SUMMER MUSIC AND MOVIES

Monday: Nothing says summer fun like a depressing movie about two moody lovers in slow decline and some downbeat, moody rock music about America's slow decline. Such is the winning formula for the kickoff to the Walker Art Center's ever-popular Summer Music and Movies series in Loring Park. Trimmed back to four weeks in its 33rd year, the always artfully curated series will pay tribute each Monday to one of the biggest presences on the big screen, Paul Newman, starting with his and Elizabeth Taylor's unmatchably steamy take on Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." The band on opening night may not rise to the same level in sex appeal, but Halloween, Alaska -- an electronics-swirled rock quartet featuring members of the Bad Plus, 12 Rods and Love-cars -- has grown into one of Minneapolis' marquee bands with its new third album, "Champagne Downtown." Pairings for subsequent Mondays (in order) are Roma di Luna with "Hud," Gospel Gossip with "Cool Hand Luke" and Times New Viking with "The Hustler." You really can't lose any week. (Music at 7 p.m., movie about 8:45. Free. Loring Park, Mpls.)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER