Opening This Week:

WINTER’S BONE—Highly acclaimed independent film set in the Ozark mountains, where a teenage girl must dig into the criminal subculture in order to save her family’s house. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Kevin Breznahan, Dale Dickey, and Garret Dillahunt. See the interview with director Debra Granik in this issue. Eastern Hills

RAMONA AND BEEZUS—Adaptation of Beverly Cleary’s long-popular series of children’s books. With Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, and Ginnifer Goodwin. Directed by Elizabeth Miller. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SALT—Action thriller starring Angelina Jolie as a CIA agent on the run after being accused of being a Russian double agent. Co-starring Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Daniel Olbrychski. Directed by Philip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria,Transit Drive-In

ETC:

BORN TO DIE—Premiere screening of a locally-made crime thriller directed by Jay Mager (The Pigman). Starring Rod Durick, Micah Rose, Jennifer Bihl, John Renna, Matt Patterson, and Bob Bieber. Sat midnight. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295 / www.hamburgpalace.com)

CITY ISLAND—Comedy starring Andy Garcia as a Manhattan prison guard (and secret aspiring actor) who brings home a prisoner that only he knows is his son. Co-starring Julianna Margulies, Steven Strait, Emily Mortimer, Marshall Efron and Alan Arkin. Directed by Raymond De Felitta (The Thing About My Folks). Sat 8pm; Tue 7:30pm. Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St. Fredonia (716-679-0891 / www.fredopera.org)

“THE GREAT DISASTER”—The first evening of Squeaky Wheel’s annual outdoor animation festival, featuring a program of family-friendly animated work in different styles. Free and open to the public. Sat. 8 pm, Days Park in Allentown. In case of rain, the event will be moved to Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main St. (884-7172 / www.squeaky.org

THE HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949)—Engrossing melodrama starring Edward G Robinson as an Italian immigrant who builds a banking empire but alienates his family in the process. Co-starring Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Debra Paget. Directed By Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve). Fri 8pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net)

KILLING KASZTNER—Documentary about a Hungarian Jew who negotiated with Adolf Eichmann for the lives of thousands during the Holocaust. Direcetd by Gaylen Ross. Sat-Sun 4 pm. Reviewed this issue. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295 / www.hamburgpalace.com)

KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979)—Workaholic Dustin Hoffman becomes a single father after wife Meryl Streep leaves him in the movie that won Oscars for Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Adapted Screenplay. Directed by Robert Benton (Places in the Heart). The film will be preceded by a performance on the theater’s Wurlitzer organ. Thurs July 29, 7pm. Riviera Theater, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda (692-2413)

RED DIRT RISING—New York premiere of a new movie based on the origins of NASCAR racing with North Carolina bootleggers in the 1940s. The event will include the filmmakers and racers Bill Blair, Jr. and Gary Lewallan. Gates open at 5:30 pm, Lawn chairs are suggested for this outdoor event. DunnTire Raceway Park, 57 Gunnville Road, Lancaster (www.dunntireracewaypark.com)