Capsule reviews for April 24
The Beastie Boys were blaring from plenty of boom boxes during the 1980s. (Photo: Apple TV+)
Beastie Boys Story
For a group that rose to fame on 1980s sophomoric rebellion, the comprehensive story of the Beastie Boys is pretty tame — no nasty breakups, rampant drug use, or tabloid scandals. Yet there’s still some insightful nuggets in this documentary from director Spike Jonze (Her), who filmed a staged retrospective by the influential Brooklyn hip-hop trio’s two surviving members. Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Mike “Mike-D” Diamond reminisce candidly on their careers, musical influences, and the evolution of their unique sound. While a tad self-indulgent, it’s consistently amusing and even poignant for fans, especially reflecting on the legacy of the late Adam “MCA” Yauch and their lifelong friendship. (Not rated, 119 minutes).
Enemy Lines
The generic title matches the derivative execution and wobbly production values of this World War II thriller that never generates consistent suspense. It chronicles a partnership between American and British commando forces, led by an officer (Ed Westwick) with Polish ancestry, whose mission is to extract a rocket scientist being held captive by the Nazis in occupied Poland. Their unit is already undermanned before the operation encounters harsh conditions and unforeseen obstacles. Despite its cosmopolitan cast, the film lacks sufficient authenticity and narrative urgency. It needs more depth and context to raise the stakes, rather than relying on trite dialogue and generic action set pieces. (Not rated, 93 minutes).
Pahokee
A simple concept yields a complex portrait of contemporary adolescence in this verite documentary set in the titular, mostly minority working-class community in the Florida Everglades. It follows a handful of teenagers through their senior year in high school, as they navigate a historic football season, prepare for prom and graduation, and sweat over an uncertain future in college and beyond. Beneath such simple rites of passage on the surface, however, the slightly sanitized film strikes an optimistic tone in the face of inherent socioeconomic obstacles. That’s due mostly to the quieter, intimate moments with its resilient subjects, whose stories are both specific and universal. (Not rated, 112 minutes).
Robert the Bruce
Positioned as a sequel of sorts to Braveheart, this revisionist historical epic winds up resembling a subpar episode of “Game of Thrones.” Set during the early 14th century, it centers on the title character (Angus Macfadyen), who fought for Scottish independence alongside fallen Braveheart hero William Wallace for Scottish independence. Years later, he’s still leading a dwindling army of freedom fighters against clans loyal to the British throne. When he’s wounded in battle, a widow (Anna Hutchison) nurses him back to health and energizes the cause. The film’s tedious exposition overshadows its intermittent action sequences, which hardly reflects the warrior legacy of its subject. (Not rated, 124 minutes).
To the Stars
The period setting provides a fresh perspective on familiar coming-of-age themes in this overwrought melodrama from director Martha Stephens (Land Ho) about teenage self-discovery and empowerment. In 1960s Oklahoma, small-town wallflower Iris (Kara Hayward) comes out of her shell after meeting impetuous new girl Maggie (Liana Liberato). But as their friendship leads to social acceptance at school as prom approaches, both girls must navigate private secrets and troubled relationships involving their overbearing parents. Despite committed performances, the film struggles to find a consistent tone while balancing heartfelt charm with hard-earned sentimentality. Plus, the convoluted maze of subplots in the third act diminishes the emotional impact. (Not rated, 111 minutes).