Opening This Week:

BANDSLAM—The new kid in town puts together a band to compete in his school’s battle of the bands. Amazingly, it’s not a Disney movie. Starring Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, and Gaelan Connell. Directed by Todd Graff (Camp). Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker

DISTRICT 9—Producer Peter Jackson’s name is all over the media, but South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp actually directed this sci-fi thriller about a colony of aliens who become trapped on earth and are confined to a slum camp for 20 years. Starring no one you’ve ever heard of. Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

LOCAL COLOR—Midnight Run author George Gallo wrote and directed this autobiographical movie about a fledgling painter who spends a summer with an older artist (Armin Mueller-Stahl) who has retired after finding his representational style has gone out of fashion. With Trevor Morgan, Ray Liotta, Samantha Mathis, and Ron Perlman. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

O’HORTEN—Norwegian comedy-drama about the odd adventures of a train engineer beginning with his retirement party. Starring Baard Owe, Espen Skjønberg, and Ghita Nørby. Directed by Bent Hamer (Kitchen Stories). Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

SOUL POWER—Documentary about the concert festival that took place in Zaire in 1974 to coincide with the Muhammad Ali-George Foreman fight, featuring James Brown, Celia Cruz, the Spinners, Bill Withers, and B.B. King. Directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

THE GOODS: LIVE HARD, SELL HARD—Comedy starring Jeremy Piven as a used car specialist hired to wring every last penny out of a failing dealership. Co-starring Ving Rhames, James Brolin, Charles Napier, and half the cast of The Hangover. Directed by Neal Brennan (Chappelle’s Show). Reviewed this issue. Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In, Flix

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE—Adaptation of the best-selling novel about a couple whose marriage is tested by the fact that the husband is unstuck in time. Starring Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Arliss Howard, Ron Livingston, and Stephen Tobolowsky. Directed by Robert Schwentke (Flightplan). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC:

THE BICYCLE THIEF (Italy, 1949)—Vittorio De Sica’s Oscar-winning classic about a man and his son who search the streets of post-war Rome for the bicycle that was stolen from them, without which the father cannot take a job he has found after months of searching. Fri 7:15pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376)

CHARADE (1964)—As slick and sophisticated as you’d expect from a movie starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Hepburn’s recently deceased husband swindled a lot of money out of some men who want it back; Grant offers to help keep them off her tail, but is he after the loot too? A supporting cast including Walter Matthau, James Coburn and Ned Glass only makes it even more watchable. Fri 9pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376)

FESTIVAL EXPRESS (2003)—Music documentary featuring rediscovered footage of a 1970 concert tour with Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, the Flying Burrito Bros, Ian & Sylvia, Sha Na Na, and Mashmakhan. It’s not every day you get to see Mashmakhan! Directed by Bob Smeaton. Sat. midnight. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

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. Directed by Martin Ritt (Sounder). The film will be preceded by a performance on the theater’s Wurlitzer organ. Thurs Aug. 13, 7pm Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

THE LONG HOT SUMMER (1958)—An early example of the kind of role that dominated Paul Newman’s career casts him as a hellraiser who moves to a new town and gets caught up in a family dispute. Martin Ritt (Hud) directed this loose adaptation of a William Faulkner novel. With Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Orson Welles, Lee Remick, and Angela Lansbury. The film will be preceded by a performance on the theater’s Wurlitzer organ. Thurs Aug. 20, 7pm Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)