Capsule reviews for May 22

Aloft

The beautiful snow-covered landscapes in this tedious Canadian melodrama aren’t done any favors by a heavy-handed screenplay from Peruvian director Claudia Llosa (The Milk of Sorrow) that leaves you cold. It follows Nana (Jennifer Connelly), whose family was fractured because of a pair of tragedies that led to her devotion to a faith healer. Then it flashes forward to the future, when her oldest son (Cillian Murphy), a brooding falconer, befriends a documentary filmmaker (Melanie Laurent) who tries to reunite the estranged mother and son. Along the way, the film gets bogged down in its mysticism and New Age philosophies without offering much character depth. (Rated R, 112 minutes).

I’ll See You in My Dreams

Blythe Danner gets a well-deserved turn in the spotlight in this gently observed comedy about embracing the twilight years. She plays Carol, a lonely widow who loses her beloved dog and is prompted to come out of her shell, befriending her pool cleaner (Martin Starr), starting a romance with an impetuous gentleman (Sam Elliott), and even reconciling with her daughter (Malin Akerman). It’s a heartfelt, character-driven look at aging gracefully that manages to be both humorous and poignant without turning low-brow or sappy. That’s a credit to director Brett Haley (The New Year) and a sharp cast that breathes new life into familiar themes. (Rated PG-13, 92 minutes).

Love at First Fight

This uneven romantic comedy from France manages to sidestep clichés in a way that’s both consistently amusing and charmingly offbeat. It follows Arnaud (Kevin Azais), a fledgling carpenter whose pursuit of outspoken Madeleine (Adele Haenel) includes following her enlistment into a military boot camp, where their bond deepens through their personal struggles. Rookie director Thomas Cailley brings some visual flair and hints at larger issues involving gender roles and cultural power struggles, yet he smartly keeps the focus on his characters, allowing both of his young actors to shine. Meanwhile, the somewhat contrived screenplay generates plenty of acerbic wit that feels genuine rather than forced. (Not rated, 98 minutes).

Sunshine Superman

It’s not a criticism to say this bittersweet documentary falls off a cliff, because it’s chronicles the life of Carl Boenish, the thrill-seeking pioneer of the BASE jumping movement during the late 1970s whose passion for skydiving off of buildings and other fixed objects fueled both his fame and his tragic death. Rookie director Marah Strauch mixes interviews and archival footage — the free-spirited Boenish was insistent upon filming everything despite technological limitations — along with plentiful re-enactments to supplement footage of his most famous stunts. Although its intimate approach sometimes lacks sufficient context, it’s an insightful and heartfelt tribute to a man whose legacy deserves recognition. (Rated PG, 102 minutes).

When Marnie Was There

The latest effort from legendary Studio Ghibli in Japan is a modest animated fantasy dealing with some familiar themes involving the emotional travails of adolescence. It follows a foster child sent to a seaside town for the summer, where she becomes a social outcast before meeting the title character, a new friend who harbors some secrets that could damage their relationship. The hand-drawn animation is captivating from director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty), and although the screenplay – based on a British children’s book – is uneven and deliberately paced, there are many whimsical moments of coming-of-age insight and poignancy that reward viewer patience. (Rated PG, 103 minutes).