K-Pax

Kevin Spacey plays a man who claims he comes from a galaxy called K-Pax. Jeff Bridges plays the psychiatrist who begins to believe the man’s strange tale when other patients begin to feel better.

Who cares what it’s about? It has two of this era’s greatest actors in one movie. Then again, The Score looked promising and it tanked, so maybe talent isn’t the only thing to go on.

Rated PG-13
Opens Oct. 26

Monsters, Inc.

The premise of this comedy is that monsters actually do hide in your closet and they are part of a corporation that thrives on scaring children. It’s a cute premise, but what else do you expect from the makers of Toy Story and A Bug’s Life? Monsters seems to follow that tradition by combining state-of-the-art animation with celebrity voices, along with witty dialogue that usually transcends the age gap.

Voices include Billy Crystal, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi.

Rated G
Opens Nov. 2

Life as a House

It could just be another melodrama about a man coming to terms with his failed life while facing cancer, but it might also be worth a look. Although it’s not too subtle on the metaphor of its title, this film does have a promising cast.

Starring Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas as his estranged wife and Hayden Christiansen, the next Anakin Skywalker, as his rebellious son whom he asks to help him renovate his house.

Rated R
Opens Oct. 26

The Man Who Wasn’t There

Written and directed by the Coen Brothers and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Francis McDormand and James Gandolfini. Does any more need to be said?

Well, it is a black and white film and the Coens are known for not appeasing all audiences, including some of their own faithfuls.This time the twisted filmmakers tell the tale of a barber who blackmails the man sleeping with his wife. Expect top-notch performances and oddity.

Rated R
Opens Oct. 31

Shallow Hal

First the Farrelly Brothers took on the Amish in Kingpin. Then bodily fluids in There’s Something About Mary. Their latest efforts have included making fun of schizophrenia in Me, Myself and Irene and incest with Say it Isn’t So.

Having run out of ideas, the victims this time: fat people. Shallow Hal stars Gwenyth Paltrow as the beauty within a fat suit and the up-and-coming Jack Black as the man who only sees what’s on the inside.

Even though it’s rated PG-13, expect more bathroom humor and tons of fat jokes, but most of all – expect hilarity.
Opens Oct. 9