Capsule reviews for June 8

Half the Picture

As timely as it is insightful, this documentary celebrates the accomplishments of female directors in Hollywood while serving as a vital call to action for more opportunities to open up. Those outside the film industry might not understand the depths of the hurdles that women face behind the scenes, until they hear the stories relayed by interview subjects including Ava DuVernay, Lena Dunham, Catherine Hardwicke, and others. Rookie director Amy Adrion smartly lets filmmakers simply share their anecdotes, ranging from hilarious to heartbreaking, and lets moviegoers draw their own conclusions. If it speeds up the trend toward equality in the director’s chair, then all the better. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

Hearts Beat Loud

Even if you can’t always understand the narrative lyricism, this modest musical drama from director Brett Haley (The Hero) jams to a delightful beat and a charming rhythm. It takes place in Brooklyn, where a vintage record-store owner and widower (Nick Offerman) records a few songs on a whim with his teenage daughter (Kiersey Clemons), which brings them closer together during her final summer before going to college. The resulting songs are generally forgettable, but despite some plot contrivances, it’s an incisive and heartfelt look at lingering grief, family dynamics, and the occasional need to hit life’s reset button. Both lead performances are terrific. (Rated PG-13, 97 minutes).

Nancy

Emotions run the gamut for characters and moviegoers alike in this bizarre low-budget character study that follows an emotionally troubled loner (Andrea Riseborough) with several pseudonyms and a history of failed relationships. However, after seeing a news report, she realizes she resembles the long-lost daughter of a couple (Steve Buscemi and J. Smith-Cameron) victimized by a kidnapper 30 years ago. So they agree to meet, both with reluctance and enthusiasm, in a quest to discover the truth. Along the way, the screenplay by rookie director Christina Choe leaves the protagonist’s motives and beliefs ambiguous, which yields some intriguing character dynamics to supplement the underlying poignancy. (Not rated, 86 minutes).

The Quest of Alain Ducasse

Of all the chefs that have been profiled in culinary documentaries over the years, few have as many Michelin stars or as much worldwide clout as Alain Ducasse. At the very least, this somewhat hagiographic glimpse into his life and career leaves you appreciating his work ethic in addition to his mouth-watering recipes that have graced the menus of upscale establishments around the globe. Yet as the film follows Ducasse during his restaurant openings and charity endeavors, it’s missing broader insight into its notoriously reclusive subject beyond what shows up on the plate. Foodies might appreciate it, even if the biographical details lack flavor. (Not rated, 84 minutes).

Ray Meets Helen

Trying to balance whimsical romantic fantasy with a melancholy examination of guilt and regret, the latest project from director Alan Rudolph (Afterglow) struggles to make its characters likeable or believable. Ray (Keith Carradine) is a lonely ex-boxer who stumbles upon stacks of cash after witnessing an armored-car accident. Helen (Sondra Locke) likewise is haunted by a troubled past and trying to use sudden wealth as a path to redemption. As their paths cross during one impulsive romantic evening, both realize that money can’t buy happiness. The performances are strong, although the characters never manage to achieve much chemistry with each other — or with the audience. (Not rated, 113 minutes).

211

The title is the California penal code for robbery, which is the fate facing moviegoers who stumble into this incoherent low-budget thriller that mixes elements of a police procedural, heist picture and terrorism drama, while tossing in social commentary about school bullying and racial profiling. Nicolas Cage — of course — stars as a suburban Boston cop who becomes involved in a bank holdup that happens to have connections to an overseas terror cell. A series of shootouts and bureaucratic squabbles follow, except that none of it is staged with any conviction or authenticity. The result is disjointed and emotionally hollow despite some trademark Cage theatrics. (Rated R, 86 minutes).

The Valley

Honorable intentions are compromised by a muddled perspective and some heavy-handed melodrama in this story centered on a high-tech firm in Silicon Valley and its immigrant entrepreneur, Neal (Alyy Khan). After his youngest daughter (Agneeta Thacker) commits suicide while away at college, Neal and his wife (Suchitra Pillai) search for answers amid their grief, with his anger eventually threatening his marriage and his livelihood. The screenplay by rookie director Saila Kariat offers a heartfelt look at mental-health issues yet only hints at examining cultural stigmas that are too often downplayed in favor of predictable contrivances. The film squanders some of its emotional impact in the process. (Rated R, 94 minutes).

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

Only the most cynical viewers could dislike a documentary about beloved children’s entertainer Fred Rogers, right? Fortunately, director Morgan Neville (Twenty Feet from Stardom) doesn’t challenge that assertion by assembling a slick and highly entertaining glimpse into the late star of the iconic PBS show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” The heartwarming and affectionate film mixes abundant archival footage and interviews in a detailed behind-the-scenes look at Rogers’ philosophy and enduring legacy. It also offers a fresh perspective on his work today, in a disillusioned world where his innocent message of self-esteem and unconditional love seems like it no longer fits. Generations of kids, however, thankfully would disagree. (Rated PG-13, 94 minutes).

Zoo

Animal lovers might appreciate the true-life inspiration for this bittersweet drama, which is mildly charming but woefully heavy-handed. It’s set against the backdrop of the Nazi air raids on Belfast in 1941, when teenage loner Tom (Art Parkinson) befriends an elephant at the local zoo. Yet authorities decide to put some animals down who might pose a threat to the public during such times of unrest, so Tom rounds up some friends to kidnap and save the innocent pachyderm. Kids might identify with the youngster and his attempt at heroism, although the film yanks too aggressively at the heartstrings while lacking subtlety and surprise. (Rated PG, 97 minutes).