 Holiday movies: What's opening, and whenUpdated: 11/19/2009 03:00:40 PM MST
Here are the movies opening in local theaters between now and the end of the year -- along with some other Oscar contenders that may trickle into Utah in December or January.
Nov. 25
Fantastic Mr. Fox » Director Wes Anderson ("Rushmore," "The Royal Tenenbaums") brings his whimsical flair to Roald Dahl's children's book, creating a stop-motion wonder about a resourceful fox (voiced by George Clooney) trying to outsmart three nasty farmers.
Ninja Assassin » A ninja (played by the Korean pop star Rain) fights back against his clan in this bloody action drama directed by James McTeigue ("V for Vendetta").
Old Dogs » A bachelor (Robin Williams) learns that he's actually a father and tries to bond with his kids at scout camp. John Travolta also stars in this comedy from "Wild Hogs" director Walt Becker.
Nov. 27
Amarcord » Federico Fellini's 1973 comedy-drama about a year in an Italian fishing village gets a re-release.
Dec. 4
Armored » A rookie armored-car guard (Columbus Short) gets involved in a heist plan, but bucks his thieving co-workers when the plan goes awry. Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne and Jean Reno co-star in this thriller.
Brothers » When her husband (Tobey Maguire) goes missing in Afghanistan, a war bride (Natalie Portman) is drawn closer to his brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) in director Jim Sheridan's remake of Susanne Bier's acclaimed Danish drama.
Everybody's Fine » Robert DeNiro plays a widowed dad who travels cross-country to check on his adult children (Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell) in a remake of Giuseppe Tornatore's 1990 comedy starring Marcello Mastroianni.
The Horse Boy » In this documentary from Sundance 2009, a couple take their 
Penelope Cruz in a scene from the musical "Nine."
(David James / The Weinstein Company) The Messenger » A sergeant (Ben Foster) assigned to notify families of casualties begins a relationship with the wife (Samantha Morton) of a soldier killed in battle.
Up in the Air » Director Jason Reitman's follow-up to "Juno" is this adaptation of Walter Kirn's novel, starring George Clooney as a corporate downsizing expert who's obsessed with his frequent-flier miles.
Dec. 11
Saoirse Ronan stars in Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones."
(Paramount Pictures)
The Lovely Bones » Peter Jackson ("The Lord of the Rings") tackles Alice Sebold's best-selling novel about a family's grief over the murder of their daughter ("Atonement's" Saoirse Ronan), who's watching from the afterlife. Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci also star.
The Maid » An award-winner at Sundance 2009, this Chilean drama follows a servant (Catalina Saavedra) who goes to desperate lengths to hold onto her job.
The Princess and the Frog » Disney's back with a new princess, Tiana (voiced by "Dreamgirls' " Anika Noni Rose), who meets a frog who claims he's a prince in Jazz Age New Orleans.
Dec. 18
Antichrist » Danish bad-boy Lars von Trier's controversial drama about a couple (Charlotte Gainsbourg, Willem Dafoe) grieving after their child's death -- as their marriage spirals into dark and psychotic confrontations.
Avatar » James Cameron's first movie since "Titanic," a space epic about a paralyzed soldier (Sam Worthington) whose mind is put into the body of an alien warrior.
Did You Hear About the Morgans? » Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker play Manhattan socialites on the verge of divorce until they witness a mob murder and get shipped off to Wyoming for their protection.
Still Walking » Adult children visit their elderly parents, bringing their own kids along, in this Japanese drama from director Hirokazu Koreeda ("Nobody Knows").
Dec. 23
Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel » The musical rodents are back for another round, this time meeting their match in the Chipettes. Jason Lee also returns as the Chipmunks' hapless human.
Dec. 25
It's Complicated » Meryl Streep plays a woman who can't stay away from her ex (Alec Baldwin), even while being romanced by a new guy (Steve Martin), in this comedy by Nancy Meyers ("Something's Gotta Give").
Nine » The Broadway musical version of Fellini's "8 1/2," directed by Rob Marshall ("Chicago") and featuring a stellar cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson and Fergie.
Sherlock Holmes » Robert Downey Jr. plays the Baker Street detective, with Jude Law as Dr. Watson, in director Guy Ritchie's action-movie take on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character. Rachel McAdams also stars.
The Young Victoria » Emily Blunt ("The Devil Wears Prada") portrays Queen Victoria in the early days of her reign, and her romance with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend).
To be determined
Broken Embraces » Penélope Cruz and director Pedro Almodóvar reteam, with Cruz playing the lost love of a blind writer (Lluís Homar) recalling the car accident that changed his life 14 years earlier.
Crazy Heart » Jeff Bridges could get an Oscar nomination for this portrayal of a broken-down country singer who seeks redemption through a young journalist (Maggie Gyllenhaal).
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus » A traveling theatrical company's leader (Christopher Plummer) has made a deal with the devil and is desperate to change the terms in this wild fantasy by director Terry Gilliam. Heath Ledger was shooting this movie at the time of his death in January 2008, and three actors -- Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell -- stepped in to finish.
Invictus » Director Clint Eastwood gives Morgan Freeman his dream role as South African president Nelson Mandela in the days after apartheid -- when Mandela enlisted the captain (Matt Damon) of South Africa's rugby team to bring the sport's World Cup to South Africa.
The Last Station » As the writer Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) nears his death, a battle breaks out over his estate and his desire to live modestly. Helen Mirren, James McAvoy and Paul Giamatti also star.
Me and Orson Welles » Orson Welles (played by Christian McKay) you know; the "me" is a teen (Zac Efron) cast in the 1937 production of "Julius Caesar" mounted by Welles' Mercury Theatre. Directed by Richard Linklater ("The School of Rock").
The Road » Australian director John Hillcoat adapts Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer-winning and Oprah-endorsed novel about a father (Viggo Mortensen) trying to protect his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) after the apocalypse.
A Single Man » Fashion designer Tom Ford makes his directing debut with this adaptation of a Christopher Isherwood story of an older gay man (Colin Firth) adjusting to life after the death of his longtime partner.
That Evening Sun » Hal Holbrook plays an aged farmer who discovers his son has rented out the old homestead, and he fights to reclaim his home.
(Untitled) » An art-gallery owner (Marley Shelton) falls for a moody composer (Adam Goldberg) in this satire of the modern art scene.
The White Ribbon » In this year's Palme D'Or winner at Cannes, director Michael Haneke ("Cache," "Funny Games") tells a story of strange doings in a German village just before World War II -- and the abused villagers who may be at the heart of the mystery. | 
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