Capsule reviews for May 29

Barely Lethal

Quite a confused little comedy emerges after combining so many different yet familiar ideas in this story of a teenager (Hailee Steinfeld) raised in a top-secret assassin training school who escapes so she can try to live a normal life. She enrolls at a suburban high school and endures all of the social pitfalls, only to have her past catch up to her. There are a few big laughs as the film inevitably transitions from a broad comedy to a female empowerment fantasy. Yet the film misses the satirical target by indulging in many of the same stereotypes at which it could have poked fun. (Rated PG-13, 96 minutes).

The Connection

Oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin (The Artist) shows his versatility with this captivating crime thriller in which he plays a French magistrate during the 1970s who must navigate corruption within his department and the burgeoning heroin trade in order to combat his nemesis (Gilles Lellouche), who oversees a powerful drug ring. The cat-and-mouse game that ensues is meant to play tribute to Hollywood dramas from that era, most notably The French Connection. And while the script bogs down in procedural elements and suffers from an abundance of clichés, the two charismatic stars make compelling adversaries and director Cedric Jimenez brings plenty of throwback visual flair. (Rated R, 135 minutes).

Gemma Bovery

The latest example of life imitating art occurs in this uneven French farce from director Anne Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel) about a busybody baker (Fabrice Luchini) in Normandy who is already obsessed with Madame Bovary author Gustav Flaubert when he becomes fixated on the title character (Gemma Arterton), his new British neighbor whose flirty behavior begins to resemble that of the fictional character in the book. The performances give the film an offbeat charm, and the script has some amusing culture-clash gags. However, even if you’re able to suspend your disbelief, eventually the narrative coincidences start to drive the story more than the characters. (Rated R, 98 minutes).

Heaven Knows What

This powerful and unflinching examination of addiction from sibling directors Josh and Benny Safdie (Daddy Longlegs) stars audacious newcomer Arielle Holmes in a lightly fictionalized portrait of herself, as a young heroin addict on the streets of Manhattan navigating an obsessive relationship with a drifter (Caleb Landry Jones) who doesn’t seem to reciprocate her feelings. This leads to a series of perilous encounters and self-destructive behaviors, including a graphic suicide attempt from which the filmmakers don’t shy away. While the screenplay sometimes lacks coherence and emotional pull, the bleak but captivating film compensates by using music and visuals to create a mood that’s consistently gritty and evocative. (Rated R, 94 minutes).

Results

The latest low-budget romantic comedy from director Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha) gives a double meaning to the notion of working it out. It’s a romantic triangle involving a new-age gym owner (Guy Pearce) whose new client is a rich loner (Kevin Corrigan) who takes an interest in his new trainer (Cobie Smulders), who also has a romantic past with her boss. Complications ensue as the lines blur between business and pleasure. The trio of sharp performances gives the material a boost. However, while navigating familiar territory in a way that’s not especially charming or insightful, the script doesn’t generate much sympathy for its characters. (Rated R, 104 minutes).