Opening

THE IDES OF MARCH—George Clooney directed, co-wrote and co-stars in this political drama starring Ryan Gosling as a consultant to a presidential candidate torn between loyalty and his career. Co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Max Minghella, and Jennifer Ehle. Reviewed this issue. Maple Ridge, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

REAL STEEL—Disney film starring Hugh Jackman as a promoter of a boxing robot who has to deal with his young son while on the road. Jackman desperately needs a new agent. With Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly and Anthony Mackie. Directed by Shawn Levy (the remake of The Pink Panther). Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

RESTLESS—Gus Van Sant’s first film since his hit Milk is a fanciful drama about a young man obsessed with death, a young woman dying of cancer, and the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot. Starring Henry Hopper, Mia Wasikowska, and Ryo Kase. Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills

ETC:

BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)—“They’re young. They’re in love. They rob banks” was the tag line for this, one of the seminal American films of the 1960s. Jean-Luc Godard was the producer’s first choice to direct; they settled for Arthur Penn, who concocted an American form of the Nouvelle Vague style that made this one of the most controversial films of the decade. Starring Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Michael J. Pollard and Gene Wilder. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues. 7 pm. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

LOUIS SULLIVAN: THE STRUGGLE FOR AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE—Documentary about the career and tragic life of the American architect whose work includes Buffalo’s Guaranty Building. 7 pm Tues. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net).

A Night at the Horrorshow Double Feature: PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (1956)—Ed Wood’s best remembered film is hardly the “worst movie ever made,” but it is one of the most entertaining bad ones. The fun lies not in the story about aliens intent on destroying Earth before we destroy the universe but from the cardboard sets, stock footage, and overripe acting from an assortment of Hollywood wannabes (padded out with a few minutes of left-over footage of Bela Lugosi, shot just before his death). Followed by NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968)—George Romero’s film was truly shocking when it first leaked into drive-ins a quarter century ago. Its no-budget verisimilitude is still effective, as long as you can see it with an audience not intent on making a joke of it. Fri 7:30. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net).

STRIP SEARCH (2004)—As a tribute to Sidney Lumet, Buffalo native Tom Fontana will introduce this rare screening of Lumet’s film (written by Fontana) that follows parallel stories examining personal freedoms vs. national security in the aftermath of 9/11. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ken Leung, Glenn Close, and Austin Pendleton. Fri 7 pm. Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Ave.

A TRIBUTE TO MAYA DEREN—Screenings of the avant garde filmmaker’s shorts Ritual in Transfigured Time, At Land and A Study In Choreography for Camera accompanied with live sound by local musicians. The program will also include Barbara Hammer’s new film Maya Deren’s Sink. Thurs Oct. 13 7 pm. Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main St (884-7172 / www.squeaky.org).