Capsule reviews for March 20

Blow the Man Down

The idyllic seaside setting hides a complex criminal underbelly in this clever female-driven noir thriller that feels like a quirky New England cousin to Fargo. It takes place in a Maine fishing village where everybody holds secrets, including bickering sisters (Morgan Saylor and Sophie Lowe) still mourning their mother and facing financial desperation. They become linked by a subsequent act of violence, the cover-up of which attracts the attention of the authorities and a nosy innkeeper (Margo Martindale) with ulterior motives of her own. The film offers fresh spins on genre tropes, bolstered by sharp performances and a twisty screenplay with some surprises along the way. (Rated R, 91 minutes).

The Burnt Orange Heresy

The exotic locales paint a pretty picture, but the talky screenplay never gains much emotional traction in this heist thriller based on a Charles Willeford novel. It’s set in Italy, where a smooth-talking art critic (Claes Bang) is hired by a wealthy collector (Mick Jagger) to pilfer a rare original work from a reclusive painter (Donald Sutherland). Accompanied by an alluring American teacher (Elizabeth Debicki) whose romantic interest might mask ulterior motives, the scheme crumbles amid greed and dishonor among thieves. Despite some clever twists and solid performances, this mild takedown of the stuffy art world is neither sexy nor suspenseful enough to raise the stakes. (Rated R, 99 minutes).

Hooking Up

The two lead characters are saddled with plenty of afflictions, but this romantic comedy itself might suffer from even more. Darla (Brittany Snow) writes a sex column for a magazine while struggling with addiction issues. Bailey (Sam Richardson) is reeling from a bad breakup just as he receives some horrific medical news. So when they meet by chance in a therapy session, both take to the road in search of healing. Snow and Richardson generate a reasonable chemistry within a familiar narrative framework, but the subpar script never sufficiently modulates its elements of raunchy sex farce with more heartfelt explorations of companionship and catharsis. (Rated R, 104 minutes).

The Infiltrators

Although the structure of this hybrid documentary can feel like a gimmick, we can learn something from the courageous young immigrants at its center. Mostly through re-enactments, the film chronicles the 2012 scheme by a group of undocumented DREAMers who got themselves intentionally arrested and sent to a government detention center in Florida, with plans to organize a large-scale rebellion among those awaiting hearings and inevitable deportation. The film gradually transitions into more of a prison thriller while allowing its subjects to share their stories of fear and inequity over American policies. Their message is provocative enough to change minds, for those willing to listen. (Not rated, 95 minutes).

International Falls

When you’re making a comedy about comedy, it should be funny. That’s mostly true here. Yet this tender romance sprinkles in enough crowd-pleasing heart to resonate beyond its snowy small-town titular setting. That’s where burned-out comic Tim (Rob Huebel) arrives for a lowly stand-up gig and forms a bond with the front-desk clerk (Rachael Harris). She’s enduring a rocky marriage but dreams of telling jokes on stage, a profession that the sarcastic Tim doesn’t exactly endorse. The story stumbles a bit in the final act, but despite traversing familiar territory, the two performers help to modulate the humor and pathos without resorting to clichés. (Not rated, 93 minutes).

Jump Shot

You don’t need to be a hoops aficionado to appreciate this documentary about Kenny Sailors, a Wyoming native who essentially invested the modern jump shot during a decorated playing career in the 1940s and 1950s before fading into obscurity for justifiable reasons. Rookie director Jacob Hamilton fills in those gaps in typical biopic fashion. But perhaps more importantly, he assembles an impressive roster of interviewees, such as contemporary sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Dirk Nowitzki, to connect Sailors’ influence with today’s superstars. The film’s argument for its subject’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame is not subtle, yet also persuasive. It’s a must-see for hardwood historians. (Not rated, 79 minutes).