Film Now Playing

THE 2007 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED LIVE ACTION SHORTS and THE 2007 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED ANIMATED SHORTS—Two programs of...well, if you don’t get it from the titles I don’t know how I can make it any clearer. Reviewed this issue. Market Arcade

CITY OF MEN—In Brazil, two teenage friends find their already difficult lives complicated even further when they find themselves on opposite sides of a gang war. Starring Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha and Rodrigo dos Santos. Directed by Paulo Morelli. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

DOOMSDAY—Panic and mayhem when a killer virus starts to wipe out humanity. Wow, there’s a plot they haven’t used in at least three or four months! Starring Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Malcolm McDowell, Alexander Siddig. Directed by Neil Marshall. Flix, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

FUNNY GAMES—Michael Haneke’s (Cache) shot-for-shot remake of his 1997 film, an examination of cinematic violence in which a family is held captive and tortured by a pair of young psychopaths. Starring Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Michael Pitt. Reviewed this issue. North Park

HORTON HEARS A WHO—Hollywood’s latest attempt to cash in on the memory of Dr. Seuss. Oh well, it can’t be any worse than the films of How the Grinch Stole Christmas or The Cat in the Hat. Can it? With the voices of Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, and Isla Fisher. Directed by Jimmy Hayward. Flix, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood , Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

NEVER BACK DOWN—High school troubled teen mixed martial arts fight club. I think that covers all the buzz words. Starring no one I’ve ever heard of and directed by Katie Couric’s nephew, for those of you wondering what it takes to get work in Hollywood these days. Flix, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood , Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING—Drama starring Frank Langella as a once-important Manhattan novelist and Lauren Ambrose as an ambitious graduate student who wants to restore both his reputation and his libido. Co-starring Lili Taylor and Adrian Lester. Directed by Andrew Wagner. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ETC:

AVENUE MONTAIGNE (2007)—A French girl new to Paris takes a job at a café where she becomes a sounding board to customers who she doesn’t realize are famous celebrities. Starring Cécile De France, Valérie Lemercier, Albert Dupontel, Claude Brasseur, François Rollin, and Sydney Pollack. Directed by Danièle Thompson (Jet Lag). Fri, 6:30 pm. Caz Coffee Café, 688 Abbott Road (825-7806)

BEING THERE (1979)—Peter Sellers gave one of his most acclaimed performances in this satire adapted from the Jerzy Kosinski novel about a simple-minded gardener who becomes a Washington power player when people read deep meanings into his babbling. With Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, and Richard Basehart. Directed by Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude). Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues. 7 pm, Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

CHARADE (1964)—As slick and sophisticated as you’d expect from a movie starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Hepburn’s recently deceased husband swindled a lot of money out of some men who want it back; Grant offers to help keep them off her tail, but is he after the loot too? A supporting cast including Walter Matthau, James Coburn and Ned Glass only makes it even more watchable. Sat at 9 pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376)

I’M NOT THERE (2007)—Six different actors play Bob Dylan in this rumination on celebrity and identity by Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven). Starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Bruce Greenwood, David Cross, and Julianne Moore. Tues 7:30 pm; Sat. March 22 8 pm. Reg Lenna Civic Center, 116 East Third Street, Jamestown (484-7070)

THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO (1952)—Adaptation of an Ernest Hemingway story starring Gregory Peck as a big-game hunter who looks back with regrets on his love affairs as he lies dying from an infection while on safari. With Susan Hayward, Ava Gardner and Leo G. Carroll. Directed by Henry King (The Song of Bernadette). Sat, 7 pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in the Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst 837-0376