Welcome: A look at what's cool and what's not

In the middle of several especially warm midsummer weeks, we got to thinking about what's cool. For today's cover story, Mick LaSalle offers an essay about who's got it (Eminem, George Clooney), who had it and lost it (Michael Jackson) and who'll always have it (Robert Mitchum, Clark Gable). See if your favorites are there in the story that begins on Page 15, and check out fellow readers' choices in Two Cents (Page 17). For a bit of nostalgia, see John L. Wasserman's story on super-cool Steve McQueen when he was filming "Bullitt" in San Francisco (Chronicle Classic, Page 14).

Another cool customer - bordering on icy - was the title character in "Citizen Kane," which gets a comedic prequel treatment onstage in Thunderbird Theatre Company's production of "Aaah! Rosebud!" See Sam Hurwitt's story on Page 18. Also in Scenes, Pam Grady walks through the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum exhibition of Enrico Donati's work with the 98-year-old Surrealist himself (Page 20).

It's deja vu - again - in Screens, with Hugh Hart's story on the third version of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." This one, titled simply "The Invasion," stars Nicole Kidman (Page 22). Reyhan Harmanci sits down with the three stars of the Judd Apatow-produced geeky high-school comedy "Superbad" (Page 24); and Peter Hartlaub checks in with director Frank Oz about his latest, "Death at a Funeral" (Page 26).

In Sounds, Eric K. Arnold provides a rundown of the Rock the Bells Festival, featuring Wu-Tang Clan and many other hip-hoppers (Page 40). And if you thought you knew everything about Matt Nathanson, you might think again after reading Aidin Vaziri's story on Page 46, in which the singer-songwriter reveals his tendency to sleepwalk and his favorite kind of underwear. In Pop Quiz, Vaziri talks with Lori McKenna, who's hitting the big-time country tour circuit but still considers herself just a mom (of five) "who gets to do this." See Page 44.

Bonnie Wach samples the star menu item at Just Won Ton in Today's Special (Page 21). And Matt Villano gets the skinny on the "European sunbathing" trend in Las Vegas in Destinations (Page 56).

Next week: Berkeley Repertory Theatre turns 40.