Capsule reviews for Feb. 16

Bleeding Love

Heartfelt intentions alone cannot carry this intergenerational road-trip saga in which the path to redemption and reconciliation is dotted with formulaic potholes. The semiautobiographical roots lend some conviction to this story of a young addict (Clara McGregor) whose estranged father (Ewan McGregor) picks her up for a journey across the New Mexico desert to an unknown destination, hoping simultaneously to bring new perspective to her life and repair their relationship. Perhaps the true-life details that inspired the film were more compelling. Unfortunately, moviegoers won’t find the same catharsis — whether real or fictional — as the McGregors because of a quirky screenplay that detours into third-act predictability. (Not rated, 102 minutes).

Drift

A clear-eyed plea for compassion in the face of judgmental prejudice, this character-driven drama from director Anthony Chen (Ilo Ilo) chronicles the immigrant experience with tenderness and sincerity. Jacqueline (Cynthia Erivo) escapes war-torn Liberia for the Greek islands, where she offers massages to tourists for quick cash. Trying to guard the details of her circumstances, she befriends a tour guide (Alia Shawkat) who is likewise experiencing some hardships. They provide each other hope while confronting an uncertain future. A powerfully understated portrayal by Erivo (Harriet) drives a film that suffers from some heavy-handed calculations yet conveys a hopeful resonance that’s both culturally specific and emotionally universal. (Not rated, 93 minutes).

Land of Bad

Overflowing with old-fashioned masculinity and machismo, this testosterone-fueled war thriller from director William Eubank (Underwater) finds its emotional stakes diminished by genre cliches and narrative contrivances. It’s set in the Philippines, where a Special Forces operative (Liam Hemsworth) becomes trapped behind enemy lines. With his chances of survival dwindling after an ambush, he relies on radio communication with a drone pilot (Russell Crowe) to lead him to an extraction point with the clock ticking for a possible rescue. The committed performances create a genuine rooting interest amid the generic conflict, but otherwise this violent throwback saga provides only intermittent thrills, feeling more familiar than fresh. (Rated R, 110 minutes).