The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

Opening:

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS—Santa’s son takes over Dad’s operation for his own purposes in this animated feature from the producers of the Wallace and Grommit films. With the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy and Jim Broadbent. Directed by Sarah Smith. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Niagara, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden

THE DESCENDANTS—George Clooney as a Hawaiian lawyer stressed out by having to care for his two daughters after his wife’s fatal accident. Co-starring Shailene Woodley, Robert Forster, Judy Greer and Beau Bridges. Directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways), See the feature review this issue. Amherst, Eastern Hills

HUGO—Martin Scorsese directed this 3D adaptation of the children’s book set in Paris of the 1930s, where an orphan (Asa Butterfield) lives in the walls of a train station. Starring Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Michael Stuhlbarg and Christopher Lee. Reviewed this issue. Regal Quaker, Regal Walden

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN— Michelle Williams stars as Marilyn Monroe in this drama about the making of the film The Prince and the Showgirl, in which she co-starred with Laurence Oliveir (Kenneth Branagh). With Eddie Redmayne, Julia Ormond and Emma Watson. Directed by Simon Curtis. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ETC:

REVANCHE (2008)—A remote farmhouse becomes the setting for a story of revenge involving an ex-con, a policeman and his wife in this character drama that was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Directed by Götz Spielmann. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues. 7 pm. Market Arcade

THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)—Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in the 1965 Academy Award winner for Best Picture. It beat out Darling, Doctor Zhivago, Ship of Fools and A Thousand Clowns. Go figure. Fri-Sat 7pm, Sun 6 pm. Screening Room

THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS (1947)—Noirish character study starring Barbara Stanwyck as a woman whose failed teenage romance comes back to haunt her as an adult. Co-starring Van Heflin, Judith Anderson, Lizabeth Scott, and Kirk Douglas (his debut); look for future director Blake Edwards in a bit part as a sailor. Tues 7 pm. Screening Room