Heaven's Gate

Opening:

THE CALL—Thriller with Halle Berry as a 911 operator whose job brings her in contact with a killer from her past. Co-starring Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, and Michael Eklund. Directed by Brad Anderson (The Machinist). Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE—Comedy starring Steve Carell as a cheesy Las Vegas magician forced to update his act. With Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, Alan Arkin, James Gandolfini and Olivia Wilde. Directed by Don Scardino. Reviewed this issue. Market Arcade, Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

WEST OF MEMPHIS—Documentary about the tortuous route to freedom of three Arkansas teens falsely convicted of a horrific murder. Directed by Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil). Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ETC:

THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN’T DIE (1960)—After his fiancée is decapitated in an auto accident, a surgeon keeps her head alive while he searches for a new body upon which to transplant it. The cheapness and sleaziness of the production (the doc spends a lot of time leering at strippers he’s “auditioning”) only add to the shock value of this startlingly gory movie that predates Herschel Gordon Lewis by four years. The Screening Room

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and PAGLIACCI—Two short operas on one double bill, presented at La Scala in Milan Italy. Starring Luciana D’Intino and José Cura. Conducted by Daniel Harding and directed by Mario Martone. Amherst, Eastern Hills

HEAVEN’S GATE (1980)—Once derided as the most expensive flop in Hollywood history, Michael Cimino’s bleak epic has seen its reputation restored in recent years. Set in 1890s Wyoming, the story concerns clashes between immigrant farmers and wealthy cattlemen who want to keep control of the land. Starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, Sam Waterston, Brad Dourif, Isabelle Huppert, Joseph Cotten, Jeff Bridges, and Ronnie Hawkins; look fast for Mickey Rourke and Willem Dafoe. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Market Arcade.

ROPE (1948)—Alfred Hitchcock used Patrick Hamilton’s play based on the Leopold-Loeb murder case for an experiment in attempting a single-shot film, with reel changes disguised by invisible cuts. Starring James Stewart, John Dall and Farley Granger. The Screening Room

THE SKIN I LIVE IN (Spain, 2011)—From Pedro Almodovar, a horror film starring Antonio Bandaras as a surgeon who re-creates his dead wife. With Elena Anaya and Marisa Paredes. Presented by the Hubbard Film Society. Aurora

SWITCH—Documentary exploring the potential costs and liabilities of energy technologies including fracking, nuclear and “clean coal.” Free and open to the public. Thurs Mar 21 7:30pm. University at Buffalo, Knox 14 Lecture Hall (www.switchenergyproject.com)