Moviefone's New Release Pick of the Week
"Killer Joe"
What's It About? A trailer park father-son combo (Thomas Haden Church, Emile Hirsch) need to come up with thousands to pay off drug dealers; their only option is to kill off their wicked step-mother (Gina Gershon) and collect the insurance. To pull off the dirty deed, they hire "Killer" Joe (Matthew McConaughey) a corrupt cop who moonlights as a hitman.
See It Because: "Joe" is a showcase of skills you didn't know McConaughey had in him. The movie walks a fine line between brutally grim and darkly funny, and it earns its NC-17 rating. But "Joe's" redneck noirish flavor is a late career high mark for director William Friedkin ("The Exorcist," "The French Connection"), who has always been able to deliver genuine heart-stopping drama.
New on Blu-ray & DVD
"Arbitrage"
What's It About? Richard Gere plays billionaire hedge-fund manager Robert Miller, who soon finds himself embroiled in scandal when he's caught cooking his company's books; Gere is nothing short of brilliant as the conflicted Miller.
See It or Skip It: See it.
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days"
What's It About? The third installment of the popular book series-turned-movies tackles all the highs and lows of summer vacation from neighborhood crushes to seasonal jobs with the same boyish sense of humor as the first two. If your kids liked the first two "Diarys," they'll probably like this one.
See It or Skip It: See it, if you're twelve or younger.
"The Good Doctor"
What's It About? Orlando Bloom stars as a smug doctor who keeps a beautiful young patient sick, so she'll have to depend on him; it's an interesting premise for a thriller, but the execution is predictable and cheesy
See It or Skip It: Skip it.
"Liberal Arts"
What's It About? Josh Radnor (Ted from "How I Met Your Mother") writes, directs and stars as an aimless college admissions counselor who falls for a cloyingly-precious college student (Elizabeth Olsen); it's like watching 90 minutes of Ted at his most morose without any Barney to provide levity.
See It or Skip It: Skip it.
"Pitch Perfect"
What's It About? A new girl at school revamps the all-girls choir group into something much hipper and leads the charge against the domineering boys squad of champions; (really good) musical numbers aside, the comedy stylings of Rebel Wilson also hit all the right notes.
See It or Skip It: See it.
"Premium Rush"
What's It About? Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a daredevil bike messenger who gets caught up in police corruption, when he unwittingly becomes the carrier of a top-secret package; it's energetic, ridiculous in a smart way and uses NYC in the summer perfectly.
See It or Skip It: See it.
"Red Hook Summer"
What's It About? Spike Lee's latest film concerns a young boy who must spend the summer with his fiery bishop grandfather in Brooklyn; without a big studio reining him in (like on '25th Hour' or 'Inside Man') this is Spike at his most self-indulgent.
See It or Skip It: For hardcore Spike Lee fans only
"Resident Evil: Retribution"
What's It About? If you got excited by the notion of a fifth "Resident Evil" movie, you couldn't care less what we have to say about it,
See It or Skip It: Whatever.
"Sleepwalk With Me"
What's It About? Comedian Mike Birbiglia's story -- detailing his burgeoning stand-up career, his failing long-term relationship and his stress-induced sleep disorder -- was a hit Off-Broadway play, then a NY Times best-seller and now it's a critically-acclaimed indie comedy.
See It or Skip It: See it.
"10 Years"
What's It About? Friends gather for their ten-year reunion where old flames reconnect, embarrassing pasts get revealed and drunken antics ensue. Oh yeah, these old classmates just happen to be played by Channing Tatum, his real-life wife Jenna Dewan, Rosario Dawson, "Parks & Rec's" Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt, Anthony Mackie, Justin Long, "Glee's" Ari Gaynor and more.
See It or Skip It: See it.
Watch an Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Clip from "10 Years"
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"Total Recall"
What's It About? Colin Farrell stars in lifeless remake of the uniquely sci-fi Schwarzenegger flick, only this time it's filled with predictable action cliches and artificial, unrelenting CGI. Thank you?
See It or Skip It: Skip it.
"Trouble With the Curve"
What's It About? Clint Eastwood made a corny movie about an aging baseball scout who reconnects with his busy lawyer daughter (played by Amy Adams); it's par for the course for modern Eastwood, but that whole chair business has overshadowed this movie completely.
See It or Skip It: For hardcore Eastwood fans only.
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