What's playing: summer movie calendar

Summer Movies

MAY 13

A Hole in One Drama. The idea: A young woman considers a lobotomy to solve her problems in 1953. With: Michelle Williams, Meat Loaf, Bill Raymond. Writer-director: Richard Ledes. So? Extreme solution

Kicking and Screaming Sports comedy. The idea: A father has to coach his son's soccer team against another dad, an ultracompetitive, control freak. With: Will Ferrell, Robert Duvall, Kate Walsh, Mike Ditka. Writers: Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick. Director: Jesse Dylan. So? Close to real life.

Layer Cake Thriller. The idea: A meticulous British drug dealer has two tasks to complete before he can retire and break free of the criminal world: find the drug-addicted daughter of a crime boss and negotiate a huge deal with an unstable petty thief who's in way over his head. With: Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney, Kenneth Cranham, George Harris, Jamie Foreman, Sienna Miller, Michael Gambon. Writer: J.J. Connolly. Director: Matthew Vaughn. So? Sometimes more is less

Mindhunters Thriller. The idea: While training on a remote island, a group of FBI profilers with the ability to read minds discovers that one of their classmates is a serial killer. Can they figure out who the killer is in time? Did we mention they're on a remote island? With: Val Kilmer, LL Cool J, Christian Slater, Eion Bailey, Clifton Collins Jr., Will Kemp and Jonny Lee Miller. Writers: Wayne Kramer and Kevin Brodbin. Director: Renny Harlin. So? Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians"

Monster-in-Law Comedy. The idea: A woman finds that her Mr. Right comes complete with a mother who's major bad news. With: Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael Vartan, Wanda Sykes. Writer: Anya Kochoff. Director: Robert Luketic So? If "Murphy Brown" were your mother ...

Tell Them Who You Are Documentary. The idea: The director's autobiographical film focuses on his relationship with his famed cinematographer- director father. With: Haskell Wexler, Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Ron Howard, Julia Roberts. Writers: Robert DeMaio, Mark Wexler. Director: Mark Wexler. So? Living in light and shadow

Unleashed Action-drama. The idea: A sheltered mob enforcer finds a new life with a blind piano tuner and his teenage daughter. With: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon. Writer: Luc Besson. Director: Louis Leterrier. So? "The Transporter" delivered

Up for Grabs Documentary. The idea: The baseball Barry Bonds hit in 2001 to set a single-season home run record becomes a legal hot potato between two fans claiming ownership. Writer-director: Michael Wranovics. So? Sportsmanship

MAY 19

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Sci-fi adventure. The idea: The A trilogy concludes as Anakin Skywalker forges a dark alliances with Chancellor Palpatine.With: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Jimmy Smits, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew. Writer-director: George Lucas. So? Six-pack

MAY 20

À Tout de Suite Thriller. The idea: Fact-based story of a free-spirited Parisian art student who experiences betrayal and self-discovery when she goes on the lam with a charming bank robber around the Mediterranean. With: Isild Le Besco, Ouassini Embarek. Writer-director: Benoît Jacquot, story by Elisabeth Fanger. So? Self-absorbing

Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Horror. The idea: Unusual release of alternative, initial version to last year's "Exorcist: The Beginning" exploring Father Merrin's first rendezvous with the devil. With: Stellan Skarsgard, Gabriel Mann, Clara Bellar, Ralph Brown. Writers: Caleb Carr, William Wisher Jr. Director: Paul Schrader. Possible "Jeopardy" question: "This movie's remake came out before the original."

Fixing Frank Drama. The idea: A young reporter is sent undercover by his psychotherapist boyfriend to investigate a rival's controversial method for "converting" homosexuals. With: Andrew Elvis Miller, Paul Provenza, Dan Butler. Writer: Ken Hanes, based on his play. Director: Michael Selditch. So? UnreproductiveQueer cure

Kings and Queen Drama. he idea: The darkly comic story of a man abruptly transported to a mental institution is contrasted with his wife's somber tale of her father's protracted death until the two tales collide. With: Mathieu Almaric, Emmanuelle Devos, Catherine Deneuve. Writers: Arnaud Desplechin and Roger Bohbot. Director: Arnaud Desplechin. So? Poetic perspective

Mad Hot Ballroom Documentary. The idea: New York City fifth-graders are transformed into little ladies and gentlemen as they learn traditional dances such as the tango. Writer: Amy Sewell. Director: Marilyn Agrelo. So? Happy feat

MAY 27

Bomb the System Drama. The idea: The brutalization of a 15-year-old by police leads to an all-out graffiti war between taggers and the NYPD. With: Mark Webber, Jaclyn Desantis, Jade Yorker. Writer-director: Adam Bhala Lough So? Siege mentality

Genesis Documentary. The idea: An African storyteller evocatively reveals the birth of all things. Writers-directors: Claude Nuridsany and Marie Pérennou. So? Cosmic

A League of Ordinary Gentlemen Documentary. The idea: The ups and downs of life on the Professional Bowlers Association tour. With: Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes, Wayne Webb. Director: Christopher Browne. So? Entertaining, amusing, not at all condescending

The Longest Yard Comedy. The idea: Pro football quarterback doing time is recruited to put together a team to play the prison guards in this remake of the 1974 Reynolds comedy. With: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, James Cromwell, Nelly, William Fichtner, Burt Reynolds. Writer: Sheldon Turner; based on screenplay by Tracy Keenan Wynn from a story by Albert S. Ruddy. Director: Peter Segal. So? Men at play

Madagascar Animated. The idea: Escapees from New York's Central Park Zoo are shipwrecked on an island in a computer-generated comedy. With: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter. Writers: Mark Burton, Billy Frolick, Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath. Directors: Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath. So? Anthropomorphic antics

Pure Drama. The idea: A 10-year-old boy tries to rescue his mum from her heroin addiction. With: Molly Parker, David Wenham, Keira Knightley, Harry Eden. Writer: Alison Hume. Director: Gillies MacKinnon. So? Heart of cold

Saving Face Comedy. The idea: A Chinese-American surgeon from Queens makes tentative steps toward a lesbian relationship just when her widowed 48-year-old mother turns up on her doorstep, pregnant. With: Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen. Writer-director: Alice Wu. So? Culture collision

Sequins Drama. The idea: A pregnant French teen finds sanctuary with a haute couture embroiderer who grieves for the young son she lost. With: Lola Naymark, Ariane Ascaride. Writers: Éléonore Faucher, Gaëlle Macé. Director: Éléonore Faucher. So? Attention to detail pays off

JUNE 1

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Adventure. The idea: Four teenage girls vow to stay friends forever, because of an uncannily well-fitting pair of jeans. With: Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, Bradley Whitford, Nancy Travis, Rachel Ticotin, Jenna Boyd. Writers: Delia Ephron and Elizabeth Chandler; based on the novel by Ann Brashares. Director: Ken Kwapis. So? Girl power

JUNE 3

Après Vous Comedy. The idea: A Parisian restaurant manager prevents a suicide and then feels responsible for the man's future happiness. With: Daniel Auteuil, José Garcia, Sandrine Kiberlain, Maryline Canto. Writers: Danièle Dubroux, Benoît Graffin, David Léotard, Pierre Salvadori. Director: Pierre Salvadori. So? Cruel joke

Cinderella Man Drama. The idea: Heavyweight champion boxer Jim Braddock is forced to take a string of meager jobs during the Depression but never gives up his dream of returning to the ring. With: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko, Bruce McGill, Paddy Considine. Writers: Cliff Hollingsworth and Akiva Goldsman; story by Hollingsworth. Director: Ron Howard. So? Man of irony

The Deal Thriller. The idea: The stakes are high for the global economy and lives are at risk during the attempted $20-billion takeover of a Russian oil company in the not-so- distant future. With: Christian Slater, Selma Blair, John Heard, Angie Harmon, Kevin Tighe, Colm Feore, Robert Loggia. Writer: Ruth Epstein. Director: Harvey Kahn. So? Future hock.

High Tension Horror. The idea: The arrival of a stranger introduces terror to two college students on a weekend at a secluded farmhouse. With: Cécile De France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon. Writers: Alexandre Aja, Grégory Lavasseur. Director: Aja. So? Déj ... new

The Lords of Dogtown Action. The idea: Teen surfers take to the pavement of Venice, Calif., in the 1970s, popularizing the nascent sport of skateboarding. With: Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Michael Angarano, Nikki Reed, Heath Ledger, Rebecca De Mornay, Johnny Knoxville, America Ferrera. Writer: Stacy Peralta. Director: Catherine Hardwicke. So? Smooth dudes

Milwaukee, Minnesota Drama. The idea: A developmentally disabled champion fisherman with an overprotective mother attracts a menagerie of con artists circling his winnings. With: Troy Garity, Alison Folland, Randy Quaid, Bruce Dern, Hank Harris, Debra Monk, Josh Brolin, Holly Woodlawn. Writer: R.D. Murphy. Director: Allen Mindel. So? Hooked

Rock School Documentary. The idea: A fanatical, tough-minded teacher leads a group of Philadelphia kids through an education in rock. With: Paul Green, Ike Willis, Napoleon Murphy-Brock. Director: Don Argott. So? Jack Black's alma mater?

Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Romeó Dallaire Documentary. The idea: Ten years later, the Canadian general returns to Rwanda, where he led unsuccessful UN peacekeeping efforts. Director: Peter Raymont. So? Painstakingly observed

JUNE 10

The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl in 3D Adventure. The idea: A lonely young boy fills his world with two imaginary friends who help him battle Mr. Electric and his fiendish plan to stop children from dreaming. With: George Lopez, Kristin Davis, David Arquette, Cayden Boyd, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Dooley. Writer-director: Robert Rodriguez.
So? Vividly imagined

Caterina in the Big City Drama. The idea: A provincial teen moves to Rome with her family and her new school mirrors the social and political schism of present-day Italy. With: Alice Teghil, Sergio Castellitto, Margherita Buy. Writers: Francesco Bruni, Paolo Virzì Director: Virzì
So?Split ideology

East of Eden Drama. The idea: Fierce rivalry of two brothers for their father's affections. (Re-release of 1955 film). With: James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives, Richard Davalos, Jo Van Fleet, Albert Dekker. Writer: Paul Osborn, based on the novel by John Steinbeck. Director: Elia Kazan. So? James, not Howard (Dean).

Heights Drama. The idea: Five New Yorkers cross paths on a fall day on which they reevaluate their lives. With: Elizabeth Banks, Glenn Close, James Marsden, Jesse Bradford, John Light. Writer: Amy Fox, based on her play; additional screenplay material by Chris Terrio. Director: Terrio. So? New Yorkers are forever crossing paths.

The Honeymooners Comedy. The idea: Updated version of Jackie Gleason's 1950s TV series about bus driver Ralph Kramden and sewer worker Ed Norton and their schemes to get rich. With: Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall, Eric Stoltz, John Leguizamo. Writers: Danny Jacobson, Barry Blaustein, David Sheffield and Don Rhymer; based on the CBS television series. Director: John Schultz. So? One of these days, Alice ...

Howl's Moving Castle Animated. The idea: The life of a hat shop girl is turned upside down when she's swept off her feet by a wizard. With: Voices of Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, Jean Simmons, Emily Mortimer, Josh Hutcherson. Writer-director: Hayao Miyazaki, based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones. So? Phenomenal success at home.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Action-adventure. The idea: Unbeknown to each other, a married suburban couple are assassins for competing organizations. With: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody. Writer: Simon Kinberg. Director: Doug Liman. So? Suddenly alluring

The Ordeal (Calvaire) Drama-horror. The idea: A lost cabaret singer arrives at an inn run by an unbalanced man in the south of France. With: Laurent Lucas, Jackie Berroyer. Writer-director: Fabrice du Welz. So? Creepy gore

Rebel Without a Cause Drama. The idea: Newly arrived high school student burns with teen angst. With: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen, William Hopper, Rochelle Hudson, Dennis Hopper, Edward Platt. (Re-release of 1955 film). Writer: Stewart Stern, adaptation by Irving Shulman, story by Nicholas Ray. Director: Nicholas Ray. So? Long before youth had culture, they had this

Saint Ralph Comedy. The idea: A young teen tries to induce a miracle by training to win the 1954 Boston Marathon with help from a Catholic priest. With: Campbell Scott, Jennifer Tilly, Adam Butcher, Gordon Pinsent, Shauna MacDonald. Writer-director: Michael McGowan. So? Desperate measures.

JUNE 15

Batman Begins Action. The idea: Industrialist Bruce Wayne travels the world seeking ways to fight injustice and returns to Gotham City as the Dark Knight. With: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, Morgan Freeman. Writers: Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer; story by David S. Goyer; based upon Batman characters created by Bob Kane and published by DC Comics. Director: Christopher Nolan. So? A lot is riding on his cape

JUNE 17

5X2 Drama. The idea: The study of a failed marriage told in reverse order focusing on five key moments. With: Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, Stephane Freiss. Writers: François Ozon, Emmanuèle Bernheim. Director: François Ozon. So? Ozon's layer

God's Sandbox Drama. The idea: A mother and daughter reunite on a Sinai beach and are captivated by the romantic and ultimately ironic tale of a Bedouin storyteller. With: Meital Dohan, Razia Israeli, Juliano Mer, Orli Perl. Writers: Hanita Halevy, Yoav Halevy. Director: Doron Eran. So? Suffering consequences

The Great Water Drama. The idea: Near death, a high-ranking government official reflects on his childhood in postwar Stalinist Yugoslavia. With: Saso Kekenovski, Maja Stankovska, Mitko Apostolovski. Writer-director: Ivo Trajkov, based on the novel by Zhivko Chingo. So? Well-executed

My Summer of Love Drama. The idea: Two young women in Yorkshire discover a steamy attraction in their differences. With: Natalie Press, Emily Blunt, Paddy Considine. Writer: Pawel Pawlikowski, in collaboration with Michael Wynne, based on the novel by Helen Cross. Director: Pawlikowski. So? Much ado

The Perfect Man Comedy.

With: Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, Chris Noth, Mike O'Malley. The idea: A teenager creates a fictional secret admirer for her chronically unlucky-in-love mom but must eventually produce an actual person to go with the romantic e-mails and gifts. Writer: Gina Wendkos; story by Michael McQuown, Heather Robinson and Katherine Torpey. Director: Mark Rosman So? Romancing mom

JUNE 24

Bewitched Comedy. The idea: The '60s TV series about a domesticated half-mortal/half-witch with a twitchy nose gets an update. With: Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Kristin Chenoweth, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Carell. Writers: Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron and Adam McKay; story by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron. Director: Nora Ephron. So? Inspired casting. Will it fly?

George Romero's Land of the Dead Horror. The idea: The tale of a modern-day society in which the walking dead inhabit a wasteland outside the walls of the fortified city that houses the living. With: Simon Baker, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento, Robert Joy. Writer-director: George A. Romero. So? Zombie jamboree

Herbie: Fully Loaded Comedy. The idea: The Love Bug returns and gets his pedal pushed to the metal on the NASCAR circuit. With: Lindsay Lohan, Justin Long, Breckin Meyer, Matt Dillon, Michael Keaton. Writers: Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Director: Angela Robinson. So? Too cute

The Last Mogul Documentary. The idea: Lew Wasserman rose from being a skinny hustler in the speakeasies of 1920s Cleveland to head of entertainment conglomerate MCA. With: Lew Wasserman, Robert Evans, Jack Valenti, Dominick Dunne, Richard Zanuck, Alan Ladd Jr., Mike Ovitz, Frank Price, Jimmy Carter, David Brown, Suzanne Pleshette. Writer-director: Barry Avrich. So? The power and the story

March of the Penguins Documentary. The idea: One year in the life of a flock of emperor penguins as they cross the Antarctic. With: Morgan Freeman, narrator. Director: Luc Jacquet. So? No-fly zone.

Me and You and Everyone We Knew Drama. The idea: A lonely shoe salesman alienates his family by committing a desperate act. With: John Hawkes, Miranda July. Writer-director: Miranda July. So? Stands apart from indie crowd

Rize Documentary. The idea: With faces painted like warriors, performers participate in krumping, a highly athletic modern dance movement based on African tribal rituals. Director: David LaChapelle. So? Kinetic

Wasabi Tuna Action comedy. The idea: A group of friends preparing for West Hollywood's annual Halloween bacchanal becomes involved in a giant gang war in Chinatown. With: Barney Cheng, Jason London, Tim Meadows, Antonio Sabato Jr., Alanna Ubach, Anna Nicole Smith. Writer: Celia Fox. Director: Lee Friedlander. So? Subculture clash

Yes Drama. The idea: An American scientist embarks on a passionate affair with a Lebanese cook as a response to her suffocating marriage to an adulterous British politician. With: Joan Allen, Sam Neill, Simon Abkarian, Shirley Henderson. Writer-director: Sally Potter. So? Probably less interesting than it sounds.

JUNE 29

War of the Worlds Thriller. The idea: The future of humanity is at stake in a contemporary retelling of the sci-fi classic through the eyes of a U.S. single family. With: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins. Writer: David Koepp; based on the novel by H.G. Wells. Director: Steven Spielberg. So? Decidedly uncuddly ETs.

ALSO IN JUNE (Release dates pending)

Death of a Dynasty Comedy. The idea: Mockumentary goes behind the scenes at hip-hop mecca Roc-a-Fella Records and features appearances by Jay-Z, Dr. Dre and Flavor Flav. With: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Devon Aoki, Capone, Robert Stapleton, Rashida Jones, Damon Dash. Writer: Adam Moreno. Director: Damon Dash. So? Hip-hop to it

Tony Takitani Drama. The idea: A technical illustrator looks to fill the void in his life after tragically losing his couture-loving wife. With: Issei Ogata. Writer-director: Jun Ichikawa, based on a story by Haruki Murakami. So? Enduring loss.

JULY 1

The Beat That My Heart Skipped Drama. The idea: A young man is torn between following his father into a life of crime and a classical music career. With: Romain Duris, Niels Arestrup, Emmanuelle Devos, Linh-Dan Pham. Writers: Jacques Audiard, Tonino Benacquista, from the screenplay "Fingers" by James Toback. Director: Audiard. So? Quite a dilemma

Lila Says (Lila dit ça) Drama. The idea: A beautiful and sexually adventurous French girl tempts a young writer in his predominantly Arab Paris neighborhood. With: Vahina Giacante, Mohammed Khouas, Karim Benhadou. Writer-director: Ziad Doueiri, based on the book by Chimo. So? Offbeat but unengaging

Rebound Comedy. The idea: A troubled college basketball coach attempts to bounce back by leading a junior high team. With: Martin Lawrence, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Breckin Meyer, Horatio Sanz, Megan Mullally. Writers: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore; story by William Wolff, Ed Decter and John J. Strauss. Director: Steve Carr. So? Aggressive misbehavior

Sex, Politics & Cocktails Comedy. The idea: A Cuban filmmaker's crisis over being single at 30 leads him to explore some wild alternatives. With: Julien Hernandez, Marisa Petroro, Paul Lekakis, Seth Macari, Don Max, Alex Douglas, Gina Vetro. Writer-director: Julien Hernandez. So? Making mischief

Undead Horror. The idea: A meteorite shower unleashes a zombie attack on a quiet fishing community. With: Felicity Mason, Rob Jenkins, Lisa Cunningham, Mungo McKay, Emma Randall, Dirk Hunter. Writers-directors: The Spierig Brothers. So? Unrelenting

JULY 8

The Beautiful Country Drama. The idea: A Vietnamese boy heads for a new life when he stows away on a ship bound for the U.S. With: Nick Nolte, Bai Ling, Damien Nguyen, Tim Roth. Writer: Sabina Murray; story by Murray and Lingard Jervey. Director: Hans Petter Moland. So? Unexpectedly offbeat

Cronicas Drama. The idea: Infotainment reporter tracks the story of a serial murderer-rapist in Ecuador for the biggest story of his career. With: John Leguizamo, Leonor Watlin, Jose Maria Yazpik, Damian Alcazar. Writer-director: Sebastián Cordero. So? Classic noir

Dark Water Thriller. The idea: A new apartment becomes a real nightmare for a young mother and her daughter. With: Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Tim Roth, Dougray Scott, Pete Postlethwaite, Camryn Manheim. Writer: Rafael Yglesias, based on novel by K"ji Suzuki. Director: Walter Salles. So? Scary abode

Fantastic Four Action. The idea: The Marvel Comics quartet - Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing - battle Dr. Doom. With: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon. Writers: Mark Frost and Simon Kinberg and Mike France. Director: Tim Story. So? Great fun, or comic-book overkill

Murderball Documentary. The idea: The tough, highly competitive world of the U.S. Paralympic rugby team. Directors: Dana Adam Shapiro, Henry Alex Rubin, based on an article by Shapiro. So? Crunchy

Saraband Drama. The idea: The characters from "Scenes From a Marriage" return 30 years later as a woman's reunion with her former husband stirs emotions and reveals complex family bonds. With: Liv Ullmann, Erland Josephson, B"rje Ahlstedt, Julia Dufvenius. Writer-director: Ingmar Bergman. So? As complex as you'd expect

JULY 15

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Adventure. The idea: Reimagined version of the Roald Dahl classic about the strange candy maker Willy Wonka and the poor boy who wins a chocolate-bar contest that awards a tour of the candy factory. With: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, James Fox, Deep Roy, Christopher Lee. Writer: John August, based on the book by Roald Dahl. Director: Tim Burton. So? Delicious, with more than a little bite

Happy Endings Comedy. The idea: Intertwining love stories turn on buried secrets, missed opportunities and second chances. With: Tom Arnold, Jesse Bradford, Bobby Cannavale, Sarah Clarke, Steve Coogan, Laura Dern, Lisa Kudrow, Jason Ritter, David Sutcliffe, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Writer-director: Don Roos. So? We're optimistic

Hustle & Flow Drama. The idea: A Memphis pimp takes his shot at being a rapper. With: Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, DJ Qualls, Ludacris, Elise Neal. Writer-director: Craig Brewer. So? Sundance favorite

Wedding Crashers Comedy. The idea: A pair of divorce mediators spend their weekends as uninvited guests at strangers' nuptials, sampling the buffets and bridesmaids, until one of them falls in love with a crazy politician's daughter. With: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Christopher Walken. Writers: Steve Faber and Bob Fisher. Director: David Dobkin. So? A comedy that's actually funny

JULY 22

The Bad News Bears Comedy. The idea: Remake of 1976 comedy about an ex-minor leaguer coaching a woeful Little League baseball team. With: Billy Bob Thornton, Greg Kinnear, Marcia Gay Harden. Writers: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra; based on the screenplay by Bill Lancaster. Director: Richard Linklater. So? Requa and Ficarra wrote "Bad Santa," starring Billy Bob

Deep Blue Documentary. The idea: Filmmakers explore alien underwater landscapes on the ocean floor as well as more familiar life forms nearer or on the surface. Writers-directors: Alastair Fothergill, Andy Byatt. So? Fantastic planet

The Devil's Rejects Horror. The idea: The murderous Firefly family battles a renegade sheriff with revenge on his mind. With: Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie, Matthew McGrory, William Forsythe, Leslie Easterbrook, Dave Sheridan, Lew Temple, Kate Norby, Geoffrey Lewis, Priscilla Barnes, Brian Posehn, Jossara Jinaro, Diamond Dallas Page, Danny Trejo, P.J. Soles. Writer-director: Rob Zombie. So? Follow-up to "House of 1000 Corpses"

The Edukators Comedy-drama. The idea: Two German prankster-political activists get in over their heads with more dangerous actions. With: Daniel Brühl, Julia Jentsch, Stipe Erceg. Writer: Katharina Held and Hans Weingartner. Director: Hans Weingartner. So? Ironic generation gaps

The Island Futuristic action-thriller. The idea: Two residents of a seemingly idyllic society make the terrifying discovery that their entire existence is a lie. With: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean, Steve Buscemi, Michael Clarke Duncan. Writers: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Caspian Tredwell-Owen, based on a story by Tredwell-Owen. Director: Michael Bay. So? Evils of cloning

Last Days Drama. The idea: Rock star seeks release from pressures and isolation of fame in his final hours. With: Michael Pitt, Lukas Haas, Asia Argento, Scott Green, Nicole Vicius, Ricky Jay, Ryan Orion, Harmony Korine, Kim Gordon, Adam Friberg, Andy Friberg, Thadeus A. Thomas. Writer-director: Gus Van Sant. So? Inspired by the death of Kurt Cobain.

9 Songs Drama. The idea: The passion of a sexually explicit love affair is intercut with performances from the concerts the couple attends. With: Kieran O'Brien, Margot Stilley and bands including the Von Bondies and Franz Ferdinand. Writer-director: Michael Winterbottom. So? Far-flung passion

November Thriller. The idea: An L.A. photographer tries to move beyond the murder of her boyfriend in a grocery-store holdup. With: Courteney Cox, James LeGros, Michael Ealy, Nora Dunn, Nick Offerman, Anne Archer. Writer: Benjamin Brand. Director: Greg Harrison. So? Unrelieved anxiety

Shoujyo: An Adolescent Drama. The idea: Erotic Japanese love story about an intense affair between a middle-age cop and a teenage girl. With: Mayu Ozawa, Eiji Okuda, Akira Shoji, Mari Natsuki, Hideo Murota. Writers: Katsuhiko Manabe, Izuru Narushima, based on a short story Mikihiko Renjo. Director: Eiji Okuda. So? Taboo

Three Dancing Slaves Drama. The idea: Three brothers, each at a turning point in his life, must escape their domineering father to reach adulthood. With: Nicolas Cazalé, Stéphane Rideau, Thomas Dumerchez. Writers: Gaël Morel, Christophe Honoré Director: Morel. So? Astonishing imagery

Tropical Malady Romantic mystery. The idea: A journey into the magical myth surrounding the love between a soldier and a country boy in the Thai jungle. With: Banlop Lomnoi, Sakda Kaewbuadee. Writer-director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul. So? More than a little surreal

JULY 29

The Aristocrats Documentary. The idea: One hundred comedians tell the same dirty joke only with different middles. With: Hank Azaria, Mario Cantone, Drew Carey, George Carlin, Billy Connolly, Andy Dick, Susie Essman, Whoopi Goldberg, Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Bill Maher, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Kevin Pollak, Bob Saget, Harry Shearer, Sarah Silverman, Jon Stewart, Fred Willard, Steven Wright. Directors: Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette. So? Using their imaginations

Brothers Grimm Adventure. The idea: The legendary storytellers confront the world of heroes and villains, witches and trolls, undying evil and true love, thought to be make-believe. With: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Lena Headey, Monica Bellucci, Peter Stormare, Jonathan Pryce, Richard Ridings, Mackenzie Crook. Writer: Ehren Kruger. Director: Terry Gilliam. So? Gillianmesque

Must Love Dogs Comedy. The idea: A divorced woman must overcome her well-meaning family and learn to trust her own instincts in order to rediscover romance. With: Diane Lane, John Cusack, Dermot Mulroney, Elizabeth Perkins, Stockard Channing, Christopher Plummer. Writer-director: Gary David Goldberg, based on the novel by Claire Cook. So? Life in the newly single lane

Night Watch (Nochnori Dozor) Sci-fi thriller. The idea: In the first film of a planned trilogy, the delicate balance of light and darkness is threatened by the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. With: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valery Zolotukhin, Maria Poroshina, Galina Tunina, Victor Verzhbitsky, Dima Martynov. Writers: Sergei Lukyanenko, Timur Bekmambetov; English subtitles: Timur Bekmambetov and Laeta Kalogridis. Director: Bekmambetov. So? Looks pretty spooky

Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus Documentary. The idea: An alt-country singer takes an off-the-beaten-path tour of the South, exploring its Gothic appeal for musicians and writers. With: Jim White. Director: Andrew Douglas. So? Still searching

Sky High Comedy. The idea: Freshman son of superhero parents faces lofty expectations at a special academy for such offspring. With: Kelly Preston, Kurt Russell, Lynda Carter, Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bruce Campbell, Dave Foley, Steven Strait. Writers: Paul Hernandez, Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger and Matt Lopez. Director: Mike Mitchell. So? Super-duper parents, super school

Stealth Action. The idea: Group of elite pilots pursue a renegade drone fighter with nuclear capabilities. With: Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx, Sam Shepard, Joe Morton, Richard Roxburgh. Writer: W.D. Richter. Director: Rob Cohen. So? Supersonic

ALSO IN JULY (Release dates pending)

April's Shower Comedy. The idea: The self-induced pressure to put on the perfect bridal shower masks a chef's tangled relationship with the bride. With: Maria Cina, Trish Doolan, Honey Labrador, Randall Batinkoff, Denise Miller, Joe Tabbanella, Zack Ward, Arly Jover, Molly Cheek, Samantha Lemole, Lara Harris. Writer-director: Trish Doolan. So? Missed opportunity

Julie Johnson Drama. The idea: A dissatisfied New Jersey housewife discovers there is more to her than she or anyone around her expects. With: Lili Taylor, Courtney Love, Spalding Gray, Noah Emmerich, Mischa Barton. Writers: Wendy Hammond and Bob Gosse. Director: Gosse. So? Eclectic casting

Pulse Horror. The idea: The Tokyo friends of a recent suicide victim are unnerved by his apparent attempts to contact them. With: Haruhiko Kato, Kumiko Aso, Koyuki, Jun Fubuki, Shinji Takeda, Koji Yakusho. Writer-director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa. So? More imported chills

The Warrior Adventure. The idea: A rich Indian warlord renounces his violent ways and must face the wrath of his former colleagues. With: Irfan Khan, Noor Mani. Writers: Asif Kapadia, Tim Miller. Director: Kapadia. So? Existential

AUGUST 5

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Drama. The idea: Two friends are sent to a rural section of China during the Cultural Revolution and both fall for a tailor's daughter. With: Xun Zhou, Kun Chen, Ye Liu. Writer-director: Dai Sijie, based on his novel. So? Triangle

Broken Flower Comedy. The idea: A resolute bachelor visits ex-lovers when he discovers that he may have a previously unknown 19-year-old son. With: Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Tilda Swinton, Julie Delpy. Writer-director: Jim Jarmusch. So? Paternity test

The Dukes of Hazzard Comedy. The idea: Updated version of the late 1979-85 TV series tracks the adventures of Bo and Luke Duke, their cousin Daisy and Boss Hogg. With: Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Jessica Simpson, Burt Reynolds, Joe Don Baker, Lynda Carter, Willie Nelson. Writer: John O'Brien. Director: Jay Chandrasekhar. So? Hick parade

Grizzly Man Documentary. The idea: Outdoorsman and author Timothy Treadwell lived and died among the bears in the Alaskan wilderness. Director: Werner Herzog. So? Captivating ursine footage

Junebug Drama. The idea: A Chicago art dealer travels to North Carolina to pursue a painter and meet her new in-laws. With: Embeth Davidtz, Alessandro Nivola, Amy Adams, Ben McKenzie, Celia Weston. Writer: Angus McLachlan. Director: Phil Morrison. So? Southern discomfort

The Pink Panther Comedy. The idea: A new Inspector Clouseau pursues a famed missing diamond, this time belonging to a murdered soccer coach. With: Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyoncé Knowles, Jean Reno. Writers: Len Blum and Steve Martin based on a story by Len Blum, Michael Saltzman. Director: Shawn Levy. So? Clueless

Secuestro Express Drama. The idea: A young Venezuelan couple is kidnapped and held for ransom by thugs eager to extort money from the rich parents. With: Mía Maestro, Carlos Julio Molina, Pedro Perez, Carlos Madera, Jean Paul Leroux, Rubén Blades. Writer-director: Jonathan Jakubowicz. So? Tragedy of errors

Summer Storm Drama. The idea: The arrival of a gay rowing team at an athletic retreat puts into motion a confrontation between longtime German friends and crew teammates. With: Robert Stadlober, Kostja Ullmann, Alicja Bachleda-Curus, Hanno Kofler, Tristano Casanova, Juergen Tonkel, Miriam Morgenstern. Writers: Thomas Bahmann and Marco Kreuzpaintner. Director: Kreuzpaintner. So? Rowing camp

2046 Drama. The idea: In a 1960s Hong Kong brothel, a novelist is inspired to write science fiction by the women he encounters. With: Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung. Writer-Director: Wong Kar-wai. So? Constructive fragments

AUGUST 12

The Baxter Comedy. The idea: An obsessive accountant begins an unlikely romance with a beautiful and sophisticated woman. With: Michael Showalter, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Williams, Justin Theroux. Writer-director: Michael Showalter. So? Improbably spontaneous

Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo Comedy. The idea: The unlikely male prostitute must return to the world's oldest profession to help clear his former pimp accused of murder. With: Rob Schneider, Eddie Griffin, Jeroen Krabbé Writers: Rob Schneider, David Garrett and Jason Ward; story by Schneider; based on characters created by Harris Goldberg and Schneider. Director: Mike Bigelow. So? Enough said already

Four Brothers Drama. The idea: Adopted siblings seek revenge after their mother is killed. With: Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin, Garrett Hedlund, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson. Writers: David Elliot and Paul Lovett. Director: John Singleton. So? Tough guys on a rampage

Moonlight Romance thriller. The idea: A wealthy teenage Dutch girl discovers a wounded boy her own age, a drug courier, and keeps his existence a secret from her parents. With: Laurien Van den Broeck, Hunter Bussemaker, Andrew Howard, Jemma Redgrave. Writer: Carel Donck. Director: Paula van der Oest. So? Just as improbable as it was three years ago

Pretty Persuasion Comedy-drama. The idea: A provocative teen coerces her friends into staging a sexual harassment case against their English teacher. With: Evan Rachael Wood, James Woods, Ron Livingston, Elisabeth Harnois, Jane Krakowski, Selma Blair. Writer: Skander Halim. Director: Marcos Siega. So? The unkindest cuts

The Skeleton Key Thriller. The idea: A young woman unlocks one too many doors in the decrepit mansion where she works as a live-in nurse. With: Kate Hudson, Gena Rowlands, Peter Sarsgaard, Joy Bryant, John Hurt. Writer: Ehren Kruger. Director: Iain Softley. So? A lot of things that go bump in the night

AUGUST 17

Supercross Action. The idea: Two brothers overcome physical and emotional obstacles in the high-flying world of stadium motocross. With: Steve Howey, Mike Vogel, Sophia Bush, Robert Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Robert Patrick, Aaron Carter, Jesse James. Writers: Bart Baker and Ken Solarz. Director: Steve Boyum. So? Speed, sweat and dust

AUGUST 19

Asylum Thriller. The idea: A psychiatrist's wife is drawn to a patient at the institution her husband helps run. With: Natasha Richardson, Sir Ian McKellen, Marton Csokas, Hugh Bonneville, Augustus Jeremiah Lewis. Writer: Patrick Marber; based on novel by Patrick McGrath. Director: David Mackenzie. So? Familiar but weird

The 40-Year-Old Virgin Comedy. The idea: A middle-aged electronics store employee whose friends decide it's time for him to go all the way. With: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, Gerry Bednob, Shelley Malil, Chelsea Smith, Nancy Walls. Writers: Judd Apatow and Steve Carell. Director: Apatow. So? What a way to lose it

Red Eye Suspense-thriller. The idea: A woman on an overnight flight to Miami becomes entangled in an elaborate assassination plot involving her seatmate. With: Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy. Writer: Carl Ellsworth from a story by Ellsworth and Dan Foos. Director: Wes Craven. So? Sky-high anxiety

Valiant Animated. The idea: A computer-generated comedy-adventure about an undersize pigeon who hopes to serve his country in World War II. With: Voices of Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais, Tim Curry, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, John Cleese, John Hurt, Pip Torrens, Rik Mayall, Olivia Williams. Writers: Jordan Katz, George Webster and George Melrod; story by Webster. Director: Gary Chapman. So? Bird-brained

AUGUST 26

The Cave Horror. The idea: A group of American cave explorers finds more than it bargained for in the dark caverns hidden below a 13th- century Romanian abbey. With: Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut, Piper Perabo, Eddie Cibrian, Rick Ravanello, Marcel Lures. Writers: Michael Steinberg and Tegan West. Director: Bruce Hunt. So? Scary down there

Dirty Deeds Comedy. The idea: A series of challenges must be completed between sundown and sunup on the Friday night of homecoming weekend. With: Milo Ventimiglia, Lacey Chabert and Zoe Saldana. Writer: Jon Land. Director: David Kendall. So? Rituals of initiation

Games of Love and Chance Drama. The idea: A delinquent in a Paris suburb falls for the girl playing the lead in a Marivaux adaptation. With: Osman Elkharraz, Aurélie Ganito, Sara Forestier, Rachid Hami. Writers: Abdellatif Kechiche and Ghalia Lacroix. Director: Kechiche. So? Winner of the César award as "L'Ésquive"

Undiscovered Comedy. The idea: A model turned would-be actress and an aspiring singer-songwriter meet on a New York subway but look for love and fame in Los Angeles. With: Pell James, Steven Strait, Kip Pardue, Shannyn Sossamon, Fisher Stevens, Carrie Fisher, Peter Weller, Stephen Moyer, Ashlee Simpson. Writer: John Galt. Director: Meiert Avis. So? Where else?

ALSO IN AUGUST ( Release dates pending)

Backwater Horror. The idea: A group of teens faces voodoo terror in a Louisiana swamp. With: Agnes Bruckner, Method Man, Bijou Phillips, D.J. Cotrona, Jonathan Jackson, Meagan Good. Writer: Brandon Boyce. Director: Jim Gillespie. So? More imperiled teenagers

The Chumscrubber Comedy-drama. The idea: The delicate balance of a seemingly idyllic suburb is challenged by a teen's discovery of his only friend's suicide and the mayor of the town's life crisis. With: Jamie Bell, Camilla Belle, Justin Chatwin, Glenn Close, Rory Culkin, William Fichtner, Ralph Fiennes, John Heard, Lauren Holly, Allison Janney, Josh Janowicz, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lou Taylor Pucci, Rita Wilson. Writer: Zac Stanford. Director: Arie Posin. So? Unappetizing

The Great Raid Action. The idea: The 6th Ranger Battalion attempts a daring rescue of 500 U.S. POWs in the Philippines in 1945. With: Benjamin Bratt, James Franco, Connie Nielsen, Marton Csokas, Mark Consuelos, Joseph Fiennes. Writers: Carlo Bernard and Douglas Miro. Director: John Dahl. So? Casualty of Miramax

Touch the Sound Documentary. The idea: The world as experienced by deaf solo percussionist Glennie. With: Evelyn Glennie and Fred Frith. Director: Thomas Riedelsheimer. So? Passionately energetic

The Underclassman Comedy. The idea: A streetwise young L.A. cop goes undercover at an elite private school. With: Nick Cannon, Roselyn Sanchez, Shawn Ashmore, Kelly Hu, Hugh Bonneville, Cheech Marin. Writers: David T. Wagner and Brent Goldberg. Director: Marcos Siega. So? Learning experience

SEPTEMBER 2

Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dance & Charm School Drama. The idea: A widower's life changes when he looks for a dying man's long-lost love. With: Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, Mary Steenburgen, John Goodman, Sean Astin, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny DeVito, David Paymer, Camryn Manheim, Sonia Braga, Adam Arkin. Writers: Randall Miller and Jody Savin, based on Miller's short film. Director: Miller. So? Fun to burn

The Woods Horror. The idea: A lonely teenager, dumped by her parents at a creepy boarding school, begins to have gruesome visions. With: Agnes Bruckner, Patricia Clarkson, Bruce Campbell. Writer: David Ross. Director: Lucky McKee. So? Intriguing female cast

SEPTEMBER 9

Cote d'Azur Comedy. The idea: A French family's Mediterranean vacation is complicated by erotic tensions. With: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Gilbert Melki, Jean-Marc Barr, Jacques Bonnaffé, Edouard Collin, Romain Torres, Sabrina Seyvecou. Writers-directors: Oliver Ducastel and Jacques Martineau. So? Frothy

The Exorcism of Emily Rose Horror. The idea: An attorney defends a priest in the death of a young girl officially recognized by the Catholic Church as being possessed. With: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott, Shohreh Aghdashloo. Writers: Paul Harris Boardman, Scott Derrickson. Director: Derrickson. So? State vs. church

NOTE: Opening dates are subject to change. Some movies may open in selected New York City theaters, and wider later in the summer.

Related topic galleries: Crimes, Benjamin Bratt, John Steinbeck, Music Industry, Luc Besson, Agnes Bruckner, Cheech Marin