Best Bets / August 22-28

Movies

In Albert Brooks’ newest comedy “The Muse” the writer-director casts himself as a Hollywood scribe who is introduced by an enviably successful friend (Jeff Bridges) to his inspiration (Sharon Stone), who would seem to be one of the nine daughters of Zeus, the god of Greek mythology. Despite misgivings, the screenwriter’s wife (Andie MacDowell) accepts her into her home, with unexpected consequences. It opens Friday in general release.

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“The Astronaut’s Wife” stars Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron in a thriller about a woman whose marriage to an astronaut mysteriously disintegrates after a freak accident in space. Rand Ravich directed the film from his original screenplay. It opens Friday in general release.

Theater

Comic complications abound when Lord Fancourt Babberly puts on a skirt to help out school chums at Oxford when they need a chaperon to lunch with their girlfriends in Brandon Thomas’ classic Victorian-era farce, “Charley’s Aunt,” opening Saturday at Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga.

Jazz

This Wednesday night at the Hollywood Bowl, the program puts the focus on a trio of jazz guitarists. The Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra teams up with three strong talents: the swing-oriented John Pizzarelli (who also sings in his trio), Russell Malone (formerly with Diana Krall) and Mark Whitfield .

Museums

The Southwest Museum hosts an authentic fandango today from 2-5 p.m. celebrating the completion of the first phase of restoration of the Casa de Adobe rancho,located directly below the museum’s Mount Washington facility. The outdoor fiesta will include refreshments and performances by Los Californios and the Yesteryears Dancers.

Dance

Call it postmodern folklorico or a South-of-the-Border “Riverdance” when the locally based Danza Floricanto/USA strips traditional Mexican dancing to its hot, percussive essences in Gema Sandoval’s new “Zapateados y Taconeos: The Full Story” on Saturday at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. Whatever you call it, the feet will fly.

Music

Esa-Pekka Salonen returns this week to begin a 6-concert stand at Hollywood Bowl leading his Los Angeles Philharmonic in weeknight performances through Sept. 9. Tuesday, Alexander Toradze is the pianist in Scriabin’s mystic “Prometheus,” assisted by the L.A. Master Chorale. HeleneGrimaud appears Thursday as protagonist in Beethoven’s G-major Piano Concerto.

Video

Doug Liman followed up his successful 1996 directorial debut, “Swingers,” with the acclaimed comedy-fantasy “Go.” Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr head the terrific ensemble of performers who star in this episodic tale of young people leading marginal lives in L.A. The Columbia release makes its video debut on Tuesday.

Pop Music

Steve Earle has been stirring things up in Nashville since he arrived in 1986 as a rock-edged maverick. In 1999, his weapon of choice is none other than bluegrass. Earle’s new album “The Mountain” applies the venerable folk-country genre to his narratives of struggle and salvation. He’s at the House of Blues on Tuesday with the Bluegrass Dukes.