Opening This Week:

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL—Computer animation with the voices of Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, David Cross, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, and Wendie Malick. Directed by Betty Thomas (Howard Stern’s Private Parts). Regal Walden, Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit

IT’S COMPLICATED—Romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, and John Krasinski. Directed by Nancy Meyers (Father of the Bride Part 2). Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden

ME AND ORSON WELLES—Behind the scenes story of the New York stage production of Julius Caesar mounted in 1937 by a 22-year-old Orson Welles. Starring Christian McKay, Zac Efron, Claire Danes, Ben Chaplin, and Eddie Marsan. Directed by Richard Linklater (Slackers). Reviewed this issue. Amherst

NINE—Musical adaptation of Fellini’s 8 1/2. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, and Fergie. Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago). Reviewed this issue. Amherst, Maple Ridge

SHERLOCK HOLMES—Robert Downey Jr. as a younger, rowdier Holmes in a CGI-heavy adaptation. Co-starring Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, and Eddie Marsan. Directed by Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). Reviewed this issue. Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden

UP IN THE AIR—George Clooney as a corporate terminator who spends most of his life in planes and airports. Co-starring Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick and Jason Bateman. Directed y Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking). Reviewed this issue. Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Transit, Regal Walden

THE YOUNG VICTORIA—Lavish biography of the early years of the woman who would become England’s longest-reigning monarch. Starring Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson and Mark Strong. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y.). Reviewed this issue. North Park

ETC:

THE BLOOD VAN and SANTACABRA: HOLIDAY HORRORCAUST—Two short horror films shot in Cattaraugus County and presented by the filmmakers. Sat, 7pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)—Jimmy Stewart gets to see what life for his friends and community would have been like had he never lived in Frank Capra’s holiday classic. Co-starring Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Gloria Grahame, Sheldon Leonard, and Charles Lane. Weds. Dec. 23 8pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376) www.screeningroom.net