Opening This Week:

CASE 39—Horror film starring Renée Zellweger as a social worker whose investigation of a child abuse case leads her to dark places. A European production that was released internationally last year; it isn’t being previewed in the US—draw your own conclusions. With Jodelle Ferland, Ian McShane, Bradley Cooper, Callum Keith Rennie, and Cynthia Stevenson. Directed by Christian Alvart. Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden

CATFISH—Documentary about a Manhattan photographer who decides to investigate the Michigan family who friended him on Facebook. Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. Reviewed this issue. Regal Walden

COUNTDOWN TO ZERO—Inspired by An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary about the still-escalating nuclear arms race. Directed by Lucy Walker (Devil’s Playground). Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

LET ME IN—Remake of the Swedish film Let the Right One In, about a lonely young boy whose new friend is a vampire. Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins and Elias Koteas. Directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden

SOUL KITCHEN—Change-of-pace comedy from Turkish director Fatih Akin (Head On, The Edge of Heaven) set at an inner city bar in Hamburg where the music is better than the food. Starring Adam Bousdoukos, Moritz Bleibtreu and Anna Bederke. eviewed this issue. Amherst

THE CONCERT—Comedy about a disgraced Russian conductor who intercepts an invitation for the Bolshoi orchestra to perform in Paris and assembles a group of hard-luck friends to play the gig. Starring Alexei Guskov, Dmitry Nazarov, Mélanie Laurent, and Miou Miou. Directed by Radu Mihaileanu (Train of Life). Eastern Hills

THE SOCIAL NETWORK—Jesse Eisenberg stars as Mark Zuckerberg, the Harvard student who created Facebook, despite the claims of competing students who sue him for the profits of the mammothly successful social network. With Andrew Garfield, Max Minghella, John Getz, Rashida Jones, and Justin Timberlake. Directed by David Fincher (Fight Club). Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden

ETC:

BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL—Lots of movies at lots of places, including the Market Arcade, North Park, Screening Room, HD Video Café, and the downtown library. See the feature story this issue for more information.

8 1/2 (1963)—In the film many consider his masterpiece, Federico Fellini gives vent to all of his impulses in a story about an Italian filmmaker (Marcello Mastroianni) unable to decide on the subject of his next film. Fellini crams the screen with symbols both universal and personal, but it can be enjoyed even without delving too deeply into its meanings. With Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo, and Barbara Steele. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues. 7pm. Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

THE EXTRA MAN—Kevin Kline stars in this comedy as a seedy professional escort who shows the Manhattan ropes to his new roommate (Paul Dano). Co-starring John C. Reilly, Katie Holmes, Cathy Moriarty, Patti D’Arbanville, Dan Hedaya, and Marian Seldes. Directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (American Splendor). Sat 8pm; Tue 7:30pm. Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St. Fredonia (716-679-0891 / www.fredopera.org)

LOVELY STILL—Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn as a couple who find a late-in-life romance, though one with a troubled future. Co-starring Adam Scott, and Elizabeth Banks. Directed by Nicholas Fackler. Fri. 7pm The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net)

METROPOLIS (Germany, 1926)—Newly restored to its full length minus a few frames, this is your first chance (unless you were in Berlin in 1926) to see the complete version of Fritz Lang’s politically ambiguous but stylistically brilliant classic about a workers’ revolt in a city of the future. Presented by the Buffalo International Film Festival. Fri. 9pm The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net)

PROFOUNDLY NORMAL (2003)—True story starring Kirstie Alley and Delroy Lindo as a developmentally disabled couple who find themselves on their own, marry and raise a son after being institutionalized deep into their adult lives. The screening will feature an appearance by Donna and Ricardo Thornton, the couple on whom the film is based. Directed by Graeme Clifford (Frances). Presented by the Disabilities Film Festival. Fri 7:30pm (cocktail reception at 6:30 pm). 103 Center for the Arts, UB Amherst Campus.