Opening This Week:

RABBIT HOLE—Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart star in this adaptation of the Broadway hit about a couple trying to cope with the death of their young son. With Dianne Wiest and Sandra Oh. Directed by John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch). Reviewed this issue. Amherst.

ETC:

ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL—The 48th edition of the oldest film festival devoted to independent and experimental film in North America. The complete program is available at aafilmfest.org. Thurs Jan 27, 7pm, Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main Street (884-7172 / squeaky.org).

42ND STREET (1933)—A depression era musical that is actually about the Great Depression, this was directed by Lloyd Bacon, who as a Warner Brothers standby was considerably more hardnosed than the guys making musicals at MGM. But what everyone remembers are the astonishing Busby Berkeley production numbers, along with Ginger Rogers singing “We’re in the Money” in pig latin and the song “Shuffle Off to Buffalo.” Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues. 7 pm. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

GASLAND—Documentary about the Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking,” which uses high-pressure water to release underground natural gas but which may cause enormous damage to the water table. The screening will be hosted by director Josh Fox. Mon 7pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net).

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951)—Raymond Chandler wrote the screenplay from Patricia Highsmith’s novel for this classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller about two men who pass the time on a train formulating a perfect murder plan. But when they get off, one of them takes it seriously. Starring Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman, and Leo G. Carroll. Sat Sun Tues 7:30pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net).

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975)—Restored version of the classic about pornographic moose dentistry. Directed by 40 specially trained Ecuadorian mountain llamas, six Venezuelan red llamas, 142 Mexican whooping llamas, 14 North Chilean guanacos (closely related to the llama), Reg Llama of Brixton, 76,000 battery llamas from “llama-fresh” farms ltd. near Paraguay, and Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones. Fri-Sat 7, 9:30 pm, Sun 7pm. HD Video Café, 5445 Transit Rd, Williamsville (688-4933 / www.hdvideocafe.com).