What's new and interesting in theaters this week. . .

OPENING THIS WEEK:

AMERICAN TEEN—Buffalo native and Oscar nominee Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes) directed this documentary chronicling a year in the lives of ten Indiana high school students. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

BRICK LANE—The life of a Bangladesi woman sent to London for an arranged marriage. Starring Tannishtha Chatterjee, Satish Kaushik, Christopher Simpson. Directed by Sarah Gavron. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

HENRY POOLE IS HERE—A man who has given up on life (Luke Wilson) becomes the recipient of a miracle in a Los Angeles suburb. Co-starring Radha Mitchell, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines, Richard Benjamin. Directed by Mark Pellington (Arlington Road). Regal Transit, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

MIRRORS—Asian-styled horror movie from French director Alexandre Aja (Haute Tension). Isn’t free trade wonderful? Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton and Cameron Boyce. Flix, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS—Animated sequel, or maybe you’d have to call it an inbetweenquel, given that the story takes place somewhere in the middle of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. With the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Matt Lanter, and Corey Burton. The director is Dave Filoni, but George Lucas gets the jawdropping writing credit for “characters and universe.” Flix, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive In

TROPIC THUNDER—Ben Stiller directed and stars in this comedy about actors shooting a war film on location who are forced to become the characters they are playing. Wasn’t that the plot of The Three Amigos? Reputedly the most expensive comedy ever made, the cast includes Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Steve Coogan, Bill Heder, Nick Nolte, and, in blackface, Robert Downey Jr. Reviewed this issue. Flix, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive In

VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA—Woody Allen’s Manhattan exile takes him to Spain for this romantic drama about two vacationing Americans (Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall) who both fall in love with a seductive artist (Javier Bardem). Co-starring Penélope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson. Reviewed this issue. North Park

ETC:

DARK VICTORY (1939)—A heartless socialite (Bette Davis) changes her ways when she learns she is dying in this classic soaper. With George Brent, Humphrey Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Henry Travers. Directed by Edmund Goulding (The Razor’s Edge). Thurs Aug. 21, 7:30 pm. Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939)— Classic western comedy starring James Stewart as the gunless sheriff of a wild west town and Marlene Dietrich as his only ally, saloon singer Frenchy. Co-starring Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger, Brian Donlevy, Una Merkel and Billy Gilbert. Directed by George Marshall (The Blue Dahlia). Thurs Aug. 14, 7:30 pm. Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR (1947)— A widow (Gene Tierney) moves her children in to a house on the coast of England, only to discover that is still occupied by the ghost of its former owner, a sea captain (Rex Harrison). Bernard Herrmann’s lovely score adds to the appeal of this classic romantic fantasy. Co-starring George Sanders, Anna Lee and Natalie Wood. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve). Fri. 7pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza Business Center, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

MAMMA MIA!—Or, ABBA The Musical The Movie. Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep duet on “S.O.S.”, and that’s just for a start. With Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters and Amanda Seyfried . Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Sat 8pm; Tue 7:30pm. Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St. Fredonia (716-679-0891) www.fredopera.org

THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS (1947)—Noirish character study starring Barbara Stanwyck as a woman whose failed teenage romance comes back to haunt her as an adult. Co-starring Van Heflin, Judith Anderson, Lizabeth Scott, and Kirk Douglas (his debut); look for future director Blake Edwards in a bit part as a sailor. Fri. 9pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza Business Center, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net