Capsule reviews for Aug. 9

Brian Banks

This earnest and formulaic crowd-pleaser carries worthwhile intentions, spotlighting the tireless efforts of an ex-football star (Aldis Hodge) to clear his name after being falsely convicted of rape as a teenager. His persistence leads him to an attorney (Greg Kinnear) who heads up the California Innocence Project, which focuses on overturning such cases despite the overwhelming obstacles in the state’s judicial system. Hodge’s convincing performance gives Brian’s cause a sense of heartfelt urgency, and director Tom Shadyac (Bruce Almighty) does a reasonable job of softening the legal and procedural mumbo-jumbo for mainstream consumption. However, more subtlety and surprise could have helped it reach the end zone. (Rated PG-13, 99 minutes).

Ecco

Ambition surpasses execution in this offbeat low-budget thriller that ultimately proves more enigmatic than exciting. The elliptical story tracks an assassin (Lathrop Walker) trying to escape a troubled past shrouded in secrecy from the women in his life. Through somewhat confusing flashbacks, he finds that he must reconcile his family legacy to improve the future. The nonlinear screenplay by rookie director Ben Medina becomes convoluted without providing sufficient incentive for moviegoers to care about connecting the narrative dots. There’s enough here to suggest bright futures for the talent on both sides of the camera, yet in this case, it never adds up to much. (Rated R, 123 minutes).

Light of My Life

Casey Affleck’s second feature behind the camera is this austere post-apocalyptic survival saga set in the near future. He stars as a widower focused solely on protecting his precocious preteen daughter (Anna Pniowsky), several years after almost the entire female population has been wiped out by a global pandemic. Their nomadic lifestyle keeps them constantly on the run in harsh forests and mountains while never trusting any of the men they encounter. Affleck too often dials back that urgency in favor of long-winded father-daughter dialogue. But he captures the moral complexity of their unbreakable bond and their uncertain future, and Pniowsky’s expressive performance is terrific. (Rated PG-13, 119 minutes).

Ode to Joy

Cataplexy is a rare condition that causes sudden muscle weakness in response to certain emotions. In the case of New York librarian Charlie (Martin Freeman), he faints when joyful, which obviously has limited his romantic options. But something about Francesca (Morena Baccarin) prompts him to give dating another try, through a convoluted scheme involving his younger brother (Jake Lacy) and an unwitting bartender (Melissa Rauch). This mediocre comedy from director Jason Winer (Arthur) mostly avoids exploiting its affliction for cheap laughs, although denying the audience the same emotional triggers as Charlie is unintentional. In other words, it’s not funny or touching enough to give us joy. (Rated R, 97 minutes).

One Child Nation

An autobiographical documentary as audacious as it is riveting, the latest from Chinese filmmaker Nanfu Wang (Hooligan Sparrow) examines her country’s strict population control policy that allowed only one child per family. Through her own story as a child born under the edict, Wang recalls the barbaric efforts at government enforcement, and the horrific effects on families — children being abandoned, sent to orphanages, sold to human traffickers, or otherwise ostracized while their helpless parents were force-fed propaganda. The eye-opening and remarkably even-handed film conveys the emotional toll that lingers after the 30-year social experiment was discontinued in 2015, offering a shred of hope amid the heartbreak. (Not rated, 85 minutes).

The Peanut Butter Falcon

Zack Gottsagen just needed a chance, and this modestly uplifting saga thrives on the charisma of the endearing actor with Down syndrome whose heartwarming Mark Twain-style adventure avoids cheap sentiment. Gottsagen plays an escapee from a group home who intends to meet his idol at a camp for aspiring professional wrestlers. Instead, he winds up on the run along the North Carolina coast with a stranger (Shia LaBeouf) seeking redemption for past troubles and a state-appointed volunteer (Dakota Johnson) tasked with finding him. The two stars convey a charming chemistry that smooths out the rough patches in the screenplay, and helps this road movie take flight. (Rated PG-13, 93 minutes).