Capsule reviews for Feb. 27

Ana Maria in Novela Land

Perhaps fans of Mexican soap operas will best enjoy the broad humor in this uneven romantic comedy about an aimless young woman (Edy Ganem) obsessed with telenovelas to the point that she fantasizes about starring in one herself. Just as her life has taken some bad turns, so has that of her character, who gets caught up in one melodramatic twist after another. As the two characters begin to change places, it’s unclear what the film wants to be. Is it a tribute to novelas or meant to mock them? Because it gets caught in the middle, and isn’t particularly funny or poignant in the process. (Not rated, 89 minutes).

Everly

You’re not supposed to care about narrative coherence amid all the stylishly choreographed, ultraviolent showdowns in this thriller from director Joe Lynch. Yet that pesky story that bridges the bloody action sequences keeps getting in the way, asking for rooting interest. And it’s so ridiculous and thinly sketched that any emotional investment seems impossible, despite a scrappy performance from Salma Hayek as a resilient heroine stuck in an urban apartment building while an army of Japanese mobsters closes in. As the mayhem grows more perilous, the context and motives are gradually revealed as Everly tries to protect her family and ensure her own freedom. (Rated R, 92 minutes).

The Hunting Ground

The extent to which rapes are prevalent on major college campuses might not be surprising, but that doesn’t make the latest agitprop documentary from director Kirby Dick (The Invisible War) any less persuasive or infuriating. The film uses stories from victims to jump-start an investigation beyond the statistics, into the methods by which schools systematically downplay and even retaliate against sexual assault claims, especially among fraternity members and high-profile athletes, as a way to preserve their reputations and business interests. The result is more heartbreaking than hopeful, although it’s a provocative piece of advocacy journalism that should serve as a warning for students and parents. (Rated PG-13, 103 minutes).

The Salvation

The picturesque landscapes provide a stark contrast to the small-town brutality in this stylish 19th century Western about a Danish immigrant (Mads Mikkelsen) who gains vengeance on the killer of his wife and child. However, the killer’s brother (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is a ruthless outlaw who responds by striking fear in the locals before triggering a manhunt for the foreign settler. As the body count escalates, a final showdown is inevitable, yet the film puts a fresh twist on some familiar themes of betrayal and revenge. The result might seem generic by genre standards, but it’s also well executed on both sides of the camera. (Not rated, 92 minutes).

The military conflict in Northern Ireland has been depicted many times on screen, but never quite like this gritty and intimate glimpse into the journey of a young British soldier (Jack O’Connell) who is stranded behind enemy lines by his unit following a confrontation between Catholics and Protestants on the streets of Belfast, forcing him to rely on survival skills. O’Connell (Unbroken) provides an expressive portrayal of a man whose loyalties become torn, and the film itself – which takes place during the titular year – offers a powerfully immersive examination of morality and humanity inside a blue-collar war zone. It’s a deliberately paced yet tightly wound thriller. (Rated R, 99 minutes).