Capsule reviews for Nov. 8

Cold Brook

A pervasive low-key charm helps to smooth out some of the rough edges in this meandering directorial debut by veteran character actor William Fichtner (Black Hawk Down). He stars alongside Kim Coates (“Sons of Anarchy”) as best friends and maintenance workers at a college campus, and more specifically a museum with an exhibit about a 19th century shipwreck. One night, they chase away an apparent intruder (Harold Perrineau) and are praised as heroes. But there’s more to the stranger’s story, and to that of the shipwreck, that causes the men to rethink their actions. The deliberately paced film is slight but heartfelt, with endearing performances. (Not rated, 102 minutes).

Crown Vic

The four-wheeled title character is more intriguing than its human counterparts in this gimmicky thriller attempting to disguise a formulaic police procedural. We ride along for one particularly eventful night shift with a no-nonsense LAPD street cop (Thomas Jane) and a wide-eyed young trainee (Luke Kleintank) who questions his career choice. They meet some eccentrics and respond to calls of varying urgency, eventually confronting moral challenges and personal demons. The two stars generate an appealing rapport, although any broader examination of the changing face of police work is muddled. The film provides roughly the same level of insight as binge-watching a few episodes of “Cops.” (Rated R, 110 minutes).

Honey Boy

As a vivid portrayal of a fractured family legacy defined by alcoholism and abuse, this coming-of-age drama is both haunting and heartfelt. It follows a disgraced young actor (Lucas Hedges) with a defiant attitude in rehab, then flashes back 10 years to his upbringing as a up-and-coming performer (Noah Jupe) being psychologically tortured by his single father (Shia LeBeouf) while living in a ramshackle hotel. The film was obviously cathartic for LaBeouf, whose semiautobiographical screenplay avoids cheap sympathy or narcissism. Instead, audacious performances lend an urgency and authenticity to some emotionally incendiary subject matter that doubles as a cautionary tale about the perils of childhood fame. (Rated R, 94 minutes).

The Kingmaker

For more than 50 years, Imelda Marcos has been one of the world’s most influential and controversial female political figures. This fascinating documentary from Lauren Greenfield (Generation Wealth) finds Marcos still active in her 80s, trying to rebuild her family’s image while continuing to wield power behind the scenes. Three decades after her late husband was ousted as president of the Philippines, Marcos campaigns to get her son, Bongbong, elected vice president in 2016. And she’s still unapologetic for her life of excessive luxury. The film traces her career in the spotlight while using her story to provide an ominous perspective on the contemporary sociopolitical landscape. (Rated R, 101 minutes).

Playing With Fire

Setting aside any potential tastelessness, this alleged family comedy about fighting wildfires never brings the heat. Instead, it tries to appeal to contemporary youngsters with a throwback formula — specifically, a barrage of rowdy slapstick and gross-out gags revolving around a fledgling crew of California “smoke jumpers” led by a no-nonsense captain (John Cena), who rescues three young siblings from a burning house and then takes them to the depot. When he’s unable to locate their parents for pickup, his ragtag crew must take charge of the rambunctious kiddos. Mayhem ensues, of course, except it’s more silly than amusing. Even for the target demographic, it’s just blowing smoke. (Rated PG, 96 minutes).

Primal

This low-budget Nicolas Cage thriller barges ahead with a straight face despite an avalanche of ridiculous genre contrivances and logical silliness. The loopy premise has Cage playing a collector of exotic animals who accompanies his latest trophy — a rare white jaguar — on a shipping freighter headed for a zoo to collect a payday. However, the boat also is being used to transport a crazed assassin (Kevin Durand) with terrorist ties, and when he escapes and frees the caged jaguar, the hunter becomes the prey. The only thrills are of the guilty-pleasure variety, although there’s little camp value in the mechanical script or the technical incompetence. (Rated R, 97 minutes).