Fall Movies 2010 Preview: 20 Films We're Psyched About

For moviegoers, autumn traditionally signals a return to serious drama and relatively weighty subject matter after the popcorn-flavored fare of summer. And while we certainly have a decent slate of rock-solid dramas to look forward to this year (including 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps', 'Stone' and 'Fair Game'), there's also a variety of other offerings: Two very different comedies starring Zach Galifianakis, romantic comedies, thrillers with and without action, and films that may or may not be documentaries, to round things out.

Though no major theme dominates the season, a few minor ones are evident, namely directorial Afflecks (Casey's debut and Ben's return), movies involving Facebook, and, as previously noted, questionable docs. Plus James Franco -- virtually a theme in himself these days -- taking on two demanding roles.

Here, in order of release date, are 20 fall movies we're really looking forward to:
'Easy A'
Release Date: Sept. 17
Starring: Emma Stone
Teen romcoms with literary references have a strong pedigree ('Clueless,' '10 Things I Hate About You') and 'Easy A,' with its parallels to Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter,' looks like one of the genre's better incarnations. Stone stars as a high schooler who uses rumors about her supposed sluttiness to boost her popularity and financial standing. The movie's witty dialogue has many comparing it to 'Mean Girls,' which is high praise indeed. 
'Hereafter'
Release Date: Oct. 22
Starring: Matt Damon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Cécile De France
We're always interested in what insanely prolific director Clint Eastwood is up to, and this supernatural thriller sounds pretty enticing. The movie, which has been compared to 'The Sixth Sense,' is comprised of three parallel stories, one of which stars Damon as a factory worker who can communicate with the dead. The fact that the script was penned by Peter Morgan('Frost/Nixon,' 'The Queen') bodes well for the film.
'Welcome to the Rileys'
Release Date: Oct. 29
Starring: Melissa Leo, James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart
One thing you gotta say for Stewart: she's sure not coasting on 'Twilight' fame. (Her fierce portrayal of Joan Jett in 'The Runaways' more than proved her acting mettle.) 'Welcome to the Rileys' should only burnish her reputation as an adventurous actress. Directed by Jake Scott, the indie drama stars the terrific Leo and Gandolfini as a grieving couple whose lives are changed by an underage stripper (yep, Stewart). 
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xoxo
Carrie