But I'm a Cheerleader

Opening:

AFTERMATH—Controversial Polish film about a man who returns to his family farm where his brother is making enemies by digging up long buried secrets. Starring Maciej Stuhr, Ireneusz Czop and Jerzy Radziwilowicz. Directed by Wladyslaw Pasikowski. Reviewed this issue. North Park

BEGIN AGAIN—A washed-up music producer (Mark Ruffalo) regains interest in his job when he hears a young singer (Keira Knightley) running from problems of her own. Ditrected by John Carney (Once). Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES—Reboot sequel. Starring Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman and Keri Russell. Directed by Matt Reeves (Let Me In). Aurora, Delevan Drive-In, Flix, Hamburg Palace , Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

THIRD PERSON—Paul Haggis (Crash) wrote and directed this ensemble drama linking three stories set in New York, Rome and Paris. Starring Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody Olivia Wilde, James Franco and Maria Bello. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

ETC:

BLAZING SADDLES and SPACEBALLS—Mel Brooks invades this drive-in for this week’s retro double feature. Tues dusk. Transit Drive-In

BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (1999)—A very funny low-budget comedy that resembles the early films of John Waters in putting its off-center point of view across quickly and effectively. Natasha Lyonne is an All-American teenager who is stunned when her loving parents ship her off to True Directions, a cheesy camp that promises to cure teens of incipient homosexuality. Of course, like prison, the camp actually encourages the very trait it claims to eradicate. Directed by Jamie Babbit. The screening will be followed by a discussion led by representatives of Western New Yorkers against Conversion Therapy. Fri 7:30 pm. Hallwalls.

CHICAGO (2002)—The Oscar-winning adaptation of Bob Fosse’s Broadway show opens a summer season of musicals on the big screen at the Riviera Theater. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Renée Zellweger and John C. Reilly. Directed by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters). Thurs July 10 7:30 pm. Riviera

DEATH ON THE NILE (1978)—Peter Ustinov makes a fine Hercule Poirot in this Agatha Christie adaptation, but the real draw is the supporting cast, including Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury, David Niven and Maggie Smith. Fri, Sun, Tues 7:30 pm. Screening Room

42ND STREET (1933)—A Depression era musical that is actually about the Great Depression. Director Lloyd Bacon, a Warner Brothers mainstay, was considerably more hardnosed than the guys making musicals at MGM. But what everyone remembers are the astonishing Busby Berkeley production numbers, especially “Shuffle Off to Buffalo.” Thurs July 10 7:30 pm. Riviera

GLORIA (Chile, 2012)—Paulina García was named Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival for her performance as a fifty-something divorcee determined not to let her children shuffle her into old age when she’d rather be at the disco. The largely improvised film was directed by Sebastián Lelio. Presented by the Hubbard Film Society. Sun 4 pm. Parkdale School Auditorium, 141 Girard Ave., East Aurora (www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/HFS.html)

A HARD DAY’S NIGHT (1964)—Newly restored version of the Beatles’ first film, which for its music, its seemingly off-handed but precise direction (by Richard Lester, inventing an entirely new school of filmmaking) and the effortless charisma of its four stars is a very nearly perfect movie. Thurs (7/10), 7:30, Sat 7:30 and 9:30. Screening Room

A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS—From Britian’s National Theater, a new production of the 1987 comedy by Alan Ayckbourn (The Norman Conquests) about a principled man who discovers how corrupt his family business is when he’s put in charge. Starring Mike Aherne, Rosie Armstrong, Abby Cassidy, and Matthew Lloyd Davies. Sun 12 pm, Mon 7 pm. Amherst