Buffalo Movies: New film releases and where to see them across WNY.

By M. Faust

(Above: Ricki Lake in “Hairspray,” one of the John Waters films screening this week at the North Park Theatre. © New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection)

OPENING THIS WEEK: 

A PRIVATE LIFE (R) Jodie Foster as a psychotherapist whose staid life starts to crumble when she investigates the death of a patient in this French film directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. Co-starring Daniel Auteuil, Virginia Efira, Mathieu Amalric, Vincent Lacoste, Sophie Guillemin, Frederick Wiseman, Aurore Clément, and Irène Jacob. Read M. Faust’s review here. Dipson Amherst

ARCO (PG) Natalie Portman produced this Oscar nominated animated film from France, about a girl trying to help a visitor from the future return home. Directed by Ugo Bienvenu and Gilles Cazaux. Regal Walden Galleria 

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN: CARAVAGGIO (NR) The documentary series focusing on the work of great painters turns to the Italian master of the 16^th century. Directed by David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky. North Park 

GANDHI TALKS (NR) From India, a film with no dialogue about the intersecting lives of a recent graduate looking for work, a rich businessman and a petty thief. Starring Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy, and Siddharth Jadhav. directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar. Regal Elmwood 

IRON LUNG (R) Horror film adapted from a video game set after a universal catastrophe, in which a prisoner is tasked to earn his freedom by using a one-man windowless submarine to search for data in an ocean of blood. Starring Mark Fischbach (who also directed), Troy Baker, and Elsie Lovelock. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace,  Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

MARDAANI 3 (NR) A police officer investigates the disappearances of nearly 100 girls in this Hindi language action sequel. Starring Rani Mukerji, Janki Bodiwala, and Mallika Prasad. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala. Regal Elmwood 

MOSES THE BLACK (NR) The 4^th century saint who became a monk after giving up a life of crime inspires a modern-day gangster. Starring Omar Epps, Wiz Khalifa, Quavo and Chukwudi Iwuji. Directed by Yelena Popovic. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIHI (NR) An abused woman fights back against her husband in this Telugu language drama. Staring Brahmaji, Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam, and Eesha Rebba. Directed by A.R. Sajeev. Regal Elmwood 

PRAKAMBANAM (NR) Malayalam horror comedy set in a college hostel. Starring Ganapati, Sagar Surya, and Al Ameen. Directed by Vijesh Panathur. 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). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

SHELTER (R) Jason Statham in his annual action vehicle as a lighthouse keeper who comes to the rescue of a young girl. With Bill Nighy, Harriet Walter, Daniel Mays, and Naomi Ackie. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland 2). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

VALATHU VASHATHE KALLAN (NR) Malayalam-language crime thriller film, and that’s all I know about it. Starring Biju Menon, Joju George, and Lena. Directed by Jeethu Joseph. Regal Walden Galleria 

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NOW PLAYING: 

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE (R) New entry in the zombie series that began in 2002. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams and Jack O’Connell. Directed by Nia DaCosta (the Candyman remake). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ANACONDA (PG-13) Paul Rudd and Jack Black as aspiring filmmakers (from Buffalo!) who go to the South American jungle to remake their favorite bad 1990s horror movie. With Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, and Ice Cube. Directed by Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent). Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (PG-13) Number three of five. With Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis. Directed by James Cameron, the pride of Chippawa, Ontario. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

BORDER 2 (NR) Hindi-language action sequel set against the backdrop of the India–Pakistan war of 1971. Starring Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh. Directed by Anurag Singh. Regal Elmwood 

CLIKA (R) Crime drama set against the backdrop of the Mexican-American music scene. Starring Jay Dee, Concrete, DoKnow, and Laura Lopez. Directed by Michael Greene. Regal Quaker

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION (PG-13) Gerard Butler and family emerge from their underground bunker to see what is left of the world after a comet strike. With Morena Baccarin, Amber Rose Revah, and Roman Griffin Davis. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Angel has Fallen). Regal Quaker

HAMNET (PG-13) Fictional story about William Shakespeare and his wife that asks what effect the death of their young son might have had on his work. Starring Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, and Joe Alwyn. Directed by Chloé Zhao (Nomadland). Read M. Faust’s review here. Aurora, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Flix, Dipson Capitol, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

THE HOUSEMAID (R) A troubled woman tries to clean up her life by taking a job as a housemaid for a wealthy family. Trouble, of course, ensues. Starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Elizabeth Perkins. Directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

MARTY SUPREME (R) Timothée Chalamet as a character loosely based on 1950’s ping pong hustler Marty Reisman. With Odessa A’zion, Larry ‘Ratso’ Sloman, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Directed by Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems). Read M. Faust’s review here. AMC Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

MERCY (PG-13) Futuristic sci-fi action starring Chris Pratt as a detective who has 90 minutes to prove to an AI-generated prosecutor (Rebecca Ferguson) that he did not kill his wife. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

PRIMATE (R) Young women on vacation in Hawaii are attacked by an enraged chimpanzee. Starring Johnny Sequoyah, Troy Kotsur and Gia Hunter. Directed by Johannes Roberts (The Strangers: Prey at Night). Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

RETURN TO SILENT HILL (R) One more entry in the horror series based on a video game. Starring Jeremy Irvine and Hannah Emily Anderson. Directed by Christophe Gans. Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SINNERS (R) From director Ryan Coogler (Creed), a genre-mixing big budget movie starring Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers in the Jim Crow south who return to their Mississippi Delta hometown to open a juke joint. With Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, and Delroy Lindo. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SONG SUNG BLUE (PG-13) True story of a Milwaukee couple of the 1990s who found local success performing Neil Diamond songs. Starring High Jackman, Oscar nominee Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi. Directed by Craig Brewer (Dolemite is My Name). Read M. Faust’s review here. Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS (PG) Number four of who knows how many. With the voices of Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Regina Hall, and Mark Hamill. Directed by Derek Drymon. Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Quaker

THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE (R) From the creators of The Brutalist, a musical biopic about the woman who founded the Shaker movement. Starring Amanda Seyfried, and Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, and Tim Blake Nelson. Directed by Mona Fastvold. Dipson Amherst, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

TTT: THALAIVAR THAMBI THALAIMAIYIL (NR) Tamil-language political satire set in a village where a funeral and a wedding compete for attendees. Starring Jiiva, Prathana Nathan and Thambi Ramaiah. Directed by Nithish Sahadev. Regal Elmwood 

ZOOTOPIA 2 (PG) Ten years is a long time in coming for a sequel to a children’s film, but here it is anyway. With the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, Ke Huy Quan, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, and Danny Trejo. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

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ETC.

THE BIG COMBO (1955)—The masterful John Alton photographed this noir drama starring Cornel Wilde as a police lieutenant obsessed with bringing down a local gangster. Co-starring Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy and Jean Wallace. Directed by B movie auteur Joseph H. Lewis (Gun Crazy). Tues 7:30 pm. Screening Room

THE DEADLY SPAWN (1983)—For the “Stranger Things” crowd: Small town teens up against people-eating aliens in this $25,000 horror movie that was originally released as Return of the Aliens Deadly Spawn. Fri 7:30 pm. Screening Room

“HOLY WATERS”—In anticipation of John Waters upcoming appearance at Kleinhans Music Hall, a weeklong presentation of his best-loved films, all starring Divine: PINK FLAMINGOS (1972), FEMALE TROUBLE  (1974), POLYESTER (1981, in full Odorama) and HAIRSPRAY (1988). See here for screening times. 

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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

AMC Market Arcade, 639 Main Street, Buffalo CLOSED PERMNENTLY

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