Capsule reviews for Oct. 16

All Things Must Pass

It’s more than just breezy nostalgia that drives this insightful documentary about Tower Records, the iconic music store that was a juggernaut in the music industry for more than four decades before financial hardships forced its closure as the Internet took over. However, there’s more to the film than its familiar rise-and-fall structure or a tribute to the good old days (although fans of the retailer won’t be shortchanged in that regard). Rather, actor Colin Hanks, making his directorial debut, digs deeper into both the quirky success and sudden demise of Tower and its founder, Russ Solomon, through an impressive collection of interviews and archival footage. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

Beasts of No Nation

The stark contrast between wartime brutality and childhood innocence is vividly explored in this harrowing coming-of-age drama from director Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre). It takes place in an unnamed African nation, where a preteen boy (Abraham Attah) is forced to flee his village because of a Civil War. Then he’s captured and turned into a child soldier by the leader (Idris Elba) of a rebel army and winds up fighting on the front lines. While it lacks broader context, the film is visually striking and emotionally powerful, helped by an expressive performance by newcomer Attah that allows for sympathy and hope amid the heartbreaking circumstances. (Rated R, 136 minutes).

Experimenter

This biopic of controversial 1960s psychologist Stanley Milgram has the sense to recognize that sometimes the man isn’t as intriguing as his work. So even if it sacrifices some emotional depth, the approach of director Michael Almereyda (Cymbeline) is provocative in how it examines Milgram’s experiments regarding obedience and submission. The film follows Yale professor Milgram (Peter Sarsgaard), who’s accused of deception and cruel manipulation for his infamous tests commanding subjects to deliver electric shocks to strangers, which impress his wife (Winona Ryder) and allow him to mingle with celebrities. The result is compelling even for those who know the outcome, and it conveys contemporary relevance. (Rated PG-13, 98 minutes).

Momentum

Right down to its generic title, this laughable cat-and-mouse thriller is a celebration of vigilante clichés, chronicling a South African diamond thief (Olga Kurylenko) whose partner is murdered, leaving her as a witness being chased by Washington (James Purefoy), a ruthless assassin seeking top-secret computer data. Rookie director Stephen Campanelli uses frenetic cutting in an effort to cover for a woefully pedestrian script. And apparently Morgan Freeman owed someone a favor, since he has a cameo as a corrupt senator. Fortunately, the film reviews itself in a single line of Washington’s dialogue: “She thinks she’s being clever, but I’ve seen this in far too many movies.” (Not rated, 96 minutes).

Room

The intimate bond between mother and son is haunting and even suffocating in this powerful adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s novel from director Lenny Abrahamson (Frank). It follows a single mom (Brie Larson) and her precocious 5-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay) who have never left the confines of a single room. As the details of their confinement are gradually revealed, so is their need to break free and experience the outside world, even with all the danger that brings. There are some rough patches in Donoghue’s script, yet it remains a gripping and profound examination of childhood innocence and fractured families, bolstered by superb performances from its leads. (Rated R, 118 minutes).