FALL FILMS '99.

Byline: Bob Strauss and Glenn Whipp Film Critics

Movies for the millennium, or at least until the end of the millennium if the studios don't get skittish and kick some of their release dates into the next millennium - the one thing we can count on for the foreseeable future is that movie release dates will always be changed at the last minute. The following list is as accurate as we could ascertain at press time, but it's kind of like Y2K - we know something is going to get screwy, we just don't know what.

So if some of these films don't show up until 2001, blame HAL.

Sept. 15

American Beauty Biting look at contemporary America and midlife crises from Broadway director Sam Mendes. Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening play the disillusioned suburban warriors. (DreamWorks)

Sept. 17

Blue Streak Martin Lawrence is a jewel thief who hides a big, hot diamond at a construction site before being arrested. When he gets out of prison two years later, the building is a police station. Pretending to be a detective, he has more luck stopping crime than getting his swag back. (Columbia Pictures)

Breakfast of Champions Bruce Willis plays the heartland businessman past the verge of a nervous breakdown in this adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's absurdist novel. Albert Finney, Nick Nolte and Barbara Hershey co-star for director Alan Rudolph. (Hollywood Pictures)

Chinatown 25th anniversary re-release of the best-written film in Hollywood history. A neo-noir set in the 1930s, Robert Towne's story brilliantly links the growth of L.A. to So Cal movers and shakers' astounding family dysfunctions. With Jack Nicholson as the private eye with the symbolically bandaged nose and Faye Dunaway as the heartbreakingly tragic femme fatale. Directed by Roman Polanski. (Paramount)

Elles French drama about four women who gab about life, love and the intersection of the two. (Winstar)

For Love of the Game Kevin Costner dons a baseball uniform again for this tale of a pitcher looking back on his life while throwing a perfect game. A change-up from director Sam Raimi. (Universal)

Get Bruce! Behind-the-scenes look at hot comedy writer Bruce Vilanch, who helps Billy Crystal shine during those Oscar ceremonies. (Miramax)

The Jaundiced EyeDocumentary look at the decades-long trial of a gay man accused of molesting his own child. (Tom Ford Entertainment)

Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember Three-plus hours worth of reminiscences by the late, great Italian actor. Hey, I loved Marcello as much as the next guy. But more than three hours? (First Look Pictures)

Stop Making Sense Re-release of Jonathan Demme's 1984 Talking Heads concert film, generally considered one of the best of such things. (Palm Pictures)

Sugar Town If at first you don't succeed ... Her last music-biz movie, ``Grace of My Heart,'' may not have clicked, but director Allison Anders is back with another look at the L.A. music scene. Jade Gordon, Ally Sheedy, Rosanna Arquette, Michael Des Barres and Duran Duran's John Taylor star. co-directed by Kurt Voss. (USA Films)

The Taxman ``The Matrix's'' Joe Pantoliano plays a burned-out tax investigator who goes on a quixotic mission in New York's Russian immigrant community. With showgirl Elizabeth Berkley. (Phaedra Cinema)

The Underground Orchestra Documentary about musicians who play in the Paris Metro. (First Run Features)

Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald Japanese farce about a radio drama that goes out of control. (Tidepoint Pictures)

Sept. 20

The Last Cigarette Multifaceted documentary look at smoking culture and the debate swirling around it.

Sept. 24

The Big Tease A Scottish hairdresser will do anything to compete in an international styling contest in L.A. Sounds like it better be a comedy, but it's being ominously described as ``Rocky'' in curlers. (Warner Bros.)

Caligula Idiotic Roman porn epic, back for some reason on its 20th anniversary. Produced by Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione, who somehow got legit actors Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole and John Gielgud (!) to participate.

Dog Park Lovers meet cute while tending man's best friend. (New Line)

Double Jeopardy Woman (Ashley Judd) gets framed for murdering her husband. When she discovers he's alive, she decides that she might as well kill him - after all, she has already served the time. Tommy Lee Jones tries to stop her. (Paramount)

Guinevere Sarah Polley is May. Stephen Rea is December. Just like most Hollywood screen pairings, only this time the characters acknowledge the age difference. (Miramax)

Jakob the Liar Another wacky comedian takes on the Holocaust. Robin Williams plays a Jewish cafe owner who makes up radio reports of Allied advances to cheer his fellow ghetto-dwellers during the Nazi occupation. (Columbia Pictures)

Lucie Aubrac Carole Bouquet becomes a heroine of the French Resistance when her husband is taken by the Nazis. Claude Berri (``Manon of the Spring'') directs. In French. (USA Films)

Molly ``Charly.'' Only with a girl. Elisabeth Shue stars. (MGM)

Mumford Writer-director Lawrence Kasdan, of ``Big Chill''/``Grand Canyon'' notoriety, brings us another ensemble piece. In this one, the new psychologist in a small Northwestern town (Loren Dean) has a profound effect on the locals' love lives - and a few secrets of his own. Jane Adams, Ted Danson, Hope Davis, Mary McDonnell, Martin Short, Robert Stack and Alfre Woodard are featured. (Touchstone Pictures)

One Man's Hero True story of the San Patricios, Irish-American soldiers who switched sides during the 19th-century war with Mexico. (MGM)

On the Ropes Documentary about the Brooklyn boxing gym that produced the likes of Riddick Bowe and Mark Breland. (Winstar Cinema)

Out of Season Lesbian love story set in exotic Cape May, N.J. (Jour de Fete)

Sunsplit Car thieves, a serial killer and vigilantes tool around L.A. (First Command Productions)

September unscheduled

The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human Mockumentary look at the bizarre rituals this strange species employs in pursuit of reproduction. Specimens examined include Carmen Electra, David Hyde Pierce and ``Ally McBeal's'' Lucy Liu, so weird behavior should abound. (Independent Artists)

Simon Sez Interpol agent Dennis Rodman must team up with computer-genius monks to solve a kidnapping. Bet they won't be leaving the monastary again anytime soon. (Independent Artists)

Oct. 1

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland The ``Sesame Street'' muppet must rescue his security blanket from stinky, not-nice Grouchland. Mandy Patinkin and Vanessa Williams star. For the kiddies. (Columbia Pictures)

Divorce Iranian Style Documentary focusing on three Iranian women's struggles to get out of bad marriages.

Drive Me Crazy Two mismatched kids, fashion-conscious Nicole (TV teen witch Melissa Joan Hart) and grunge rebel Chase (Adrian Grenier), date each other to make the people they really like jealous. (20th Century Fox)

Happy, Texas Sundance sensation about two escaped prisoners who are mistaken for a gay couple who put on beauty pageants. Steve Zahn and Jeremy Northam play the men trying to make the most of the situation. (Miramax)

Mystery, Alaska A small-town hockey squad takes on the New York Rangers. David E. Kelley (``Ally McBeal'') wrote and Jay Roach (``Austin Powers'') directed what is apparently a straight Cinderella sports story. Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria and Burt Reynolds star. (Hollywood Pictures)

Plunkett & Macleane Erstwhile Trainspotters Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller swash and buckle as two infamous 18th-century English highwaymen. Alan Cumming and Liv Tyler rip and bodice.(USA Films)

Romance Much-discussed French film about a young woman whose boyfriend doesn't want to have sex. She seeks explicit, hard-core help from guys who do. (Trimark)

Splendor Menage a trois between a punk rock drummer (Matt Keeslar), a music critic (Johnathon Schaech) and a girl (Kathleen Roberston). A reportedly less-nihilistic-than-usual outing from L.A. indie provocateur Gregg Araki (``The Living End,'' ``Nowhere''). (Samuel Goldwyn Films)

Three Kings George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube are three American soldiers searching for a hidden stash of gold in the Iraqi desert at the end of the Gulf War. David O. Russell, director of the decade's best romantic comedy ``Flirting With Disaster,'' goes for a definite change of pace here. (Warner Bros.)

Oct. 8

Bandits German film about an all-girl rock band forced to go on the lam after being accused of a crime. It was probably their music. (Stratosphere)

The Grandfather Academy Award-nominated foreign film spans three generations of love and betrayal in Spain. (Miramax)

Knockout An East L.A. girl tries to become a boxer like her dad wanted to be. Easier said than done, as you might well imagine. (Independent Artists)

The Limey English ex-con comes to L.A. to avenge his daughter's death. Anyone for blood pudding? Terrence Stamp stars in director Steven Soderbergh's follow-up to ``Out of Sight.'' (Artisan)

Oxygen Sociopath kidnaps a woman, buries her alive. Cop tries to find out where she is. Stars Adrien Brody and Maura Tierney. (Unapix Films)

Random Hearts When tough cop Harrison Ford and congresswoman Kristin Scott Thomas' respective mates are killed on their way to an extramarital fling, the survivors develop an unexpected attraction to one another. Directed by ``Tootsie'' and ``Out of Africa's'' Sydney Pollack. (Columbia Pictures)

The Sticky Fingers of Time Time-traveling lesbians find fun and adventure. (Strand Releasing)

Superstar Molly Shannon and Will Ferrell of ``Saturday Night Live'' fame star in this comedy about a girl looking for her first real kiss. (Paramount)

Whiteboys Danny Hoch brings his stage show to the big screen, playing a white hip-hop poet who moves to the Chicago ghetto for street cred. (Fox Searchlight)

Oct. 15

Fight Club Members of a secret society of guys beat each other up for some arcane, philosophical reason. ``Seven's'' David Fincher directs Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in another bloody melee. (20th Century Fox)

Joe the King Feature writing-directing debut of actor Frank Whaley. A 14-year-old copes with poverty and an abusive, alcoholic father (Val Kilmer) in 1970s upstate New York. Won the Sundance Film Festival's Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. (Trimark Pictures)

Man of the Century A reporter who acts like he's living in the 1920s must get a big scoop in modern-day New York. (Fine Line)

Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Box The Vegas tiger-tamers adventure their way through exciting virtual realities in this giganto-screen IMAX production. (Imax Ltd.)

The Source Respected montage-maker Chuck Workman directed this documentary about the Beat Generation poets and their wide-ranging influence on late 20th-century culture. (Winstar Cinema)

The Story of Us Rob Reiner directs Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis in this film about a disillusioned couple on the verge of separation. (Universal)

The Straight Story David Lynch's latest apparently is what the title says, a life-affirming tale about an elderly Midwestern farmer who drives his lawnmower across country to visit his ailing brother, with no underlying intimations of mysticism or depravity. We'll believe it when we see it. With Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek and Harry Dean Stanton. (Walt Disney Pictures)

That's the Way I Like ItComing-of-age disco movie set in Singapore. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. (Miramax)

Oct. 22

Anywhere but Here Adaptation of Mona Simpson's acclaimed novel about a teen-age girl's struggle to mother her irresponsible mom. Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon star for director Wayne Wang. (20th Century Fox)

Bats It's ``The Birds'' with fur! And Lou Diamond Phillips, too! (Destination Films)

The Best Man Spike Lee's brother, Malcolm, tries for the hit movie his sibling can't seem to make. Film deals with a group of successful friends reunited at a wedding. Scandalous secrets are revealed. Taye Diggs and Nia Long star. (Universal)

Body Shots Eight young adults check out L.A. nightlife in a romantic comedy directed by Pulitzer- and Tony-winning playwright Michael Cristofer. (New Line Cinema)

Boys Don't Cry True story of a Nebraska man who's really a woman. Folks from the Cornhusker state don't take kindly to this, and problems ensue. (Fox Searchlight)

Bringing Out the Dead Nicolas Cage returns from the dead zone of brainless action movies to star in this story of a New York City paramedic falling prey to urban shellshock. Martin Scorsese directs, with Paul Schrader adapting the Joe Connelly novel. (Paramount)

Crazy in Alabama Antonio Banderas directs wife Melanie Griffith as an eccentric Southern woman who teaches her nephew (`Sling Blade's'' Lucas Black) a few things about civil rights, getting rid of no-good husbands and making it in Hollywood, circa 1965. (Columbia Pictures)

Show Me Love Two young girls come of age and fall in love in small-town Norway. (Strand)

To Speak the Unspeakable: The Message of Elie Wiesel Look at the Holocaust memoirist's life and shattering times. (Panorama)

Oct. 29

Beefcake Documentary that purports to tell us what those 1950s bodybuilding magazines were really all about. (Strand Releasing)

Being John Malkovich Failed puppeteer John Cusack finds a hidden passageway into actor John Malkovich's brain and goes there. Well, it's different. With Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener and - wow - John Malkovich. Directed by music-vid whiz Spike Jonze. (USA Films)

Dreaming of Joseph Lees Man goes to Italy. Gets badly injured. Woman falls in love with him. He retreats into self-pity. Yup. It's English. (Fox Searchlight)

House on Haunted Hill Hopefully more haunting than that last haunted-house movie. It's got a similar plot line - this time, people spend the night in a rigged mansion in hopes of winning money, but the resident ghosts aren't in on the game - and a cast headed by Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen and Peter Gallagher. (Warner Bros.)

The Legend of 1900 Italian sentimentalist Giuseppe Tornatore (``Cinema Paradiso'') directs his first English-language movie. Tim Roth plays a musical genius who's spent his whole life on an ocean liner. The score was composed by the great Ennio Morricone. (Fine Line)

Music of the Heart True story (as seen in the 1995 documentary ``Small Wonders'') about a woman who leaves her small town behind to teach violin in East Harlem. Meryl Streep stars; Wes Craven directs. (Miramax)

Princess Mononoke Japanese anime sensation about a war between man and nature finally arrives on U.S. shores. It made $150 million in Japan; Miramax would gladly accept half that amount here. (Miramax)

Speaking in Strings Documentary about controversial violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. (Seventh Art Releasing)

The Suburbans One-hit wonders from the early '80s try to re-form their band in the '90s. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ben and Jerry Stiller, Will Ferrell, Amy Brenneman and Craig Bierko star in the comedy. (TriStar Pictures)

Terror Firmer No-budget horror-spoof producer Lloyd Kaufman loosely based this movie about making bad horror spoofs on his own autobiography. (Troma)

October unscheduled

Deterrence Radio film-show host Rod Lurie makes his directing debut with this political thriller set on the night of a near-future presidential election. Stars Kevin Pollak, Timothy Hutton and Sheryl Lee Ralph. (Paramount Classics)

Dogma Kevin Smith's (``Chasing Amy'') religious satire has riled the Catholic Church into boycott talk. Miramax co-chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein decided to spare parent company Disney the grief and bought the movie themselves for $12 million. We'll see if it was worth the trouble - and the money. In case you're wondering, Alanis Morissette plays God. (Lions Gate)

Grizzly Falls Hunters capture bear cubs, so Mama Bear abducts a child. Unsurprisingly, boy and bear bond in the wilderness. Family stuff; not realistic, obviously. (Providence Entertainment)

The Omega Code The Bible code is cracked, so naturally evil guys are out to take advantage of its prophecies. Millennial thriller starring Casper Van Dien, Michael York, Catherine Oxenberg and Michael Ironside. (Providence Entertainment)

Nov. 5

The Bachelor Remake of Buster Keaton's classic silent comedy, ``Seven Chances.'' Chris O'Donnell must marry within 24 hours in order to collect a $100 million inheritance. Trouble is, girlfriend Renee Zellweger just dumped him, and the several thousand strangers who offer to love him for himself prove a bit daunting. (New Line Cinema)

Bone Collector Paraplegic detective (Denzel Washington) joins ex-model detective (Angelina Jolie) on the trail of a serial killer. (Universal)

The Insider The true story - or will we ever really learn the truth? - of tobacco-industry whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand's struggle to set the record straight via a skittish ``60 Minutes.'' Al Pacino plays the segment producer who has to fight network reticence to get the piece on the air. Russell Crowe (``L.A. Confidential'') plays Wigand. Christopher Plummer does duty as Mike Wallace. (Touchstone Pictures)

Last Night It's the end of the world - and Canada, too! Various people have different reactions to the news that there are just six hours left. Written, directed by and starring Don McKellar, and featuring such north-of-the-border stalwarts as Sarah Polley, David Cronenberg and Genevieve Bujold. (Lions Gate)

Light It Up A protest over the firing of a favorite teacher escalates into a hostage standoff when a high school security guard is shot. Kenny ``Babyface'' and Tracey E. Edmonds produced this urban suspenser with a message. Usher Raymond, Forest Whitaker, Judd Nelson and Vanessa L. Williams star. (20th Century Fox)

Mansfield Park Jane Austen's novel finally gets a big-screen treatment - albeit a revisionist one - courtesy of the masters of the costume drama: Miramax. Expect to see plenty of class conflict, unrequited loves and sexual awakenings. (Miramax)

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc From that spiritually inclined filmmaker who brought you ``The Fifth Element,'' Luc Besson, another visit with France's favorite, divinely inspired girl knight and martyr. Milla Jovovich plays the Maid of Orleans. John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway and Dustin Hoffman co-star. (Columbia Pictures)

Train of Life Another Holocaust feel-good comedy, this one from Romanian-French director Radu Mihaileanu. When they hear the Nazis are coming, residents of a Central European shtetl pool their resources to buy boxcars and SS uniforms and stage their own, fake deportations. (Paramount Classics)

Nov. 12

American Movie A Wisconsin filmmaker's struggles to shoot an independent movie way outside the Hollywood system are chronicled in this documentary. (Sony Pictures Classics)

Felicia's Journey Irish girl travels to England in search of her boyfriend. Instead, she finds an obsessive, solitary bachelor (Bob Hoskins) with a thing for homeless girls. Another ray of sunshine from director Atom Egoyan (``The Sweet Hereafter,'' ``Exotica''). (Artisan)

Play It to the Bone Two never-made-it boxers get an undercard offer for a Tyson-Holyfield fight but have trouble getting to Vegas in time for the show. Woody Harrelson and Antonio Banderas play the battling buddies in yet another sports comedy from ``Bull Durham'' and ``White Men Can't Jump'' writer-director Ron Shelton. (Buena Vista Pictures)

Pokemon: The First Movie The video-game and kids-TV sensation comes to the big screen. We'd try to explain what it's about but, being past puberty, we can't for the life of us figure that out. (Warner Bros.)

Three to Tango Once again, Matthew Perry plays a guy everybody thinks is gay. This time, he's a Chicago architect vying for a major project. The jealous tycoon who's backing it (Dylan McDermott) wants his mistress (Neve Campbell) spied on, so Perry is recruited to follows the lady - and, since he's not really gay, complications ensue. (Warner Bros.)

Nov. 19

Liberty Heights Another entry in writer-director Barry Levinson's series about midcentury life in Baltimore (previous segments included ``Diner,'' ``Tin Men'' and ``Avalon''). This one looks at changing prejudices in the 1950s and stars Adrien Brody, Bebe Neuwirth and Joe Mantegna. (Warner Bros.)

Sleepy Hollow The headless horseman rides again, this time as imagined by director Tim Burton. Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci star in the latest adaptation of the Washington Irving story. (Paramount)

Tumbleweeds Mother and daughter flee mom's bad Southern marriages but run into similar situations in San Diego. Stars Broadway favorite Janet McTeer. (Fine Line)

The World Is Not Enough Bond. James Bond. For the 19th time. Pierce Brosnan returns as 007. Denise Richards and Sophie Marceau supply the cleavage. (MGM)

Nov. 24

All About My Mother Pedro Almodovar's widely praised tragicomedy about grief, self-assessment, female solidarity and really bright color schemes in contemporary Spain. (Sony Pictures Classics)

End of Days Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a cop warily approaching the millennium - and for good reason. It seems Satan (Gabriel Byrne) is on the loose, looking to find a bride. If he succeeds, you can forget that New Year's Eve party you were planning. (Universal)

Flawless Robert De Niro plays a tough New York cop who suffers a stroke and rehabilitates with an unlikely source - his drag queen neighbor. Joel Schumacher tries to atone for ``Batman Forever'' and ``8mm.'' (MGM)

Ride With the Devil Civil War drama starring Tobey Maguire, Skeet Ulrich and Jewel (yes, Jewel), set in the bloody Kansas-Missouri theater of conflict. Directed by the determinedly versatile Ang Lee (``Sense and Sensibility,'' ``The Ice Storm''). (USA Films)

Toy Story 2 The computer-animated playthings are back. This time, space ace Buzz Lightyear (voiced again by Tim Allen) has to lead a rescue mission when cowboy doll Woody (Tom Hanks again) is kidnapped by a rare toy collector. John Lasseter again directs with a couple of other guys. (Walt Disney Pictures)

Nov. 26:

Rosetta Top prize winner at this year's Cannes Film Festival, this Belgian drama charts a poverty-stricken teen-ager's determined efforts to land a job. Emilie Dequenne took Cannes' best actress award for her film debut. Written and directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (``La Promesse''). (USA Films)

Dec. 3

Deuce Bigglow: Male Gigolo Rob Schneider plays the title character. Enough said. (Touchstone)

The End of the Affair Based on Graham Greene's great novel about a wartime affair that the man and the woman prove, in retrospect, to have viewed very differently indeed. Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore and Stephen Rea star. Directed by Neil Jordan of ``The Crying Game'' fame. (Columbia Pictures)

Holy Smoke Harvey Keitel reteams with ``Piano'' director Jane Campion, playing a cult deprogrammer who falls in love with a woman he has been paid to find. Kate Winslet co-stars. (Miramax)

Dec. 10

The Cider House Rules John Irving's best seller has been a six-hour play and, now, a two-hour-plus movie. Story concerns an orphan raised by a kindhearted abortionist who has a thing for ether. Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron head the sprawling cast. Irving himself wrote the screenplay. Lasse Hallstrom (``What's Eating Gilbert Grape'') directs. (Miramax)

Cradle Will Rock Director Tim Robbins (``Dead Man Walking'') re-creates the political and artistic controversy that surrounded Orson Welles' 1930s staging of a radical play. The huge cast includes Hank Azaria, Ruben Blades, Joan and John Cusack, Bill Murray, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon and Emily Watson. (Touchstone Pictures)

Galaxy Quest Washed-up stars of a 1970s sci-fi series meet and greet their loyalists at conventions. Some of their fans travel a little farther than others. Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver star. (DreamWorks)

Scream 3 The last installment in Wes Craven's popular horror series. Whether anyone - besides teen-agers - cares in the wake of ``Blair Witch'' remains to be seen. (Miramax)

Stuart Little E.B. White's beloved little mouse gets the big-screen treatment in this mixture of live-action and computer animation. Geena Davis and ``Jerry Maguire's'' Jonathan Lipnicki are the human stars; Michael J. Fox provides the rodent's voice. Directed by Rob Minkoff (``The Lion King''). (Columbia Pictures)

Sweet and Lowdown In Woody Allen's latest, Sean Penn plays a high-living, 1930s jazz guitarist. Uma Thurman and Samantha Morton co-star in the farcical period comedy. (Sony Pictures Classics)

The War Zone Actor Tim Roth directs this English family drama about coming of age in an incestuous household. Stars the ferocious Ray Winstone (``Nil by Mouth'') and Tilda Swinton. (Lot 47 Inc.)

Dec. 17

Bicentennial Man Robin Williams plays a domestic android who becomes increasingly human over 200 years of service to one family. Directed by cuddle-prone Chris Columbus (``Mrs. Doubtfire,'' ``Stepmom'') and based on an Isaac Asimov story. (Touchstone Pictures)

The Emperor and the Assassin Four thousand years ago, an ambitious Chinese prince tried to merge seven warring kingdoms into one political entity. Chen Kaige drafts his ``Farewell My Concubine'' stars Gong Li and Zhang Fengyi back into duty for this sweeping, intrigue-laden epic. (Sony Pictures Classics)

The Green Mile Long-in-the-making adaptation of Stephen King's mystical prison story, starring Tom Hanks as the Death Row guard who develops a special relationship with strangely powered inmate Michael Clarke Duncan (``Armageddon''). Frank Darabont, whose previous film was the King prison drama ``Shawshank Redemption,'' directed. (Warner Bros.)

Simpatico Racetrack scheme goes awry when romantic betrayal intrudes. Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges, Sharon Stone and Albert Finney star in this adaptation of a Sam Shepard play. (Fine Line)

Dec. 21

Girl, Interrupted The true story of a teen-age girl's yearlong stay in a mental institution. Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie are the inmates; Whoopi Goldberg and Vanessa Redgrave their keepers. (Columbia Pictures)

Dec. 22

Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir of his impoverished Irish childhood gets the dramatic treatment from director Alan Parker. Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle star. (Paramount)

The Ninth Gate Johnny Depp gets weird again in this satanic thriller about a book dealer hired to find a devilish volume. Roman Polanski directs. (Artisan)

Snow Falling on Cedars Scott Hicks makes his first movie since ``Shine,'' adapting David Guterson's best-selling novel about the small-town trial of a Japanese man accused of murdering a local fisherman. Ethan Hawke stars. (Universal)

Dec. 23

Daddy and Them Billy Bob Thornton pulls triple duty again, writing, directing and starring in this comedy about a young couple who are crazy in love and, well, just plain crazy. Their white-trash families might have a little something to do with it. Thornton's off-screen squeeze, Laura Dern, makes nice with him on screen as well. (Miramax)

Dec. 24

The Talented Mr. Ripley Amoral title character (Matt Damon) discovers that the good life in 1950s Italy can be murder. Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Cate Blachett co-star; Anthony Minghella (``The English Patient'') directs. Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel. (Paramount)

Dec. 25

Any Given Sunday Oliver Stone's study of pro football should be another over-the-top look at American violence. At least the NFL, which refused to cooperate with the production, thinks it will. The MVP cast includes Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, Charlton Heston, Ann-Margret and James Woods. (Warner Bros.)

Hanging Up Film version of Delia Ephron's semiautobiographical novel about three sisters dealing with the impending death of their high-living father. Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton and Lisa Kudrow play the women; Walter Matthau's the dad. Keaton directed from a script by Delia and Nora Ephron. (Columbia Pictures)

Magnolia ``Boogie Nights'' writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson takes a different look at our hometown in this ensemble drama - featuring William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, Jason Robards and Tom Cruise - that takes place over 24 hours in the San Fernando Valley. (New Line Cinema)

Man on the Moon From the director (Milos Forman) and screenwriters who gave us ``The People vs. Larry Flynt'' comes a film bio of another oddball, the late Andy Kaufman. Jim Carrey stars as the eccentric comedian. Maybe this time he'll get his Oscar nomination. (Universal)

Next FridayIn this sequel to the South Central slob comedy, Ice Cube moves to the 'burbs but can't get away from idiot friends or gargantuan bully Tiny Lister. (New Line Cinema)

Reindeer Games Ex-con (Ben Affleck) gets pulled back into a Christmas Eve casino heist, much to the chagrin of his long-suffering girlfriend (Charlize Theron). John Frankenheimer directs. (Miramax)

Dec. 29

The Hurricane True story of middleweight boxer Rubin ``Hurricane'' Carter, who was falsely convicted of murdering three people. Can he beat the rap? Denzel Washington stars in a role that has Oscar written all over it. The venerable Norman Jewison directs. (Universal)

The Third Miracle A disillusioned Catholic priest checks out a blood-crying statue and subsequently must reassess his skepticism regarding miracles. Ed Harris, Anne Heche and Armin Mueller-Stahl star. (Sony Pictures Classics)

December unscheduled

Anna and the King A serious rendition of the actual story ``The King and I'' is based on. Jodie Foster plays the 19th-century British governess charged with educating the headstrong king of Siam's (Chow Yun-Fat) 58 children. Shot in Malaysia (Thai officials took offense), the film boasts some of the biggest sets built since the 1963 version of ``Cleopatra.'' (20th Century Fox)

CAPTION(S):

29 Photos

Photo: (1) Simpatico: Sharon Stone stars in a Matthew Warchus film of high-stakes deception. (Dec. 17)

(2) American Beauty: Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening are a discontented suburban couple in Sam Mendes' offbeat comedic drama. (Sept. 15)

(3) The Green Mile: Tom Hanks plays a guard in a Southern prison in 1935 who develops a relationship with an inmate who has a magical gift in this adaptation of Stephen King's novel, from director Frank Darabont. (Dec. 17)

(4) Jakob the Liar: Robin Williams plays a Jewish cafe owner who tries to keep hope alive with humor during World War II, from director Peter Kassovitz. (Sept. 24)

(5) Random Hearts: Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas are brought together when their spouses are on a plane that crashes. The romantic mystery is from director Sydney Pollack. (Oct. 8)

(6) Angela's Ashes: Robert Carlyle, Shane Murray Corcora, Emily Watson and Joe Breen star in Alan Parker's adaptation of Frank McCourt's novel of growing up in Ireland. (Dec. 22)

(7) Galaxy Quest: In the foreground, Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver star in a sci-fi comedy of mistaken identity. Directed by Dean Parisot. (Dec. 10)

(8) Three Kings: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube star in director David O. Russell's unconventional war story. (Oct. 1)

(9) Three to Tango: Matthew Perry and Neve Campbell star in this offbeat romantic comedy from director Damon Santostefano. (Nov. 12)

(10) Body Shots: Jery O'Connell and Sean Patrick Flanery star in the drama from director Michael Cristofer. (Oct. 22)

(11) The Big Tease: Craig Ferguson plays a hairdresser in this `` `Rocky' in curlers'' film from director Kevin Allen. (Sept. 24)

(12) The Ninth Gate: Johnny Depp plays a rare book dealer who comes across a tome with demonic powers, from director Roman Polanski. (Dec. 22)

(13--Color) Bicentennial Man: Robin Williams plays a robot with human emotions. Sam Neil plays his understanding owner, from director Chris Columbus. (Dec. 17)

(14--Color) Pokemon: The First Movie: Hit video game comes to the big screen. (Nov. 12)

(15--Color) Flawless: Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a drag queen who helps Robert De Niro's character, a conservative security guard, recover from a stroke. From director Joel Schumacher. (Nov. 24)

(16--Color) Cradle Will Rock: Susan Sarandon and John Cusack star in director Tim Robbins' story about a group of actors, including Orson Welles, determined to mount a musical during the Depression. (Dec. 10)

(17--Color) Sleepy Hollow: Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci star in Tim Burton's retelling of the Washington Irving classic. (Nov. 19)

(18--Color) Princess Mononoke: Claire Danes is the voice of the princess in director Hayao Miyazaki's animated blockbuster (in Japan). (Oct. 29)

(19--Color) Toy Story 2: Buzz and Woody are back in the sequel to the animated smash hit with Tim Allen and Tom Hanks again providing the voices. Directed by Ash Brannon and Colin Brady. (Nov. 24)

(20--Color) Anna and the King: Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat in the real epic ``King and I,'' from director Andy Tennant. (December)

(21--Color) Daddy and Them: Billy Bob Thornton and Laura Dern (foreground) with Kelly Preston and Dianne Ladd in Thornton's offbeat look at America's heartland. (Dec. 23)

(22--Color) Ride With the Devil: Jewel and Skeet Ulrich star in director Ang Lee's Civil War epic. (Nov. 24).

(23--Color) End of Days: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a beaten-down ex-cop battling a supernatural force in director Peter Hyams' film. (Nov. 24)

(24--Color) The World Is Not Enough: Sophie Marceau has a word with Pierce Brosnan in the latest James Bond adventure. Directed by Michael Apted. (Nov. 19)

(25--Color) Any Given Sunday: Al Pacino stars as a head coach in Oliver Stone's inside look at the world of pro football. (Dec. 25)

(26--Color) Stuart Little: The classic children's tale is brought to the big screen with the title character voiced by Michael J. Fox, from director Rob Minkoff. (Dec. 10)

(27--Color) Bringing Out the Dead: Patricia Arquette and Nicolas Cage in Martin Scorsese's dark look at a burned-out ambulance medic. (Oct. 22)

(28--Color) Music of the Heart: Gloria Estefan and Meryl Streep in director Wes Craven's film about teaching music to inner-city children. (Oct. 29).

(29--Color) The Cider House Rules: Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron in director Lasse Hallstrom's adaptation of the John Irving novel. (Dec. 10)