Opening This Week

A PERFECT GETAWAY—Two couples find their island vacation disrupted by psycho killers. Don’t you hate when that happens? Starring Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich and Kiele Sanchez. Directed by David Twohy (The Chronicles of Riddick). Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA—The studio is so mad that smarty-pants critics dissed their Transformers sequel that they refused to preview this, another movie based on Hasbro toys. You have been warned. Starring Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Grégory Fitoussi, Christopher Eccleston, Karolina Kurkova—gee, with a cast like this how can it not be awesome? Directed by Stephen Sommers (Van Helsing). Delevan Drive In, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Flix, Market Arcade, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

JULIE & JULIA—Meryl Streep as Julia Child. Any other information is bound to be superfluous. Co-starring Amy Adams. Stanley Tucci. Chris Messina. Mary Lynn Rajskub and Jane Lynch. Directed by Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, Bewitched). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit

THE STONING OF SORAYA M.—Drama based on the true story of a woman who was stoned to death in Iran in 1986 after a false adultery charge brought by her husband so he could marry a younger woman. Starring Shohreh Aghdashloo, Mozhan Marnò, James Caviezel, and Navid Negahban. Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Day Reagan Was Shot). Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ETC...

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) Paul Newman and Robert Redford’s first on-screen teaming was in this iconic western loosely based on the real-life train robbers who fled to South America in the early years of the 20th century. Co-starring Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Henry Jones, Jeff Corey, George Furth, Cloris Leachman and Kenneth Mars. Directed by George Roy Hill (The Sting). Fri 9pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

FOOD INC.—Documentary inspired by the books The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Fast Food Nation about the nature of factory food processing in modern America. Directed by Robert Kenner. Sat 8pm; Tue 7:30pm. Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St. Fredonia (716-679-0891) www.fredopera.org

ROAD TO PERDITION (2002)—Sam Mendes’s adaptation of a graphic novel about a mob hitman (Tom Hanks) and his young son on the road in the 1930s is a visually compelling movie, a fine—sometimes superb—orchestration of editing and cinematography. As Hanks’ surrogate father who is forced to turn on him, Paul Newman brings the film closest to the sorrowful grandeur that Mendes wants. Co-starring Jude Law, Anthony LaPaglia, Stanley Tucci, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film will be preceded by a performance on the theater’s Wurlitzer organ. Thurs Aug. 6 7pm Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

HUD (1963)—Paul Newman had one of his most iconic roles in this adaption of a Larry McMurtry novel as the spoiled, petulant son of a Texas rancher. Worth seeing just for the luminous Oscar-winning photograpy by James Wong Howe. With Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal, Brandon De Wilde, and Whit Bissell. Thurs Aug. 13, 7pm Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

THE SHOOTING (1967)—This independently made western has a cult following for its surrealistic story and minimalist style. Jack Nicholson is one of a pair of cowboys hired by a mysterious woman to help her seek revenge. With Will Hutchins, Millie Perkins, and Warren Oates. Directed by Monte Hellman. Fri 7:30 pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in the Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376).

SPY KIDS—Ostensibly a kids’ movie, this comic adventure by Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk Till Dawn) is a delight of imagination and high humor, equal parts Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and one of the more ridiculous Roger Moore James Bond movies. Starring Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alan Cumming, and Tony Shaloub. Free admission. Mon. 10 am. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com