February is one of those winter months when not-so-hot movies are dumped into theaters with little

February is one of those winter months when not-so-hot movies are dumped into theaters with little fanfare. But amongst the trash can found some hidden gems. Here are some February releases that show glimmers of promise:

v “Safe House” (Feb. 10): In this CIA thriller, Denzel Washington plays a loose cannon and Ryan Reynolds is the rule- abiding rookie. Sounds a lot like “Training Day.”

v “This Means War” (Feb. 14): An action comedy starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) and Tom Hardy (“Inception”) as CIA buddies who discover they’re dating the same woman (Reese Witherspoon).

v “The Secret World of Arrietty” (Feb. 17): Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away”) produced this animated film about a young boy who befriends a miniature girl living beneath his house.

v “Gone” (Feb. 24): Amanda Seyfried turns the tables on a serial killer. Might be nice to see Seyfried do something besides look pretty.

v “Wanderlust” (Feb. 24): Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston play a Manhattan couple who chuck it all for life on a commune.

“Glee” (8 p.m., fox): The kids of “Glee” pay homage to Michael Jackson in an episode that has the New Directions and the Warblers competing in a dance-off. Ten Jackson songs are featured, including a big production number of “Bad.”

“key & peele” (10:30 P.M. COMEDY CENTRAL): “Key & Peele” is a new comedy series starring Keegan- Michael Key and Jordan Peele. They promise to examine life in a “provocative and irreverent way” through live stage segments and pre-taped sketches.

TV listings: B6

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More auditions for talent show

YOUNGSTOWN

The second round of auditions for the Leaders for Progress Youth Talent Show will be from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Calvin Center, 755 Mahoning Ave.

Participants must between age 14 and 21. All types of entertainers are welcome, but subject matter must be free of vulgarity, sex and drug references. The talent show will be March 16. For more information, call Lisa Shelton-Johnson at 330-402-5597, or Abdul Harris at 330-518-4369.

Performance night at Barnes & Noble

BOARDMAN

Method 8, a literary arts, media and business production agency, will have a Performance Night from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Barnes and Noble, at The Shops at Boardman Park, U.S. Route 224. Actors, singers and poets, whether affiliated with the agency or not, can perform in front of the public.

The performance nights will take place the first Friday of each month. Brian West, president of Method 8, will be the host.

Method 8’s offices are at 4800 Market St. To request to perform at the event, email Method8corp@sbcglobal.net or call 330-259-1279.

Milestone for ‘NCIS’

CBS’ hit show “NCIS” will celebrate its 200th episode Feb. 7. In television land, that’s a big deal.

“It doesn’t feel like 200 episodes, doesn’t feel like nine years,” said Mark Harmon, lead actor on the series.