The Guardian (September 29)
Action/Adventure and Drama. After losing his crew in a fatal crash, legendary Rescue Swimmer, Ben Randall (Kevin Costner), is sent to teach at "A" School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. Wrestling with the loss of his crew members, he throws himself into teaching, turning the program upside down with his unorthodox training methods. While there, he encounters a young, cocky swim champ, Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher), who is driven to be the best. During training, Randall helps mold Jake's character, combining his raw talent with the heart and dedication required of a Rescue Swimmer. Upon graduation, Jake follows Randall to Kodiak, Alaska, where they face the inherent dangers of the Bering Sea. In his initial solo rescue, Jake learns firsthand from Randall, the true meaning of heroism and sacrifice, echoing the Swimmer's motto--"So Others May Live!" 2 hours, 19 minutes. MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of action/peril, brief strong language and some sensuality).

Official Movie Site: theguardian.movies.go.com

Open Season (September 29)
Comedy, Kids/Family and Animation. A 900-pound domesticated grizzly bear named and a scrawny, one-horned mule deer named end up stranded together in the woods during hunting season and it's up to the duo to rally all the other forest animals and turn the tables on the hunters. With the voices of: Paul Westerberg, Gary Sinise, Jon Favreau, Patrick Warburton, and Ashton Kutcher. 86 minutes. MPAA Rating: PG (for some rude humor, mild action and brief lanuage).

Official Movie Site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/openseason

My Country, My Country (Sept 22)
Foreign/Political Documentary. In Arabic and Kurdish languages with English subtitles. Reveals the agonizing predicament and gradual descent of one man caught in the tragic circumstances and contradictions of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and its effort to spread democracy in the Middle East on the eve of the controversial January 2005 elections. 90 minutes. Not Rated.

Official Movie Site: www.mycountrymycountry.com

Half Nelson (September 22)
Drama. A unique relationship develops between a white schoolteacher (Ryan Gosling), his African-American student and a local drug dealer. 1 hour, 45 min. MPAA Rating: R (for drug content throughout, language and some sexuality).

Official Movie Site: www.halfnelsonthefilm.com

Jackass: Number Two (Sept 22)
Comedy, Adaptation and Sequel. After smearing the world with all sorts of ridiculous crap, the original creators and cast of the MTV series (headed by Johnny Knoxville) are back at it again: significantly raising the stakes and lowering the bar, this installment in the "jackass" and "jackass the movie" series unleashes a spirited mess of absurdity as the cast and crew gets even more ugly around the globe. 95 minutes. MPAA Rating: R (for extremely crude dangerous stunts throughout, sexual content, nudity and language).

Official Movie Site: www.jackassmovie.com

Haven (September 22)
Crime Drama. Two shady businessmen flee to the Caymans to avoid federal prosecution, but their escape ignites a chain reaction that leads a British native to commit a crime that has enormous implications. Starring: Orlando Bloom, Bill Paxton, Anthony Mackie, and Zoe Saldana. 98 minutes. MPAA Rating: R (for language, drug use, sexual content and some violence).

Official Movie Site: www.havenmovie.com

The Departed (October 6)
Action/Adventure, Drama, Crime/Gangster and Remake. Set in South Boston, where the state police force is waging war on organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Billy is quickly gaining Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the gangsters and the police that there's a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy -- and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself. MPAA Rating: R (for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material).

Official Movie Site: thedeparted.warnerbros.com

Jet Li s Fearless (September 22)
Action/Adventure, Art/Foreign and Biopic. In English, Japanese, and Mandarin languages with subtitles. Inspired by the story of a real-life icon, an action-drama set during the late 19th century when China is shrouded under increasing internal turmoil and the imminent threat of foreign invasion. The biopic is based on the life of Chinese Martial Arts Legend, Huo Yuanjia (played by Jet Li in his final martial arts role)- the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation--who became the most famous fighter in all of China at the turn of the 20th Century. Huo faced incredible personal tragedy but ultimately fought his way out of darkness and into history, forever defining himself at a pivotal tournament for the honor of his country and the true spirit of martial arts. 1 hour, 43 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for violence and martial arts action throughout).

Official Movie Site: www.fearlessthemovie.com

All the Kings Men (September 22)
Drama and Remake. An idealistic southern politician (Sean Penn), who appeals to the common man whilst effectively playing dirty politics, slowly becomes corrupted by the system. 2 hours, 21 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for an intense sequence of violence, sexual content and partial nudity).

Official Movie Site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/allthekingsmen

Flyboys (September 22)
War Drama. In 1914, "The Great War" (WWI) began in Europe. By 1917, the Allied powers of France, England, Italy and others were on the ropes against the German juggernaut. Some altruistic young Americans disagreed with the war. Some joined the infantry or ambulance corps. A handful of others had a different idea: they decided to learn how to fly. The first of them--a squadron of only 38-- became known as the Lafayette Escadrille. Together, these American boys arrive at an aerodrome in France, eager to learn how to fly. What they didn't realize was that they were about to embark on a great, romantic adventure, becoming the world's first combat pilots. James Franco stars. 2 hours, 20 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for war action violence and some sexual content).
Official Movie Site: www.flyboysthemovie.com

The Last Kiss (September 15)
Drama, Romance and Remake. A group of 30 year-olds struggle to adapt to adulthood while their aging parents face middle age. 1 hour, 44 min. MPAA Rating: R (for sexuality, nudity and language).

Official Movie Site: www.lastkissmovie.comV

The Black Dahlia (September 15)
Drama, Thriller and Adaptation. A tale of obsession, love, corruption, greed and depravity that revolves around a true story of the brutal murder of a fledgling Hollywood starlet that shocked and fascinated the nation in 1947 and remains unsolved today. Two ex-pugilist cops are called to investigate the homicide of ambitious silver-screen B-lister Betty Ann Short--A.K.A. "The Black Dahlia"--an attack so grisly that images of the killing were kept from the public. While one's growing preoccupation with the sensational murder threatens his marriage, his partner finds himself attracted to the enigmatic daughter of one of the city's most prominent families-who just happens to have an unsavory connection to the murder victim. Starring: Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Aaron Eckhart, and Mia Kirshner. 2 hours. MPAA Rating: R (for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and language).

Official Movie Site: www.theblackdahliamovie.net

Everyones Hero (September 15)
Action/Adventure, Kids/Family, Comedy and Animation. A young boy finds himself at an extraordinary crossroads: He has a chance to be a hero - and make a difference against incredible odds - or he can play it safe. With faith in himself instilled by his family, he teams up with a sassy young girl and some off-the-wall sidekicks and embarks on a sometimes perilous, often funny, cross-country quest. In the process, he restores his family's honor, befriends the world's biggest sports superstar, and reveals the hero within. With the voices of: Tyler James Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Rob Reiner, Jake T. Austin, and William H. Macy. 87 minutes. MPAA Rating: G (general audiences).

Official Movie Site: www.everyoneshero.com

Gridiron Gang (September 15)
Sports Drama and Adaptation. The uplifting story of detention camp probation officer Sean Porter (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), who creates a high-school-level football team from a ragtag group of dangerous teenage inmates as a means to teach them self-respect and social responsibility. He is joined in this experiment by co-worker, Malcolm Moore. But Porter must first overcome almost universal resistance from the powers that be -- his skeptical bosses and coaches at rival high schools who don't want their players mixing it up with convicted criminals on the football field. 2 hours, 6 min. MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language).

Official Movie Site: sonypictures.com/movies/gridirongang

House of Sand (Casa de Areia) (Sept 15)
Art/Foreign and Drama. In Portuguese language with English subtitles. Aurea is brought to the northern Brazilian town of Maranhao by her insane husband Vasco, who suffers from delusions that the barren land may be profitably farmed. A calamitous turn of events leaves Aurea, now pregnant, and her mother Maria alone in the desert in a house full of sand. They eventually find friendship and food through Massu, who lives at a quilombo (a self-sustaining society originally formed by escaped slaves). Aurea wrestles with her unhappy fate but slowly grows accustomed to the new rhythm of life in the dunes. Years pass and we find Aurea at peace in the desert, while her wild and sexually promiscuous daughter Maria lacks social propriety. Maria yearns to see the outside world and her dream is eventually fulfilled. 1 hour, 43 min. MPAA Rating: R (for some graphic sexuality).

Official Movie Site: www.sonyclassics.com/houseofsand

Poster Boy (September 15)
Drama. Henry Cray is a young gay man who's gone away to college and is enjoying the liberty of coming out, away from his family. The problem is that the boy's father is a powerful, conservative U.S. Senator and around campus the son's homosexuality is a bit of an open secret. Enter 28-year-old gay activist Anthony looking to party, who quickly meets several guys willing to show him a good time--including Henry. Unaware of Henry's identity Anthony hooks up with him. In the morning, Anthony finds out Henry's full identity. Looking for any chance to take a shot at the conservative government that he detests, Anthony decides to take this opportunity for political action. But he finds himself beginning to care very deeply for Henry and he must decide if he can use someone he cares for his own agenda. Starring: Karen Allen, Michael Lerner, Jack Noseworthy, Matt Newton, and Valerie Geffner. 97 minutes. MPAA Rating: R (for language and some sexual content/nudity).

Official Movie Site: www.posterboy-themovie.com

Factotum (September 8)
Drama, Adaptation and Biopic. Henry Chinaski (Matt Dillon) considers himself a writer, and on occasion writes. Mostly he quests for the booze and women that sidetrack and seduce, rather than inspire greatness. When he falls for Jan (Marisa Tomei), the soulful connection fails to save either from their self-destructive ways, and the relationship totters between earnest connection and reflective loathing. 94 minutes. MPAA Rating: R (for language and sexual content).

The Protector (Tom yum goong) (Sept 8)
Action/Adventure, Art/Foreign. In Thai, English, Mandarin, and Vietnamese languages with subtitles. Kham's life is turned upside down when an international mafia syndicate, based in Australia, captures his two beloved elephants and smuggles them thousands of kilometers away to Sydney. The two elephants are far more than mere animals to Kham and his father; they are part of his family and were being prepared to be presented as a token of devotion to his Majesty the King of Thailand. The only way Kham can possibly save the animals is by venturing into a foreign land for the first time. 82 minutes. MPAA Rating: R (for pervasive strong violence and some sexual content).

Lunacy (Sileni) (September 8)
Foreign Drama and Thriller. In Czech language with English subtitles. In eighteenth-century France (albeit one full of deliberate anachronisms) a young man, Jean Berlot, is plagued by nightmares in which he is dragged off to a madhouse. On the journey back from his mother's funeral he is invited by a Marquis he meets at lunch to spend a night in his castle. There Berlot witnesses a blasphemous orgy and a "therapeutic" funeral. Berlot tries to flee but the Marquis insists on helping him conquer his fears and takes his guest to a surrealistic lunatic asylum where the patients have complete freedom and the staff are locked up behind bars. 2 hours. Not Rated.

The Covenant (September 8)
Suspense/Horror and Thriller. In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with untold power formed a covenant of silence. One family, lusting for more, was banished; their bloodline disappearing without a trace--until now. This thriller tells the story of the Sons of Ipswich, four young students at the elite Spencer Academy who are bound by their sacred ancestry. As descendants of the original families who settled in Ipswich Colony in the 1600's, the boys have all been born with special powers. When the body of a dead student is discovered after a party, secrets begin to unravel which threaten to break the covenant of silence that has protected their families for hundreds of years. 97 minutes. MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for Intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, sexual content, partial nudity and language.

Hollywoodland (September 8)
Drama, Romance, Crime/Gangster and Biopic. An exploration of fame and identity, inspired by one of Hollywood's most infamous real-life mysteries. The drama follows a 1950s private detective, who, while investigating the mysterious death of "Superman" star George Reeves, uncovers unexpected connections to his own life, as the case turns more personal. The torrid affair Reeves had with the wife of a studio executive might hold the key to the truth. Starring: Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, and Bob Hoskins. 2 hours, 6 minutes. MPAA Rating: R (for language, some violence and sexual content).