Having
finally moved out of their parents’ houses,
Craig and Day Day are robbed of their rent money
on Christmas Eve and have to take jobs as mall security
guards. Marcus Raboy makes his feature directorial
debut. Returnees from “Friday” and “Next
Friday” include actor-screenwriters Ice Cube
(“All About the Benjamins”) and D.J. Pooh
(“3 Strikes”), as well as actors John
Witherspoon (“Little Nicky”) and Anna
Maria Horsford (“How High”). Returnees
from “Next Friday” include Mike Epps (“All
About the Benjamins”) and Don “D.C.”
Curry (TV’s “Grace Under Fire”).
Newcomers to the series include Bebe Drake (“Anywhere
But Here”), Terry Crews (“The 6th Day”),
Joel Miller (“A Walk on the Moon”), K.D.
Aubert (“The Scorpion King”), Max JoBrani
(“Dragonfly”), Reggie Gaskins and Katt
Williams. R: Language; sexual content; drug use.
Nov. 22. New Line.
In
his second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry, young Harry must contend with (among
many other things) a mysterious force that is turning
his schoolmates to stone. Based on the 1998 novel
by J.K. Rowling. Returnees from “Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone” include director
Chris Columbus (“Bicentennial Man”), screenwriter
Steve Kloves (“Wonder Boys”) and actors
Daniel Radcliffe (“The Tailor of Panama”)
as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley,
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Robbie Coltrane
(“From Hell”) as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid,
Richard Harris (“The Count of Monte Cristo”)
as headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Alan Rickman (“Blow
Dry”) as professor Severus Snape, Maggie Smith
(“The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”)
as headmistress Minerva McGonagall, John Cleese
(“Rat Race,” “Die Another Day”)
as Nearly Headless Nick, Tom Felton (“Anna
and the King”) as Draco Malfoy, John Hurt (“Captain
Corelli’s Mandolin”) as Mr. Ollivander,
Julie Walters (“Billy Elliot”) as Mrs.
Molly Weasley, Richard Griffiths (“Vatel”)
as Vernon Dursley, Fiona Shaw (“The Triumph
of Love”) as Petunia Dursley and Zoe Wanamaker
(“Wilde”) as Madame Xiomara Hooch. Newcomers
to the series include Kenneth Branagh (“How
to Kill Your Neighbor’s Dog,” “Rabbit-Proof
Fence”) as professor Gilderoy Lockhart, Jason
Isaacs (“The Tuxedo”) as Lucius Malfoy,
Miriam Margolyes (“Cats and Dogs”) as
professor Sprout, Mark Williams (“High Heels
and Low Lifes”) as Ron’s father, Shirley
Henderson (“24 Hour Party People”) as
Moaning Myrtle, Gemma Jones (“Bridget Jones’s
Diary”) as Madam Pomfrey and Sally Mortemore
as Madam Irma Pince. Nov. 15. Warner Bros.
Romantic
comedy, set on the British island of Man, about
three young men who separately make changes in their
lives following the drowning death of a contemporary.
Written and directed by “Boyfriends” team
of Tom Hunsinger and Neil Hunter. With Douglas Henshall
(“Twice Upon a Yesterday”), Tom Hollander
(“Possession”), Bill Nighy (“Lucky
Break”), Sukie Smith (“Topsy-Turvy”),
Josephine Butler (TV’s “The Last of the
Blonde Bombshells”), Clementine Celarie (“Les
Miserables”) and Ellie Haddington (“Beautiful
Creatures”). R: Strong sexuality/nudity; language.
Nov. 8 in New York. First Look.
Thriller,
set in New York, about a womanizing media consultant
chosen as an assassin’s target: He is told
that if he hangs up the payphone he’s talking
into, a sniper rifle will put a bullet in his brain.
Directed by Joel Schumacher (“Tigerland,”
“Bad Company”) from a screenplay by Larry
Cohen (“Body Snatchers”). With Colin Farrell
(“Minority Report”), Ray Liotta (“John
Q”), Kiefer Sutherland (“Dark City”),
Forest Whitaker (“Panic Room”), Radha
Mitchell (“Pitch Black”), Katie Holmes
(“The Gift,” “Abandon”) and
Tia Texada (“13 Conversations About One Thing”).
Scope. R: Pervasive language; some violence. Nov.
15. Fox.
Drama,
based on a true story of 1931 Australia, about a
trio of Aboriginal girls who – after being
taken from their families by the government and
trained as domestic servants – escape into
the outback and walk more than 1,600 miles along
the rabbit-proof fence they believe will lead them
home. Based on the 1996 book “Follow the Rabbit-Proof
Fence” by Doris Pilkington (“Caprice:
A Stockman’s Daughter”), whose mother
was one of the escapees. Directed by Phillip Noyce
(“The Saint,” “The Bone Collector”)
from a screenplay by Christine Olsen. With Kenneth
Branagh (“How to Kill Your Neighbor’s
Dog,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets”), Ningali Lawford, Deborah Mailman
(“The Monkey’s Mask”), Jason Clarke
(“Better Than Sex”) and David Gulpilil
(“Crocodile Dundee”). 94 min. PG: Emotional
thematic material. Nov. 29 in New York and Los Angeles.
Miramax.
Spanish-language
drama, set in Buenos Aires, about an unstable 20-year-old
singer who finds herself drawn into a world of prostitution
by a charismatic hustler. Written and directed by
Veronica Chen. With Cecilia Bengolea, Leonardo Brezicki,
Adrian Fondari, Pablo Razuk, Adrian Blanco and Carlos
Issa. 87 min. Nov. 22 in New York; Dec. 6 in Los Angeles.
Strand.
Action
thriller about a man who infiltrates a hi-tech
prison to locate a death row inmate’s
stash of $200 million in gold. Screenwriter
Don Michael Paul (“Harley Davidson &
the Marlboro Man”) makes his feature
directorial debut from his own script. With
Steven Seagal (“Exit Wounds”), Morris
Chestnut (“Like Mike”), Michael
McGrady (“Evolution”), Linda Thorson
(“The Other Sister”), Matt Battaglia
(“Showgirls”), Ja Rule (“The
Fast & The Furious”), Bruce Weitz
(“Focus”) and rapper Kurupt. Nov.
15. Sony.
Top
U.S. espionage agent Alex Scott unexpectedly
finds himself teamed with cocky civilian boxing
champion Kelly Robinson on a mission to thwart
the world’s most successful illegal arms
dealer. An action-comedy based on the 1965-68
TV series. Directed by Betty Thomas (“Dr.
Dolittle,” “28 Days”) from
a screenplay by Cormac & Marianne Wibberley
(“The 6th Day”), and Jay Scherick
& David Ronn (“Serving Sara”).
With Eddie Murphy (“The Adventures of
Pluto Nash”), Owen Wilson (“The
Royal Tenenbaums”), Gary Cole (“One
Hour Photo”) and Famke Janssen (“Don’t
Say a Word”). Nov. 1. Sony.
Three-part
dramatic anthology, set in Upstate New York,
about: 1) A wife who takes her kids and leaves
her husband following a night of abuse; 2)
A cookbook editor who realizes her career
has clouded her real feelings for her bland
but kind husband; and 3) A motorist who picks
up a battered 15-year-old hitchhiker and impulsively
takes him to visit her mother. Actress Rebecca
Miller (“Love Affair”) makes her
feature directorial debut from her own screenplay.
With Parker Posey (“The Sweetest Thing”),
Fairuza Balk (“Deuces Wild”), Kyra
Sedgewick (“Just a Kiss”), Leo Fitzpatrick
(“Storytelling”), David Warshofsky
(“Don’t Say a Word”), Tim Guinee
(“Impostor”), Joel de la Fuente
(“Return to Paradise”), Ben Shenkman
(“Requiem for a Dream,” “Roger
Dodger”) and Seth Gilliam (“Punks”).
85 min. R: Brief violence; some strong sexuality;
language. Nov. 22 limited. MGM.
Romantic
comedy, set in New York City, about a plumber
who steals a script and poses as a film director
in an effort to meet women. Directed by John
Walsh (“Ed’s Big Move”) from
a screenplay by Walsh and actress Cynthia
Kaplan. With Martin Donovan (“Insomnia”),
Mary-Louise Parker (“The Five Senses,”
“Red Dragon”), Rebecca Gayheart
(“Harvard Man”), Kevin Carroll (“Jesus’
Son,” “Paid in Full”), Jill
Hennessy (“Exit Wounds,” “Love
in the Time of Money”), Cynthia Kaplan
(“Ed’s Next Move”), Peter Jacobson
(“Showtime”) and Guinevere Turner
(“The Fluffer”). 91 min. Oct. 4
in New York; limited November. Castle Hill.
Santa
must leave the North Pole to search for a
wife when he discovers a clause in his contract
that demands a Mrs. Claus. Sequel to the 1994
comedy blockbuster. Veteran TV director Michael
Lembeck (“According to Jim”) makes
his feature directorial debut from a screenplay
by Ed Decter & John Strauss (“There’s
Something About Mary”). Returnees from
part one include Tim Allen (“Big Trouble”),
David Krumholtz (“How to Kill Your Neighbor’s
Dog”), Eric Lloyd (“Luminous Motion”),
Judge Reinhold (“Homegrown”) and
Wendy Crewson (“The 6th Day”). Newcomers
to the series include Elizabeth Mitchell (“Nurse
Betty”), Spencer Breslin (“Meet
the Parents”), Jay Thomas (“Dirty
Laundry”), Liliana Mumy, Danielle Woodman,
Art Lafleur (“The Replacements”),
Aisha Tyler (TV’s “Talk Soup”)
and Kevin Pollak (“Juwanna Mann”).
Flat. Rated G. Nov. 1. Buena Vista.
Thriller
about an astronaut who, upon arriving at an
isolated space station, discovers a mysterious
force that can transform human memories, even
subconscious ones, into reality. Based on
the novel by Stanislaw Lem (“His Master’s
Voice”). Written and directed by Steven
Soderbergh (“Traffic,” “Ocean’s
Eleven,” “Full Frontal”). With
George Clooney (“Ocean’s Eleven,”
“Welcome to Collinwood”), Natascha
McElhone (“feardotcom”), Viola Davis
(“Traffic,” “Kate & Leopold,”
“Far From Heaven”), Jeremy Davies
(“Secretary”) and Ulrich Tukur.
Nov. 27. Fox.
Having
finally moved out of their parents’ houses,
Craig and Day Day are robbed of their rent money
on Christmas Eve and have to take jobs as mall security
guards. Marcus Raboy makes his feature directorial
debut. Returnees from “Friday” and “Next
Friday” include actor-screenwriters Ice Cube
(“All About the Benjamins”) and D.J. Pooh
(“3 Strikes”), as well as actors John
Witherspoon (“Little Nicky”) and Anna
Maria Horsford (“How High”). Returnees
from “Next Friday” include Mike Epps (“All
About the Benjamins”) and Don “D.C.”
Curry (TV’s “Grace Under Fire”).
Newcomers to the series include Bebe Drake (“Anywhere
But Here”), Terry Crews (“The 6th Day”),
Joel Miller (“A Walk on the Moon”), K.D.
Aubert (“The Scorpion King”), Max JoBrani
(“Dragonfly”), Reggie Gaskins and Katt
Williams. R: Language; sexual content; drug use.
Nov. 22. New Line.
In
his second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry, young Harry must contend with (among
many other things) a mysterious force that is turning
his schoolmates to stone. Based on the 1998 novel
by J.K. Rowling. Returnees from “Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone” include director
Chris Columbus (“Bicentennial Man”), screenwriter
Steve Kloves (“Wonder Boys”) and actors
Daniel Radcliffe (“The Tailor of Panama”)
as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley,
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Robbie Coltrane
(“From Hell”) as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid,
Richard Harris (“The Count of Monte Cristo”)
as headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Alan Rickman (“Blow
Dry”) as professor Severus Snape, Maggie Smith
(“The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”)
as headmistress Minerva McGonagall, John Cleese
(“Rat Race,” “Die Another Day”)
as Nearly Headless Nick, Tom Felton (“Anna
and the King”) as Draco Malfoy, John Hurt (“Captain
Corelli’s Mandolin”) as Mr. Ollivander,
Julie Walters (“Billy Elliot”) as Mrs.
Molly Weasley, Richard Griffiths (“Vatel”)
as Vernon Dursley, Fiona Shaw (“The Triumph
of Love”) as Petunia Dursley and Zoe Wanamaker
(“Wilde”) as Madame Xiomara Hooch. Newcomers
to the series include Kenneth Branagh (“How
to Kill Your Neighbor’s Dog,” “Rabbit-Proof
Fence”) as professor Gilderoy Lockhart, Jason
Isaacs (“The Tuxedo”) as Lucius Malfoy,
Miriam Margolyes (“Cats and Dogs”) as
professor Sprout, Mark Williams (“High Heels
and Low Lifes”) as Ron’s father, Shirley
Henderson (“24 Hour Party People”) as
Moaning Myrtle, Gemma Jones (“Bridget Jones’s
Diary”) as Madam Pomfrey and Sally Mortemore
as Madam Irma Pince. Nov. 15. Warner Bros.
Romantic
comedy, set on the British island of Man, about
three young men who separately make changes in their
lives following the drowning death of a contemporary.
Written and directed by “Boyfriends” team
of Tom Hunsinger and Neil Hunter. With Douglas Henshall
(“Twice Upon a Yesterday”), Tom Hollander
(“Possession”), Bill Nighy (“Lucky
Break”), Sukie Smith (“Topsy-Turvy”),
Josephine Butler (TV’s “The Last of the
Blonde Bombshells”), Clementine Celarie (“Les
Miserables”) and Ellie Haddington (“Beautiful
Creatures”). R: Strong sexuality/nudity; language.
Nov. 8 in New York. First Look.
Thriller,
set in New York, about a womanizing media consultant
chosen as an assassin’s target: He is told
that if he hangs up the payphone he’s talking
into, a sniper rifle will put a bullet in his brain.
Directed by Joel Schumacher (“Tigerland,”
“Bad Company”) from a screenplay by Larry
Cohen (“Body Snatchers”). With Colin Farrell
(“Minority Report”), Ray Liotta (“John
Q”), Kiefer Sutherland (“Dark City”),
Forest Whitaker (“Panic Room”), Radha
Mitchell (“Pitch Black”), Katie Holmes
(“The Gift,” “Abandon”) and
Tia Texada (“13 Conversations About One Thing”).
Scope. R: Pervasive language; some violence. Nov.
15. Fox.
Drama,
based on a true story of 1931 Australia, about a
trio of Aboriginal girls who – after being
taken from their families by the government and
trained as domestic servants – escape into
the outback and walk more than 1,600 miles along
the rabbit-proof fence they believe will lead them
home. Based on the 1996 book “Follow the Rabbit-Proof
Fence” by Doris Pilkington (“Caprice:
A Stockman’s Daughter”), whose mother
was one of the escapees. Directed by Phillip Noyce
(“The Saint,” “The Bone Collector”)
from a screenplay by Christine Olsen. With Kenneth
Branagh (“How to Kill Your Neighbor’s
Dog,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets”), Ningali Lawford, Deborah Mailman
(“The Monkey’s Mask”), Jason Clarke
(“Better Than Sex”) and David Gulpilil
(“Crocodile Dundee”). 94 min. PG: Emotional
thematic material. Nov. 29 in New York and Los Angeles.
Miramax. 
Spanish-language
drama, set in Buenos Aires, about an unstable 20-year-old
singer who finds herself drawn into a world of prostitution
by a charismatic hustler. Written and directed by
Veronica Chen. With Cecilia Bengolea, Leonardo Brezicki,
Adrian Fondari, Pablo Razuk, Adrian Blanco and Carlos
Issa. 87 min. Nov. 22 in New York; Dec. 6 in Los Angeles.
Strand.
Action
thriller about a man who infiltrates a hi-tech
prison to locate a death row inmate’s
stash of $200 million in gold. Screenwriter
Don Michael Paul (“Harley Davidson &
the Marlboro Man”) makes his feature
directorial debut from his own script. With
Steven Seagal (“Exit Wounds”), Morris
Chestnut (“Like Mike”), Michael
McGrady (“Evolution”), Linda Thorson
(“The Other Sister”), Matt Battaglia
(“Showgirls”), Ja Rule (“The
Fast & The Furious”), Bruce Weitz
(“Focus”) and rapper Kurupt. Nov.
15. Sony.
Top
U.S. espionage agent Alex Scott unexpectedly
finds himself teamed with cocky civilian boxing
champion Kelly Robinson on a mission to thwart
the world’s most successful illegal arms
dealer. An action-comedy based on the 1965-68
TV series. Directed by Betty Thomas (“Dr.
Dolittle,” “28 Days”) from
a screenplay by Cormac & Marianne Wibberley
(“The 6th Day”), and Jay Scherick
& David Ronn (“Serving Sara”).
With Eddie Murphy (“The Adventures of
Pluto Nash”), Owen Wilson (“The
Royal Tenenbaums”), Gary Cole (“One
Hour Photo”) and Famke Janssen (“Don’t
Say a Word”). Nov. 1. Sony.
Three-part
dramatic anthology, set in Upstate New York,
about: 1) A wife who takes her kids and leaves
her husband following a night of abuse; 2)
A cookbook editor who realizes her career
has clouded her real feelings for her bland
but kind husband; and 3) A motorist who picks
up a battered 15-year-old hitchhiker and impulsively
takes him to visit her mother. Actress Rebecca
Miller (“Love Affair”) makes her
feature directorial debut from her own screenplay.
With Parker Posey (“The Sweetest Thing”),
Fairuza Balk (“Deuces Wild”), Kyra
Sedgewick (“Just a Kiss”), Leo Fitzpatrick
(“Storytelling”), David Warshofsky
(“Don’t Say a Word”), Tim Guinee
(“Impostor”), Joel de la Fuente
(“Return to Paradise”), Ben Shenkman
(“Requiem for a Dream,” “Roger
Dodger”) and Seth Gilliam (“Punks”).
85 min. R: Brief violence; some strong sexuality;
language. Nov. 22 limited. MGM. 
Romantic
comedy, set in New York City, about a plumber
who steals a script and poses as a film director
in an effort to meet women. Directed by John
Walsh (“Ed’s Big Move”) from
a screenplay by Walsh and actress Cynthia
Kaplan. With Martin Donovan (“Insomnia”),
Mary-Louise Parker (“The Five Senses,”
“Red Dragon”), Rebecca Gayheart
(“Harvard Man”), Kevin Carroll (“Jesus’
Son,” “Paid in Full”), Jill
Hennessy (“Exit Wounds,” “Love
in the Time of Money”), Cynthia Kaplan
(“Ed’s Next Move”), Peter Jacobson
(“Showtime”) and Guinevere Turner
(“The Fluffer”). 91 min. Oct. 4
in New York; limited November. Castle Hill.
Santa
must leave the North Pole to search for a
wife when he discovers a clause in his contract
that demands a Mrs. Claus. Sequel to the 1994
comedy blockbuster. Veteran TV director Michael
Lembeck (“According to Jim”) makes
his feature directorial debut from a screenplay
by Ed Decter & John Strauss (“There’s
Something About Mary”). Returnees from
part one include Tim Allen (“Big Trouble”),
David Krumholtz (“How to Kill Your Neighbor’s
Dog”), Eric Lloyd (“Luminous Motion”),
Judge Reinhold (“Homegrown”) and
Wendy Crewson (“The 6th Day”). Newcomers
to the series include Elizabeth Mitchell (“Nurse
Betty”), Spencer Breslin (“Meet
the Parents”), Jay Thomas (“Dirty
Laundry”), Liliana Mumy, Danielle Woodman,
Art Lafleur (“The Replacements”),
Aisha Tyler (TV’s “Talk Soup”)
and Kevin Pollak (“Juwanna Mann”).
Flat. Rated G. Nov. 1. Buena Vista. 
Thriller
about an astronaut who, upon arriving at an
isolated space station, discovers a mysterious
force that can transform human memories, even
subconscious ones, into reality. Based on
the novel by Stanislaw Lem (“His Master’s
Voice”). Written and directed by Steven
Soderbergh (“Traffic,” “Ocean’s
Eleven,” “Full Frontal”). With
George Clooney (“Ocean’s Eleven,”
“Welcome to Collinwood”), Natascha
McElhone (“feardotcom”), Viola Davis
(“Traffic,” “Kate & Leopold,”
“Far From Heaven”), Jeremy Davies
(“Secretary”) and Ulrich Tukur.
Nov. 27. Fox.