New on DVD: December 18

Total Recall

In this remake of the Paul Verhoeven sci-fi action film from 1990, Colin Farrell takes on the Arnold Schwarzenegger role of a factory worker who goes in for a false memory “vacation” only to discover that the memories he already has may not be his.

Trouble with the Curve

Clint Eastwood stars as an over-the-hill baseball scout who must rely on the eyes of his estranged daughter (Amy Adams) in order to keep his job and his failing eyesight a secret. Justin Timberlake is the up-and-coming scout who brings them together while trying to get to first base with Adams. (Warner)

Premium Rush

Director David Koepp (Secret Window) is back with a nail-biting thriller about a New York bike messenger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) whose latest delivery is an envelope that attracts the unwanted attention of a corrupt cop (Boardwalk Empire‘s Michael Shannon). (Released Friday, December 21)

Arbitrage

Richard Gere plays a successful Wall Street banker who desperately seeks the help of an unsavory ally (Nate Parker) when his financial world begins to fall apart. Struggling to keep this all a secret from his wife (Susan Sarandon) and his society friends, he begins to attract the attention of a dogged cop (Tim Roth). (Released Friday, December 21)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

In this third outing (based on the best-selling children’s book series), Greg (Zachary Gordon) attempts to have a great summer despite having to fake a job at the local country club, enduring a humiliating incident at a public pool and a disastrous camping trip.

Pitch Perfect

In what looks like a more adult version of Glee, Broadway director Jason Moore (Avenue Q) makes his film debut with this comedy about a university freshman (Anna Kendrick) who is convinced to join an all-girl singing group in order to help them take on their male rivals in an important competition. (Universal)

Resident Evil: Retribution

After the last film became a world-wide hit – and the most profitable Canadian film of all time – it’s no wonder we’re getting a fifth one. Michelle Rodriquez and Sienna Guillory return to help out Alice (Milla Jovovich), who is once again trying to take down the Umbrella Corporation in this violent thriller. (Released Friday, December 21)

The Words

Bradley Cooper plays a writer who faces all sorts of bad juju when the truth comes out that his best-selling book was stolen from another writer who wrote the manuscript years earlier.  (Released Monday, December 24)

10 Years

Screenwriter Jamie Linden (We Are Marshall) makes his directorial debut with this dramedy about a group of friends (including Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson and Parks and Recreation‘s Chris Pratt and Aubrey Plaza) who gather for their ten year high school reunion with mixed results.

Killer Joe

Matthew McConaughey stars in this black comedy from director William Friedkin (The Exorcist) about a cash-strapped young man who hires a hit man to murder his mother so that he can use her insurance money to get out of debt. Things go sideways when the hired killer takes his sister as collateral until he gets paid. (Released Friday December 21)

Gangsters, Guns and Zombies

This low-budget British horror-comedy makes a grand attempt at crossing the zombie apocalypse and Guy Ritchie-style gangster genres with mixed results.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

There’s already buzz of an Oscar nomination for little Quvenzhani Wallis who stars as Hushpuppy, a six-year-old girl living in Louisiana Bayou country with her single father. When he gets sick, the little girl heads out alone to find her mother.

TV ON DVD:

Californication: Season 5

Picking up almost three years from the conclusion of last season, this season finds Hank (David Duchovny) nearing the conclusion of his probation, enjoying the success of his novel. Back in L.A., he gets entangled once again in the lives of his daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin), his ex Karen (Natascha McElhone), who is now married to Professor Bates, and others. This 3-disc set features all 12 episodes. (Paramount)

House of Lies: Season 1

Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) stars as Marty Kaan, a smooth and manipulative management consultant who will lie, cheat and steal his way into getting what his clients need in this fast-paced and stylish new comedy. Veronica Mars’ Kristen Bell plays Jeannie Van Der Hooven, a young partner who works alongside the ruthless Kaan. This 3-disc set contains all 12 episodes. (Paramount)

Shameless: Season 2

In this American remake of the hit British series, William H. Macy stars as Frank Gallagher, a barely-functioning alcoholic single father with six kids who are left to raise themselves while he is taken in by an agoraphobic neighbour (Joan Cusack). Thankfully, oldest daughter Fiona (Emmy Rossum) is able to control things and still make a living as a waitress. This 3-disc set contains all 12 episodes. (Paramount)

(Note: Due to the holidays, some films will be released the following Friday, December 21)