. (213) 628-2772.

JAZZ

A hot ticket at Greek

Just four days after the release of his new album, “Saxophonic,” smooth-jazz favorite Dave Koz brings his tour of the same name to the Greek Theatre. Joining Koz for this tour are guitarist Marc Antoine, trumpeter Chris Botti and keyboardist Jeff Lorber, who all have their own new albums to promote as well. Botti’s “A Thousand Kisses Deep” and Antoine’s “Mediterraneo” were both released last month, while Lorber’s “Philly Style” reached the stores only in March. So much music, so little time and so few tickets -- the show is sold out, but your favorite ticket broker will be happy to accommodate.

Dave Koz, Marc Antoine, Chris Botti and Jeff Lorber, Greek Theatre, 2700 N. Vermont Ave, L.A., Saturday, 7:30 p.m. $25-$79 (sold out) (323) 665-1927. Also Sunday, 5 p.m., at the Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St., $27-$52. (805) 962-7411

POP MUSIC

Lynne’s search for identity

The title of Alabama-bred singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne’s latest album, “Identity Crisis,” is nothing if not honest. She’s swung from corporate country and big band-driven torch songs in the ‘90s to deeply confessional rock and folk on her Grammy-winning 2000 album “I Am Shelby Lynne” to the more overtly pop-leaning 2001 collection “Love, Shelby.” For her latest, much of which was recorded at her Palm Springs home, she wrote all the songs, played most of the music and handled the vocals. It’s a return to the brutal honesty that’s been the source of her most powerful music.

Shelby Lynne, House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim. With Hank Floyd, Anna Montgomery and Steve Conn. Today, 8 p.m. $25. (714) 778-2583. Also House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. With Montgomery and Conn, Vesica Pisces. Saturday. 9 p.m. $25. (323) 848-5100.

THEATER

Bittersweet and surreal

The next two entries in UCLA Live’s second annual International Theatre Festival include “The Hanging Man,” from Britain’s intensely visual Improbable Theatre (“Shockheaded Peter”). In this bittersweet tale, an architect dreams of building a great cathedral -- and ends up suspended between heaven and hell. Meanwhile, Dublin-based monologist Oscar McLennan can be seen in “The Quiet Bastard,” a dark, surreal tale of outcasts and misfits that inhabit one man’s cinema of dreams in a desolate desert.

* “The Hanging Man,” UCLA’s Freud Playhouse, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. Opens Wednesday. Runs Wednesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.; ends Oct. 17. $30-$45. (310) 825-2101.

* “The Quiet Bastard,” UCLA’s Macgowan Little Theater, Westwood.

Opens Wednesday.

Runs Wednesdays-

Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; ends Oct. 19. $30. (310) 825-2101.

ART

Latin works are on display

The Long Beach Museum of Art turns into a virtual Who’s Who of Latin American Artists when it delves into its permanent collection to present “Suenos y Encuentros” -- translated it means “Dreams and Encounters.” This is the perfect opportunity to encounter the paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures of Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo alongside contemporary sculptures by Jorge Marin and Cecilia Miguez and ceramic works by Lidya Buzio and others.

“Suenos y Encuentros: Works From the Collection by Latin American Masters,” Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.

Today, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Also, Tuesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Ends Jan. 24. $4-$5; 11 and younger, free. (562) 439-2119.

WORDS

Crime solving in genes

The California Forensic Science Institute hosts Joseph Wambaugh in a reading of selections from his 1989 novel “The Blooding.” The crime novelist, who crafted bestsellers “The New Centurions,” “The Onion Field” and the “Choirboys,” among others, also discusses “Blooding’s” prescient plot: Two near-perfect crimes are solved through what was then a scientific breakthrough -- genetic fingerprinting.

Joseph Wambaugh, Ballroom 1, Golden Eagle Building, California State University, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. Friday, 10:30 a.m. (323) 343-4879.