Capsule reviews for Aug. 26

Complete Unknown

Two beguiling performances cannot rescue this muddled romantic mystery about redemption, reconciliation and mistaken identity. Tom (Michael Shannon) has enough issues in his marriage without having to visit with Alice (Rachel Weisz), a mysterious woman from his past who fascinates the guests at his birthday party with exotic tales of adventure from around the world. Except they’re not really true, and Alice is looking to rekindle their spark as a method of calming her insecurities. There are some fine character-driven moments in the late-night odyssey that follows, although director Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace) doesn’t probe the film’s existential dilemmas with much depth. (Rated R, 90 minutes).

Don’t Breathe

Neither consistently funny nor frightening, this preposterous home-invasion thriller chronicles a trio of unscrupulous teenagers who hatch a plan to rob a creaky old suburban house. But problems arise when they meet the owner, a blind but resourceful war veteran (Stephen Lang) — whose other senses work just fine — with lots of cash, a vicious guard dog and some dark secrets. There are some creepy twists within the intimate setting, along with a handful of clever visual touches from director Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead). However, the film produces more cheap thrills than consistent suspense, and it fails to generate much sympathy for its dim-witted protagonists. (Rated R, 88 minutes).

In Order of Disappearance

There’s a hint of Coen brothers influence in this ultraviolent Scandinavian comedy about a mild-mannered Norwegian snowplow driver (Stellan Skarsgard) whose son is murdered as part of a drug deal gone bad. He suspects foul play, which triggers a rampage of bloody revenge on the gangsters who might have been responsible. The latest collaboration between Skarsgard and director Hans Petter Moland (A Somewhat Gentle Man) takes advantage of the ample bloodshed in the wintry setting to create some vivid imagery, and the witty ability of the tongue-in-cheek screenplay to poke fun at genre conventions with deadpan amusement allows the film to overcome its own formulaic tendencies. (Rated R, 116 minutes).

The Intervention

A strong ensemble cast can’t overcome the familiarity in this low-budget comedy that marks the directorial debut of actress Clea DuVall (Girl Interrupted), who also co-stars as one of several friends gathering for a weekend getaway at a rural estate that’s actually been arranged in order to analyze a marriage gone astray. Along the way, DuVall’s script includes the expected laughs and tears, hook-ups and break-ups, and some amusing gags along with some that fall flat. More than anything, however, these are characters we’ve generally seen before and don’t care to revisit. The cast includes Melanie Lynskey, Cobie Smulders, Jason Ritter and Vincent Piazza. (Rated R, 87 minutes).

Mia Madre

The concept might seem simple, but the issues are more complex in this powerful examination of grief from Italian director Nanni Moretti (Caro Diario). It follows a middle-aged filmmaker (Margherita Buy) struggling to cope with the deteriorating health of her hospitalized mother (Giulia Lazzarini). The resulting mental breakdown comes during production on her latest film with an eccentric American star (John Turturro). Moretti, who also plays Margherita’s brother in a poignant subplot, apparently based the idea on his own experiences, and the result overcomes some melodramatic contrivances with a careful balance of humor and pathos. The result is heartfelt and self-reflexive, bolstered by strong performances. (Rated R, 107 minutes).