Capsule reviews for Oct. 15

Bergman Island

The influence of legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman can be felt beyond the setting for this richly textured character study about self-discovery and the artistic process from French director Mia Hansen-Love (Eden). It chronicles a writer (Vicky Krieps) who retreats with her filmmaker husband (Tim Roth) to the Scandinavian island of Faro, where Bergman lived and made many of his projects. As both of them seek inspiration and interact with the eccentric locals, fact and fiction start to blur, and their relationship is impacted in unexpected ways. A rather simple idea evolves into a multilayered exploration of creativity, bolstered by nuanced performances and idyllic seaside visuals. (Rated R, 112 minutes).

The Blazing World

Trying to balance campy with clever, the directorial debut from actress Carlson Young (TV’s “Scream”) flashes abundant visual flair yet stumbles in realizing its narrative ambitions. Young stars as a troubled young woman still grieving her twin sister’s childhood drowning. When she returns home to her dysfunctional family, she becomes haunted by nightmares tied to a stranger (Udo Kier) claiming that his portal to an alternate dimension might be the key to catharsis. Expanded from the short film of the same name, the movie struggles to maintain its suspense during Margaret’s surreal odyssey. From an emotional standpoint, the setup is ultimately more compelling than the payoff. (Not rated, 99 minutes).

Hard Luck Love Song

Turning a four-minute country tune into a viable feature-length film proves too daunting for this cliched drama about, well, hard luck, love, and songs. It follows Jesse (Michael Dorman), a struggling Texas troubadour who tries to make ends meet as a pool hustler. During his latest small-town stop, Jesse hooks up with an old flame (Sophia Bush), only to find she’s working as a prostitute. Can they put their lives back together, individually if not collectively? It’s unlikely you’ll care either way, as woefully predictable plotting compromises Dorman’s hard-edged performance. Rookie director Justin Corsbie injects some visual flair to the material, which sings a familiar refrain. (Rated R, 104 minutes).

Held for Ransom

Although its broader sociopolitical context is uneven, this taut thriller from director Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) makes the most of its gripping true-life source material. It recounts the harrowing ordeal of Daniel Rye (Esben Smed), a Danish photojournalist who was kidnapped and taken hostage by ISIS rebels while on assignment in Syria in 2013. As his working-class family tries to navigate bureaucratic red tape and negotiate his release, Daniel befriends American journalist and fellow captive James Foley (Toby Kebbell). As the film builds tension, the resilience of Daniel and his family maintains a glimmer of hope amid the desperation and despair. (Not rated, 138 minutes).

Luzzu

The beauty of the Mediterranean scenery provides an ironic backdrop for this gritty yet quietly powerful drama of blue-collar strife in the island country of Malta. Jesmark (Jesmark Scicluna) is a longtime fisherman whose career has been jeopardized by socioeconomic turmoil and personal struggles. Desperation prompts some difficult decisions, including whether to sell his family’s beloved boat and compromise his principles in the black-market seafood trade. Employing a documentary feel, rookie director Alex Camilleri creates a vivid portrait of a country in transition and those dealing with unintended consequences. Although rough around the edges, Scicluna’s portrayal feels authentic, and his character’s dilemmas resonate beyond geographic boundaries. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

The Velvet Underground

Any comprehensive documentary about the pioneering alt-rock band is also a glimpse into the eclectic 1960s New York artistic scene that made the group possible. That’s where this tribute from director Todd Haynes (Carol) is most successful, as it focuses less on the music and more on tying together historical tidbits surrounding the band’s rise to popularity. Through an exhaustive collection of interviews and archival footage, Haynes follows mercurial front man Lou Reed and his cohorts from their rebellious beginnings alongside Andy Warhol to their reinvention and eventual breakup. The result might be too in-depth for non-fans, although the film persuasively spotlights the group’s enduring legacy. (Rated R, 121 minutes).