Capsule reviews for Dec. 19

Goodbye to All That

Although its premise feels artificial, there’s plenty of genuine poignancy beneath the surface of this bittersweet low-budget comedy about an injury-prone runner (Paul Schneider) who is stunned by the revelation that his wife (Melanie Lynskey) wants a divorce, forcing him to start his life over, experimenting with bachelorhood while maintaining a relationship with the couple’s young daughter (Audrey Scott). Its themes and middle-age crises are familiar, but the sharply observed directorial debut of screenwriter Angus MacLachlan (Junebug) captures some intriguing character dynamics while finding a gentle balance between humor and pathos. The quirky supporting cast includes Heather Graham, Ashley Hinshaw, Anna Camp and Amy Sedaris. (Not rated, 87 minutes).

Two Days, One Night

Marion Cotillard gives a brilliant performance in this searing working-class morality tale from Belgian siblings Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (Rosetta), about a mentally unstable woman who becomes subject to a cruel vote among her factory co-workers, who must decide whether she will be laid off, in which case they receive bonuses. So she goes door-to-door over the weekend in a campaign to keep her job. The premise might seem like a gimmick, but there is plenty of intrigue beneath the surface, as the film uses the no-frills style of the Dardennes to sharply probe office politics and socioeconomic strife, refusing to provide easy answers. (Rated PG-13, 95 minutes).

Winter Sleep

Turkish auteur Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia) is in top form with this deliberately paced but captivating drama that chronicles a writer and rural hotel operator (Haluk Bilginer) whose relationships with his young wife (Melisa Sozen) and his troubled sister (Demet Akbag) begin to crumble during a harsh winter that keeps them physically and emotionally trapped. The screenplay sacrifices action for dialogue, perhaps to a fault, but at least it’s sharply observed and richly portrayed as it examines universal themes such as gender roles, socioeconomic status, jealousy and obsession. The visually compelling film builds to some final-act twists that are worth the wait. (Not rated, 196 minutes).