OPENING THIS WEEK:

BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER—Sundance-feted documentary about the place of performance-enhancing steroids in an American culture that keeps raising the bar for competition in every aspect of life. Directed by Christopher Bell. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

HANCOCK—If you’re tired of superheroes already, maybe you’ll take to this parody starring Will Smith as a surly superhero who hires a PR consultant to clean up his image. And if not, well, the summer’s only half over. Co-starring Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman. Directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights). Reviewed this issue. Aurora, Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden, Transit Drive In

KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL—A movie based on a line of dolls. Apparently Bratz: The Movie made money after all. In all fairness this one has some impressive talent involved: the director is Patricia Rozema (Mansfield Park), and the cast includes Abigail Breslin, Joan Cusack, Julia Ormond, Chris O’Donnell, Stanley Tucci, and Jane Krakowski. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden, Flix, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit

THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI—Roger Spottiswode (Tomorrow Never Dies) directed this drama based on the true story of a British journalist who saved a group of 60 orphaned children during the Japanese occupation of China in 1937 by leading them a thousand miles across the Liu Pan Shan mountains. Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ETC:

MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)—What better way to get in the mood for the Fourth of July weekend than with Frank Capra’s classic film starring James Stewart as an idealistic Boy Scout leader who becomes an appointed Senator and decides to do something with his position, much to the chagrin of his corrupt colleagues. With Claude Rains, Jean Arthur, and Edward Arnold. Thurs July 3, 7 pm. Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

THE VISITOR—The first film from writer-director Thomas McCarthy since his hit The Station Agent is this drama starring Richard Jenkins as a college professor who bonds with an illegal immigrant couple who have been squatting in his Manhattan apartment. Co-starring Haaz Sleiman, Hiam Abbass, Danai Gurira and Richard Kind. Sat 8pm; Tue 7:30pm. Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St. Fredonia (716-679-0891) www.fredopera.org