OPENING THIS WEEK:

THE ALPHABET KILLER—Horror film based on a true series of murders that took place near Rochester in the early 1970s. Starring Eliza Dushku, Cary Elwes, Timothy Hutton, Tom Malloy, Michael Ironside, Martin Donovan, Melissa Leo, and Tom Noonan. Directed by Rob Schmidt (Wrong Turn). Reviewed this issue. McKinley

AUSTRALIA—Director Baz Luhrmann’s dream project couldn’t be any more different from Moulin Rouge, an historical epic about Australia in the early days of World War II. The all-star Ozzie cast features Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson and Bruce Spence. Reviewed this issue. Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

FOUR CHRISTMASES—Comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as a yuppie couple who, after years of avoiding spending Christmas with the families, have to visit all four sets in one day. With Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Kristin Chenoweth, and Colleen Camp. Directed by Seth Gordon (The King of Kong). Reviewed this issue. Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ONE DAY YOU’LL UNDERSTAND—In this new drama from the renowned Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai (Kadosh, Kippur), Jeanne Moreau stars as an aging woman who resists her sons efforts to gain information about her parents, who died in a concentration camp. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK—Charlie Kaufman, the bizarrely imaginative scripter of Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, steps behind the camera for a Fellini-esque movie starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as a theater director struggling with both his personal life and a new project that grows into a mirror image of his world. With Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis and Tom Noonan. Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills

TRANSPORTER 3— Shoot-em-up sequel. Starring Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova, François Berléand, and Jeroen Krabbé. Directed by Olivier Megaton (The Red Siren). Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC:

CHANNELS: STORIES FROM THE NIAGARA FRONTIER—Second annual edition of Squeaky Wheel’s showcase for short documentaries produced under its grass-roots sponsorship. Topics covered include deconstructing abandoned houses, refugee students, and citizen efforts to create a sustainable urban community. The event is free and open to the public. Sun 3 pm. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022). http://www.squeaky.org

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)—I’m still waiting for someone to explain to me why there wasn’t a big re-release of this seven years ago. The apes, the monolith, HAL the singing computer, and a light show better than anything Pink Floyd ever produced are all here in Stanley Kubrick’s most puzzlesome film, which concludes this semester of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues 7 pm, Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).