Capsule reviews for Nov. 24

Drive My Car

Although it sometimes feels relegated to the slow lane, this character-driven Japanese drama rewards patient viewers with a multilayered study of redemption and reinvention through art. Yusuke (Hidetoshi Nishijima) is a stage actor grieving the recent death of his wife. When he’s given a chance to direct a new adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya out of town, it offers a path to emotional healing. On location, he bonds with his young chauffeur (Toko Miura), who helps Yusuke navigate difficulties during the production while being forced to confront his past. Boosted by strong performances, the script by director Ryusuke Hamaguchi finds power in contemplation and artistic expression. (Not rated, 179 minutes).

8-Bit Christmas

Generation X parents might get a nostalgic kick from this broad holiday comedy, although their children won’t find the gifts as amusing. Either way, plenty of moviegoers of a certain age can relate to this 1980s throwback about a suburban Chicago kid (Winslow Fegley) who enters a wreath-selling competition with his classmates to try and win the Nintendo gaming console his father (Steve Zahn) thinks he’s not old enough to have. As directed by Michael Dowse (Stuber), some scattered big laughs accompany the affectionate period details, although it feels more like a sketch, albeit heartfelt, that has trouble sustaining its comic momentum at feature length. (Rated PG, 97 minutes).

The Humans

More ambitious than the average saga about dysfunctional family holiday gatherings, this adaptation of the Tony-winning one-act play nevertheless maintains an awkward emotional detachment on screen. In New York’s Chinatown, Brigid (Beanie Feldstein) is preparing to move into a noisy old apartment with her fiancée (Steven Yeun). As her family gathers for Thanksgiving, paranoia and past secrets reveal cracks both in the structure and in their relationships. Rookie director Stephen Karam, who also wrote the stage version, creates an intimacy that enables his actors to shine, but their dirty laundry doesn’t resonate as intended. The ensemble cast includes Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer, and Jayne Houdyshell. (Rated R, 108 minutes).

Not to Forget

Somehow, five Oscar winners — two of which have since died — share the screen in this awkward and borderline tasteless low-budget melodrama of redemption and reconciliation. It follows a young con artist (Tate Dewey) sentenced to house arrest on a Kentucky farm belonging to his estranged grandmother (Karen Grassle) who has Alzheimer’s. So the grifter uses the opportunity to try and trick his way into an inheritance before his past catches up to him. Devoid of poignancy and charm, the film is too clumsy and contrived to make an impact. The supporting cast includes Cloris Leachman, Olympia Dukakis, Louis Gossett Jr., Tatum O’Neal, and George Chakiris. (Not rated, 84 minutes).

One in a Thousand

While it’s rough around the edges, this gritty and evocative coming-of-age drama from Argentina is a tender and sharply observed exploration of self-expression and sexual identity. At 17, Iris (Sofia Cabrera) is a rising basketball star uncertain about her romantic future. As she becomes closer to a young woman (Ana Carolina Garcia) with a bad reputation, she also tries to protect her two brothers — one flamboyant, the other bullied — whose reckless behavior masks an emotional vulnerability. The screenplay by director Clarisa Navas is deliberately paced but rewards patience as it offers an honest and sometimes unsettling portrayal of teenage sexual politics that’s both specific and universal. (Not rated, 119 minutes).

Twas the Fight Before Christmas

It doesn’t spread much seasonal cheer, but this documentary offers a compelling and darkly comic glimpse into one man’s absurd crusade to turn his front yard into a holiday theme park. Idaho attorney Jeremy Morris channels his obsession with all things Christmas into an annual event attracting thousands of visitors to his lawn. Obviously, that doesn’t sit well with his gun-loving neighbors in the local homeowners’ association, setting off a vicious legal battle that the spotlight-craving Morris eagerly joins. As the ongoing case raises larger issues about freedom of religion, knee-jerk public perception, property rights, and legal system disparities, the film is both captivating and infuriating. (Rated R, 91 minutes).