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Fur Biography of photographer Diane Arbus, whose career creating disturbing portraits was cut short by her 1971 suicide. Based on the book by Patricia Bosworth. The “Secretary” team of director Steven Shainberg and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson reunite. With Nicole Kidman (“Bewitched”), Robert Downey Jr. (“A Scanner Darkly”), Jane Alexander (“The Ring”), Emily Bergl (“The Rage: Carrie 2”), Emmy Clarke (TV’s “Monk”), Harris Yulin (“The Emperor’s Club”), Boris McGiver (“The Pink Panther”), Marceline Hugot (“United 93”) and Ty Burrell (“Down in the Valley”). R: Graphic nudity; some sexuality; language. Nov. 17. Picturehouse.         Happy Feet Computer-animated musical, set in Antactica, about a penguin who cannot sing his breed’s mating song – but does turn out to be an exceptional dancer. Directed by George Miller (“Lorenzo’s Oil,” “Babe: Pig in the City”) from a screenplay by Miller, Warren Coleman, Judy Morris (“Babe: Pig in the City”) and John Collee (“Master and Commander: Far Side of the World”). Featuring the voices of Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Elijah Wood, Elizabeth Daily, Robin Williams and Brittany Murphy. Nov. 17. Warner Bros.     The Hoax Drama, based on a true story and the 1981 book by Clifford Irving (“Final Arguments”), about how Irving tried in 1971 to sell to McGraw-Hill a fake “authorized biography” of billionaire Howard Hughes for $750,000. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom (“An Unfinished Life,” “Casanova”) from a screenplay by William Wheeler. With Richard Gere (“Bee Season”), Alfred Molina (“The Da Vinci Code”), Marcia Gay Harden (“American Dreamz”), Julie Delpy (“Broken Flowers”) and Hope Davis (“The Matador,” “Infamous”). Flat. R: Language. Nov. 17 limited; wider Nov. 22. Miramax.     The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes Portuguese- and English-language drama, set in the 18th century, about a piano tuner who tries to rescue of an opera singer, who has been kidnapped by a malevolent doctor determined to turn her into a musical automaton. Brothers Stephen & Timothy Quay, longtime creators of animated short subjects like “The Phantom Museum,” direct from a screenplay by the Quays and Alan Passes. With Gottfried John, Amira Casar, Assumpta Serna, César Saracho and Ljubisa Gruicic. 99 min. Nov. 17 in New York; Dec. 15 in Los Angeles. Zeitgeist.       The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause The third installment of the popular holiday franchise has Santa working to keep Christmas safe from a takeover by Jack Frost. Returnees from parts one and two include Tim Allen (“Zoom”), David Krumholtz (“Serenity,” “Bobby,” “Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny”), Eric Lloyd (“My Giant”), Judge Reinhold (“Homegrown”) and Wendy Crewson (“Eight Below”). Returnees from part two include director Michael Lembeck (“Connie and Carla”), screenwriters Ed Decter & John J. Strauss (“The Lizzie McGuire Movie”), and actors Elizabeth Mitchell (“Running Scared”), Spencer Breslin (“Zoom”) and Liliana Mumy (“Cheaper by the Dozen”). Newcomers include Martin Short (“Jiminy Glick in La La Wood”) and Ann-Margret (“The Break Up”). Flat. Nov. 3. Buena Vista.     Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny Comedy about the formation of rock & roll duo Tenacious D, the self-proclaimed “greatest band on Earth.” Directed by Liam Lynch (“Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic”) from a screenplay by Lynch, Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Band member/actors Black (“Nacho Libre”) and Gass (“Elf”) play themselves opposite David Koechner (“Snakes on a Plane,” “Let’s Go to Prison”), Amy Poehler (“Envy”), Tim Robbins (“Zathura,” “Catch A Fire”), Ben Stiller (“School for Scoundrels”), Colin Hanks (“King Kong”), David Krumholtz (“Serenity,” “Bobby,” “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”), Jason Segal (“Slackers”), Meat Loaf (“The Salton Sea”), Ned Bellamy (“Ice Harvest”), Paul F. Tompkins (“Anchorman”) and Michael Rivkin (“Men in Black II”). Scope. Nov. 17. New Line.   F**** Documentary about “the f-word,” its role, its origin and its controversial nature. Directed by Steve Anderson (“The Big Empty”). Featuring comedians Drew Carey, Billy Connolly, Janeane Garofolo and Bill Maher, writer-director Kevin Smith, musicians Alanis Morissette and Pat Boone, actor-rapper Ice-T, adult film star Ron Jeremy, television producer Steven Bochco, author Hunter S. Thompson and news anchor Sam Donaldson. 91 min. Nov. 10 in New York and Los Angles. ThinkFilm.     A Good Year Drama about an Englishman who moves to Provence, France, to take over an inherited vineyard, only to clash with an American woman who also claims ownership of the property. Based on the novel by Peter Mayle (“A Year in Provence”). Directed by Ridley Scott (“Matchstick Men,” “Kingdom of Heaven”) from a screenplay by Marc Klein (“Serendipity”). With Russell Crowe (“Cinderella Man”), Abbie Cornish (“Somersault,” “Candy”), Albert Finney (“Ocean’s Twelve”), Aaron Eckhart (“The Black Dahlia”), Tom Hollander (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”), Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (“Côte d’Azur”), Marion Cotillard (“A Very Long Engagement”) and Freddie Highmore (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”). Scope. PG-13: Language; some sexual content. Nov. 10. Fox.   The History Boys Comedy-drama, set at a North England “grammar” school in the 1980s, about eight gifted, sex-obsessed teens as they prepare for their college entrance exams. Based on the 2005 play by former “Beyond the Fringe” writer-performer Alan Bennett (“A Question of Attribution”). Directed by Nicholas Hytner (“Center Stage”) from a screenplay by Bennett (“A Private Function,” “Prick Up Your Ears,” “The Madness of King George”). With Samuel Barnett (“Mrs. Henderson Presents”), Stephen Campbell Moore (“A Good Woman”), Dominic Cooper (“I’ll Be There”), James Corden (“All or Nothing”), Andrew Knott (“Black Beauty”), Francis de la Tour (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), Clive Merrison (“Up at the Villa”), Adrian Scarborough (“Vera Drake”), Penelope Wilton (“Match Point”) and Richard Griffiths (the “Harry Potter” series). R: Language; sexual content. Nov. 22 limited. Fox Searchlight.     Let’s Go To Prison Comedy about a career criminal who exacts revenge on the son of the judge who sentenced him, manipulating the innocent man into prison as his cellmate and engaging him in a game of jailtime one-upmanship. Screenwriter Bob Odenkirk (“Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny”) directs from a screenplay by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon (“The Pacifier,” “Herbie: Fully Loaded”) and Michael Patrick Jann (TV’s “The State”). With Dax Shepard (“Idiocracy,” “Employee of the Month”), Will Arnett (“R.V.”), Dylan Baker (“The Matador”), Chi McBride (“Annapolis”), Michael Shannon (“World Trade Center”) and David Koechner (“Snakes on a Plane,” “Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny”). Flat. R: Language; sexual content; some violence; drug material. Nov. 22. Universal.     The Return Thriller about a young woman who comes to believe she has been reincarnated – and is being prepared by supernatural forces to avenge her own murder. Directed by Asif Kapadia from a screenplay by Adam Sussman. With Sarah Michelle Gellar (“The Grudge”), Sam Shepard (“Don’t Come Knocking”), J.C. MacKenzie (“The Aviator,” “The Departed”), Adam Scott (“Art School Confidential”), Katherine Willis (“The Ringer”), Kate Beahan (“The Wicker Man”) and Peter O’Brien. Also known as “Revolver.” Scope. PG-13: Violence; terror; disturbing images. Nov. 10. Focus.     Stranger Than Fiction Comic fantasy about an IRS auditor who comes unglued when he begins to hear his life being narrated. Directed by Marc Forster (“Finding Neverland,” “Stay”) from a screenplay by Zach Helm. With Will Ferrell (“Talladega Nights”), Dustin Hoffman (“The Lost City”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Trust the Man”), Emma Thompson (“Nanny McPhee”), Queen Latifah (“Last Holiday”), Tony Hale (“R.V.”), Linda Hunt (“Yours, Mine and Ours”), Tom Hulce (“Frankenstein”) and Kristen Chenoweth (“R.V,” “Running with Scissors,” “Deck the Halls”). Scope. PG-13: Some disturbing images; sexuality; brief language; nudity. Nov. 10. Sony.