Knocked around the release schedule and all but forgotten until co-star Vin Diesel became a bona fide boxoffice draw, New Line's "Knockaround Guys" was released nearly a year ago in Italy. The directing debut of creative partners Brian Koppelman and David Levien, "Guys' " premise is as halfway promising as their 1998 Miramax release "Rounders." Matty Demaret (Barry Pepper) is first seen as a kid who's unable to execute the betrayer of his hood father, with Uncle Teddy (John Malkovich) pronouncing him unfit to be a real member of the brotherhood of goons.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.