Capsule reviews for May 13

The Lobster

Both romantic and comedic, this exhilarating comedy obliterates any genre classification. It’s a dystopian story set in the near future, when David (Colin Farrell) is among the singles sent to a “hotel” and given a time frame to find a mate before being transformed into a beast and sent into the woods to be hunted. He connects with a woman (Rachel Weisz) who is part of a movement to rebel against the oppressive system. Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth) creates a fascinating world of repression and isolation, and tackles it with a deadpan sense of humor. The resulting tale of animal husbandry has real bite. (Rated R, 118 minutes).

Love and Friendship

Whit Stillman might have been Jane Austen in a past life, because the filmmaker’s sense matches the author’s sensibility in this frequently amusing adaptation of one of Austen’s early novellas. It’s a comedy of class and manners among aristocratic 18th century Brits, specifically focusing on a manipulative widow (Kate Beckinsale) who visits the estate of her in-laws to escape the public eye, then starts playing matchmaker for both herself and her daughter (Morfydd Clark). Although this seems like familiar opulent territory for Austen fans, Stillman (Barcelona) gives it a gentle poke and a fresh spin with his own sardonic wit from the “Downton Abbey” age. (Rated PG-13, 92 minutes).

Pele: Birth of a Legend

Soccer fans won’t get a kick from this lackluster biopic of one of the game’s all-time greats. In real life, Pele had a charismatic personality and a flashy playing style to match. Yet very little of that comes through in this hagiographic melodrama, which stars newcomer Kevin DePaula in the title role, chronicling Pele’s upbringing in the slums of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and his rise to become one of the most talented young soccer stars in his country. Eventually, that lands him in the World Cup as a teenager, where he assumes the spotlight. However, the glossy film doesn’t score for its adherence to rags-to-riches formula. (Rated PG, 107 minutes).

Sunset Song

A young woman comes of age in rural Scotland during the early 20th century in this adaptation of Lewis Gibbon’s novel by British director Terence Davies (The Deep Blue Sea). Chris (Agyness Deyn) is fond of her boyfriend (Kevin Guthrie) and the land on which she was raised. But the onset of World War I alters her life forever. The melancholy romance isn’t exactly depressing, but its overwrought treatment prevents full emotional investment. Still, the leisurely paced film is worthwhile for its evocative glimpse into the period and the setting, and for the resulting contrast between insulated blue-collar farmers and the changing world around them. (Rated R, 135 minutes).

The Trust

This subversive rearranging of genre clichés features a pair of amusing performances and a quirky vibe to overcome its pedestrian plotting. It follows Las Vegas cops Stone (Nicolas Cage) and Waters (Elijah Wood), who enjoy poking around the evidence closet in lieu of actual work. When they stumble upon a possible connection between a drug bust and a bank vault, they hatch a heist plan that winds up going awry. Corrupt cops are nothing new, but rookie directors Alex and Benjamin Brewer show some visual flair and keep the pace lively. The actors have a decent rapport, and Jerry Lewis makes a cameo, for some reason. (Rated R, 92 minutes).