OPENING THIS WEEK:

CHOKE—Black comic adaptation of a novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) starring Sam Rockwell as a sex addicted con artist who pays for his mother’s hospital bills by pretending to be choking in public, then hitting up people who “rescue” him for money. With Anjelica Huston and Kelly Macdonald. Directed by Clark Gregg. Amherst, Eastern Hills

EAGLE EYE— Reviewed this issue. Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Hollywood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive In

THE LUCKY ONES—Comedy-drama about three injured Iraq war veterans (Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, Michael Peña) working out their problems as they share a road trip across America. Directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist). Reviewed this issue. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA—Spike Lee’s drama about the experiences of four African-American soldiers trapped in a Tuscan village during WWII. Starring Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valentina Cervi, John Turturro, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Leguizamo, and Kerry Washington. Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Transit

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE—Adaptation of a novel by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane as two troubled people who connect when they share a North Carolina beach house during a hurricane. Co-starring Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis and Scott Glenn. Directed by George C. Wolfe. Reviewed this issue. Regal Quaker, Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Hollywood, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC:

EMILY HUBLEY—The animator, daughter of veteran animators John and Faith Hubley and the creator of the animated sequences for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, hosts a presentation of her work. Thurs Oct. 2, 9:15am. Villa Maria College, 240 Pine Ridge Road (961-1858)

FRENZY (1972)—Alfred Hitchcock’s penultimate film is one of his darkest, though there are traces of grim humor in this story of a psychopathic rapist-murderer stalking London. Starring Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Anna Massey and Alec McCowen. Sat midnight, Sun 4 pm. Palace Theater, 31 Buffalo St., Hamburg (649–2295)

THE PROFESSIONALS (1966)—Underrated late-period western starring Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan and Woody Strode as a quartet of mercenaries hired to retrieve the kidnapped wife of Texas millionaire from a Mexican bandit (Jack Palance). With Claudia Cardinale and Ralph Bellamy. Directed by Richard Brooks (In Cold Blood). Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tues 7 pm, Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

THE RIPPLE EFFECT—Independent feature about a fashion designer stymied in his career and personal life who hope to improve his future by atoning for a past mistake he fears has damaged his karma. Starring Philippe Caland, Forest Whitaker, Virginia Madsen and Minnie Driver. Directed by Philippe Caland. Sat-Sun 9:15pm. The Screening Room, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

WHALEDREAMERS—Julian Lennon produced this spiritually-themed documentary about an Australian aboriginal tribe that uses the whale as a symbol of humanity’s need to reconnect with their roots. Directed by Kim Kindersley. Sat-Sun 7:15pm. The Screening Room, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net