The best of the rest
Action, thrills, horror, romance — this autumn’s films have it covered
THRILLS, CHILLS AND A STRANGE PREDILECTION FOR TAKING PEOPLE HOSTAGE
The Cold Light of Day: In this thriller with Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver, the family of a Wall Street trader is kidnapped during their sailing trip. ( Sept. 7, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver)
Inescapable: Joshua Jackson and Marisa Tomei star in this thriller about a man whose daughter disappears in Damascus. ( Sept. 14, Toronto, expands later)
Taken 2: A retired CIA agent ( Liam Neeson) and his wife are kidnapped by the family of a man he killed in the first movie. ( Oct. 5)
Argo: Ben Affleck stars and directs in this true story of how Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor helped rescue Americans kidnapped during the 1979 Iranian revolution ( Oct. 12)
Seven Psychopaths: When an oddball group kidnaps the beloved shih tzu of a gangster ( Woody Harrelson), their buddy, screenwriter Colin Farrell, gets entangled in the L. A. underworld. ( Oct. 12, limited)
The Man with the Iron Fists: Russell Crowe stars in this adventure, set in feudal China, about a blacksmith who must defend his village. ( Nov. 2)
Citadel: In this Swedish film, a father tries to save his daughter from a gang of children. ( Nov. 9)
Red Dawn: Chris Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson head the cast in this adventure remake about a group of Americans who must form a guerrilla force when their hometown is invaded. ( Nov. 21) ROMANCE, SOMETIMES INCLUDING COMEDY, WITH A SIDE TRIP TO RUSSIAN LITERATURE
The Words: Bradley Cooper stars in this romantic drama about a writer who steals another man’s work. ( Sept. 7)
10 Years: A group of friends — including Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson, Justin Long and Chris Pratt — return home for their 10th high school reunion. ( Sept. 21, limited)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Emma Watson stars in this romantic drama about a high- school freshman who is helped along by two seniors ( Sept. 21 in Toronto only; expands Sept. 28)
The Big Wedding: In this romantic comedy, Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton play a divorced couple who pretend to be happily married for the sake of their son’s wedding. ( Oct. 26)
Anna Karenina: Leo Tolstoy’s classic about a young woman who betrays her husband with a handsome count, with Keira Knightley and Jude Law. ( Nov. 21 in Toronto Montreal Vancouver, expands Nov. 30)
Silver Linings Playbook: Bradley Cooper stars in this David O. Russell film about a failed man who moves back home and finds a mysterious woman ( Jennifer Lawrence) who might help redeem him. ( Nov. 23)
A Late Quartet: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken and Catherine Keener head the cast in this drama about members of a string quartet who struggle to stay together. ( Nov. 23)
This Is 40: Directed by Judd Apatow, this sequel to Knocked Up answers the question, “Whatever happened to Pete ( Paul Rudd) and Debbie ( Leslie Mann)?” ( Dec. 21)
Amour: Michael Haneke’s film, which won the top prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is the story of what happens to a couple in their 80s when she has a heart attack. ( Dec. 28) ANIMATION: OLD, NEW AND THREE- DIMENSIONAL
Finding Nemo: Disney is re- releasing the classic Pixar adventure about a clown fish that goes missing, this time in 3- D. ( Sept. 14)
Hotel Transylvania 3D: Dracula opens an exclusive resort, only to see an intruder arrive and fall in love with his teenage daughter. ( Sept. 28)
Frankenweenie: In Tim Burton’s animated adventure, a boy tries to bring his dead dog back to life. Those are the voices of Winona Ryder, Martin Short and Martin Landau you hear. ( Oct. 5)
Wreck- It Ralph: In this animated film from Disney, a video game villain tries to become a beloved hero, with disastrous results. ( Nov. 2)
Rise of the Guardians: In this animated family adventure, the Immortal Guardians gather to protect the innocence of children from an evil spirit. ( Nov. 21)
Monsters Inc.: A 3- D rerelease of the Pixar film about a little girl who stumbles into the monster factory that produces screams. ( Dec. 19)
THE HORROR! THE HORROR!
Resident Evil 5: Retribution: The undead stalk the earth and Milla Jovovich remains mankind’s only hope to find out what caused the virus. ( Sept. 14)
House at the End of the Street: Strange events begin to occur when a mother and daughter ( Elizabeth Shue and Jennifer Lawrence) move into a house with a spooky past. ( Sept. 21)
Sinister: A crime novelist ( Ethan Hawke,) looking for inspiration for his next book, takes his family to a house where a brutal murder occurred. A horror movie ensues. ( Oct. 5)
Antiviral: Brandon Cronenberg’s film concerns a man who sells viruses harvested from sick celebrities — and then gets sick himself. ( Oct. 12)
Paranormal Activity 4: More spooky goings- on as captured by the surveillance camera. ( Oct. 19)
Silent Hill: Revelation 3D: A sequel to the film based on the video game about a girl and her mother on the run from demonic forces. ( Oct. 26)
The Monk: A thriller, set in 17th- century Spain, about a Capuchin monk whose preaching is threatened by dark forces. ( TBD) CRIME, TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE
Dredd 3D: In a future America of irradiated waste, an allpowerful judge ( Karl Urban) must rid the nation of a dangerous drug. ( Sept. 21)
Alex Cross: Tyler Perry takes over the role of the Washington detective for this thriller in which he tracks down the killer of a family member. ( Oct. 19)
Killing Them Softly: Based on George V. Higgins novel, this crime drama stars Brad Pitt as an enforcer investigating a heist at a high- stakes poker game in New Orleans. ( Oct. 19)
Jack Reacher: Tom Cruise stars in this crime drama about homicide investigator looking into the case of a military sniper who killed five people. ( Dec. 21) A WORLD OF DRAMA FROM CANADA
Laurence Anyways: In Xavier Dolan’s new film, Laurence and Fred ( who’s a woman) try to maintain their love while Laurence goes through a sex change. ( Sept. 21)
Rebelle: In this acclaimed drama by Canadian director Kim Nguyen, a 12- yearold girl is abducted by a rebel army in Africa and becomes their “war witch.” ( Sept. 21)
Stories We Tell: Sarah Polley’s new movie — fresh from the Venice film festival — investigates a family of storytellers. ( Oct. 12)
Flight: Denzel Washington stars in this Robert Zemeckis drama about an airline pilot who keeps a plane from crashing. ( Nov. 2)
Chasing Mavericks: A surfer seeks the big waves in this drama that co- stars Elisabeth Shue and Gerard Butler. ( Oct. 26)
The Hunt: In this Danish film, a kindergarten teacher is falsely accused of child abuse. ( Nov. 23)
Rust & Bone: Marion Cotillard stars in this French film about a killer whale trainer who suffers a terrible injury ( Nov. 30)
Holy Motors: The offbeat hit of Cannes, this French film concerns a man who
Midnight’s Children: Toronto- based Deepa Mehta brings Salman Rushdie’s acclaimed novel about two Indian children growing up in England to the screen. ( Oct. 26)
The End of Time: Peter Mettler’s documentary explores the notions of time, from a particle accelerator in Switzerland to lava flows in Hawaii. ( Dec. 12) A WORLD OF DRAMA FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD
Trouble with the Curve: Clint Eastwood stars in this drama about an aging baseball scout who takes his daughter ( Amy Adams) on one last scouting trip. ( Sept. 28)
Won’t Back Down: Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal co- star in this drama about two mothers trying to save an inner- city school. ( Sept. 28)
Pitch Perfect: In this musical comedy Anna Kendrick plays a freshman who joins the all- girl singing group at university. ( Oct. 5)
Here Comes the Boom: In this Kevin James comedy, a biology teacher tries to become a mixed martial arts fighter to raise money for his high school. ( Oct. 12)
Fun Size: In this comedy, a young woman ( Victoria Justice) has to look after her little brother on the very night she wants to attend a big Halloween party. ( Oct. 26)
Smashed: A married couple who enjoy a drink or two have their relationship tested when she decides to sober up. ( Nov. 2)
The Guilt Trip: Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand star in this comedy about a man and his mother who hit the road so they can sell his invention and reunite her with an old flame. ( Dec. 25)
Parental Guidance: A grandfather ( Billy Crystal) has to care for his three grandchildren using good, old- fashioned methods. ( Dec. 25) THINGS WITH A LOT OF MUSIC IN THEM
Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away: The artistic acrobats perform an original story ( Dec. 21)
The Sapphires: In 1968, a quartet of Australian aboriginal girls learn about love and war when they entertain U. S. troops in Vietnam. ( TBD)
Not Fade Away: In 1960s New Jersey, a group of friends form a rock band and try to hit the big time. ( TBD)
( Dates subject to change by studios)