Howl's Moving Castle

Opening:

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: THEM—Combined version of two films that traced from each partner’s viewpoint the efforts of a couple to maintain a troubled relationship. Starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Viola Davis, Bill Hader, Ciarán Hinds, Isabelle Huppert and William Hurt. Directed by Ned Benson. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

THE MAZE RUNNER—Yet another movie adaptation from a series of dystopian teen novels. Which means that you either already have your tickets or couldn’t care less. Starring and directed by no one I’ve ever heard of. Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

MY OLD LADY—Broke Kevin Kline is thrilled to inherit a Paris apartment, until he finds that current resident Maggie Smith is legally entitled to live in it for the rest of her life. With Kristin Scott Thomas and Dominique Pinon. Written and directed by Israel Horovitz. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU—A dysfunctional family is reunited at the funeral of their patriarch. How does Hollywood keep coming up with these amazing new ideas? Starring Jane Fonda, Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, and Rose Byrne. Directed by Shawn Levy (The Pink Panther). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

TUSK—From Kevin Smith, a horror comedy about a man being turned into a walrus. Starring Justin Long and Michael Parks. Reviewed this issue. Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES—Liam Neeson stars as alcoholic New York detective Matt Scudder in an adaptation of the novel by Buffalo native Lawrence Block. Co-starring Dan Stevens and Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley. Directed by Scott Frank (The Lookout). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC:

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (Japan, 2004)—One of Hayao Miyazaki’s biggest international successes, a fairy tale with traces of steampunk design about a young girl cursed to inhabit the body of a 90-year-old woman. The depth of imagination is endless, so much so that younger audiences may be frustrated at the relative ambiguity of the story, though it’s great fun even if you don’t follow all of it. English voices by Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, Emily Mortimer and Billy Crystal. North Park

LIFEBOAT (1944)—The first and most successful of Alfred Hitchcock’s usually self-defeating experiments in restricting his cinematic canvas. A lifeboat in the Atlantic ocean holds nine people: eight survivors of a ship torpedoed by a German submarine, and one of the sub’s crewmen. The war propaganda aspect dates it (even Spielberg might consider the Nazi caricature a bit excessive), but it remains interesting as an exercise in style. With William Bendix, Walter Slezak and Hume Cronyn. Sat Sun Tue 7:30 pm. Screening Room

PICKPOCKET (France, 1959)—Robert Bresson’s typically minimalist drama about a lonely man who finds exhilaration in picking the pockets of strangers. Starring Martin LaSalle, Marika Green and Pierre Étaix. Presented by the Buffalo Film Seminars. Tues 7 pm. Amherst

THE TEMPEST—Christopher Plummer stars in this Stratford production of Shakespeare’s final play. Fri 8 Screening Room

THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA—Modern dress adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy, presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Starring Mark Arends, Michael Marcus, Sarah MacRae, and Pearl Chanda. Directed by Simon Godwin. Thu 7. Amherst

WHO IS DAYANI CRISTAL?—Documentary in which actor Gael García Bernal and filmmaker Marc Silver travel with a group of immigrants headed for the US-Mexican border in search of the identity of a dead man found nearby. Presented as part of the Buffalo Humanities Festival. Free and open to the public. Thurs 25 5 pm. Screening Room, 112 Center for the Arts, UB North Campus