Capsule reviews for Dec. 8

All Souls

Exploring desperate circumstances on the socioeconomic margins through cliches and contrivances, this low-budget revenge thriller is a formulaic saga about cops, criminals, and irresponsible parents. It centers on River (Mikey Madison), a single mother with a troubled past struggling to raise her young daughter (Mia Love Disnard). She’s recruited as an undercover informant and becomes entangled in an operation involving a loose-cannon drug trafficker (rapper G-Eazy) who also happens to be the father of her kid. Despite some mild intrigue, the thinly plotted film lacks emotional depth and moral complexity as a probe of child endangerment and a critique of dangerous police informant pressures. (Rated R, 81 minutes).

Fast Charlie

Talented collaborators on both sides of the camera have done better than this far-fetched Deep South crime thriller from veteran director Phillip Noyce (Salt), although it intermittently rises above the formulaic fray. Charlie (Pierce Brosnan) is a debonair fixer for gangsters in the Mississippi Delta who visits a taxidermist, Marcie (Morena Baccarin), with her decapitated ex-husband’s body in his trunk. With his mentor (James Caan) endangered by his impatient bosses, Charlie seeks an exit from the organized crime world, and Marcie might be his secret weapon. It’s better as a sardonic character study about redemption than an ultraviolent genre exercise, yet becomes caught between the two. (Rated R, 90 minutes).

Our Son

Exploring fractured families and childhood innocence through the story of a gay New York couple, this domestic drama from director Bill Oliver (Jonathan) feels familiar — which might be the point, for better and worse. It follows Gabriel (Billy Porter), an ex-actor and stay-at-home dad for Owen (Christopher Woodley), the 8-year-old son he shares with workaholic publisher Nicky (Luke Evans). When Gabriel suddenly files for divorce, it prompts an ugly custody battle that challenges the feelings of both men, with Owen caught in the middle. The performances are excellent and despite some moderate contrivances, the compassion for kids and adults alike involved feels more heartfelt than forced. (Rated R, 104 minutes).

Raging Grace

Although it indulges in genre tropes, this thoughtful and atmospheric British drama with a horror twist is layered with relevant social commentary and rich cultural specificity. It chronicles an undocumented Filipina immigrant (Max Eigenmann) who finds a job as a caretaker for a wealthy and terminally ill patient (David Hayman). It’s ideal for providing stability for her and her daughter (Jaeden Boadilla), until supernatural secrets start to surface within the old man’s house that evolve into nightmarish threats. The assured screenplay by rookie director Paris Zarcilla gradually builds tension without turning heavy-handed, while the actors find emotional grounding in the characters and their fragile circumstances. (Not rated, 99 minutes).

The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan

Slick and stylish, this latest cinematic adaptation of the venerable Alexandre Dumas adventure saga hardly breaks any new ground, but it showcases a strong cast and some exciting action sequences. It’s set in 17th century Paris, where young swashbuckler D’Artagnan (Francois Civil) arrives as a religious power struggle puts France on the brink of war. He reluctantly joins forces with king’s musketeers Athos (Vincent Cassel), Porthos (Pio Marmai), and Aramis (Romain Duris) as his loyalties are challenged by women and bureaucrats. The first half of a two-part saga from director Martin Bourboulon (Eiffel), the spirited film’s ensemble cast includes Louis Garrel, Eva Green, and Vicky Krieps. (Rated PG-13, 121 minutes).