Opening This Week:

CRAZY HEART—Jeff Bridges is racking up the awards for his performance here as a hardscrabble country singer who has spent too many years in too many bars. Co-starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, and Beth Grant. Directed by Scott Cooper. Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills

EDGE OF DARKNESS—Mel Gibson’s first film in seven years is a remake of the British miniseries about a police detective investigating the connection of his daughter’s death to the nuclear facility where she worked. With Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts and Jay O. Sanders. Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

WHEN IN ROME—Romantic comedy with Kristen Bell pursued by creepy would-be suitors while on vacation in Rome. With Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Will Arnett, Danny DeVito, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, and Peggy Lipton. Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC:

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)—Jeff Bridges as the ultimate slacker in a film by the Coen Brothers, who claim they have no idea why it has garnered such a cult following. Co-starrring John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, and John Turturro. Sat. 9 pm. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

HENRY’S FUTURE (NR)—Premiere of a locally-made movie about a lonely bachelor who puts his faith in the words of a psychic who predicts that he is about to meet the woman of his dreams. Sat 2, 7, 9:30 Sun 12:30 3 5:30. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950)—Masterpiece of film noir starring Richard Widmark as a promoter who thinks he’s finally found the key to success with a Greek wrestler. Co-starring Gene Tierney, Googie Withers, Hugh Marlowe and Herbert Lom. Directed by Jules Dassin (Never on Sunday). Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues 7 pm, Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

THE PARADINE CASE (1947)—Lesser-known Alfred Hitchcock drama starring Gregory Peck as a London barrister who becomes enraptured by his client (Alida Valli), a woman accused of murdering her husband. With Ann Todd, Charles Laughton, Charles Coburn, Ethel Barrymore, and Louis Jourdan. Sat. 7:30 pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376).

THE ROOM (2004)—Already a midnight hit in Los Angeles, this berserk melodrama by the multiuntalented Tommy Wiseau is the best so-bad-it’s-good film since the heyday of Edward D. Wood Jr. It has its dull patches, but by no means should you leave before the ending. Sat. midnight. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295) www.hamburgpalace.com

SHAUN OF THE DEAD—Slackers vs. zombies in this comedy from the creators of the popular Britcom “Spaced.” The best parts are the first half, in which our underachieving heroes fail to notice the collapse of civilization around them: once they do, the film becomes rather bland (albeit gory). Starring Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis and Bill Nighy, Directed by Edgar Wright. Sat midnight. Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main St. (8347655) www.dipsontheatres.com.