Stephen Sondheim's Company

Opening:

BATTLE OF THE YEAR—B-boy dance competition. Directed by Benson Lee (Planet B-Boy). Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

PRISONERS—Dark thriller set in a small Pennsylvania town where a detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) and a distressed father (Hugh Jackman) look for two missing children. With Paul Dano, Maria Bello, Viola Davis, Terence Howard, and Melissa Leo. Denis Villeneuve (Incendies). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

SALINGER—Documentary featuring newly available information about the recently deceased (and infamously reclusive) author of Catcher in the Rye. Directed by Shane Salerno. Eastern Hills

SHORT TERM 12—Award winning drama set among the young staff at a foster care facility. Starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., and Kaitlyn Dever. Directed by Destin Cretton (I am Not a Hipster). Reviewed this issue. Amherst

THANKS FOR SHARING—Comedy starring Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Tim Robbins as characters who meet in a sex addiction 12-step program. With Josh Gad, Joely Richardson, Patrick Fugit, and Pink. Directed by Stuart Blumberg (The Kids Are Alright). Eastern Hills

ETC:

COMPUTER CHESS—Mumblecore progenitor Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha) used 1970s video equipment to film this recreation of a 1980 competition among creators of computer chess playing systems. Reviewed this issue. Squeaky Wheel

EARTH VERSUS THE FLYING SAUCERS (1956)—Classic “B” sci-fi, from a script by Curt Siodmak. Starring Hugh Marlowe, Joan Taylor, Donald Curtis, and Morris Ankrum. Directed by Fred F. Sears (The Giant Claw). Screening Room

E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) and BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985)—This weekend’s retro ’80s drive-in double feature. Transit Drive-In

I WANT TO LIVE! (1958)—Susan Hayward’s Oscar-winning performance as Barbara Graham, who was put to death in California’s gas chamber for a murder she may not have committed. With Simon Oakland, Theodore Bikel, and a jazz combo featuring Gerry Mulligan, Shelly Manne, Red Mitchell, and Art Farmer. Directed by Robert Wise (Star Trek The Movie). Part of Hallwalls’ “Jazz Noir 2” series. Hallwalls

LED ZEPPELIN: CELEBRATION DAY—Documentary of the band’s 2007 reunion show (with Jason Bonham sitting in for his father). Screening Room

THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)—John Huston’s classic adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel starring the dream cast of Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre. Inaugurating “Cinema on the Hill,” a monthly program of digitally projected movies to benefit the film program at City Honors School. Thu Sep 19 7pm. City Honors Auditorium, 186 E. North St. (www.chsfilm.org)

STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S COMPANY—Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Christina Hendricks, Aaron Lazar, Patti LuPone, and Martha Plimpton star in this revival of the 1970 show about a single man contemplating the marriages of his friends. Presented as a preview of next month’s Buffalo International Film Festival. For information about special dinner/show packages visit www.buffalofilmfestival.com. Screening Room

SUNSET BOULEVARD (1951)—Billy Wilder’s black-humored masterpiece about the death of the old Hollywood, as embodied by Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), one of the great monsters of movie history. With William Holden, Erich von Stroheim, and Jack Webb. Screening Room

3:10 TO YUMA (1957)—Original version of the western about a rancher engaged in a battle of wits with an outlaw he has agreed to guard while waiting for the train that will take him to trial. Starring Glenn Ford, Van Heflin, and Felicia Farr. Directed by Delmer Daves (Dark Passage). Part of the Buffalo Film Seminars. Market Arcade