Highlights and lowlights
Twenty more reasons to race to – or from – the multiplexes and art houses this fall.

By Cheryl Eddy and Johnny Ray Huston

Donnie Darko: The Director's Cut Yeah, Sparkle Motion! The beautifully bizarre cult hit returns, with 20 minutes of new footage, new music, and "new and enhanced" special effects. (Sept. 3)

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence A digital sequel rumored to cost five times more than the original, Mamoru Oshii's anime draws from Hans Bellmer and the sinister side of doll manufacturing to create a vision of cyborg society in the year 2032. Advance word: the plot is befuddling, and the visuals are stunning. (Sept. 17)

Last Life in the Universe The soundtrack of the year, sublime cinematography by Christopher Doyle, and a culture-leaping love story that doesn't get lost in translation. Smoke out before the lights go down. (Sept. 17)

Silver City John Sayles returns with another sprawling, multi-character drama, though this time around he places a suspiciously Dubya-like character – played by the always great Chris Cooper – at its center. (Sept. 17)

Wimbledon Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany may have practiced their little butts off in preparation for their no doubt taxing roles – ah, the demands of acting – but if the trailers are any indication, the Williams sisters'll find this one a hoot. The movie had better ace Dunst's tennis game. (Sept. 17)

A Dirty Shame It would be a shame indeed if "Pope of Trash" John Waters didn't recover his footing with this one, which has landed an NC-17 rating. Hopeful signs: sex addicts as heroes, Selma Blair sporting Chesty Morgan-like knockers, and early reports that hint at a Sirk homage far ruder than Todd Haynes's. Cause for worry: Chris Isaak. If nothing else, this'll satisfy all you sickos until the movie version of Strangers with Candy arrives. (Sept. 24)

The Forgotten For the first 15-or-so seconds at least, the trailer suggests a 21st-century big-budget variant of the great Carnival of Souls, and if anyone is equipped to deliver the necessary melancholy creepiness, it's Safe star Julianne Moore. But this could also be 2004's Gothika. (Sept. 24)

Shark Tale Sharks are definitely the "it" predator this year, what with Open Water and this animated, underwater mob comedy featuring the voices of Will Smith, Jack Black, Robert De Niro, and other A-listers. (Oct. 1)

Dig! Freddy vs. Jason and Alien vs. Predator have nothing on Anton (Newcombe) vs. Courtney (Taylor-Taylor), judging by reactions to Ondi Timoner's movie at the most recent Sundance and San Francisco fests. If this is the year of the rock doc, then Timoner's might be the rock doc of the year, and for that, both warring bandleaders – representing the otherwise past-it Brian Jonestown Massacre and Dandy Warhols, respectively – should be grateful. (Oct. 8)

Shall We Dance? The falling star formerly known as J-Lo tries to revive her career with a J-romantic remake. Leading man Richard Gere offers a pale gray imitation of original star Koji Yakusho's mushroom-cloud hairdo. (Oct. 15)

Sideways When Alexander Payne is at his sourball best, as with Election, the speed and accuracy of his satire can't be matched. When he isn't, as with About Schmidt, the relentless misanthropy gets a bit wearisome. For the director's fourth feature, he teams up with a post-Pekar Paul Giamatti to hit – and comedically destroy, one hopes – wine country. (Oct. 20)

Incident at Loch Ness Werner Herzog – who, let's not forget, has already tackled one of the most mysterious, disturbing, frequently terrifying documentary subjects around: Klaus Kinski – takes on the famed Scottish sea monster. (Nov. 5)

The Polar Express Chris van Allburg's classic children's picture story is transferred to the screen, and the good news is it respects, if not duplicates, the look of the book. The bad news? Schlockmeister Robert Zemeckis is at the helm, and he's paired with his Forrest Gump partner in crimes against history, Tom Hanks – albeit a Hanks reunited with bosom buddy Peter Scolari. (Nov. 10)

Seed of Chucky Five sequels is hardly child's play. Fun quote: director Don Mancini describes this as "a twist on family dramas like Ordinary People and Kramer vs. Kramer." (Nov. 10)

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Method actor Renée Zellweger once again balloons to a thoroughly repulsive weight – what, 120 pounds or so? – all in the name of her art, people. (Nov. 19)

Blade: Trinity A shades-clad Wesley Snipes returns for vampire clean-up duty; Kris Kristofferson returns to dispense more sage advice, devise more crazy weaponry, and add a general coolness to the proceedings. (Dec. 10)

Ocean's Twelve The most glamorous, over-paparazzied movie shoot of the summer (freeze-frame: Brad and George and Matt on an Italian yacht) rolls into theaters so sure of itself, the tag line is "Twelve is the new eleven." Hey guys, steal something – stylishly! (Dec. 10)

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Let's hope the fortune returned by our Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events commemorative Magic 8-Ball doesn't bode poorly for the film: "My sources say grim." Hmm, let's ask again: "Calamity confirmed." Oh well, not to worry – every single kid on Earth's still gonna be panting to see this one. (Dec. 17)

Meet the Fockers The return of Babs as, and maybe is, a mother Focker. (Dec. 22)

Fat Albert At long last: a live-action Mushmouth! Here's hoping perma-crabby Bill Cosby approves. On second thought ... (Dec. 25)