Opening This Week

INVICTUS—Clint Eastwood’s new film about the efforts of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) to unite post-apartheid South Africa by getting the national rugby team into the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Co-starring Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge and Matt Stern. Reviewed this issue. Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG—New Disney animated feature. Voices by Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos and Keith David. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker (Treasure Planet). Flix, Maple, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE—Director Rebecca Miller (The Ballad of Jack and Rose) adapted her own novel for this drama about a suburban wife (Robin Penn Wright) coming to grips with her life as her older husband (Alan Arkin) nears death. Co-starring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Maria Bello, Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, and Monica Bellucci. Reviewed this issue. North Park

ETC:

ACTEAL: 10 YEARS OF IMPUNITY AND HOW MANY MORE?—Documentary about the aftermath of the 1997 massacre of 45 Mayans in Chiapas, Mexico by government-allied paramilitaries. Presented by the Latin American Solidarity Committee. Mon 7pm. Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave., (854-1694) www.hallwalls.org

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS—Ron Howard.’s $100+ million live action adaptation of the beloved animated film, in which Jim Carrey manages to remain Jim Carrey under pounds of Rick Baker’s green make-up and yak hair. With Jeffrey Tambour and Christine Baranski; Anthony Hopkins narrates. Fri 6pm. Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)—Jimmy Stewart gets to see what life for his friends and community would have been like had he never lived in Frank Capra’s holiday classic. Co-starring Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Gloria Grahame, Sheldon Leonard, and Charles Lane. Sat. midnight. Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main St. (834-7655) www.dipsontheatres.com.

LAUREL AND HARDY FESTIVAL—Two hours of the best of Stan and Ollie. Sun 7pm. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

THOUGHTS & WORDS/THE FACE OF HIV—A spoken word performance by Andrew Parrish Mitchell including a screening of his documentary Perfect are presented in a benefit for Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Squeaky Wheel. Sun 6pm. Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main St (884-7172) www.squeaky.org