By M. Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK

THE COWBOY AND THE QUEEN (NR) Documentary about Monty Roberts, a horse trainer whose insistence on gentle treatment of his animals got him the backing of Queen Elizabeth. Directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins (The Other F Word). North Park.

A DIFFERENT MAN (R) Dark comedy starring Sebastian Stan as a severely disfigured actor who finds that a miracle cure does not bring him happiness. With Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson. Directed by Aaron Schimberg (Chained for Life). Regal Walden Galleria.

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX (R) Sequel. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Steve Coogan. Directed by Todd Phillips (Starsky & Hutch). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only).

MONSTER SUMMER (PG-13) For the Stranger Things crowd. Bad sign: no preview screenings anywhere. Starring Mason Thames, Lorraine Bracco, Mel Gibson and Kevin James. Directed by David Henrie (This Is the Year). AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria.

THE OUTRUN (R) Saoirse Ronan as a young Scot who returns to her home in the Orkney Islands after too much wild life in London. Co-staring Saskia Reeves, Stephen Dillane and Izuka Hoyle. Directed by Nora Fingscheidt (System Crasher). Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria.

SLEEP (NR) From Korea, a black comic thriller about a newly married couple disrupted by what starts as the husband talking in his sleep. Lee Sun-kyun and Jung Yu-mi star in the debut feature from Jason Yu, former assistant director to Bong Joon-ho. North Park.

SWAG (NR) It’s from India, in Telegu. It stars Sunil, Ritu Varma and Getup Srinu. It was directed by Hasith Goli, and that’s all the information I can find. Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria.

WHITE BIRD (PG-13) In France during World War II, a Jewish girl is sheltered by the family of a polio-stricken boy who had been derided by her classmates. Starring Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson, and Bryce Gheisar. Directed by Marc Foster (Monsters Ball). Dipson Amherst, Dipson McKinley, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit.

NOW PLAYING

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (PG-13) Sequel. Starring Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Danny DeVito and Burn Gorman. Directed by Tim Burton. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)  Read M. Faust’s review here.

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (R) The MCU answer to Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Leslie Uggams and a whole buncha superhero cameos. Directed by Shawn Levy (The Adam Project). Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria.

DESPICABLE ME 4 (PG) The usual gang is joined by Gru Jr. With the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, Steve Coogan, Stephen Colbert and Laraine Newman. Directed, as usual, by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage. Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Transit Drive-in (Fri-Sat only)

DEVARA: PART 1 (NR) Telegu-language action epic centered about a seafaring hero who fights for his people, not knowing that his brother is plotting against him. Starring N. T. Rama Rao Jr, Saif Ali Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor. Directed by Koratala Siva (Acharya). Regal Elmwood.

LEE (R) Kate Winslet as the American photographer and war correspondent Lee Miller, who battled personal demons as she reported on World War II. Featuring Alexander Skarsgård, Andrea Riseborough, Marion Cotillard, Josh O’Connor, and Andy Samberg. The feature directorial debut of cinematographer Ellen Kuras (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Regal Quaker, Regal Transit Read the review by Sarah T. Schwab here. 

MEGALOPOLIS (R) Francis Ford Coppola put four decades and $100+ million of his own money into this futuristic epic reimaging ancient Rome as a new American utopia on the brink of ruination. The cast includes Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter and Dustin Hoffman. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria Read the review by M. Faust here. 

MY OLD ASS (R) On her 18^th birthday, a young woman (Maisy Stella) gets an unexpected visit from her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). Directed by Megan Park (The Falllout). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria.

NEVER LET GO (R) Halle Berry stars in this horror drama as a mother trying to protect her family from an evil presence that has confined them to their house. Directed by Alexandre Aja (Oxygen). AMC Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria.

SPEAK NO EVIL (R) Two couples who met on vacation have a less enjoyable time when they meet up at home in this Blumhouse adaptation of the 2022 Danish film. Starring James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, and Scoot McNairy. Directed by James Watkins (The Woman in Black). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only).

THE SUBSTANCE (R) Horror film starring Demi Moore as an aging celebrity who takes a black-market cell-replicating drug to make her appear younger. Gee, do you suppose there could by any negative side effects? Co-starring Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat (Revenge). AMC Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria.

TRANSFORMERS ONE (PG) Animated origin story, because that’s how they keep these franchises pumping away. With the voices of Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson and Keegan-Michael Key. Directed by Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only).

THE WILD ROBOT (PG) Pixar animation adapted from the popular children’s books about a robot stranded on an island and the animals it befriends. Of course they are talking animals, providing voice work for Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy and Stephanie Hsu. Directed by Chris Sanders (The Croods). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only).

ETC.

 DAYTIME REVOLUTION (NR, 2024)—Documentary about the week in 1971 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted the afternoon talk show hosted by Mike Douglas, bringing guests like Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, Chuck Berry and Ralph Nader to sit in chairs usually occupied by the likes of Jerry Vale and Phyllis Diller. Directed by Erik Nelson. Weds-Thurs North Park

FRENZY (England, R, 1972)—New restoration of Alfred Hitchcock’s penultimate film, a black comic thriller about London police hunting a rapist-serial killer (Barry Foster). It’s the only Hitchcock film to have earned an R rating; at times it seems primarily designed to shock his fans who expected the Master to be relatively genteel. With Jon Finch, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, and Anna Massey. Sat 5 pm.  Screening Room

IMMEDIATE FAMILY (NR, 2022)—From The Wrecking Crew director Denny Tedesco, a documentary about four of the hardest working studio musicians of the 1970s and 80s: Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar and Waddy Wachtel. Tedesco will introduce the screening. Sat 7 pm. North Park

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (PG-13, 1986)—Megabudget musical adaptation of Roger Corman’s microbudgeted 1960 comedy about a Skid Row loser (Rick Moranis) who raises a man-eating plant. With Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, Steve Martin, Jim Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest, Bill Murray and the voice of Levi Stubbs; look fast for Michael Shannon as a TV reporter. Directed by Frank Oz, aka the voice of Miss Piggy. Tues 7;30 pm. Screening Room

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (NR, 1974)—Fans weaned on 21st century horror films may be disappointed at the lack of blood and gore in this, arguably the first modern horror movie. Instead, director Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist) got effects from implication: the constant and vivid threat is what keeps us involved. Sun Regal Quaker, Regal Transit Regal Walden Galleria

THE WRECKING CREW (NR, 2008)—Documentary about the legendary Los Angeles studio musicians who played on dozens of hit singles of the 1960s and 70s. Director Denny Tedesco, son of Niagara Falls-born guitarist Tommy Tedesco will introduce the screening. Sat 9:30 pm. North Park. Click here.

THEATER LOCATIONS AND WEBSITES

AMC Maple Ridge, 4276 Maple Road, Amherst www.amctheatres.com

AMC Market Arcade, 639 Main Street, Buffalo www.amctheatres.com

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

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

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

Dipson McKinley, 3701 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg www.dipsontheatres.com

Dunkirk Multiplex, 10520 Bennett Road, Dunkirk

Flix, 4901 Transit Road, Depew www.dipsontheatres.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 https://northparktheatre.org/

Regal Elmwood, 2001 Elmwood Avenue., Buffalo www.fandango.com

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

Regal Transit, 6707 Transit Road. Williamsville www.fandango.com

Regal Walden Galleria, Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga www.fandango.com

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

Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, 23 S Main Street, Warsaw www.thespotlighttheaters.com/

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