Opening This Week

DRAG ME TO HELL—Sam Raimi horror movie, presumably with a much lower budget than his Spider-Man series. Starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver and David Paymer. Flix, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

TYSON—Boxer Mike Tyson tells his life story to the camera in this documentary directed by James Toback (When Will I Be Loved). Reviewed this issue. Amherst

UP—This year’s Pixar animation is the story of a crochety old guy (we presume he’s crochety because Edward Asner supplies his voice) who decides to see the world by tying thousands of balloons to his house. Other voices by Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Delroy Lindo and John Ratzenberger. Directed by Bob Peterson and Pete Docter (Monsters Inc.) Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

WHAT GOES UP—A team of Buffalonians produced this independent feature starring Steve Coogan as a reporter who becomes involved with a group of oddball teens trying to cope with the death of the teacher who inspired them. Co-starring Hilary Duff, Molly Shannon, Olivia Thirlby and Josh Peck. Directed by Jonathan Glatzer. Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills, Market Arcade, McKinley, North Park

ETC:

THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980)—John Landis’s wildly overwrought musical-comedy looks better than it did when it was released, partly because we’re more used to such excess and also because whatever faults the movie has there’s still a lot of great music from the likes of Ray Charles, James Brown, Cab Calloway and Aretha Franklin. John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and an all-star band of Memphis session musicians are joined by an endless parade of celebrity cameos including Carrie Fisher, John Candy, Steve Lawrence, Twiggy, Frank Oz, and Paul Rubens (but look fast for Joe Walsh as a prisoner). Fri. midnight. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

THE GOLD RUSH (1925)—One of Charles Chaplin’s best-loved films, and the one he hoped to be remembered by. Highlights include the scene where, facing starvation in a storm-bound arctic cabin, he eats his boot, and Charlie amusing a girl at dinner by making a pair of dinner rolls dance (the scene copied by Johnny Depp in Benny and Joon). Sun 4 pm. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD—Comedy-drama starring John Malkovich as a stage mentalist (inspired by The Amazing Kreskin) still looking to get back on top decades after his burst of fame. With Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, Adam Scott, Griffin Dunne, Ricky Jay, and Tom Hanks. Directed by Sean McGinly. Sat 8pm; Tue 7:30pm. Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St. Fredonia (716-679-0891) www.fredopera.org

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975)—Dig out your fishnet stockings and bustiers and get ready to do the Time Warp again with Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Meat Loaf and Magenta. Sat 10pm, midnight. Palace Theater, 31 Buffalo St., Hamburg (649–2295)

THE ENGLISH SURGEON—Nick Cave supplied the music for this documentary about a British neurosurgeon who makes regular trips to the Ukraine to lend used equipment and his expertise to help people who can’t get the treatment they need. Directed by Geoffrey Smith. Reviewed this issue. Fri 7:15pm, Sat 7:15, 9:15pm, Sun 8pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376).

THE DRIVER (1978)—Fans of the cool policiers of French directors like Jean-Pierre Melville will love this terse action drama starring Ryan O’Neal and Bruce Dern as an ace driver and the detective determined to bring him down. With Isabelle Adjani and Ronee Blakley. Directed by Walter Hill (The Long Riders). Fri 9:15 pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376).