Reel variety is the theme of the season

The director of “Slumdog Millionaire” has his follow-up film ready. Oscar buzz could also settle on the latest from directors Clint Eastwood and David Fincher or actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Colin Firth.

The high caliber of these films can mean only one thing — the fall movie season is upon us. All have openings between now and Thanksgiving in multiplexes across the country.

But the longest shadow of the fall movie lineup is no doubt cast by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.” On Nov. 19, Harry and friends launch the film version of J.K. Rowling's final novel about the boy wizard, which has been divided into two films. “Part 2” will open next July.

Even as award season nears its launch, there's still something for everyone in the fall lineup.

Looking for high drama? Cher's back in a musical. Shia LaBeouf stars in a sequel to “Wall Street.” Nebraska's own Hilary Swank crusades for justice.

If comedy's your thing, Betty White will soon dance at a wedding again. Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton are at each other's throats as morning anchors, while Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel feud as newly drafted parents, and Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis take a road trip.

For the child in all of us, animated movies revisit Rapunzel and invent a new supervillain voiced by Will Ferrell.

Action-suspense fans await offerings from Dwayne Johnson, Chris Pine, Jeremy Renner and Russell Crowe.

Here's a week-by-week guide through the fall movie lineup. As always, opening dates could shift or be slightly delayed for Omaha.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 10

“Resident Evil: Afterlife.” Milla Jovovich again battles the undead in this sci-fi thriller.

Sept. 17

“Easy A.” To help a gay friend, a sharp-tongued teen lies about losing her virginity, and she's branded with the scarlet letter. Emma Stone and Penn Badgley star.

“The Town.” Shades of “Good Will Hunting” in this Boston story of a bank robber (Ben Affleck) who glimpses a brighter future with his classy new girlfriend (Rebecca Hall), a bank employee. Affleck directs and Jeremy Renner co-stars.

Sept. 22

“You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.” Woody Allen's latest relationship movie stars Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas.

Sept. 24

“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) is out of prison. His daughter (Carey Mulligan) is dating a hotshot young trader (Shia LaBeouf) battling a tough economy.

“You Again.” Kristen Bell isn't happy her brother is marrying her old high school nemesis. Sabotage ensues, and Grandma Betty White gets dance lessons from a wedding planner (Kristen Chenoweth).

“Buried.” Ryan Reynolds is a truck driver in Iraq stuck in a coffin with only a cell phone and a lighter.

OCTOBER

Oct. 1

“The Social Network.” Director David Fincher chronicles the college-age founders of Facebook. Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield star.

“Let Me In.” American remake of the Swedish vampire hit “Let the Right One In.”

Oct. 8

“Life as We Know It.” After their friends' deaths, Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl inherit their home, raise their baby and relive a long-ago blind date from hell.

“Secretariat.” Diane Lane plays the plucky trainer of this famous Triple Crown racehorse.

“Nowhere Boy.” John Lennon's early years include a difficult mother (Anne-Marie Duff) and the aunt who raised him (Kristin Scott Thomas). Aaron Johnson plays Lennon.

Oct. 15

“RED.” Bruce Willis is a former agent targeted by the CIA. His Retired and Extremely Dangerous (RED) friends include Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren. Based on a graphic novel.

“The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.” Noomi Rapace again stars in the third movie based on Stieg Larsson's trilogy of crime novels.

“Conviction.” A single mom (Hilary Swank) must prove her brother (Sam Rockwell) was wrongly convicted of murder. A true story.

Oct. 22

“Hereafter.” Director Clint Eastwood's movie deals with mortality in triple plotlines, one of which stars Matt Damon as a psychic.

“Waiting for ‘Superman.'” Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”) looks at public education.

“Paranormal Activity 2.” Grainy-looking previews have announced a sequel to last year's surprise horror hit.

Oct. 29

“The Company Men.” After losing the wife and kids to his workaholism, Ben Affleck gets downsized. Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones co-star.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 5

“Megamind.” In this animated movie, a baby sent from a dying planet lands in a prison and grows up to be a supervillain (voice of Will Ferrell). His natural enemy is virtuous Metro Man (voice of Brad Pitt).

“Due Date.” A first-time dad (Robert Downey Jr.) races from Atlanta to L.A. hoping to be there for the delivery, but his co-traveler (Zach Galifianakis) drives him nuts.

“127 Hours.” Director Danny Boyle, whose “Slumdog Millionaire” won best picture, follows it up with this true story of a mountain climber (James Franco) forced to cut off his own arm to survive.

Nov. 12

“Morning Glory.” A rising TV producer (Rachel McAdams) hires an ex-evening anchor (Harrison Ford) to boost her morning show's lightweight host (Diane Keaton), generating sparks. From the screenwriter of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

“Unstoppable.” Engineer Denzel Washington and trainee Chris Pine must stop a runaway train loaded with toxic chemicals. Tony Scott (“The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3”) directs.

Nov. 19

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.” Leaving Hogwarts, Harry and his pals are on the run from Voldemort, seeking to destroy bits of his soul called horcruxes. Bill Nighy and Rhys Ifans join the cast.

“The Next Three Days.” Russell Crowe plots a prison escape for his wife (Elizabeth Banks). Writer-director Paul Haggis (“Crash”) remakes a French thriller.

Nov. 24

“Tangled.” Disney's 3D animated film about Rapunzel features Flynn Rider, a thief who scales the tower to woo her.

“Burlesque.” Club owner Cher must deal with a volatile leading lady (Kristen Bell), coddle a newcomer (Christina Aguilera) and belt out a new Diane Warren song.

“Love and Other Drugs.” Jake Gyllenhaal, a Viagra salesman, falls for free-spirited Anne Hathaway.

“The King's Speech.” Colin Firth must become England's King George VI after his brother, Edward (Guy Pearce), abdicates in 1936. Geoffrey Rush plays the king's speech therapist, dealing with a stammer.

“Faster.” Ex-con Dwayne Johnson is out for revenge after a failed bank heist left his brother dead. Billy Bob Thornton plays a veteran cop who's on to him.

Contact the writer:

444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com

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