Movies Out This Weekend: 'Mother!,' 'American Assassin,' 'Brad's Status' And 'First They Killed My Father'

If you're in the mood to watch an enigmatic psychological thriller this weekend, you won't want to miss Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem's new film, "mother!,"which is directed by Lawrence's boyfriend, Darren Aronofsky.

Moviegoers looking for something a little more lighthearted should check out "Brad's Status," a humorous yet poignant flick starring Ben Stiller and Jenna Fischer.

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie's long-awaited film, "First They Killed My Father," is a heartbreaking, eye-opening memoir come to life, depicting one Cambodian human rights activist’s childhood during the Khmer Rouge era.

Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend.

Opening This Weekend

"mother!" — Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, directed by Darren Aronofsky

The psychological horror movie stars Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem as expecting newlyweds living a seemingly peaceful life in a secluded colonial house. They love each other deeply, but their day-to-day existence is beset by disagreements and misunderstandings fraught with emotional strain. When unexpected guests suddenly arrive, the tension further escalates in their fractured relationship. Darren Aronofsky’s “mother!” is a web of questions. Is it a film about God? Is it about creation? Is it about pain and suffering? The movie’s certainly intriguing.

See it. Be patient, and you shall be rewarded with a piercing ending.

"Brad's Status" — Ben Stiller, Austin Abrams, Jenna Fisher, directed by Mike White

The movie follows the story of Brad Sloan (Ben Stiller), a man with a stable job, a loving wife and a college-bound son about to move to the East Coast. Seem straightforward enough? It is — until Brad meets his old buddies who are successful and living a seemingly more adventurous lifestyle. The film examines the very nature and definition of one’s happiness with all the nagging “what if” anxieties.

See it. Poignant, humorous and introspective, the movie is an eye-opener to say the least.

"First They Killed My Father" — Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak, directed by Angelina Jolie

A film adaptation of Loung Ung’s affecting personal memoir, this film recounts the human rights activist’s painful childhood during the Khmer Rouge era in her native Cambodia. Under the murderous regime between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia’s ruling party committed a genocide that resulted in the deaths of as many as three million people. Jolie’s magnificent direction, complemented by a beautifully crafted script and impressive performances, makes the movie vividly expressive.

See it. The memoir comes to life with a dreamlike sequence of events.

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“American Assassin” — Dylan O’Brien, Michael Keaton, directed by Michael Cuesta

A film adaptation of Vince Flynn’s 2010 novel, “American Assassin” is a tale of geopolitical espionage. The protagonist is Mitch Rapp (Dylan O’Brien), whose life is in a downward spiral after his fiancée dies during a grisly terrorist attack. Consumed by vengeance, he sets to kill her murderers — that is, until the CIA foils his plan. Before long, Mitch gets mentored by Cold War veteran Stanley Hurley (Michael Keaton) in their “ghost” program. Disappointingly, the narrative can’t be saved even by its well-thought-out direction and action sequences.

Skip it. This Jason Bourne mold falls flat with choppy editing, bland characters and outdated dialogue.

Check out trailers:

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Top photo: Javier Bardem (L) and Jennifer Lawrence attend the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival premiere of "mother!" at Princess of Wales Theatre on Sept. 10 in Toronto. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)