The Girl's Guide to the 2011 Fall Movie Season

· The Rum Diary (Oct. 28)

Johnny Depp's adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson novel (written and directed by Bruce Robinson) is one American tourist movie actually worth seeing. As Paul Kemp, an American journalist dispatched to Puerto Rico for a story in the '50s, Depp gets a chance to add another wonderfully bizarre character to his onscreen collection. Although similar to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas's Raoul Duke (also a Thompson surrogate), Kemp is satisfied indulging in rum, women (most notably, Amber Heard) and amateur detective work (mostly about a shady businessman played by Aaron Eckhart) rather than hallucinogenics. A completely watchable, partially tamed depiction of gonzo journalism.

· The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 (Nov. 18)

What don't you already know about Twilight's second-to-last film? From the pirated pictures to the interviews that Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are already giving about their steamy honeymoon scene -- to the fact that you probably already read Stephenie Meyer's complete series -- you're covered. Still, Breaking Dawn, Part 1 stands to be the biggest box office event this fall so you probably want to check it out for the water cooler value and the talking points it'll give you for Thanksgiving with your nieces.

· Young Adult (Dec. 7)

Speaking of teen literature, Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody return to the box office this December with Young Adult, a film about a young adult lit author (Charlize Theron) who returns to her hometown to reclaim her happily-married high school crush (Patrick Wilson). When complications ensue, Theron's character reconnects with a former classmate (Patton Oswalt). While we haven't seen a trailer or Twilight-style spoilers for the feature (where were you on this one, Daiana Santia?), we have seen a single photo showing a tired, slightly-pissed Theron in faded sweats...which is enough to sell me. Mildly annoyed, sweatsuit-wearing protagonists are the key to my cold heart.

· The Iron Lady (Dec. 16)

While Diablo Cody could snag another Oscar nomination for Young Adult, there is one Hollywood dame who seems destined for another nod (if not a win) from the Academy for her fall work: Meryl Streep. She returns to the screen for the first time since It's Complicated for The Iron Lady, the Margaret Thatcher biopic that already has entertainment types forecasting a third win for the actress. If the flashback-heavy film does earn Streep another Oscar, it will be her first little gold man since 1983, when she won Best Actress for Sophie's Choice.

· The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Dec. 21)

Sure, the Swedish film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's novel starring Noomi Rapace was phenomenal -- but did it have David Fincher as director, a studio-leaked trailer and scandalous artwork? That's what I thought. Check out the American adaptation of the best-selling novel this December to see if Rooney Mara -- who played a fresh-faced college student in Fincher's The Social Network -- can pull off a goth computer hacker with a history as dark as her eyeliner. Daniel Craig co-stars as Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist in search of a girl who has been missing for four decades.

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