The 2004 Fall movie season offers something for everyone, but especially for fans of biopics. Although that’s not one of my favorite genres, I have high hopes for Ray and Beyond the Sea -- probably because they're also musicals. Jamie Foxx stars in the former as the incomparable Ray Charles, and Kevin Spacey takes on the role of singer Bobby Darin in the latter. These two performances are already creating strong Oscar buzz. Ray opens on October 29, and Beyond the Sea swings into multiplexes on December 17. Neither date is soon enough for me. I can’t wait to see Spacey doing snappy musical numbers and Foxx singing his heart out. 

Other biopics scheduled for release this Fall include The Aviator, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as mega-wealthy Howard Hughes (sorry, but I’m having trouble with that casting decision), and Kinsey, featuring Liam Neeson as the famous sex researcher. Opening date for The Aviator is December 17, and for Kinsey it’s November 12. Alexander (November 24), starring Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great, probably belongs in this category, but I believe filmmakers like to think of it as an epic rather than a biopic.        

No surprise, is it, that we’ll also be seeing lots of remakes and sequels this Fall?  During October, Susan Sarandon appears in two of the most promising remakes: Shall We Dance? (October 15) and Alfie (October 23). Shall We Dance?, co-starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez, is the American version of a terrific Japanese film; Alfie gives Jude Law a chance to do his thing with the role that made Michael Caine a star. And Dennis Quaid takes on The Flight of the Phoenix (November 26), an adaptation of the original Jimmy Stewart movie. Finally, in the remake category, The Grudge creeps into theaters on October 22. It’s a remake of a very scary Japanese horror flick called Ju-On.

As in most movie seasons, sequels abound during Fall 2004. Child’s Play 5: Seed of Chucky opens on November 12 (why not on Halloween?); Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason on November 19; Blade: Trinity and Ocean’s Twelve on December 10; Meet the Fockers on December 22.

Fall treats for the kiddies include Shark Tale (October 1), Pixar’s The Incredibles (November 5), Polar Express (November 12), The  SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (November 19) and Jim Carrey’s eagerly awaited Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events (December 14). Also, pre-teen fans of Hilary Duff will probably turn out in droves for their idol's new film, Raise Your Voice, on October 8.    

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage jump into action mode for Ladder 49 (October 1) and National Treasure (November 26), respectively; Cary Elwes shows up in SAW (October 29), a horror movie opening just in time for Halloween; Zhang Yimou unleashes House of Flying Daggers (December 10).  And there are plenty of comedies to go around. I Heart Huckabees (October 1) co-stars Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman as existential detectives (!); Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon reluctantly pair up to fight crime in Taxi (October 8); intrepid puppets join the war against terror in Team America World Police (October 15); Alexander Payne follows his wonderful About Schmidt with Sideways (October 22); funnyman Bill Murray returns in The Life Acquatic (December 24); and two movies -- Surviving Christmas (October 22) and Christmas with the Kranks (November 22) -- poke fun at holiday traditions.

For drama and romance fans, Fall offers a rich and varied list of movies. Annette Bening sets her sights on another Oscar nomination with her portrayal of a diva in Being Julia (October 15); ditto Nicole Kidman as a woman who thinks a young boy is her reincarnated husband in Birth (November 5); Laura Linney finds romance with a younger man in P.S. (October 15); Billy Crudup takes on the role of a Stage Beauty (October 8) with Claire Danes as his dresser; Billy Bob Thornton coaches football in Friday Night Lights (October 8); Christopher Walken and Michael Caine portray father and son in Around the Bend (October 8); Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Clive Owen explore love and lust in Closer (December 3); Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez and Diane Lane show off their dramatic acting chops in Proof (December 24), An Unfinished Life (December 24) and Fierce People (December 25), respectively; and Johnny Depp transforms himself into J. M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, in Finding Neverland (November 12). 

I saved the best for last. The film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Phantom of the Opera should be coming our way in late December. Even though Antonio Banderas didn’t snag the lead, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing this acclaimed musical on the big screen. Aren't you?     

Happy Fall moviegoing!

(NOTE:  Release dates are subject to change.)