Buffalo Movies: Films from France, Egypt, New Zealand and VietNam open in local theaters this week.

By M. Faust

(Above: A Magnificent Life. Image via IMDB.com).

OPENING THIS WEEK: 

AADU 3: ONE LAST RIDE – PART 1 (NR) This Indian Malayalam-language fantasy comedy takes place in 1750, 2025 and 2370, as various parties seek to control a gem that can control time. Starring stars Jayasurya, Saiju Kurup, Vinayakan, and Renji Panicker. Directed by Midhun Manuel Regal Elmwood

THE AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTIMIST (PG-13) Documentarian Daniel Roher is spurred by the birth of his son to investigate what AI will do to the world the boy will inherit. Gee, maybe he should have thought of that first. Co-directed by Charlie Tyrell. Dipson Amherst, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ALPHA (R) In this French body horror drama, a doctor fears that her teenaged daughter has contracted a disease that is ravaging the country. Starring Mélissa Boros, Tahar Rahim, and Golshifteh Farahani. Directed by Julia Ducournau (Titane). Regal Elmwood

BERSHAMA (NR) In this Egyptian comedy, the death of a proctor during an exam and the class’s decision to use it to cheat lead to a spiral of absurd consequences. Starring Riham Abdel Ghafour, Fadwa Abed, and Kamal Abu Raya. Directed by Khaled Diab. Regal Elmwood

BUNNY!! (NR) This dark psychological thriller was a huge hit in Vietnam, where it was made. And that’s about all I know about it. Starring Phao, Lyly, Van Mai Huong, and Tran Thanh, who also directed. Regal Walden Galleria 

FORBIDDEN FRUITS (R) A coven of witches working out of a mall clothing store is challenged by a new hire. Starring Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, and Gabrielle Union. Directed by Meredith Alloway Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

HOLY DAYS (NR) A trio of elderly nuns hit the road on a quest to save their convent in this Down Under comedy. Starring Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes, Jacki Weaver, and Elijah Tamati. Directed by Nat Boltt. Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

A MAGNIFICENT LIFE (PG-13) The French novelist and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol looks back on his life in this hand-drawn animation created by Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville). Regal Transit 

THE MUMMY RETURNS (PG-13) 25th anniversary re-release of the adventure sequel starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Oded Fehr, and, when he was still known as The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Stephen Sommers (Odd Thomas). Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix (Fri-Tues only)

PRATHICHAYA (NR) A father’s legacy collides with his son’s ambitions in this Malayalam language political drama. Starring Vishnu Agasthya, Sabitha Anand, and Harisree Ashokan. Directed by B. Unnikrishnan. Regal Elmwood

STAND BY ME (R) 40^th anniversary re-release of Rob Reiner’s adaption of Stephen King novella about four boys (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell) who venture into the words to see a dead body. With Kiefer Sutherland, Casey Siemaszko, and John Cusack. Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

THEY WILL KILL YOU (R) People never heed such warnings in horror movies, even the black comic ones. Starring Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette. Directed by Kirill Sokolov (Why Don’t You Just Die). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

YOU’RE DATING A NARCISSIST! (NR) Comedy starring Marisa Tomei as a psychology professor whose daughter is—well, read the title. Co-starring Sherry Cola, Ciara Bravo, and Marco Pigossi. Directed by Ann Marie Allison. Regal Quaker

NOW PLAYING:

DHURANDHAR (NR) Hindi language thriller based on the true story of government efforts to take down a terrorist network operating out of Pakistan. NB: It’s 3 ½ hours long, which is long even by Bollywood standards. Starring Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

GOAT (PG) Animated comedy with an all-animal cast headed by a goat who wants to be a star in the manic sport of roarball. With the voices of Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, Nick Kroll, and Patton Oswalt. Directed by Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette. Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

HOPPERS (PG) This year’s Pixar entry borrows heavily from Avatar for an ecologically conscious story about a girl trying to save an animal habitat from being razed for a new highway. With the voices of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Jon Hamm, and Meryl Streep. Directed by Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989, G) Re-release of the early Hayao Miyazaki animated feature about young witch doing a year of community service in a small town. Sat-Sun 11:30 am. North Park Regal Transit

THE POUT-POUT FISH (PG) Animated feature based on the grumpy fish (voice of Nick Offerman) featured in a series of children’s books by Deborah Diesen. With the voices of Nina Oyama, Miranda Otto, Jordin Sparks, and Amy Sedaris. Directed by Ricard Cussó and Rio Harrington. Angola, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

PROJECT HAIL MARY (PG-13) Science fiction adventure starring Ryan Gosling as an astronaut who wakes up on a space ship light years from Earth with no memory of who he is. Which is gonna make it hard for him to save the world. With Sandra Hüller. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse). AMC Maple Ridge, Aurora, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, North Park, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw 

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME (R) Sequel to the most recent film to steal the plot device from 1932’s The Most Dangerous Game. Starring Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, and David Cronenberg. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Scream VI). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

REMINDERS OF HIM (PG-13) Adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel (It Ends with Us, Regretting You), so expect the equivalent of a Lifetime movie with dark patches. Starring Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, and Bradley Whitford. Directed by Vanessa Vaswill (Love at First Sight). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw 

SCREAM 7 (R) Kevin Williamson returns as writer and debuts as director for the latest in this endless horror series. Starring Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Courteney Cox, and Joel McHale. Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SEND HELP (R) Co-workers (Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien) stranded on a desert island find their balance of power is very different away from civilization in this dark comedy directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead). Regal Quaker 

UNDERTONE (R) Meticulous sound design reportedly provides most of the scares in this low-budget horror film about a podcaster (Nina Kiri) beset by unseen forces. Directed by Ian Tuason. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

WUTHERING HEIGHTS (R) Capping the trifecta of gothic remakes after the recent updates of Frankenstein and Dracula. Starring Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, and Martin Clunes. Directed by Emerald Fennell (Saltburn). Regal Transit

ETC. 

APRIL FOOLS DAY (1986, R)—From the decade when every holiday had its own slasher movie. Starring Thomas F. Wilson, Deborah Foreman, Griffin O’Neal, Amy Steel, and Ken Olandt. Directed by Fred Walton (When a Stranger Calls). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Weds 4/1 only)

THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976, PG)—Once-controversial comedy starring Walter Matthau as a boozing former pitcher who is badgered into coaching a perennially losing Little League team. Co-starring Tatum O’Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten, and Jackie Earle Haley. Directed by Michael Ritchie (Downhill Racer). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Thu 4/2 only)

BLAZING SADDLES (1974, R)—If you were to take a shot every time this Mel Brooks classic made you say, “Wow, they could never get away with that in a movie today!,” you’d be hammered before the end of the first reel. Richard Pryor was one of the screenwriters. Starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens, Alex Karras, and Dom DeLuise. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Fri 4/3 only)

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (2022, R)—Or as we used to say, everything but the kitchen sink. Starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Swiss Army Man). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Fri 3/27 only)

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007, R)— Adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel about a Texas hunter who finds $2 million from a drug deal gone bad, only to be stalked by a relentless killer who wants it back. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Tess Harper, Barry Corbin, and Stephen Root. Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen (Blood Simple). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Sun 3/29 only)

ON THE WATERFRONT (1954, NR)—A huge hit in its day, this drama about union corruption at a New Jersey dock is widely considered an act of expiation by director Elia Kazan and writer Budd Schulberg for having named names to Communist witchhunters a few years earlier. That doesn’t take away from its effectiveness as a drama or the power of its performances, particularly by Marlon Brando at his peak. With Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Balsam and Fred Gwynne. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Mon 3/30 only)

OPPENHEIMER (2023, R)—Christopher Nolan’s biographical epic about the American theoretical physicist (Cillian Murphy) who helped invent the atom bomb. With Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Sat 3/28 only)

THE STING (1973, PG)—Paul Newman and Robert Redford in their second and last collaboration, as con men working an elaborate scheme in 1930s Chicago. Oscar winner for Best Film. Co-starring Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Ray Walston, and Eileen Brennan. Directed by George Roy Hill (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Tues 3/31 only)

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THEATER LOCATIONS AND WEBSITES

AMC Maple Ridge, 4276 Maple Road, Amherst https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/buffalo/amc-maple-ridge-8

Angola Theatre, 72 N. Main St., Angola, NY https://angolatheatre.com/

Aurora Theater, 673 Main Street, East Aurora https://theaurorat heatre.com/

Dipson Amherst, 3500 Main Street, Buffalo. www.dipsontheatres.com

Dipson Capitol Theater, 720 Builders Way, Niagara Falls www.dipsontheatres.com

Dipson Flix, 4901 Transit Road, Depew www.dipsontheatres.com

Dunkirk Multiplex, 10520 Bennett Road, Dunkirk https://www.dunkirkmultiplex.com/

Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center Cinema, 431 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo https://www.hallwalls.org/

Hamburg Palace, 31 Buffalo Street, Hamburg www.hamburgpalace.com

Joylan, 11 W. Main Street, Springville https://joylantheater.com/

North Park, 1428 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo 

Regal Elmwood, 2001 Elmwood Avenue., Buffalo https://www.fandango.com/

Regal Quaker Crossing, 3450 Amelia Drive, Orchard Park https://www.fandango.com/

Regal Transit, 6707 Transit Road. Williamsville https://www.fandango.com/

Regal Walden Galleria, Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga https://www.fandango.com/

Riviera Theater, 67 Webster Street, North Tonawanda https://rivieratheatre.org/

The Screening Room, Boulevard Mall Amherst www.screeningroom.net

Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, 23 S Main Street, Warsaw https://www.spotlighttheater.com/movie-theater/warsaw

Squeaky Wheel, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main Street, Suite 310, Buffalo https://squeaky.org/

Transit Drive-In Theatre, 6655 S. Transit Road, Lockport https://www.transitdrivein.com CLOSED UNTIL SPRING