Capsule reviews for Feb. 17

Bullhead

Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts gives a powerful performance in this bizarre Oscar-nominated crime drama about Jacky, a hot-headed cattle farmer whose hooked on steroids and arranges a deal between a veterinarian and a Flemish beef trader with criminal connections. That sets off a chain of events that leave Jacky fearing for his life. It’s difficult to become emotionally involved with material this dark and characters this unscrupulous, and rookie filmmaker Michael Roskam seems to relish the discomfort of viewers. Yet the material is provocative (not to mention unique) and the plot twists are compelling enough to make this an offbeat if unsettling ride. (Rated R, 124 minutes).

Thin Ice

This clever independent dark comedy from director Jill Sprecher (Clockwatchers) stars Greg Kinnear as a slimy Wisconsin insurance salesman always looking for the next score. He thinks he’s found it when he sets up a scheme with a lonely old man (Alan Arkin) as the victim, but a series of complications leave him trying to keep up with an angry locksmith (Billy Crudup), a nervous luthier (Bob Balaban), a nosy neighbor, a suspicious secretary and a dog. The film contains some fine performances and a generous number of amusing caper-comedy plot twists that help to offset an ending that feels too calculated. (Rated R, 94 minutes).

Undefeated

This Oscar-nominated documentary is a breezy and inspirational crowd-pleaser about a turnaround of the downtrodden inner-city football program at Manassas High School in Memphis, Tenn., thanks in large part to the efforts of a volunteer coach and a few key players who believe in his system. There are some routine underdog elements, and at times the film feels too calculated, but the most poignant segments take place away from the field, whether during team meetings or in players’ homes. The title is appropriate not in the traditional sense, just as this is a film that doesn’t cater only to the traditional football fan. (Rated PG-13, 113 minutes).