If you read enough movie reviews, you know that critics dont agree on much, with observations usually all over the map. A raved-about film will always have a few dissenters (even the Oscar-winning American Beauty had a couple of nay-sayers), while those films that are easy targets for pans (Coyote Ugly, for example) can be expected to pick up a few supporters here and there. But there was one matter on which most critics recently agreed namely, that the 2000 summer movie season was a bust. In between came films so forgettable or so vaguely memorable by now that they could have been released five years ago. That may be because the relentless hype that now surrounds movies has made us cynical and more than a little jaded. Sad, but nothing on screen seems to impress anymore. Weve been spoiled dazzled to death. This means one of two things for the fall movie season. First, matters can only get better. And second and more to the point the season had better be a really good one if it hopes to regenerate our passion for movies. About 150 films are scheduled to be released between now and the end of the year, running the gamut from those with Oscar on their minds (its that time of year) to those biding their time before they hit video; from those left over from the summer to those destined to be bumped into the year 2001.The crowded schedule doesnt include any potential blockbuster that jumps out at us, the way James Camerons Titanic did a few years ago, but there are a few compelling trends. At long last, Helen Hunt will be back on screen after her Oscar-winning turn in 1997s As Good at It Gets and in no fewer than four films Robert Altmans Dr. T and the Women (opening Oct. 6) with Richard Gere, Mimi Leders Pay It Forward (Oct. 27) with Kevin Spacey, Nancy Meyers What Women Want (Dec. 15) with Mel Gibson, and Robert Zemeckis Cast Away (Dec. 22) with Tom Hanks. Charlize Theron continues to be ubiquitous, with roles in James Grays The Yards (Oct. 20), Robert Redfords The Legend of Bagger Vance (Nov. 3), and George Tillman Jr.s Men of Honor (Nov. 10), the latter with Robert De Niro, who also stars in the Jay Roach comedy Meet the Parents (Oct. 6) and Agnes Vardas One Hundred and One Nights (undated).There are two films that spoof beauty pageants: Sally Fields directorial debut, Beautiful (Sept. 29), starring Minnie Driver, and Donald Petries Miss Congeniality (Dec. 22), with Sandra Bullock. And there will be musicals (and music-oriented films) galore. Bruce Paltrows Duets, which opened Sept. 15 and stars his daughter, Gwyneth, makes ample use of songs, as does Cameron Crowes autobiographical Almost Famous, opening Sept. 22. For a much more traditional musical, theres Michael Ritchies film of the long-running off-Broadway hit The Fantasticks, which was made five years ago and was recently rescued by Francis Ford Coppola, who is on the board of directors at MGM/UA and took a hand in reshaping the film. Thats just for starters. SeptemberMovie of the MonthAlmost Famous (opens Sept. 22): Writer-director Cameron Crowe, who wrote the semi-autobiographical Fast Times at Ridgemont High and wrote and directed Say Anything (also based on a time in his life), draws on his own experiences here as an aspiring teenage writer (played by Patrick Fugit). After writing for his high-school newspaper and for Creem magazine, he gets a hot assignment from Rolling Stone to follow a rock band on tour. Frances McDormand plays his worried mom, Philip Seymour Hoffman is his mentor, Kate Hudson (Goldie Hawns dead-ringer daughter), Anna Paquin and Fairuza Balk are groupies, and Jason Lee and Billy Crudup play aspiring musicians. Specialized Flick PickThe Fantasticks (opens Sept. 22): The five-year delay of Michael Ritchies film version of the Tom Jones-Harvey Schmidt long-running stage musical has made it only more eagerly anticipated. The musical score is complete, including the charming overture, and only one number has been altered: Rape Ballet has been changed to Seduction Ballet for these antsy, sexually hypocritical times. Joel Grey is the sole big name here, playing one of two fathers who conspire to bring their kids together. Ex-New Kid on the Block Joe McIntyre is the young hero, and the heroine is played by Jean Louisa Kelly (from Mr. Hollands Opus).Also opening Sept. 22:The Exorcist: Revival of the 1973 William Friedkin horror film, with added footage. Loves Labours Lost: Kenneth Branagh does Shakespeare as a 1930s musical. Urban Legend: Final Cut: a sequel. Opening Sept. 29:Beautiful: Sally Fields film about a beauty pageant contestant. Best in Show: Christopher Guest comedy about people who participate in and attend dog shows, starring his cast from Waiting for Guffman. Phish: Bitter Sweet Motel: A documentary about the rock band Phish. Remember the Titans: Denzel Washington as a football coach facing school integration. Also in September (no date set):Barenaked in America: Jason Priestleys documentary on the Barenaked Ladies rock group during its 1998 tour. Blow Dry: Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty) wrote this story about a national hairdressing championship. The Broken Hearts League: A Romantic Comedy: Sundance hit about a gay baseball team. Cherry Falls: The story of a serial killer in a small town. Crime and Punishment in Suburbia: The Dostoevsky classic relocated. Paragraph 175: A documentary about homosexuals who were arrested by the Nazis during World War II.Soul Survivors: Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck and Luke Wilson in a supernatural thriller about some nightmarish experiences that follow a car crash. Under Suspicion: Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman in a remake of the wonderful 1982 policier, Garde a Vu.Urbania: Dan Futterman was acclaimed at Sundance for his witty, sardonic portrayal of a gay man self-destructing on rage. Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God … Be Back by Five: Richard Schenkmans nostalgic film about two friends and their search for a lost buddy. Jon Cryer stars. Wonderland: Michael Winterbottom essays an intimate family portrait over a four-day period. OctoberMovie of the MonthPay It Forward (Oct. 20): Kevin Spacey, Hayley Joel Osment and Helen Hunt star in Mimi Leders adaptation of the Catherine Ryan Hyde book on the notion of human kindness. Its the story of a boy (Osment) whose class project involves a plan to get everyone to do good deeds performing random acts of kindness for three strangers. The three strangers must also do a good deed in return. Spacey is the scarred teacher behind the project, while Hunt plays Osments heavy-drinking mom and the person involved in Osments good deed. The boy tries to bring mother and teacher together romantically because he senses that they are somehow right for each other. Specialized Flick PickDr. T and the Women (Oct. 6): Helen Hunt again, this time in the Robert Altman comedy about a Dallas gynocolgist (Richard Gere), a faithful husband who one day meets his match in an attractive golf pro. Farrah Fawcett plays Geres wildly unstable wife, and Kate Hudson is his cheerleading daughter. Other women in his life and part of Dallas society include Shelley Long as Geres nurse, Laura Dern as his sister-in-law, Liv Tyler, Tara Reid, Janine Turner, Lee Grant and Hunt as the golf pro. Oct. 6:Digimon: The Movie: Animated Japanese import. Get Carter: Sylvester Stallone and Miranda Richardson in a remake of the 1971 British action thriller. Gimme Shelter: Return of the Maysles Bros./Charlotte Zwerin acclaimed 1970 documentary about the infamous Rolling Stones concert at Altamont. Meet the Parents: Groom-to-be Ben Stiller gets off on the wrong foot with prospective father-in-law Robert DeNiro. Tigerland: Joel Schumachers low-budget film about a bunch of recruits enduring boot camp. Oct. 13:Bamboozled: Spike Lee directs Damon Wayans and Jada Pinkett Smith in a satire about African Americans on television. Bounce: A tragic twist of fate brings together slick ad man Ben Affleck and down-to-earth housewife Gwyneth Paltrow. Don Roos (The Opposite of Sex) writes and directs. The Contender: Joan Allen stars in former critic Rod Luries new film about a female vice presidential candidate facing a vicious smear campaign orchestrated by evil Gary Oldman. Jeff Bridges co-stars. Ladies Man: The Saturday Night Live franchise issues this story of a smooth-talking radio host (Tim Meadows) sorting through his list of conquests. Lost Souls: Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Saving Private Ryan, Schindlers List) debuts as a director with a supernatural thriller, with Winona Ryder as a woman embroiled in a satanic conspiracy. Oct. 20:Bedazzled: Director and co-writer Harold Ramis version of the 1967 Peter Cook-Dudley Moore Faustian comedy, about a man (Brendan Fraser) dealing with a drop-dead gorgeous devil (Elizabeth Hurley).Ring of Fire: Daryl Hannah and Keifer Sutherland in a film about riding bulls, directed by James Redford, Roberts son. Oct. 27:Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2: It was inevitable a sequel to the surprise horror hit of 99.Lucky Numbers: Weatherman John Travolta schemes to rig the lottery. Director Nora Ephrons cast includes Lisa Kudrow as the TV stations lotto ball girl. Also in October (no date set):An Affair of Love: A faux documentary about a relationship thats intended to be strictly sexual. All the Pretty Horses: Billy Bob Thornton directs Matt Damon as a teenage cowboy. From the Cormac McCarthy novel. Daddy and Them: Billy Bob Thornton again wrote, directed and starred with former girlfriend Laura Dern in this delayed film about a visit to an eccentric extended family in Little Rock, Ark. The Faithless: Liv Ulmann directs a script by her mentor, Ingmar Bergman. Im the One That I Want: Film version of stand-up comedian-actress Margaret Chos recent stage show. Imposters: Gary Sinise, Vincent DOnofrio and Madeleine Stowe star in this new sci-fi film like The Fugitive set in 2075.Just Looking: Jason Alexanders second film as a director is about a teenager in the 1950s who is a peeping tom. Once in the Life: Laurence Fishburne debuts as a director, adapting his play Riff Raff, a drama about a confrontation between estranged half-brothers. NovemberMovie of the MonthUnbreakable (Nov. 22): Bruce Willis plays a man who is miraculously unharmed in a train wreck outside Philadelphia in which everyone else is killed. When he gets a mysterious explanation from Samuel L. Jackson as to why he survived, the stage is set for another metaphysical drama from writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, doing a follow-up to The Sixth Sense. Specialized Flick Pick:The Legend of Bagger Vance (Nov. 3): Will Smith and Matt Damon star with Charlize Theron in this prestigious leftover from the summer season. Jeremy Leven and Richard LaGraveneses adaptation of Steven Pressfields golf novel, directed by Robert Redford. Its set immediately after World War I and stars Damon as a pro golfer and war hero who is taken under the wing of an itinerant caddie (Smith) who proves to be his greatest cheering section and inspiration. Nov. 3:Billy Elliot: Dance drama about a miners son in Northern England whose life changes when he stumbles into a ballet class on the way to boxing lessons. Charlies Angels: Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu are the lissome threesome in an update of the TV series, helmed by music video director McG. With Bill Murray as Bosley. Red Planet: Anthony Hoffman directs Val Kilmer, Carrie-Anne Moss, Benjamin Bratt, Terence Stamp and Tom Sizemore in sci-fi actioner. Nov. 10:Enemy at the Gate: Ed Harris and Joseph Fiennes join star Jude Law in this World War II drama about a competition between a Russian sniper and a German officer. Men of Honor: The true story of the Navys first African American deep-sea retrieval diver stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert DeNiro. Nov. 17:Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Jim Carrey is hidden under heavy make-up as the Grinch; Ron Howard directs. Rugrats in Paris The Movie: The Reptarland amusement park draws the cartoon clan to the City of Lights. The Sixth Day: Arnold Schwarzenegger is replaced by a clone and plunged into a world of mystery and danger. Nov. 22:102 Dalmatians: Glenn Close is back as Cruella De Vil, released from prison and on the prowl in Paris with Gerard Depardieu. Also in November (no date set)The Amati Girls: Actress Anne DeSalvo makes her directorial debut with this drama about four grown sisters. Boesman and Lena: The film version of South African playwright Athol Fugards hit drama about an impoverished village in Cape Town, starring Danny Glover and Angela Bassett. The Opportunists: Christopher Walken and Cyndi Lauper star in the story of families residing in the same building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Psycho Beach Party: Thomas Gibson of Dharma & Greg plays surfing legend Kanaka, and Lauren Ambrose is the virginal Chicklet in this film version of Charles Buschs popular off-Broadway spoof.