French-language
thriller about a mentally ill woman who, after her
grandson succumbs to illness, abducts a child-abuse
victim to replace him. Based on the novel “The
Tree of Hands” by Ruth Rendell (“Adam
and Eve Pinch Me”). Written and directed by
Claude Miller (“Under Suspicion”). With
Sandrine Kiberlain (“Seventh Heaven”),
Nicole Garcia (“Lost & Found”), Mathilde
Seigner (“With a Friend Like Harry”),
Edouard Baer (“Terror Firmer”), Yves Jacques
(“Life After Love”) and Roschdy Zem (“Alice
and Martin,” “My Wife is an Actress”).
Also known as “L'Histoire de Betty Fisher.”
Sept. 6. Wellspring.
Comedy,
set in inner-city Chicago, about a neighborhood
barbershop which, in the course of a single day,
becomes central to the search for a major heist
perpetrator. Tim Story makes his feature directorial
debut from a screenplay by Mark Brown (“How
to Be A Player”) and Don D. Scott. With Ice
Cube (“All About the Benjamins”), Anthony
Anderson (“Two Can Play That Game”), Cedric
the Entertainer (“Kingdom Come,” “Serving
Sara”), Sean Patrick Thomas (“Save the
Last Dance,” “Halloween: Resurrection”),
Troy Garity (“Bandits”) and Eve (“XXX”).
Sept. 13. MGM.
German-language
drama, inspired by the 1971 “Stanford Prison
Experiment,” about volunteers who, as part
of a psychology experiment, are confined and assigned
one of two roles: guard or prisoner. Based on the
book “The Black Box” by Mario Giardano.
Directed by Olivier Hirschbiegel from a screenplay
by Don Bohlinger, Christoph Darnstadt, Giardano,
Hirschbiegel and Friedrich Wildfeur. With Moritz
Bleibtreu (“In July”), Olivier Stokowski
(“U-571”), Justus von Dohnanyi (“The
World is Not Enough”) and Andrea Sawatzki (“Bandits”).
Sept. 6. IDP.
Actioner,
set in 1898, about a cowardly army officer who resigns
immediately before shipping off to war, then endeavors
to redeem himself by rescuing his captured former
comrades. Based on the novel by A.E.W. Mason. Directed
by Shekhar Kapur (“Elizabeth”) from a
screenplay by Michael Schiffer (“The Peacemaker”)
and Hossein Amini (“The Wings of the Dove”).
With Heath Ledger (“Monster’s Ball”),
Wes Bentley (“Soul Survivors”), Kate Hudson
(“Dr. T & the Women”), Djimon Hounsou
(“Gladiator”), Alex Jennings (“The
Wings of the Dove”), Rupert-Penry Jones (“Charlotte
Gray”), Kris Marshall (“Iris”) and
Michael Sheen (“Wilde”). R: Epic battle
scenes; disturbing images. Sept. 20. Paramount.
Comedy
about a groom-to-be who decides to keep secret the
fact that he woke up after his bachelor party next
to a beautiful stranger. Directed by Chris Koch
(“Snow Day”) from a screenplay by Greg
Glienna (who wrote and directed the short on which
“Meet the Parents” was based), Pete Schwaba,
Matt Tarses (TV’s “Scrubs”) and Bill
Wrubel. With Julia Stiles (“The Bourne Identity”),
Jason Lee (“Big Trouble,” “Stealing
Stanford”), Selma Blair (“The Sweetest
Thing”), James Brolin (“Traffic,”
“The Master of Disguise”), Thomas Lennon
(“Out Cold”), Ron Selmour (“Bones”),
Lochlyn Munro (“Kill Me Later”), Diana
Scarwid (“What Lies Beneath”), Shawn Hatosy
(“John Q”) and David Koechner (“Out
Cold”). Sept. 20. MGM.
Japanese-language
drama about a homosexual man who, despite the misgivings
of his boyfriend, considers an offer to impregnate
an unhappy young woman. Written and directed by
Ryosuke Hashiguchi (“Like Grains of Sand”).
With Seiichi Tanabe, Kazuya Takahashi (“Safe
Passage”), Reiko Kataoka, Manami Fuji, Kanako
Fukaura and Ryo Iwamatsu. 135 min. Sept. 27. Strand.
Comedy
about a pair of fiftysomething former groupies and
best friends – an L.A. waitress and a Phoenix
socialite – who find themselves reunited. Screenwriter
Bob Dolman (“Willow,” “Far and Away”)
makes his directorial debut from his own screenplay.
With Susan Sarandon (“Joe Gould’s Secret,”
“Moonlight Mile”), Goldie Hawn (“Town
& Country”), Geoffrey Rush (“Lantana”),
Robin Thomas (“Clockstoppers”), Erika
Christensen (“Traffic,” “Swimfan”),
Eva Amurri (“Anywhere But Here”) and Matthew
Carey (“Leave it to Beaver”). Scope. R:
Language; sexual content; some drug use. Sept. 20.
Fox Searchlight.
The
true story of Vincent LaMarca, a policeman whose
father was a murderous kidnapper and whose son faces
the death penalty as a result of being charged with
murder. Based on an Esquire article by New York
Daily News columnist Mike McAlary. Directed by Michael
Caton-Jones (“The Jackal”) from a screenplay
by Ken Hixon (“Inventing the Abbotts”).
With Robert De Niro (“Showtime”), Frances
McDormand (“The Man Who Wasn't There”),
James Franco (“Spider-Man,” “Deuces
Wild”) and Eliza Dushku (“The New Guy”).
Also known as “Mark of a Murderer.” Scope.
R: Language; drug use; some violence. Sept. 6. Warner
Bros.
Thriller
about an FBI agent and an NSA agent who halt efforts
to kill each other when they realize they’ve
both been gravely misled by a third party. Thai
director Wych Kaosayananda makes his English-language
debut from a screenplay by Alan B. McElroy (“Spawn,”
“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers”)
and Peter M. Lenkov (“Demolition Man”).
With Antonio Banderas (“Original Sin,”
“Spy Kids 2”), Lucy Liu (“Charlie’s
Angels”), Gregg Henry (“Payback”),
Ray Park (“X-Men”), Talisa Soto (“Piñero”),
Terry Chen (“40 Days and 40 Nights”),
Miguel Sandoval (“Human Nature”) and Aidan
Drummond. Sept. 27. Warner Bros.
Historical
drama, set before and during the early days of the
Civil War, centering around the events leading up
to Confederate general “Stonewall” Jackson’s
1863 fall at Chancellorsville. Based on the novel
by Jeff Shaara. Written and directed by Ronald F.
Maxwell (“The Night the Lights Went Out in
Georgia,” “Gettysburg”). With Stephen
Lang (“Trixie”), Robert Duvall (“A
Shot at Glory”), Bruce Boxleitner (“The
Babe”), Jeff Daniels (“Escanaba in da
Moonlight,” “Blood Work”), Jeremy
London (“Happenstance”), William Sanderson
(“Last Man Standing”), Mira Sorvino (“The
Triumph of Love”), C. Thomas Howell (“Gettysburg”),
Kevin Conway (“Black Knight”), Patrick
Gorman (“Wild Bill”), Brian Mallon (“The
Informant”), Bo Brinkman (“Laws of Deception”),
Royce D. Applegate (“The Rookie”), Stephen
Spacek (“The Thin Red Line”) and Cooper
Huckabee (“Space Cowboys”). Sept. 20.
Warner Bros.
Italian-
and Turkish-language drama about a woman who finds
herself drawn into the world of her recently deceased
husband’s secret male lover. Directed by Ferzan
Ozpetek (“The Turkish Baths”) from a screenplay
by Ozpetek and Gianni Romoli (“Cemetery Man”).
With Stefano Accorsi (“The Son’s Room,”
“The Last Kiss”), Margherita Buy, Serra
Yilmaz, Andrea Renzi, Gabriel Garko and Erika Blanc.
Also known as “Le Fate ignoranti.” Sept.
6. Strand.
French-language
thriller about a mentally ill woman who, after her
grandson succumbs to illness, abducts a child-abuse
victim to replace him. Based on the novel “The
Tree of Hands” by Ruth Rendell (“Adam
and Eve Pinch Me”). Written and directed by
Claude Miller (“Under Suspicion”). With
Sandrine Kiberlain (“Seventh Heaven”),
Nicole Garcia (“Lost & Found”), Mathilde
Seigner (“With a Friend Like Harry”),
Edouard Baer (“Terror Firmer”), Yves Jacques
(“Life After Love”) and Roschdy Zem (“Alice
and Martin,” “My Wife is an Actress”).
Also known as “L'Histoire de Betty Fisher.”
Sept. 6. Wellspring.
Comedy,
set in inner-city Chicago, about a neighborhood
barbershop which, in the course of a single day,
becomes central to the search for a major heist
perpetrator. Tim Story makes his feature directorial
debut from a screenplay by Mark Brown (“How
to Be A Player”) and Don D. Scott. With Ice
Cube (“All About the Benjamins”), Anthony
Anderson (“Two Can Play That Game”), Cedric
the Entertainer (“Kingdom Come,” “Serving
Sara”), Sean Patrick Thomas (“Save the
Last Dance,” “Halloween: Resurrection”),
Troy Garity (“Bandits”) and Eve (“XXX”).
Sept. 13. MGM.
German-language
drama, inspired by the 1971 “Stanford Prison
Experiment,” about volunteers who, as part
of a psychology experiment, are confined and assigned
one of two roles: guard or prisoner. Based on the
book “The Black Box” by Mario Giardano.
Directed by Olivier Hirschbiegel from a screenplay
by Don Bohlinger, Christoph Darnstadt, Giardano,
Hirschbiegel and Friedrich Wildfeur. With Moritz
Bleibtreu (“In July”), Olivier Stokowski
(“U-571”), Justus von Dohnanyi (“The
World is Not Enough”) and Andrea Sawatzki (“Bandits”).
Sept. 6. IDP.
Actioner,
set in 1898, about a cowardly army officer who resigns
immediately before shipping off to war, then endeavors
to redeem himself by rescuing his captured former
comrades. Based on the novel by A.E.W. Mason. Directed
by Shekhar Kapur (“Elizabeth”) from a
screenplay by Michael Schiffer (“The Peacemaker”)
and Hossein Amini (“The Wings of the Dove”).
With Heath Ledger (“Monster’s Ball”),
Wes Bentley (“Soul Survivors”), Kate Hudson
(“Dr. T & the Women”), Djimon Hounsou
(“Gladiator”), Alex Jennings (“The
Wings of the Dove”), Rupert-Penry Jones (“Charlotte
Gray”), Kris Marshall (“Iris”) and
Michael Sheen (“Wilde”). R: Epic battle
scenes; disturbing images. Sept. 20. Paramount.
Comedy
about a groom-to-be who decides to keep secret the
fact that he woke up after his bachelor party next
to a beautiful stranger. Directed by Chris Koch
(“Snow Day”) from a screenplay by Greg
Glienna (who wrote and directed the short on which
“Meet the Parents” was based), Pete Schwaba,
Matt Tarses (TV’s “Scrubs”) and Bill
Wrubel. With Julia Stiles (“The Bourne Identity”),
Jason Lee (“Big Trouble,” “Stealing
Stanford”), Selma Blair (“The Sweetest
Thing”), James Brolin (“Traffic,”
“The Master of Disguise”), Thomas Lennon
(“Out Cold”), Ron Selmour (“Bones”),
Lochlyn Munro (“Kill Me Later”), Diana
Scarwid (“What Lies Beneath”), Shawn Hatosy
(“John Q”) and David Koechner (“Out
Cold”). Sept. 20. MGM.
Japanese-language
drama about a homosexual man who, despite the misgivings
of his boyfriend, considers an offer to impregnate
an unhappy young woman. Written and directed by
Ryosuke Hashiguchi (“Like Grains of Sand”).
With Seiichi Tanabe, Kazuya Takahashi (“Safe
Passage”), Reiko Kataoka, Manami Fuji, Kanako
Fukaura and Ryo Iwamatsu. 135 min. Sept. 27. Strand.
Comedy
about a pair of fiftysomething former groupies and
best friends – an L.A. waitress and a Phoenix
socialite – who find themselves reunited. Screenwriter
Bob Dolman (“Willow,” “Far and Away”)
makes his directorial debut from his own screenplay.
With Susan Sarandon (“Joe Gould’s Secret,”
“Moonlight Mile”), Goldie Hawn (“Town
& Country”), Geoffrey Rush (“Lantana”),
Robin Thomas (“Clockstoppers”), Erika
Christensen (“Traffic,” “Swimfan”),
Eva Amurri (“Anywhere But Here”) and Matthew
Carey (“Leave it to Beaver”). Scope. R:
Language; sexual content; some drug use. Sept. 20.
Fox Searchlight.
The
true story of Vincent LaMarca, a policeman whose
father was a murderous kidnapper and whose son faces
the death penalty as a result of being charged with
murder. Based on an Esquire article by New York
Daily News columnist Mike McAlary. Directed by Michael
Caton-Jones (“The Jackal”) from a screenplay
by Ken Hixon (“Inventing the Abbotts”).
With Robert De Niro (“Showtime”), Frances
McDormand (“The Man Who Wasn't There”),
James Franco (“Spider-Man,” “Deuces
Wild”) and Eliza Dushku (“The New Guy”).
Also known as “Mark of a Murderer.” Scope.
R: Language; drug use; some violence. Sept. 6. Warner
Bros. 
Thriller
about an FBI agent and an NSA agent who halt efforts
to kill each other when they realize they’ve
both been gravely misled by a third party. Thai
director Wych Kaosayananda makes his English-language
debut from a screenplay by Alan B. McElroy (“Spawn,”
“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers”)
and Peter M. Lenkov (“Demolition Man”).
With Antonio Banderas (“Original Sin,”
“Spy Kids 2”), Lucy Liu (“Charlie’s
Angels”), Gregg Henry (“Payback”),
Ray Park (“X-Men”), Talisa Soto (“Piñero”),
Terry Chen (“40 Days and 40 Nights”),
Miguel Sandoval (“Human Nature”) and Aidan
Drummond. Sept. 27. Warner Bros.
Historical
drama, set before and during the early days of the
Civil War, centering around the events leading up
to Confederate general “Stonewall” Jackson’s
1863 fall at Chancellorsville. Based on the novel
by Jeff Shaara. Written and directed by Ronald F.
Maxwell (“The Night the Lights Went Out in
Georgia,” “Gettysburg”). With Stephen
Lang (“Trixie”), Robert Duvall (“A
Shot at Glory”), Bruce Boxleitner (“The
Babe”), Jeff Daniels (“Escanaba in da
Moonlight,” “Blood Work”), Jeremy
London (“Happenstance”), William Sanderson
(“Last Man Standing”), Mira Sorvino (“The
Triumph of Love”), C. Thomas Howell (“Gettysburg”),
Kevin Conway (“Black Knight”), Patrick
Gorman (“Wild Bill”), Brian Mallon (“The
Informant”), Bo Brinkman (“Laws of Deception”),
Royce D. Applegate (“The Rookie”), Stephen
Spacek (“The Thin Red Line”) and Cooper
Huckabee (“Space Cowboys”). Sept. 20.
Warner Bros.
Italian-
and Turkish-language drama about a woman who finds
herself drawn into the world of her recently deceased
husband’s secret male lover. Directed by Ferzan
Ozpetek (“The Turkish Baths”) from a screenplay
by Ozpetek and Gianni Romoli (“Cemetery Man”).
With Stefano Accorsi (“The Son’s Room,”
“The Last Kiss”), Margherita Buy, Serra
Yilmaz, Andrea Renzi, Gabriel Garko and Erika Blanc.
Also known as “Le Fate ignoranti.” Sept.
6. Strand.