BEST BETS / DECEMBER 17-JANUARY 2, 1998

Movies

“Hilary and Jackie” stars Emily Watson (“Breaking the Waves”) as celebrated British cellist Jacqueline du Pre whose brilliant career was hampered by psychological problems and later multiple sclerosis. Rachel Griffiths (above, right, with Watson) plays Jackie’s self-sacrificing sister Hilary. The film opens Wednesday at selected theaters.

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“Playing by Heart,” a comedy-drama about a group of Angelenos in various stages of love, features a large ensemble cast including Gillian Anderson, Sean Connery, Anthony Edwards, Angelina Jolie, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands and Ellen Burstyn. Written and directed by Willard Carroll, the film opens on Wednesday at selected theaters.

Theater

You won’t believe what edgy sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay can do with ordinary playing cards in his showcase “Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants,” opening Tuesday at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. You have to be at least 17 years old to get in, and only 150 will be seated at each show--on stage, for a close-up view.

Pop Music

Those planning to enter 1999 to a rock beat are faced with a generous range of choices in Southern California’s clubs, but when it comes to quality celebration, a few New Year’s Eve shows stand out from the pack, notably Grant Lee Buffalo at the Whisky, the Bomboras at Spaceland and Ozomatli (above) at the Dragonfly.

Jazz

One of the most fun ways for jazz and blues fans to ring in 1999 is at the four-day New Year’s Jazz at Indian Wells festival (which starts Wednesday). Among this year’s many performers are Ernie Andrews, Etta James, Floyd Dixon, Joe Louis Walker, the Royal Society Orchestra and the Rhythm Rascals.

Music

For a second year, the Pasadena Symphony presents two evenings of a New Year’s celebration called “Salute to Vienna,” patterned after concerts of that Austrian tradition. Jorge Mester will conduct, on Thursday at Pasadena Civic Auditorium and Friday in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Soloists (above) are from the Vienna Staatsoper: tenor Sebastian Reinthaller and soprano Renate Pitscheider.

Video

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the wild and crazy creators of Comedy Central’s animated hit “South Park,” star in the “unsportsmanlike” comedy “BASEketball.” The farce, which also stars Jenny McCarthy and a few sports play-by-play specialists, failed to connect at the box office last summer but it goes for the rebound Tuesday at video stores.