OPENING

ACTION JACKSON—Action-comedy from India starring Ajay Devgan in the title role. Co-starring Sonakshi Sinha, Yami Gautam, and Manavsi Mamgai. Directed by Prabhudeva. Regal Elmwood

CHAAR SAHIZAADE—3D Animated film from Punjabi. Directed by Harry Baweja. Regal Elmwood

THE HOMESMAN—Period drama starring Hilary Swank as a strong-willed woman and Tommy Lee Jones as the downtrodden drifter she recruits to help her escort three mentally ill women across the Midwest in the 1850s. A different take on the classic western. Co-starring Meryl Streep, Hailee Steinfeld, John Lithgow, and James Spader. Directed by Tommy Lee Jones. Reviewed in this Issue. North Park Theater

THE PYRAMID—Horror flick about a team of archeologists that discover a mysterious pyramid buried under the Egyptian desert, only to get lost inside the labyrinth and end up slasher movie fodder. Well, hey, it could offer some fun scares. Starring Ashley Hinsaw, Denis O’Hare, James Buckley, and Daniel Amerman. Directed by Gregory Levasseur. Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE STIRRING OF A THOUSAND BELLS—A pair of experimental art documentaries that explores the fascinating Indonesian gamelan, one of the ancient music traditions of the world. Directed by Matt Dunning. Hallwalls

ETC.

EARTH (1930)—Influential avant-garde Soviet film from the silent era exploring the process of collectivization and the hostility of Kulak landowners. Controversial back in its day due to the political nature of the material. Directed by Alexander Dovzhenko. Hallwalls

ORNETTE: MADE IN AMERICA (1985)—Jazz documentary exploring the struggles and triumphs of renowned Jazz musician Ornette Coleman and his evolution, both personal and professional, over three decades. Directed by Shirley Clarke. Hallwalls

CHRISTMAS VIEWING

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)—North Park >

THE GRINCH (2000)—Aurora Theater

THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)—Dipson Mickinley

SCROOGED (1988)—The Screening Room