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Friday

Alice Neel

A documentary about one of the great portrait painters of the 20th century, exploring the struggles she faced as a female artist, a single mother and a painter who defied convention. Directed by Andrew Neel, the painter’s grandson. Laemmle Theatres and Arthouse Films

Burn After Reading

Two gym employees stumble upon the memoir of an ousted CIA official and attempt to exploit their find. With George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton. Written and directed by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen. Focus Features

The Doorman

Fictional documentary follows the glamorous, jet-set celebrity lifestyle of a New York City nightclub doorman. With Lucas Akoskin. Written by Akoskin and Wayne Price. Directed by Price. Gigantic Pictures

Flow

Filmmaker Irena Salina’s investigation of the world water crisis focuses on the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply. Oscilloscope Pictures

Righteous Kill

Veteran New York police detectives are assigned a murder case that appears to be connected to one they solved years earlier. With Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Curtis Jackson, Brian Dennehy. Directed by Jon Avnet. Written by Russell Gewirtz. Overture Films

A Secret

On his 15th birthday, a young boy living in post-WWII Paris discovers a dark family secret that ties his family’s history to the Holocaust. With Cecile De France, Patrick Bruel. Directed by Claude Miller. Screenplay by Miller and Natalie Carter. In French with English subtitles. Strand Releasing

Sukiyaki Western Django

Tale of two clans warring over treasure hidden in a hardscrabble mountain village. With Quentin Tarantino, Hideaki Ito, Masanobu Ando, Directed and co-written by Takashi Miike with Masa Nakamura. First Look Studios

Surfer, Dude

A down-on-his-luck long-boarder encounters flat waves upon his return to Malibu, forcing him to participate in what he views as the heinous world of virtual-reality video games and reality TV. With Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Scott Glenn. Written and directed by S.R. Bindler. Anchor Bay Entertainment

Tired of Kissing Frogs

An unlucky-in-love graphic designer catches her boyfriend cheating and decides to embark on a lusty search for Prince Charming, gaining wisdom about love along the way. With Ana Serradilla, Juan Manuel Bernal, Miguel Rodarte, Itati Cantoral, Ana Layevska. In Spanish with English subtitles. Directed by Jorge Colon. Written by Joaquin Bissner. Distrimax US

Towelhead

Set against a backdrop of the first Gulf War, a 13-year-old Arab American girl goes to live with her strict father in Houston, where she faces bigotry, hypocrisy and her burgeoning sexuality. With Aaron Eckhart, Summer Bishil, Toni Collette, Maria Bello. Screenplay and directed by Alan Ball. Warner Independent Pictures

Tyler Perry’s

The Family That Preys

Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard (below, from left) star as the matriarchs of upper-crust and working-class families being torn apart by greed and scandal. With Sanaa Lathan, Cole Hauser, Tyler Perry. Written and directed by Perry.

The Women

An eclectic, multigenerational group of women share their joys and betrayals. With Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messing, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman. Screenplay and directed by Diane English. PictureHouse

Young People . . .

Five stories trace a single sexual encounter each among four couples and a threesome, all leading to a stream of complications. With Carly Pope, Callum Blue, Diora Baird, Sonja Bennett. Directed and co-written by Martin Gero with Aaron Abrams. Blowtorch

SEPT. 19

Appaloosa

A new sheriff and his deputy square off against a powerful rancher. With Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger, Ed Harris. Screenplay by Robert Knott & Ed Harris. Directed by Harris. New Line

The Duchess

The 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, presaged her descendant Princess Diana’s popularity and public scrutiny. With Ralph Fiennes, Keira Knightley. Screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen, Saul Dibb. Directed by Dibb. Paramount Vantage

Ghost Town

A man who dies is miraculously revived after seven minutes, leaving him with the ability to see the dead, one of whom wants him to break up the impending marriage of his widow. With Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, Greg Kinnear. Written by David Koepp & John Kamps. Directed by Koepp. Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures

Hounddog

A precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music of Elvis Presley. With Dakota Fanning, Piper Laurie, David Morse, Robin Wright Penn. Written and directed by Deborah Kampmeier. Empire Film Group

Igor

The long-suffering, hunchbacked lab assistant yearns to become a scientist in his own right and win the prestigious Evil Science Fair. With the voices of Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, John Cusack, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno. Directed by Anthony Leondis. Written by Chris McKenna. MGM/The Weinstein Co.

Lakeview Terrace

A young couple move into their California dream house and are harassed by their new neighbor, an LAPD officer, who does not approve of their interracial relationship. With Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson. Directed by Neil LaBute. Screenplay by David Loughery, Howard Korder. Story by Loughery. Sony Pictures/Screen Gems

My Best Friend’s Girl

A guy hires himself out to other men after they are dumped to take their exes on a date from hell in order to drive them back -- a strategy that works until he encounters a beautiful, headstrong force of nature. With Dane Cook and Kate Hudson (above), Alec Baldwin. Written by Jordan Cahan. Directed by Howard Deutch. Lionsgate

The Pool

A room boy working at a hotel in India offers his services to a wealthy owner of the home and sparkling pool next door to better his life. With Jhangir Badshah, Venkatesh Chavan. Directed by Chris Smith, co-written by Smith with Randy Russell. Hindi with English subtitles Bluemark Prods.

Save Me

A hedonistic young gay man is sent by his family to a remote Christian retreat for salvation. With Chad Allen, Judith Light, Stephen Lang. Screenplay by Robert Desiderio. Story by Craig Chester and Alan Hines. Directed by Robert Cary. First Run Features

Takeout

A journey through illegal immigration, as told through the eyes of an undocumented Chinese deliveryman in New York City. Written and directed by Sean Baker. CAVU Pictures

Yella

A woman fleeing her home in eastern Germany for a promising job and a new life falls into the ruthless world of big business. With Nina Hoss and Devid Striesow. Directed and co-written by Christian Petzold with Simone Baer. German with English subtitles. Cinema Guild

Sept. 26

The Amazing Truth

About Queen Raquela

A transsexual from the Philippines turns from prostitution to the more lucrative business of Internet pornography to fund her dreams of escaping to Paris. With Raquela Rios, Stefan C. Schaefer, Brax Villa and Via Galludo. Written and directed by Olaf de Fleur Johannesson. Regent Releasing/here! Films

August Evening

This multigenerational Texas tale follows an undocumented farmworker and his young, widowed daughter-in-law as their lives are thrown into upheaval. With Pedro Castaneda, Veronica Loren. Written and directed by Chris Eska. Maya Entertainment Group

Battle in Seattle

Dramatization of the five volatile days of protest that rocked the Northwest city during the 2000 World Trade Organization summit. With Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson, Channing Tatum. Written and directed by Stuart Townsend. ThinkFilm

Blindness

A mysterious plague of sightlessness besets a city with the exception of one woman. With Julianne Moore, Gael Garcia Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh, Danny Glover. Screenplay by Don McKellar. Directed by Fernando Meirelles. Miramax Films

Choke

A sex-addicted med-school dropout works at a colonial theme park by day and engages in fake choking scams at restaurants at night, all while discovering the mysterious truth about his family. With Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald, Clark Gregg. Screenplay and directed by Gregg. Fox Searchlight

Days and Clouds

The lives of well-to-do couple Elsa and Michele fall apart when Michele confesses that he hasn’t worked in two months. With Margherita Buy, Antonio Albanese. In Italian with English subtitles. Directed by Silvio Soldini. Written by Doriana Leondeff, Francesco Piccolo, Federica Pontremoli and Soldini. Film Movement

Eagle Eye

Two Americans are unwittingly involved in an assassination plot by a mysterious woman. With Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton. Screenplay by John Glenn & Travis Adam Wright, Hillary Seitz and Dan McDermott. Story by McDermott. Directed by D.J. Caruso. Also opening in IMAX. Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Pictures

Fireproof

On the verge of a divorce, a fireman and his wife are challenged by his father to try a 40-day experiment called “The Love Dare.” With Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea. Written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. Directed by Alex Kendrick. Samuel Goldwyn Films

Forever Strong

A rugby player must decide where his loyalty lies before the national championship when he reluctantly joins a rival team while in jail. With Sean Faris, Sean Astin, Gary Cole, Neal McDonough. Written by David Pliler. Directed by Ryan Little. Crane Movie Co.

Freebird

Three London motorcycle couriers go to Wales for the weekend to find an elusive hippie and his cannabis farm. With Phil Daniels, Gary Stretch, Geoff Bell. Written and directed by Jon Ivay. Freedom Picture Co.

The Lucky Ones

Three military personnel returning home find themselves in an unplanned road trip across America to reunite with their families, forming a deep bond along the way. With Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, Michael Pena. Written by Neil Burger & Dirk Wittenborn. Directed by Burger. Lionsgate/Roadside

Miracle at St. Anna

Four members of the U.S. Army’s all-black 92nd Buffalo Soldier Division are trapped behind enemy lines in Tuscany, Italy, during World War II. With Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller. Directed by Spike Lee. Screenplay by James McBride. Touchstone Pictures

Nights in Rodanthe

A troubled woman and a doctor in crisis share a romantic weekend at an inn in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. With Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Scott Glenn, Christopher Meloni. Directed by George C. Wolfe. Screenplay by Ann Peacock and John Romano. Warner Bros/Village Roadshow Pictures

Shoot on Sight

A Muslim police officer at Scotland Yard investigates the police shooting of a suspected Muslim terrorist. Inspired by terrorist attacks in July 2005 in London. With Naseeruddin Shah, Greta Scacchi, Brian Cox, Om Puri. Directed by Jag Mundhra. Written by Carl Austin, Pervaiz Alam. Story by Mundhra. Aron Govil Productions

Smother

After being fired from his job and pressured to start a family, a man’s life gets even worse when his domineering mother moves in. With Diane Keaton, Dax Shepard, Liv Tyler. Directed and co-written by Vince Di Meglio with Tim Rasmussen. Variance Films

A Thousand Years

of Good Prayers

A Chinese woman in the U.S. is visited by her father, who meddles in her divorce and starts a friendship with an Iranian woman. With Henry O, Faye Yu, Vida Ghahremani, Pasha Lychnikoff. Directed by Wayne Wang. Written by Yiyun Lee. Magnolia

Talento de Barrio

A young man tries to escape the violent streets of his childhood by chasing his rap-star dreams. With Daddy Yankee. Written by George Rivera. Directed by Jose Ivan Santiago. Maya Releasing

Oct. 3

An American Carol

A cynical, anti-American Hollywood filmmaker sets out on a crusade to abolish the Fourth of July holiday and is visited by three ghosts who show him the true meaning of America. With Kevin P. Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Trace Adkins, Leslie Nielson, Dennis Hopper, James Woods. Written by David Zucker & Myrna Sokoloff and Lewis Friedman. Directed by Zucker. Vivendi Entertainment

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

The misadventures of a Beverly Hills pooch inadvertently left on her own in Mexico. With Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona and Jamie Lee Curtis and the voices of Drew Barrymore, Andy Garcia, Placido Domingo, George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin and Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo. Screenplay by Analisa LaBianco and Jeff Bushell. Story by Bushell. Directed by Raja Gosnell. Walt Disney Pictures

The Elephant King

A domineering mother sends her young, introverted son to Thailand to lure his reckless older brother back home to face pending fraud charges. With Ellen Burstyn, Tate Ellington, Jonno Roberts. Written and directed by Seth Grossman. Unison Releasing

Flash of Genius

Based on the true story of college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns’ long battle with the U.S. automobile industry. With Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Dermot Mulroney, Alan Alda. Directed by Marc Abraham. Written by Philip Railsback. Universal

The House of Adam

The murder of a small-town gay recluse by religious fanatics forces his lover, a closeted divorced police detective, to come to terms with his loss and find the remains of his former love. Based on a true story. With Jared Cadwell, John Shaw. Written and directed by Jorge Ameer. Hollywood Independents

How to Lose Friends

& Alienate People

A fish-out-of-water tale following the escapades of a small-time, bumbling, British celebrity journalist who is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. With Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Danny Huston, Gillian Anderson. Directed by Robert Weide. Written by Peter Straughan. MGM

Nick & Norah’s

Infinite Playlist

United by their taste in music but otherwise seemingly ill-matched, a young man and woman embark on a sleepless night in search of a band’s secret show. With Michael Cera, Kat Dennings. Directed by Peter Sollett. Screenplay by Lorene Scafaria. Sony Pictures/Screen Gems

Obscene

Biography of Barney Rosset, the influential publisher of Grove Press and the Evergreen Review, who battled the government in the highest courts with a reckless energy to overrule the obscenity ban on groundbreaking works of fiction, almost leading to his destruction. Directed by Neil Ortenberg & Daniel O’Connor. Arthouse Films

Rachel Getting Married

A recovering drug addict returns home from rehab in time for her sister’s wedding. With Anne Hathaway, above, Bill Irwin, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger and Anna Deveare-Smith. Directed by Jonathan Demme. Written by Jenny Lumet. Sony Pictures Classics

Religulous

Comedian Bill Maher teams with “Borat” director Larry Charles as he travels around the globe interviewing people about God and religion. Directed by Charles. Lionsgate

Oct. 8

RocknRolla

A crooked land deal engineered by a Russian gangster triggers a free-for-all in London as everyone wants a cut. With Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jeremy Piven, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson. Written and directed by Guy Ritchie. Warner Bros.

Oct. 10

Ashes of Time Redux

Rejected by the woman he loves, a man lives a solitary life in the desert, hiring skilled swordsmen to execute contract killings. With Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Directed and Written by Wong Kar Wai. Cantonese with English subtitles. Sony Pictures Classics

Billy

The life story of influential evangelist Billy Graham, rising from his dairy-farming roots in rural Tennessee to presidential counselor. With Armie Hammer, Martin Landau, Lindsay Wagner. Directed by Robby Benson. Written by William Paul McKay and Jana Lyn Rutledge. Solex Productions / Rocky Mountain Pictures

Body of Lies

A CIA operative is assigned a mission to infiltrate the network of a suspected terrorist leader in Jordan. With Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe. Directed by Ridley Scott. Screenplay by William Monahan. Warner Bros.

Breakfast with Scot

An ex-hockey player turned TV sportscaster and his boyfriend become guardians of a flamboyant, recently orphaned 11-year-old boy. With Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman, Noah Bernett. Directed by Laurie Lynd. Written by Sean Reycraft. Regent Releasing/here! Films

Call + Response

This rockumentary pairs celebrities with top indie musicians to inform viewers through performances, undercover footage and feature interviews about child slavery and human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. Directed by Justin Dillon. Fair Trade Pictures

City of Ember

As the great lamps of the illuminated municipality begin to flicker and its once powerful generator starts to fade, two teenagers look for the truth behind the burg’s mysterious origins. With Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan. Directed by Gil Kenan. Screenplay by Caroline Thompson. Walden Media and Playtone /Fox Walden

The Express

Running back Ernie Davis rises from the coal country of Pennsylvania to become the first African American to win college football’s prestigious Heisman Trophy. With (from left, above) Rob Brown, Omar Benson Miller, Dennis Quaid; also Clancy Brown, Charles S. Dutton. Directed by Gary Fleder. Written by Charles Leavitt. Universal Pictures

Fraude: Mexico 2006

Documentary looks at the controversial events surrounding the presidential election between the victorious Felipe Calderon and former Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2006. Directed by Luis Mandoki. Maya Releasing

Good Dick

A romantic comedy about a video store clerk and a female customer who rents erotic DVDs from him. With Marianna Palka, Jason Ritter. Written and directed by Palka. Present Pictures and Morning Knight

Happy-Go-Lucky

A free-spirited teacher tries to maintain her positive outlook in the face of troubles and downbeat characters. With Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman. Written and directed by Mike Leigh. Miramax Films

Humboldt County

A disillusioned medical student is stranded for a summer in a remote community of counterculture pot farmers. With Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Conroy, Brad Dourif. Written and directed by Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs. Magnolia Pictures

Opa!

An archaeologist finds love and intrigue as he travels to the Greek Island of Patmos in search of the cup of St. John the Divine. With Matthew Modine, Richard Griffiths. Directed by Udayan Prasad. Written by Raman Singh and Christina Concetta. The Bigger Picture

Passengers

A young therapist assigned to counsel five survivors of a plane crash discovers their accounts don’t match with the airline’s version and they begin to disappear one at a time. With Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse, Andre Braugher, Clea DuVall, Dianne Wiest. Directed by Rodrigo Garcia. Written by Ronnie Christensen. Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures

Quarantine

After riding along on a fire department 911 call, a television reporter and her cameraman are trapped in a Centers for Disease Control lockdown when a virus strikes residents of an L.A. apartment building. With Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez, Columbus Short, Greg Germann. Directed by John Erick Dowdle. Screenplay by John Erick Dowdle & Drew Dowdle. Sony Pictures

Oct. 17

Ballast

A single mother and her embattled son struggle to subsist in a small Mississippi Delta township. Starring Michael J. Smith Sr., JimMyron Ross, Tara Riggs, Johnny McPhail. Written and directed by Lance Hammer. Alluvial

Choose Connor

A brilliant 15-year-old’s mundane life becomes entangled in the deranged world of politics when he is offered the job of youth campaign spokesman for a local congressman. With Alex Linz, Steven Weber, Escher Holloway. Written and directed by Luke Eberl. Strand Releasing

Filth and Wisdom

A Ukrainian immigrant dreams of superstardom with his friends in his gypsy punk band in London. With Eugene Hutz, Vicky McClure, Holly Weston, Richard E. Grant. Directed by Madonna. Written by Dan Cadan. IFC Films

Max Payne

In seeking revenge for the murder of his family and partner, a maverick cop’s investigation has him battling enemies of the dark underworld. With Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Chris Bridges. Directed by John Moore. Screenplay by Beau Thorne. Fox

Morning Light

Neophyte sailors with six months’ training compete against seasoned veterans in the 2,000-mile-plus Transpac yacht race across the ocean. Directed by Mark Monroe & Paul Crowder. Disney/Walt Disney Pictures

Saving Marriage

Documentary explores the landmark court decision in Massachusetts that allows homosexuals in that state to marry. Directed by John Henning and Mike Roth. Regent Releasing/here! Films

The Secret Life of Bees

Haunted by the memory of her late mother, a teen flees her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father to South Carolina and finds solace in the mesmerizing world of beekeeping. With Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany. Directed and screenplay by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Fox Searchlight

Sex Drive

A road trip to lose his virginity to a woman he met on the Internet takes an 18-year-old on a cross-country drive with his best friends. With Josh Zuckerman, Clark Duke, Amanda Crew, James Marsden, Seth Green. Directed by Sean Anders. Screenplay by Anders & John Morris. Summit Entertainment

W.

A take on the life and struggles of President George W. Bush in the days leading up to the invasion of Iraq. With Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, Thandie Newton. Directed by Oliver Stone. Written by Stanley Weiser. Lionsgate

What Just Happened

Two weeks in the life of a middle-aged Hollywood producer as he tries to juggle an actual life with an outrageous series of crises in his day job. With Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Stanley Tucci, Robin Wright Penn, Kristen Stewart, Bruce Willis. Directed by Barry Levinson. Written by Art Linson. Magnolia Pictures

Oct. 24

Changeling

In 1928 Los Angeles, a woman’s son disappears for months, but when he is returned by the police something isn’t quite right. With Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Amy Ryan, Michael Kelly. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Written by J. Michael Straczynski. Universal Pictures

Crossing Over

Immigrants with hopes and immigration enforcement officials with jobs to do come into conflict in contemporary L.A. With Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, Sean Penn, Ray Liotta, Alice Braga. Screenplay and directed by Wayne Kramer. MGM/The Weinstein Co.

Fears of the Dark

Nightmares come to life through several intertwined stories, each told by a different director through black-and-white animation. French with English subtitles. IFC Films

He’s Just Not That Into You

Intersecting story lines illustrate the bestselling self-improvement book by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo. With Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connelly, Kris Kristofferson. Directed by Ken Kwapis. Written by Abby Kohn & Marc Silverstein. New Line

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

America’s favorite high school students hit their senior year with a basketball championship, prom and a big spring musical. With Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu. Directed by Kenny Ortega. Written by Peter Barsocchini. Disney/Walt Disney Pictures

I’ve Loved You So Long

A woman returns to live with her younger sister after being banished from the family for 15 years. With Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein. Written and directed by Philippe Claudel. Sony Picture Classics

Let the Right One In

A 12-year-old bullied boy finds love and revenge through a beautiful but peculiar girl who turns out to be a vampire. With Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl. Directed by Tomas Alfredson. Written by John Ajvide Lindqvist. In Swedish with English subtitles. Magnet Releasing

Lord, Save Us

From Your Followers

Documentary explores the collision of faith and culture in America. Directed by Dan Merchant. Lightning Strikes Entertainment

Noah’s Arc:

Jumping the Broom

A young screenwriter agrees to marry his partner in a small ceremony on Martha’s Vineyard and invites his three closest friends to travel cross-country with them for a weekend of revelry. What he gets instead are revelations in which secrets and lies are exposed. With Darryl Stephens, Jensen Atwood. Directed by Patric-Ian Polk and co-written by Polk with John R. Gordon. Logo Features

Pride and Glory

A multigenerational NYPD family is shaken when a brother is forced to investigate a controversial case involving his older brother and brother-in-law. With Colin Farrell (above left with Edward Norton) and Jon Voight. Directed by Gavin O’Connor. Screenplay by Joe Carnahan & Gavin O’Connor. Story by Gavin O’Connor & Gregory O’Connor & Robert Hopes. New Line

Saw V

The Halloween torture perennial makes a fifth appearance. With Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor. Directed by David Hackl. Written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. Lionsgate

Synecdoche, New York

A theater director struggles with his work and the women in his life while a mysterious condition is systematically shutting down each of his autonomic functions. With Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis. Written and directed by Charlie Kauffman.

Tru Loved

A 16-year-old girl, uprooted by her lesbian moms from her comfortable home in San Francisco to a conservative, suburban community in Southern California, befriends a closeted football player. With Najarra Townsend, Jake Abel, Alexandra Paul, Jasmine Guy, Marcia Wallace. Written and directed by Stewart Wade. Regent Releasing / here! Films

Oct. 31

Dear Zachary

While creating a tribute to his murdered friend’s son, a filmmaker discovers that the woman who killed his friend may gain custody of their child, Zachary, upon her release from jail. Directed by Kurt Kuenne. Oscilloscope Laboratories

The Haunting

of Molly Hartley

On the eve of her 18th birthday a girl discovers the evil lurking beneath the lush surfaces of her private girls school. With Chace Crawford, Haley Bennett, Shannon Marie Woodward, Shanna Collins, AnnaLynne McCord. Directed by Mickey Liddell. Written by John Travis and Rebecca Sonnenshine. Freestyle Releasing

Splinter

A young couple are held hostage by an ex-convict on the run in an isolated gas station that has been invaded by an insatiable parasite that first kills and then absorbs its victims. With Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo, Rachel Kerbs. Directed by Toby Wilkins. Written by Wilkins, Ian Shorr, Kai Berry. Magnolia

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Deep in debt, lifelong friends enlist the help of other friends to make a porno movie for some quick cash. With Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Justin Long, Traci Lords. Written and directed by Kevin Smith. The Weinstein Co.

Fall TBA

Fashion Victim

A depiction of Andrew Cunanan’s string of grisly crime scenes, culminating in the death of fashion giant Gianni Versace. With Jonathon Trent, Robert Miano, Stacey Dash. Directed by Ben Waller. Written by Linda Boroff. Regent Releasing / here! Films

A Good Day to Be

Black and Sexy

Six interconnected vignettes unfold in a single day in Los Angeles. With Kathryn Taylor, Brandon Valley Jones, Chonte Harris. Magnolia

The World Unseen

Two women in 1950s South Africa, free-spirited Amina and traditional wife and mother Miriam, discover an unexpected attraction. With Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, David Dennis, Parvin Dabas. Written and directed by Shamim Sarif. Regent Releasing / here! Films

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Capsules compiled by Liesl Bradner.