Melancholia

Opening

MELANCHOLIA—Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg as sisters dealing with depression, a wedding and the end of the world in a new film by Lars von Trier. With Alexander Skarsgård, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgård, John Hurt, Jesper Christensen, and Udo Kier. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

NEW YEAR’S EVE—Remember when a holiday in the title meant it was a slasher movie? Now they’re multicharacter rom coms. This one stars Hilary Swank, Sarah Jessica Parker, Katherine Heigl, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, and Chris Bridges. Directed by Garry Marshall (Valentine’s Day). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE SITTER—Jonah Hill as an unlikely babysitter. Last time we saw this plot it starred The Rock; wonder what prematurely washed up pseudo-celeb will be in it next time? With Max Records, Ari Graynor, and Sam Rockwell. Directed by David Gordon Green (Your Highness). Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC:

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)—Admit it: This is the Christmas movie you’ve seen more than any other, and the one you’re most likely to watch again. Humorist Jean Shepherd’s stories form this basis for this portrait of Christmas in a blue collar midwestern city in the 1930s. Starring Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, and Peter Billingsley. Directed by Bob Clark (Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things). Sat-Thu 8pm. Screens

CULTURE IN CINEMA: DON GIOVANNI—Mozart’s opera broadcast presented as the opening event of the 2011-12 season of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. Starring Anna Netrebko, Bryn Terfel, and Peter Mattei. Conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Choreographed by Philippe Giraudeau. Directed by Robert Carsen. Mon 6pm. Amherst

SANTA’S COOL FILM FESTIVAL—Retro package including a digitally restored version of the 1964 camp classic Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, vintage Technicolor Christmas cartoons by Max and Dave Fleischer, and Christmas wishes from 1950s celebrities like Howdy Doody, Abbott and Costello, Shari Lewis, and Ozzie & Harriet. Fri, Tue 7pm. The Screening Room; also Fri, Mon-Thu 6pm. Screens

A WARRIOR’S HEART—Distraught after the death of his father, a teen is put back on the right path at a military-themed lacrosse camp. Starring Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, and Gabrielle Anwar. Directed by Michael F. Sears. Fri-Sun 1, 3, 5, 7pm. Angola Screening Room.