Here is a snapshot of films opening between Sept. 13 and Oct. 31. Check weekly for updated release plans.
September
“The Boys Are Back”: A widower struggles to raise his two sons alone. Clive Owen
“Bright Star”: The love story between the 19th Century Romantic poet John Keats and his 18-year-old muse next door. Abbie Cornish Ben Whishaw
“Capitalism: A Love Story”: Michael Moore directed this documentary tackling the impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans.
“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”: Inspired by the children’s book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. In Imax 3-D
“Coco Before Chanel”: Traces Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel from her beginnings as an orphan to becoming the legendary couturier. Audrey Tautou, Alessandro Nivola
“Fame”: Follows a group of dancers, singers, actors and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts. Megan Mullally, Kelsey Grammer, Debbie Allen
“I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell”: The adventures of Tucker Max, a beer-guzzling womanizer. Matt Czuchry, Jesse Bradford Geoff Stults
“The Informant!”: Based on the true story of a whistle-blower at Archer Daniels Midland who has heroic aspirations with the FBI. Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale
“Jennifer’s Body”: A small-town high school hottie, possessed by a hungry demon, starts offing her male classmates. Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried
“Love Happens”: A self-help author and a florist who has sworn off men find love. Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston
“Pandorum”: Stranded on a spacecraft, two astronauts awaken from a hypersleep and realize they are not alone. Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster
October
“Amelia”: A biopic of legendary aviator Amelia Earhart. Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor
“Astro Boy”: A young robot must use his powers of super-strength, X-ray vision, speed and the ability to fly to save everything he cares about. Voices of Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage
“Couples Retreat”: Four couples from the Midwest on a tropical getaway must participate in therapy as part of the vacation package. Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell
“An Education”: The story of a 16-year-old girl who becomes smitten with a fast-living older man in 1960s London. Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina
“Good Hair”: Chris Rock explores the way hairstyles affect the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships and self-esteem of the black community.
“The Invention of Lying”: In an alternate world where lying does not exist, a down-on-his-luck loser suddenly develops the ability to lie, bringing him fame and fortune, until things spiral out of control. Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner
“Law Abiding Citizen”: A man who witnessed the murder of his wife and child orchestrates his revenge in a series of high-profile murders from his jail cell. Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx
“Motherhood”: The trials, joys and daily challenges mothers face. Uma Thurman, Minnie Driver
“New York, I Love You”: A collaboration of storytelling from several filmmakers weaves tales of love and encounters that unfold beneath the Manhattan skyline. Orlando Bloom, Julie Christie, Bradley Cooper, Chris Cooper, Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman
“The Providence Effect”: Documentary account of Paul J. Adams III, the inner-city Chicago school he founded and the student lives that the school has changed. Directed by Rollin Binzer.
“The Stepfather”: A student returns home from military school to find his mother in love with a man who seems to be hiding a dark side. Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward
“A Serious Man”: A physics professor in 1967 tries to cope as his life spirals out of control. Michael Stuhlbarg
“This Is It”: Behind-the-scenes footage from Michael Jackson’s rehearsals in preparation for the series of 50 concerts planned at the O2 Arena in London
“Whip It!”: A small-town misfit discovers her talent for roller derby. Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Marcia Gay Harden
“Zombieland”: Two mismatched survivors find friendship and redemption in a world overrun by zombies. Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg
“Where the Wild Things Are”: Maurice Sendak’s classic tale of adventure comes to the big screen. Voices of James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker
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Compiled by Liesl Bradner, Special to Tribune Newspapers
