Capsule reviews for March 11

Gold

A committed portrayal by Zac Efron brings sympathy to an otherwise bleak survival saga about trust and greed, keeping it from becoming lost in the wilderness. The story is set in a near-future dystopian desert, where Efron plays a traveler to a remote outpost who discovers a massive gold nugget buried in the sand. While his driver (Anthony Hayes, who also directed) treks to find excavation equipment, he must fend for himself with dwindling resources and growing doubt about his fate amid the harsh conditions. Despite some contrived moral dilemmas, the film features some visually striking rural landscapes while gradually building suspense from its pared-down concept. (Rated R, 97 minutes).

I Am Here

Ella Blumenthal is a force of nature. The centenarian Holocaust survivor carries this documentary with her quick-witted charm, infectious optimism, and most of all, her vivid storytelling. As her relatives gather in South Africa to celebrate her birthday, she opens up about her harrowing experience in Nazi concentration camps, as re-created in animated segments that structurally resemble the immigrant saga Flee. The film isn’t revelatory in a broader sense about the horrors it depicts, nor does it feel especially persuasive in trying to connect Blumenthal’s firsthand account with contemporary political division and fringe movements. Yet her testimony is a powerful tribute to resilience and compassion. (Rated PG-13, 73 minutes).

Moon Manor

Regardless of your moral or political stance on euthanasia, Jimmy Corrozo makes a persuasive case for going out on his own terms. The protagonist of this energetic if highly uneven comedy (played by first-time actor Jimmy Corrozo, and loosely based on himself), an aging free-spirited musician now suffering from Alzheimer’s who organizes his own “FUN-eral” by inviting an obituary writer (Lou Taylor Pucci), a death doula (Debra Wilson), and others. As the film flashes back to segments of his life in episodic fashion, all the eccentricities from his past tend to obscure the poignancy of his present. However, Corrozo’s screen presence gives this oddball concoction life. (Not rated, 103 minutes).

Outsiders

A sympathetic performance by Skylan Brooks (Archenemy) elevates this character-driven thriller in which ambition surpasses execution. Brooks plays Jaylen, a mild-mannered Black teenager whose mother fled an abusive relationship by relocating to a small town with a racist past. When a female classmate (Clark Backo) disappears, Jaylen immediately becomes a suspect but insists to the sheriff (Shane West) that supernatural phenomena are to blame, despite a lack of proof. The promising debut for director Delmar Washington combines familiar ideas in a fresh package, although its muddled attempts at more incisive social commentary suffer from cliches and stereotypes. The result is more jumbled than provocative. (Rated R, 85 minutes).

Song for Cesar

While paying tribute to the legacy of civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, this documentary finds its rhythm as a broader exploration of how music and the arts can galvanize marginalized groups during times of sociopolitical struggle. Specifically, the film chronicles how the 1960s labor movement for migrant farm workers led by Chavez inspired the work of Latino musicians who contributed their musical talents to the cause — from protest songs to benefit concerts and more. Even if the film shortchanges the audience a bit when it comes to hearing and seeing the artistry, the anecdotes are compelling from an impressive roster of interviewees whose passion shines through. (Not rated, 85 minutes).

Ultrasound

Although it tests your patience with its labyrinthine structure, this confusing yet intriguing blend of horror and science fiction pays off with some sharp and stylish twists. Glen (Vincent Kartheiser) is a stranded motorist who seeks help from Art (Bob Stephenson) and his young wife Cyndi (Chelsea Lopez), only to wind up with an indecent proposal instead. Later, Cyndi becomes mysteriously pregnant and Glen winds up in a medical facility where a doctor (Tunde Adebimpe) is experimenting with expectant mothers. Things get more bizarre from there, but those who care enough to piece together its puzzle will find a suspenseful examination of gender roles and gaslighting. (Not rated, 103 minutes).