Opening in Dallas today, Friday, August 26, 2011 (listed in order of priority):

• ‘The Last Circus.’ Director Alex de la Iglesia alternately confounded and delighted audiences at Fantastic Fest and the Dallas International Film Festival with his very personal story about a “sad clown,” a tragic figure used to symbolize the strife and oppression in the director’s native Spain. Along the way, he is entranced by a beautiful trapeze artist (Carolina Bang, pictured.) Not to be missed. (The Texas Theatre.) Highly recommended.

• ‘Senna.’ The documentary follows the breakout of a Formula 1 race car driver from Brazil, who emerged in the 1980s as a star, engaged in a protracted rivalry with another driver, and faced international interoffice politics. Advance word has been extremely positive. (Angelika Dallas.) Not previewed.

• ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth.’ Nicolas Roeg (‘Don’t Look Now,’ ‘Walkabout’) brought his fractured brand of artistic vision to the apparently simple tale of an alien from an advanced civilization (David Bowie) who finds great success and great horror as a businessman among human beings. With Candy Clark, Rip Torn, and Buck Henry. (Angelika Dallas.) Recommended.

Wide across the Metroplex (listed in order of preference):

• ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.‘ Guillermo del Toro produced and co-wrote this adaptation of a 1973 television movie about a little girl who moves with her family into a spooky old house and starts hearing strange sounds in the night. My article at Twitch. Recommended with reservations.

• ‘Our Idiot Brother.’ Paul Rudd headlines a fabulous cast in a comedy that seeks to illuminate the (dys)function of his three sisters (Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel). Amusing and lightly likable. My article at Twitch. Recommended with reservations.

• ‘Colombiana.’ Zoe Saldana kicks butts and doesn’t take names in the latest iteration of the Luc Besson action-movie formula. Advance word has been mixed to negative. Not previewed.