BARBER'S BEST BETS: "2012"

ON THE BIG SCREEN

Opening Nov 13:

"2012" is the latest doomsday film from Independence Day and Day After Tomorrow creator Roland Emerich, about a cataclysmic series of natural disaster events set to take place late in the title year, according to the Mayan calendar. John Cusack and Woody Harrelson head the cast.

"Pirate Radio," written and directed by Richard Curtis, of "Notting Hill" and "Love, Actually," tells the story of a band of rebellious disc jockeys who established an illegal radio station on a ship in the North Sea in the 1960's so British youth could hear the rock and roll banned from the BBC. Phillip Seymour Hoffman ("Capote") and Bill Nighy ("Love, Actually") are part of the ensemble cast.

"Precious" is an emotionally wrenching drama about a teenaged girl in Harlem in the 1980s who finds herself pregnant with her second child through awful circumstances. Removed from her public high school and forced to live with her physically and emotionally abusive mother (Mo'Nique,) she finds hope and possibilities after arriving at an alternative school. Paula Patton ("Swing Vote,") Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey co-star.

STILL IN THEATRES

"Men Who Stare at Goats" is a very quirky title for an unusual and funny film. It's based on the non-fiction best seller about the attempts by the military and the CIA to develop a new class of "super soldiers" in the late 1970s and 80s.

These "new age" warriors would develop and use telekinesis and other psychic powers, along with Eastern philosophies and teaching to conduct wars without actual physical combat. Utilizing the Iraq war and a reporter -- Ewan McGregor -- ("Trainspotting,") as a framing device, the film moves back and forth in time. While George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey provide a good deal of the movie's laughs as three of the former psychic warriors, the McGregor plot line and the at-tempts to give the story a strongly realistic underpinning fall a bit flat.

If you're a fan, as I am, of the film's Oscar-winning and nominated cast members or have a love of absurdist humor, you will get more of a kick out of "Goats" (no pun intended) than the average viewer. "Star Wars" and "Dr. Strangelove" fans should enjoy a chuckle or three, as well. MPAA Rating: R, for profanity, violence, drug and sexual content. Joe's Rating: Three (***) Stars.

ON THE SMALL SCREEN

One of this year's best films-and the likely Oscar winner for Best Animated Film, Dis-ney/Pixar's "Up,"has just arrived on standard and Blu-ray formats. This funny and moving tale of an old man and a young boy off on the adventure of a lifetime, offers additional proof (if more was needed) that, when it comes to "family films,"Pixar knows how to entertain the entire family. By all means, add this gem to your home video collection. MPAA Raton; PG, for some violence and fleeting images of a child in danger. Joe's Rating: Four (****) Stars.

Also out this week, the crude and uneven, but funny, "The Ugly Truth." This romantic com-edy, about a television producer (Katherine Heigl) battling with -- and attracted to -- a chauvinist relation-ship advice commentator (Gerard Butler) has plenty of downs, but the chemistry between the leads is a definite "up." MPAA Rating: R, for profanity, drug content, sexual situations and brief nudity. Joe's Rating: Two (**) Stars.

ON STAGE

A flurry of openings start this week's stage items.

» The Shakespeare Theatre Company presents the Bard's "As You Like It" at their Sidney Harmon Hall venue in downtown Washington. This bittersweet romantic comedy gets a musical twist in this production. It opens on Nov. 17 and runs through Dec. 20.

» Signature Theatre continues its musical celebration of its 20th anniversary as it presents the second edi-tion of "Signature Sings." This cabaret series presents performers delivering songs from musi-cals presented at the theater during a five-year period, this time,1995-1999. Among the shows from which songs will be taken: "The Rink," "Over and Over," "Working," "Passion" and "Cabaret." This edition opens Nov. 17 and runs through Nov. 22.

» Metro Stage in Alexandria presents "Pearl Bailey ... By Request," a one-woman show cele-brating the life, music and career of one of America's greatest musical performers. It runs at Metro Stage from Nov. 18 through Dec. 20.

» Finally, if you missed American Century Theater's widely acclaimed production of "A Piece of My Heart" at Gunston Arts Center, you have another chance to see it. It just opened at the Mount Vernon Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave, N.W. in Washington. For tickets and more information, call 703-998-4555.

»Closing this weekend are Studio Theatre's "Adding Machine: A Musical" and Synetic Theater's "Dracula" at the Rosslyn Spectrum. Both shows end Sunday.

IN CLUBS AND IN CONCERT

»The Barns at Wolf Trap presents an evening of American music headlined by Mountain Heart, tonight. Singer and songwriter Amanda McBroom ("The Rose") takes the stage as part of the Barns' cabaret series Saturday and Radney Foster on Nov. 18.

»The State Theater in Falls Church presents "Laffstock," an evening of stand-up comedy, Friday and the '80's tribute band The Legwarmers, on Saturday.

»The Birchmere welcomes "Mr. American Pie," Don McLean, on Saturday. "Los Lo-bos" returns to the hall for a show Sunday. The Flatlanders, with Joe Ely, take the spotlight Nov. 16

»The All American Rejects are on center stage at the Patriot Center on Nov. 16.

» Jazz legend Joe Sample begins a four-night stand at Blues Alley in Georgetown, tonight.

» Constitution Hall brings the funny with Cedric the Entertainer on Saturday.

»The Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis offers the rock and blues sounds of Delbert McClinton tonight and the Fabulous Thunderbirds on Saturday.

Joe Barber is contributing entertainment writer for the News & Messenger and can be heard Fridays through Sundays on the WTOP-FM Radio Network .