This weekend’s Halloween and you know what’s truly scary? That the Boston Red Sox just won the World Series. That this Tuesday’s election could mean four more years of what we just went through. That Sarah Michelle Gellar is the new Jamie Lee Curtis. And that Frederick Exley continues to resonate today. So, folks, while you’re busy with your Ashlee Simpson and Desperate Housewives costumes, just remember to vote on Tuesday with your head. Never mind trick or treat… if Dubya’s re-elected, we’re in for some more truly frightening times. Of course, even if Kerry does pull off what appears a major upset, it could get kinda ugly, but that’s another story for another day. One question… are you better off now than before you read this Weakend Planner? We thought not.

Friday (10/29)
7:30 p.m.
Ray: Finally the movie we have all been waiting for. Ray opens up and we advise you to cancel any other plans you had for this weekend other than seeing this movie. Huh? This could be the best picture of the year with one of the best performances of the year by Jamie Foxx. This movie is garnering serious buzz.

TBA
Metric: Don’t miss this awesome new wave power pop group. @El Rey (5515 Wilshire Blvd., LA (323) 936-474790)

8 p.m.
Jimmy Eat World @Henry Fonda Theater (6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood): Gather all you emo hordes and worship at their feet.

9 p.m.
Keaton Simons @House of Blues, Disneyland, Anaheim: Fresh off his triumphant performance at the Temple Bar, the highly touted Maverick Records singer-songwriter will be opening at the Magic Kingdom's HOB for Five for Fighting.

Saturday (10/30)
4-11 p.m.
Day of the Dead Party: Party with the dead at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (6000 Santa Monica Blvd., free (877) 844-3837)

6 pm-4 a.m.
Halloween Monster Massive @ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: The largest electronica Halloween party in L.A. 20,000 people gather to create the loudest, scariest and most danceable trance party around. Five stages with different DJs spinning create an awesome good time. Does this sound like your typical everyday rave? Hmmm… Who cares, count us in.

8-10 p.m.
Hollywood Hellhouse: Let me preface everything with, BOY WILL YOU DIG THIS! The history: Rev. Jerry Falwell seems to have created the earliest hell house in the late ’70s and the concept was picked up by Keenan Roberts (he’s now a pastor of the Destiny Church in Colorado) in ’92. Roberts sells Hell House Outreach kits to churches which include a 263-page manual covering everything from casting and publicity to instructions on how to make hamburger meat look like a realistic fetus. Roberts said he designed Hell Houses to "show young people that they can go to hell for abortion, adultery, homosexuality, drinking and other things unless they repent and end the behavior." In his first three years of business, he sold 300 kits and attracted 20,000 guests. Since then, there have been approximately 3,000 Hell Houses across the country. Hollywood Hellhouse is done according to guidelines of the Hell House Outreach kits distributed by Destiny Church. The folks at the Steve Allen Theatre Center for Inquiry-West (4773 Hollywood Blvd.) do an amazing job, playing it straight with a rotating batch of celebs playing Satan, Jesus and even the Abortion Girl. Participants have included Bill Maher, Sarah Silverman, David Cross, Andy Richter, Richard Belzer, etc. It’s conducted as a walking tour and your group goes from room to room (be warned, they get smaller and smaller) with a satanic guide leading the way. You won’t believe the bloodbath taking place in the Abortion Room ("This was your choic."), what happens to the AIDS patient would make Freddy Kruger proud and there’s an Extasy-induced gang rape at a rave followed by a suicide (watch out for blood spray!) that will, well, blow your mind. The tour lasts about 30 minutes, but don’t leave afterwards. Head into the room with Christian heavy metal band Stigmeta playing, eat some donut holes and rock out with all the youth group kids. Fucking brilliant. I bought the T-shirt. Enough said? Oh wait, this bitch is the hottest ticket in town, so use WHATEVER pull you have to get tix to tonight OR a special added night tomorrow, Halloween evening. And that’s it. Halloween is closing night. Tix are still avail for Sunday’s show, a Halloween Benefit for Project Angel Food. Potluck dinner will be provided by the cast. For info: (323) 960-4418. (Jill Kushner)

10 p.m.
Let the Halloween parties begin! Catch H is Orange with Woven and Apex Theory @ Hangar 18 (1018 Santa Fe Ave. at Sacramento). $12 admittance, but $10 if you wear a costume. Set times are:
10 p.m.: H is Orange
11 p.m.: Apex Theory
12 a.m.: Woven
DJs spin between sets, and art exhibits are ongoing thru the night.

Midnight
The Cramps @Hollywood Athletic Club (6525 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood): Is there a better band to see on Halloween than these rockabilly ghouls? $35 advance, $45 day of show

Midnight
Fall backwards: Set your clocks back! Get an extra hour’s sleep. Cool.

TBA
Good Charlotte @Universal Amphitheater: Lifestyles of the rich, famous and punked-out.

TBA
Courtney Love, Juliette & The Licks and the Suicide Girls @the Wiltern (3790 Wilshire Blvd.): Ooooh, scary stuff this. Will Courtney continue on her best behavior?

Sunday (10/31)
2:30 p.m.
Howl'oween Parade @ Livingston Park: A day of Halloween fun as hundreds of doggies and owners sport their spookiest and it’s all in support of local animal charities. And you can register yourpet to compete in a canine costume contest. Give your dog bragging rights, dawg! 6 p.m.-midnight

West Hollywood Halloween Carnival (San Vicente and Santa Monica Blvd.): Huge annual event (since ’87) that’s definitely one of the biggest costume parties in the country.

11:30-9:30 p.m.
The Nightmare Before Christmas @ El Capitan Theater (10/28-31): Tim Burton’s animated gem has become a seasonal classic. Oct. 30: 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30; Oct. 31: 11:30, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30

4 p.m.
Carve a pumpkin: Burn off your hangover from last night’s Halloween costume blur… Pick up a pumpkin, carve a spooky face, stick a candle in it and then stay home and pass out some candy.

7 p.m.
HOLLYWOOD HELLHOUSE!!!! For the love of god (not Satan!). Get over there for the last night of this unbelievable production.

7:30 p.m.
Saw: Don’t want to do the typical trick or treating, or go to a party? Take some friendsand check out what is being called one of the scariest movies of all time.

TBA
The Misfits, Agent Orange, D.I. @the Grove of Anaheim (2200 E. Katella Aveue, Anaheim): What better way to spend Halloween than with some classic old-school punkers?

TBA
Rilo Kiley @the Mayan Theater (1038 S. Hill Street): L.A.’s newest country-rock chanteuse

Upcoming events:
Mon. (11/1)

TBA
Q and Not U @the Troubadour

TBA
Everybody Else @the Viper Room

Wed. (11/3)
TBA
VHS or Beta @Spaceland

Tues. (11/16)
8 p.m.
All-Ivy @the Hollywood Improv (8162 Melrose Avenue): This monthly comedy showby Lesley Wolff always features the hottest TV and club comics in town. Tonight’s special guest: Suzanne Whang.

BORSCHT BELTING
Below The Belt: Legendary singer Johnny Fayva (co-created by Russell Steinberg and Adam Spiegelman) guides his sold-out audiences through a night of some of the best variety acts around. And he does it in a tight white suit. And if you’re lucky, you’ll hear a version of "Hey Ya" that’ll make you feel like you’re in the Catskills, baby. And if you’re really lucky, you might see the G-string he sports underneath that tight white suit. But enough about my crush. Also on hand are contortionists, magicians, bullwhip artists (this couple will make you way horny), burlesque dancers (so will they), celeb singers and comedians (why is it always the comedians who make me horny?). Fayva made his mark performing with the band Camp Freddy and some of his past guests have included Kelly Osbourne, Bijou Philips, Jeff Richards (SNL) and Jay London (Last Comic Standing). This past week, five-year-old rapper Li’l Max$o f’n rocked, as did actress/ singer Taryn Manning (8 Mile, Cold Mountain), Jerry Minor (SNL) & tons more. Fayva’s nights are always a totally hot, but kicked-back scene that draws audience members like Christina Aguilera, Jason Schwartzman, Dave Navarro, Bruce Weber, Anthony Kiedis, etc. (in case you’re lookin to stalk). Below the Belt is co-created by Adam Spiegelman (Jimmy Kimmel Live). The L.A. Times raves: "The swingingly single Johnny Fayva co-produces and hosts a comedy-musical review that combines Borscht Belt camp with modern twists." Next show is Tuesday Nov. 30^th @ El Cid (4212 Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake) Reservations strongly suggested: (323) 668-0318 www.johnnyfayva.com (Jill Kushner)

POPCULT TOP 10
1. Political Web Toons: With the demise of the newspaper editorial cartoonist, the Internet has taken the lead with political animations. This week, Eminem entered the fray by leaking his anti-Bush diatribe, "Mosh," which comes complete with a nonpartisan "Vote Tuesday November 2" punch-line. There are at least a half-dozen others making the rounds of your in boxes, with the most clever Flowgo.com’s "Bohemian Rhapsody" parody, available by clicking here. DaveChase.Net has Bush and Kerry doing the "Time Warp" again as characters in Rocky Horror Picture Show here. The Amsterdam-based Boom Chicago site has a clever view of a Florida voting booth here. JibJab, home of the popular "This Land Is Your Land" clip starring Bush and Kerry returns with the same cast for the sequel, "Good to Be in D.C.," set to the tune of "Dixie" and available by clicking here. Beatgreets.com has a lively "Give Bush a Brain" game show, where you can "drop a brain into the empty head" of your President here. Finally, at monsterslash.org, Bobby "Boris" Pickett himself provides the vocals for "Monster Slash," a blast at Bush’s environmental policies, here. (Roy Trakin)

2. The World Series: Never underestimate the wrath of the baseball gods. Notorious for its streaky nature, baseball took mercy on the cursed Red Sox, who captured lightning in a bottle just in time to defeat their longtime nemesis, the Yankees, bringing a warm smile to this long-time Pinstripe Hater, raised by rabid Brooklyn Dodger fans back in the day and now a Met sufferer. As immortal sage Yogi Berra once put it, "It ain’t over until it’s over," or at least until the Bambino turns over in his grave. The final four-game sweep of the Cardinals was a tad anti-climactic, an epilogue at best, but certainly a necessary coronation. Hard to believe that there were only, say, two people alive who experienced the last Bosox championship back in 1918, but be careful what you wish for, Chowderheads. Without that lovable albatross around your neck, you’re just another World Series champ, no longer an obsession passed from fathers to sons over 86 New England autumn chills. Now that you’re the home of both the champions of baseball and football, you’re no longer the underdog, and that’s no fun at all. With all that foreplay over, you’re in for a post-coital letdown. (RT)

3. Frederick Exley, Last Notes From Home: The final book of the trilogy he began 20 years before with the publication of A Fan’s Notes, Exley’s autobiographical novel travels back and forth from the frigid tundra of his upstate New York Watertown home to the shores of Waikiki Beach. There, his quest for the American Dream finally wipes out, our narrator admiring his wacky airline stewardess cum high-priced hooker wife surf to the shore in her tank suit/wedding ensemble. "She ultimately had become nothing other than that brute American male fantasy of the cornbred princess and, in her awful fragility, she had devoted her life to living up to that fantasy, however unsought it had been on her part, only to have had it all turn to ashes in her mouth. God, she was America." With a colorful cast of characters, including a 350 lb., gun-running Irishman who becomes his patron, a wild, pidgin-spouting Samoan assigned to make sure he doesn’t kill himself and the aforementioned nymphomaniac fantasy figure, Exley’s death four years after the book came out hangs over the proceedings like a black cloud. Still, the melancholy is not enough to ruin the sheer joy of language and hilarious self-effacing anguish that graces every page. (RT)

4. Alfie: Music From the Motion Picture (Virgin): As much as Rolling Stone’s Jann Wenner sucks up to Mick Jagger, I have to agree with the mag's assessment this collaboration with producer/writer Dave Stewart is the best thing the craggly-faced Stone icon has done in years. And it gives the veddy British EMI the perfect project to combine the two veteran U.K. mainstays with their own budding Anglo soul star, Joss Stone, who chips in with a moving rendition of the famed Bacharach/David title tune originally performed by Dionne Warwick. Of course, the sybaritic Jagger, so memorable as the aging gentleman escort in George Hickenlooper’s The Man From Elysian Fields, plays that role to the hilt here in the single, "Old Habits Die Hard," harking back to the bittersweet plaint of his classic "You Can’t Always Get What You Want." This is what it's all about, Alfie. (RT)

5. P.J. Harvey at the Avalon, L.A.: After a stopover in August, where I saw her at the Knitting Factory, Harvey returned for a pair of shows at this larger venue, and again made me wonder why she’s not a household name. Her four-piece group has gotten even tighter, more muscular and rhythmic in the interim, with an air-tight set that ranges from "To Bring You My Love" to "Is This Desire," with "Good Fortune," "Down by the Water: and "Pocket Knife" the standouts. She dedicates a cover of The Fall’s "Janet & Johnny" to legendary British DJ John Peel, who first played her music on the BBC and died earlier that day, noting her bassist Dingo was once a member of the band. And while the competition isn’t exactly fierce, she’s got to be the most compelling female rock star around right now, the kind of artist a record company used to routinely take under its wing and turn from cult artist to superstar. Of course, one need only look to Courtney Love for a tragicaly failed attempt at mainstreaming, but music this powerful and accessible somehow deserves to be heard by more than the already committed. And what other distaff rocker would perform an entire set in those high-heeled spikes other than Tina Turner? (RT)

6. Pitty Sing, Demons, You are the Stars in Cars ‘Til I Die (Or Music): Gotta hand it to Or Music A&R whiz Michael Caplan, the man behind Los Lonely Boys. His latest discovery has roots in Manchester, U.K, the home of lead singer Paul Holmes, as well as associations with Boston and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This debut EP is a blast of vintage ’80s new wave that evokes both U2 and Simple Minds on the hook-laden "Radio," and its memorable chorus "We’ll fuck on the radio" and the glorious "On Drugs," with its sing-along-able refrain, "’Cause we’re on drugs." With a lush, guitar-driven sound that evokes both classic rock and the halycon daze of the Hacienda, Pitty Sing fits in perfectly with the Franz Ferdinands and Interpols of the new alternative, while carving out a distinctive niche of their own. Look for the full-length to drop early next year. (RT)

7. Lost/Desperate Housewives: ABC has the two best new series on television, and what makes them work are a savvy combination of post-reality programming with classic TV motifs. J.J. Abrams’ Lost is quite obviously a fictionalized version of Survivor and Big Brother while also recalling the likes of Twilight Zone, Lost in Space and The Fugitive. Fans are already guessing what the island’s secret is, which includes the speculation there’s a Sandals resort, or maybe even an Amish village, right over the mountain. Marc Cherry and Charles Pratt Jr.’s Desperate Housewives deals with every marital issue aired out on the Oprah/Dr. Phil daytime talk show circuit, with elements of classic TV soaps Twin Peaks, Peyton Place and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman stylized like Todd Haynes’ ‘50s homage Far From Heaven. Of particular note is Marcia Cross’ indomitable Stepford Wife Bree Van De Kamp and Gabrielle Solis’ delectably sexy cheating wife Eva Longoria, while Felicity Huffman’s harried stay-at-home mom and Teri Hatcher’s horny divorcee make for a Fab Four which represents the Sex and the City gang moved to the burbs. (RT)

8. Grudge: Looking for new horror just in time for Halloween? Check out this surprise box office smash, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jason Behr. The remake of Japanese horror flick Ju-On stars Gellar as an American going to school in Tokyo when she stumbles upon a house haunted with ghosts of the dead. Behr plays her boyfriend. Just when you thought it was safe to check into the Bates Motel, it includes another sure-to-be infamous shower scene. (Valerie Nome)

9. Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon (Artemis): Dark—almost black—Russian humor matched by shudderingly tender desire… Those were the earmarks of rough n' tumble troubadour Warren Zevon, the freak cousin of the Southern California country/rock set. Enjoy Every Sandwich is an elegaic homage by way of Bruce Springsteen (his live "My Ride's Here" alone is worth the price AND grounds Zevon's importance); the Wallflowers (a charged "Lawyers, Gun & Money"); Don Henley (a rasta-tinged "Searching for a Heart"); and Steve Earle (a raggedy resigned plea "Reconsider Me"). In addition, compadres David Lindley and Jackson Browne pair with Ry Cooder and Bonnie Raitt respectively on the Nawlins' reel of "Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse" and the reggae-leaning "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and Bob Dylan essays the rigidly rogueish stoic "Mutineer." But it's the recountings that measure the man best. Son Jordan Zevon delivers a flat read of "Studebaker," Billy Bob Thornton embraces "The Wind," while Pete Yorn's "Splendid Isolation" juxtaposes as it supposes the reality is what's needed. Jill Sobule brings a gentle benediction of "Don't Let Us Get Sick"—an apt benediction for a man who died of lung cancer and longtime collaborator/producer Jorge Calderon is joined by Jennifer Warnes for a fitting closing track in "Keep Me In Your Heart." These 14 tracks provide permanent residency for as long as anyone cares to care. (Holly Gleason)

10. Chuck Klosterman, "rant & roll over" (Spin column): The closest thing our generation has to a Lester Bangs, Klosterman's Sex & Drugs & Cocoa Puffs was a manic rant about everything anyone who's ever loved rock & roll might consider. Once a month, Klosterman tees it up and hits it long in the pages of Rolling Stone alternative Spin. Off the leash, Klosterman advances some pretty crazy theories. He posits the idea of great dinosaur bands harvesting the songs of the wannabe new generation and the young bands being tagged derivative rising to the challenge of writing new songs that sound as if they should've been from their influences' glory era. (HG)

THE LAKE SHOW IN THE POST-SHAQ ERA
When we last left you, Laker fans, your team was getting humiliated by the starless Detroit Pistons, your superstar point guard was facing a prison sentence because his arrogance and immaturity finally caught up to his public persona, your 360-pound self-proclaimed "most dominant ever" center was getting his head handed to him by Ben Wallace (and getting his walking papers handed to him by Jerry Buss) and your Hall of Fame coach was taking a permanent Montana vacation, writing his tell-all book because his ego matched those of the previously mentioned players combined...

Wasn't all that so much fun?? The answer: NO. Sure, it was nice to win three titles and no doubt about it, this team had its glorious moments. However, it just got all to be too much. Somewhere along the line, two things were lost: basketball and fun. The egos, the money, the immaturity, the pettiness, the feuds, the drama drained the club so much that attending games at Staples Center was like going to Studio 54—so fake, so shallow and so BORING. I attended a pre-season game last week and I can proudly say, that for the first time in years, the crowd was actually PAYING ATTENTION TO THE GAME! What a joy!!!

The new-look Lakers won't win the championship this year, but for basketball purists, that's OK. Now it's about rebuilding and this team has got some nice pieces and should be fun to watch, scratching and clawing to about 44 wins this year. Of course, Kobe won the Laker war this summer, so now we finally get to see what kind of player he can truly be. There is no doubt that he's one of the league's three best players, so it will be interesting to see if he can lead a team to wins AND dominate the ball at all times. Lamar Odom, 6 ft. 10 inches of talent, has the ability to play Scottie Pippen to Kobe's Jordan. He's 25 years old, long, athletic and only getting better. Caron Butler is a fearless 6-7 slashing dynamo who brings toughness and grit every night. Vlade is back for another tour of duty and he will split time with Chris Mihm, a very intriguing 7-footer with loads of talent and a tremendous work ethic. He's had a great pre-season and could be the sleeper player that makes this team much better than people think. Add to that young newcomers Sasha Vujacic and Tierre Brown, two incredibly talented young point guards who will give the well-traveled Chucky Atkins plenty of competition for playing time. Luke Walton, Kareem Rush and Slava Medvadenko all return and will make the bench solid, if not spectacular. Brian Grant will get a few boards if his knees hold out, while we wait for Karl Malone to retake his starting spot in December. No one can replace a Phil Jackson, however Rudy Tomjanovich will give this team all the freedom that Kobe demands, while putting the hammer down defensively. His style is 180 degrees from Phil and that will be welcome as Phil's mind games added to last year's chaos. So, Laker lovers, take a deep breath, embrace the Power of Now, and let it flow this season. Don't look for bling… Look for hustle, heart, fast breaks and tough D. And thank goodness, look for the celebrities to stay home!!!!!!!

P.S. If you care about this country, you'll vote for John Kerry. Sorry, I couldn't help myself!!! (Joel Amsterdam)

DOING THE KABBALAH CIRCUIT IN FLORIDA
If one can suspend one’s cynicism for awhile, they would be quite uplifted by the Friday night Shabbat services sponsored by the Kabbalah Center in Boca Raton. My friend and I were expecting a quiet meditation at sundown, perhaps reflecting on the 72 Names of God and receiving the light. I did get a touch of that when a girl, maybe 16-years-old, guided me to the window and invited me to meditate on the word "Zahav" or "time traveler" to heal the wounds of the past. I could feel the energy.

However, the services were more religious with the men in their yarmulkes on one side of the room and the women on the other. As far as the men went, it was Baptist revival and Iron John meets Fireman Ed, the famous J-E-T-S cheerleader, as they pounded the bima and grunted rather primitively. The women’s side was more of a spiritual, folksy affair, chanting and praying while dancing in a circle. The service was unlike any traditional Friday night Shabbat I had ever attended.

My friend was overwhelmed not having any knowledge about the movement. Sure, there was lots of proselytizing. However, at least the people were friendly and made you feel a part of things. That’s more than I can say for many of today’s religious and political organizations.

The only thing missing was Madonna and Britney Spears handing out the $30 red bracelets. (Janet Trakin)

TRAKIN’S PICKS TO FLICK
Ray (Universal Pictures)
Premise: Jamie Foxx is Ray Charles.
Stars: Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Curtis Armstrong, Patrick Bauchau, Aunjanue Ellis, Harry J. Lennix, Usher, Larenz Tate, Chris Thomas King
Director: Taylor Hackford, who has tackled the music biz in La Bamba (Ritchie Valens), The Idolmaaker (Fabian) and Hail Hail Rock & Roll (Chuck Berry)
Thumbs Up: Oscar buzz for Foxx, with many touting the picture, too.
Thumbs Down: Kinda melodramatic (like Charles’ life), with biographer David Ritz saying the film sentimentalizes its subject.
Soundtrack: Rhino/Atlantic/WMG Soundtracks album contains a variety of Charles greatest hits.
Website: www.raymovie.com/

Saw (Lions Gate Films)
Premise: A couple wake up to find themselves chained in the bathroom of an infamous serial killer who offers them a chance to escape by piecing together a series of clues, but if they run out of time, they’re dead meat.
Stars: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung
Director: James Wan in feature debut.
Thumbs Up: Supposedly one of the grisliest horror pictures ever released by a mainstream distributor.
Thumbs Down: The saw refers to a chainsaw.
Soundtrack: Koch Records album features rockers Front Line Assembly, Fear Factory, Charlie Clouser, Pitbull Daycare, Psycho Pumps
Website: www.sawmovie.com

Birth (New Line Features)
Premise: A middle-aged woman living in New York meets a 10-year-old with a crush on her who claims to be the reincarnation of her husband, who died 10 years ago. It leads her to start questioning the decisions she’s made in life, much to the frustration of her family, best friend and fiance.
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Cameron Bright, Lauren Bacall, Anne Heche, Danny Huston, Arliss Howard, Ted Levine, Zoe Caldwell
Director: Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast)
Thumbs Up: Good director, impressive cast, controversial subject.
Thumbs Down: Audiences have been booing a bathtub scene between Kidman and the boy.
Soundtrack: None.
Website: www.birthmovie.com/

It’s All About Love (Focus Features)
Premise: Set in a near-future besieged by global freezing and the disappearance of gravity in Uganda, the story of two separated lovers, one of whom is a famous ice skater, who are reunited in New York, eventually embarking on a road trip which helps them rekindle their relationship.
Stars: Claire Danes, Joaquin Phoenix, Sean Penn.
Director: Danish "Dogma 95" director and Lars Von Trier colleague Thomas Vinterberg (The Celebration) in his English language debut.
Thumbs Up: Intriguing premise, attractive leads, world-class director.
Thumbs Down: An art film without the subtitles?
Soundtrack: None.
Website: www.tvropa/itsallaboutlove/

Enduring Love (Paramount Classics)
Premise: Lives cross and foundations are shaken for the men who attempt to rescue the passengers of a hot-air balloon accident.
Stars: Daniel Craig, Samantha Morton, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Alexandra Aitken
Director: Roger Michell (Changing Lanes, The Mother)
Thumbs Up: Superb English pedigree, intriguing topic.
Thumbs Down: Warm beer and a shower a week.
Soundtrack: None.
Website: www.paramountclassics.com/enduringlove/index2.html