Capsule reviews for Aug. 15

Dinosaur 13

The contentious relationship between science and commerce lies at the heart of this documentary about a group of passionate paleontologists who made the greatest discovery of dinosaur fossils in history during a 1990 expedition in rural South Dakota. Rather than being celebrated, however, the resulting media coverage has the scientists facing scrutiny and legal battles from the government and a greedy rancher about land ownership. Even if the filmmaking is one-sided, the story is more compelling than it sounds, with the case generating public outcry in a small town that forms an emotional attachment to the T-Rex as its home is predictably determined by the highest bidder. (Rated PG, 94 minutes).

Frank

The title character created by eccentric British comedian Chris Sievey inspired this fictionalized offbeat comedy about aspiring musician Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) who thinks his big break might come with a band led by Frank (Michael Fassbender), a lead singer whose head is buried underneath a giant papier-mache mask. He finds a retreat to record an album less than fulfilling, but his tweets that gain a gradual following suggest otherwise. Although it stumbles down the stretch, the film generally makes its quirks feel endearing rather than exhausting. It’s an amusing examination of fame and the creative process with a most enigmatic character at its center. (Rated R, 95 minutes).

Life After Beth

At least it strays from the well-worn romantic comedy formula, but this sketchy tale of suburban teenage obsession struggles to expand its one-joke premise. The story chronicles Zach (Dane DeHaan), who is grieving the death of his girlfriend, Beth (Aubrey Plaza), when he discovers that she has been reincarnated and is being hidden by her paranoid father (John C. Reilly). The fact that she’s exhibiting zombie characteristics doesn’t stop Zach’s efforts to rekindle their romance. The sharp cast (which includes Paul Reiser, Molly Shannon and Cheryl Hines) makes a valiant effort with a thin script by rookie director Jeff Baena that lacks much depth or charm. (Rated R, 91 minutes).

Moebius

Certainly not for all tastes, this dialogue-free examination of sadomasochism and sexual perversion from prolific Korean director Kim Ki-duk (Pieta) follows a teenager (Seo Young-ju) who is castrated by his mother as an act of revenge on her philandering husband (Jo Jae-hyun). As the son struggles to cope with the pain, his father is overcome with guilt, and tries to help in some bizarre ways, which leads to even more violent consequences for the family. The clever twists in the story are captivating enough to compensate for the disgusting nature of the acts on-screen, and the choice of excluding dialogue never feels like a gimmick. (Not rated, 89 minutes).

The Trip to Italy

Fans of the first big-screen adaptation of the British television show might appreciate this uneven sequel that reunites pals Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, who take a weeklong vacation to Italy, ostensibly as research for a travel book. Essentially while playing themselves, the self-deprecating duo bickers and riffs about aging, relationships, food and pop culture. The loosely structured and highly improvised concept yields some big laughs, some picturesque scenery and some amusing celebrity impressions, although it’s not as consistently funny or fresh as the prior installment. As directed by Michael Winterbottom (A Mighty Heart), the home-movie feel loses its charm after a while. (Rated R, 108 minutes).