Capsule reviews for July 19

Before Dawn

Grand ambitions fall victim to budget constraints and a pedestrian script in this Australian war drama that admirably salutes military courage and sacrifice, even if it lacks narrative conviction. It follows Jim (Levi Miller), a youngster from the Outback who joins an Anzac deployment to the Western Front during World War I. From there, we see the horrors of the war through his eyes, as well as those of his comrades in the trenches and, to a lesser extent, on the battlefield. The character-driven film establishes a convincing rapport among its soldiers under duress, but struggles to distinguish itself in terms of perspective or moral complexity. (Rated R, 101 minutes).

Clear Cut

The lush woods and rolling hills of the Pacific Northwest provide a pretty backdrop for some ugly violence and vengeance in this testosterone-fueled thriller from director Brian Skiba (Pursuit) that comes right off the genre assembly line. Jack (Clive Standen) is a logger harboring tragic secrets when he comes across a camp run by drug smugglers, and eventually finds himself on the run. Meanwhile, a forest ranger (Stephen Dorff) seems to have an agenda of his own. It all funnels predictably into a series of brutal and bloody confrontations to find the last man standing. The cast includes Alec Baldwin, Tom Welling, and Jesse Metcalfe. (Rated R, 88 minutes).

Crossing

Richly textured characters and naturalistic performances lend authenticity to this evocative Turkish drama about acceptance, regret, and human connection. It follows Lia (Mzia Arabuli), a Georgian teacher seeking to reconnect with her transgender niece, who became estranged from the family. A young neighbor (Lucas Kankava) claims to know her whereabouts in Istanbul and tags along, eager to flee his coastal town for his own reasons. Their journey is less about wild adventures than about minor epiphanies while trying to find closure. The understated screenplay by director Levan Akin (And Then We Danced) is quietly perceptive particularly as probes contemporary Istanbul through lives on the margins. (Not rated, 106 minutes).

Crumb Catcher

It gets under your skin at times, and makes you cringe at others, yet this mildly inventive and narrowly focused horror exercise stumbles toward a rather conventional resolution. On their wedding night, Shane (Rigo Garay) and Leah (Ella Rae Peck) retreat to a secluded getaway, only to have their relaxing weekend disrupted by petty arguments, a balky vintage car, and most of all, an overzealous waiter (John Speredakos) who never seems to shut up. As things gradually turn sinister, the screenplay by rookie director Chris Skotchdopole skillfully navigates the tonal fluctuations. But as it goes along, the amusing concept starts to feel gimmicky and calculated. (Not rated, 102 minutes).

Oddity

Playfully tweaking genre conventions, this atmospheric Irish psychological thriller is a taut and twisty tale of revenge for which the title is an apt description. Shortly after his wife is murdered while alone in their remote house, a psychiatrist (Gwilym Lee) has already moved back in with a new woman (Caroline Menton). That leads to a visit from the dead woman’s blind twin sister (Carolyn Bracken) who begins acting strangely while delivering a creepy wooden mannequin. Although the nonlinear narrative can be frustrating, the slow-burning script by director Damian McCarthy (Caveat) rewards patience with haunting imagery and an unsettling tension enhanced by underlying guilt and grief. (Rated R, 98 minutes).

Widow Clicquot

A powerfully understated performance by Haley Bennett (Cyrano) in the title role drives this otherwise conventional period piece putting a contemporary feminist spin on a true-life story of an early 19th century French winemaking pioneer. Bennett plays Barbe-Nicole, whose emotionally troubled late husband (Tom Sturridge) oversaw the vast family vineyard. After his death, she takes over to through on his vision. But despite her conviction in a male-dominated industry, she must get creative to rescue the company from the brink of bankruptcy. The abundant flashbacks oversell the sappy romance, although the film, however embellished, is richer and sweeter as a character-driven drama of resilience and resolve. (Rated R, 89 minutes).