Opening This Week

ADVENTURELAND—Nostalgic comedy-drama set in the summer of 1987 about a new college graduate who has to take a summer job at an amusement park to pay for graduate school. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Kristen Wiig, Wendie Malick, and Bill Hader. Directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad). Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria,

FAST & FURIOUS—Remember when film titles had nouns? Remember when the titles of sequels got longer instead of shorter? Ahh, who am I kidding, the audience for this probably won’t even remember that they’ve seen this three times already. Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Michelle Rodriguez. Directed by Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift). Market Arcade, Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

SUNSHINE CLEANING—Sundance hit about two hard-luck sisters who open a business cleaning crime scenes. Starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Jason Spevack, Steve Zahn, Clifton Collins Jr. and Mary Lynn Rajskub. Directed by Christine Jeffs (Sylvia). Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills

ETC:

THE CAKE EATERS—Actress Mary Stuart Masterson makes her directorial debut with this ensemble drama set in a rural town in downstate New York where two families struggle with issues of death and separation. Starring Kristen Stewart, Bruce Dern, Elizabeth Ashley, Talia Balsam, and Jayce Bartok. Thurs Apr. 2 7:30pm; Sat 7:15pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS (Great Britain, 1963)—We still don’t see what’s so hot about Janette Scott, but for a schlocky sci-fi B movie this holds up pretty well. Blinded by meteor storms, earthlings battle walking trees that spit poison and—well, you know the song. Fri 7pm. Buffalo Museum of Science 1020 Humboldt Parkway (896-5200)

LATE SPRING (Japan, 1949)—The Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu considered this one of his own favorites of his films, a story about an aging man and his adult daughter who tear apart their life of contentment trying to do what they think is best for each other. Introduced by Bruce Jackson and Diane Christian. Thurs Apr, 9, 7:30 pm. Albright Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave. (882.8700)

REDS (1981)—Warren Beatty received an Oscar as Best Director for his film that looks at radical American politics of the early 20th century through the story of John Reed, the American journalist who went to Russia to cover the 1917 revolution. An epic film in all the best senses of the word, with sterling contributions in every department (the score is by Stephen Sondheim) and a cast led by Beatty, Diane Keaton, Edward Herrmann, Jerzy Kosinski, Jack Nicholson, George Plimpton, and Gene Hackman. A must-see. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues 7 pm, Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE—Oscar-winning fantasy drama about the adventures of an impoverished teenager in Mumbai, recalled as he becomes a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Starring Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla. Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting). Fri-Sat 9pm, Thurs Apr. 9 7:30pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in the Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst 837-0376

SUDDENLY (1954)—Taut crime thriller starring Frank Sinatra as an assassin holding the occupants of an apartment hostage as part of a plan to kill the president. This, not Manchurian Candidate, is the film that Sinatra withdrew from distribution because he feared people might consider it to have inspired Lee Harvey Oswald. With Sterling Hayden, James Gleason and, in a rare onscreen appearance, Paul Frees, whose voice you’ll recognize from thousands of cartoons and commercials. Fri 7:15pm. Sat 9pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in the Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst 837-0376