Fall Movie Preview: Oct. 2008

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People - Comedy - 10/03

Shawn of the Dead's Simon Pegg returns with a fish-out-of-water comedy about a bumbling British tabloid journalist hired by an upscale New York City magazine. In to time at all, he's spectacularly burning bridges with co-workers, superstars and everyone else in his vicinity.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua - Adventure/Comedy - 10/03

From the makers of Scooby-Doo comes a new pooch-centric Disney adventure about spoiled chihuahua Chloe (Drew Barrymore), who finds herself lost on the streets of Mexico, with only a street-wise German Shepherd (Andy Garcia) to count as her ally. Never fear, though...her friend Papi (George Lopez), who harbors a secret crush on her, is headed south of the border to rescue her.

Flash of Genius - Drama - 10/03

Greg Kinnear stands up for the little guy in this true-life story about a college professor and part-time inventor who takes on the U.S. automobile industry when his invention is universally embraced, but his part in its creation is completely ignored. Years of litigation and sacrifice are endured, but Robert Kearns (Kinnear) refuses to back down in his fight for justice.

Rachel Getting Married - Comedy/Drama - 10/03

Jonathan Demme directs an intimate family dramedy about an estranged daughter's (Anne Hathaway) return home for her sister's wedding, which causes long-simmering feelings and frustrations to boil to the surface...big time.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - Romance/Comedy - 10/03

Juno / Superbad secret (well, not-so-secret) weapon Michael Cera stars as Nick, an aspiring Indie rock bassist on an all-night adventure with new acquaintance Nora (Kat Dennings). Their quest to find a legendary band's show has its share of highlights and mishaps, and may even lead to a little bit of romance.

Rock N Rolla - Action - 10/08

Snatch director Guy Ritchie returns to his hard-knocks, crime thriller roots with this gangster pic featuring tough guys Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Jeremy Piven and Ludacris. It all involves a Russian mobster, a land deal gone awry, millions of dollars, small-time thieves, corrupt politicians and sexy accountants...plus lots of fisticuffs and gunfire.

City of Ember - Adventure/Fantasy - 10/10

Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) headline the latest adventure fantasy from Fox Walden. The story involves the fantastical City of Embers, which has glittered for generations but now faces an imminent power outage as the city's generator begins to fail. Two teens race against the clock to unlock the city's mysteries, before the lights go bye-bye forever.

The Express - Drama - 10/10

Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid are the stars of Gary Fleder's (The Negotiator) The Express, based on the true story of fooball hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Brown plays talented running back Davis, and Quaid is Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder. Both mentor and student teach each other some important life lessons, on and off the field.

Body of Lies - Action/Thriller - 10/10

Acting giants Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio square off in Ridley Scott's A-list action-thriller. Based on a real story, it's the tale of a CIA operative tracking a terrorist leader working out of Jordan. Suspectful of the head of Jordanian intelligence, the agent begins to also call into question the CIA veteran who's ostensibly in charge of his operation.

Quarantine - Horror/Thriller - 10/10

Quarantine follows a television news crew assigned to spend the night shift with an LAFD unit. Responding to a call from a small apartment building, the firefighters and news group discover a woman who has been infected with...something (is that a vampire bite? a gift from the living dead? hmm...). The crew ends up being quarantined inside the building with the rest of the residents, with no communication to the outside world.

The Secret Life of Bees - Drama - 10/17

Dakota Fanning's second turn this season as a troubled young girl (after Hounddog) finds her leading a lonely life and missing her late mom. Her fortunes change, though, when she flees to a South Carolina town and is taken in by three smart and independent sisters. She experiences solace in their care, and is mesmerized by their craft of beekeeping.

Sex Drive - Comedy - 10/17

This fall's American Pie-esque comedy finds 18-year-old Ian Lafferty (Josh Zuckerman) on a cross-country journey with two of his pals to lose his virginity to a beautiful girl he met on the Internet. Along the way, they share more than a few raunchy escapades and misadventures. "X-man" James Marsden appears as Ian's obnoxious older brother.

Max Payne - Action/Thriller - 10/17

Adapted from the popular video game, Max Payne stars Mark Wahlberg as a rogue cop determined to avenge the killings of his family and partner. As Payne journeys further into the underworld, he's forced to contend with criminals and some ornery spirits from beyond.

W. - Comedy/Drama - 10/17

Leave it to Oliver Stone to take a closer look at George W. Bush. Josh Brolin stars in the title role, surrounded by an all-star ensemble including Richard Dreyfuss, Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright. The film recounts W's early days, his relationship with his wife and family, his faith and the critical time leading up to America's invasion of Iraq.

Synechdoche, New York - Drama - 10/24

Charlie Kaufman, the mastermind behind Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, writes and directs another mind-bender that mixes reality and fiction. Central to the story is the latest work from a New York theater director (Philip Seymour Hoffman) whose universe is slowly crumbling and turning into the mockup world he's constructed for a new play.

Crossing Over - Drama - 10/24

Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, Sean Penn and Jim Sturgess headline this Crash-like ensemble about the dreams, realities and issues facing immigrants, and immigration enforcement officers in Los Angeles. Directed by The Cooler's Wayne Kramer.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year - 10/24

Disney's uber-popular musical series about high school teens hits the big screen in its third edition, which finds teen icons Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, along with the rest of the gang, taking part in all kinds of activities in their senior year, from the basketball championship to the prom to a new spring musical.

Pride and Glory - Crime Drama - 10/24

Edward Norton, Colin Farrell and Jon Voight are at the center of this gritty urban crime drama, as family members of a multi-generational New York police family. Loyalties are questioned when one of the two sons investigates a case that may involve both his older brother and brother-in-law.

Saw V - Horror - 10/24

In the fifth installment of the new millenium's favorite horror series, Hoffman appears to be the only one left alive to carry on Jigsaw's legacy. First, though, he needs to get rid of any potential loose ends.

Changeling - Thriller/Drama - 10/24

Clint Eastwood directs Angelina Jolie in a fact-based drama about a mother whose 9-year-old son was kidnapped, only to be reunited with her "child" months later. Knowing in her heart that the boy is not her own, she presses the reluctant, agitated authorities to continue their search for her son.

Passengers - Thriller - 10/24

Anne Hathaway has her own eye-opening experience as a therapist to five airplane crash survivors. Patrick Wilson intrigues her most. As patients begin to mysteriously disappear one by one, though, it looks like Wilson may be the keeper of more than just a pretty face.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno - Comedy - 10/31

Zack and Miri, both deep in debt, decide to make some quick cash by producing a porno flick. Things get complicated when the pals, in the midst of all the sex, realize they may have real feelings for each other.

Looking for more? Click through our full previews:
November
December
22 to Watch
September