Capsule reviews for Feb. 15

Birds of Passage

This evocative Colombian drama provides a unique and emotionally powerful perspective on the proliferation of the country’s drug trafficking trade during the late 1970s through the eyes of the indigenous people caught in harm’s way. It takes place among the coastal Wayuu people, whose lifestyle is threatened when a young man (Jose Acosta) is drawn to the get-rich allure of marijuana dealing without regard for its cultural costs. Richly textured and subtly provocative, the latest from directors Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra (Embrace of the Serpent) bears thematic similarities to that forerunner, while introducing elements of a more conventional, ultraviolent crime thriller that don’t feel forced. (Not rated, 125 minutes).

Donnybrook

As an examination of primal aggression and toxic redneck masculinity, this atmospheric drama packs a visceral punch. Yet as a broader glimpse at socioeconomic desperation in the Deep South, it’s hardly a knockout. The story tracks the converging paths of a war veteran (Jamie Bell) and a drug dealer (Frank Grillo) who each compete in a steel-caged underground brawl for a cash prize. Prior to the climactic melee, details are gradually revealed about each of their violent paths and dire circumstances. The cynicism might be warranted in the bleak screenplay by director Tim Sutton, but the muddled execution simply hits you over the head. (Rated R, 101 minutes).

The Lears

Family squabbles are much more compelling when they’re written by Shakespeare rather than Carl Bessai (Normal), whose shrill contemporary reworking of King Lear likely will be rejected by Bard newcomers and devotees alike. It centers on an aging architect (Bruce Dern) who summons his estranged children to his mountain estate under mysterious circumstances. As they await his arrival, the siblings bicker nonstop about their father’s legacy and other First World problems, before secrets are exposed that further threaten their relationships. Along the way, the characters are totally unsympathetic, and the dialogue never rings true. The ensemble cast includes Anthony Michael Hall, Sean Astin, and Victoria Smurfit. (Not rated, 99 minutes).

Patrick

The titular pooch is the most appealing character in this broad and irritating British comedy that will test the tolerance for cute puppy close-ups of even the most ardent canine aficionados. Sarah (Beattie Edmondson) is a ditzy schoolteacher who is bequeathed a rambunctious pug by her late grandmother. Her reluctance to accept is well founded when the dog makes a mess of her life, both physically and psychologically, before becoming an unlikely ally when Sarah tries to repair her broken relationships and train for a 5K run. A few laughs can’t salvage this good-natured parade of animal antics that has considerably more bark than bite. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

Ruben Brandt, Collector

You don’t need to be an art aficionado to appreciate this ambitious and multilayered animated thriller from Hungary. It follows the titular psychotherapist), an avid collector of paintings from renowned artists such as Botticelli, Van Gogh, Warhol, and more. As he begins having nightmares about some of his favorite artworks coming to life, thieves are trying to pilfer the same pieces while eluding authorities. Although it’s short on substance and the emotional impact is modest, the film uses its hand-drawn canvas to create a dreamlike interpretation of the varied artistic eccentricities of its subjects, supplementing a globetrotting storyline that yields a stylish visual backdrop. (Rated R, 96 minutes).