Capsule reviews for Nov. 22

Armor

Despite some well-staged action sequences and a capable cast, this low-budget crime thriller struggles to generate consistent suspense with stock characters and stilted dialogue. James (Jason Patric) is an alcoholic ex-cop still coping with a past tragedy who now drives an armored truck alongside his son (Josh Wiggins). However, when a mysterious trunk is added to their usual haul, the vehicle becomes trapped on a bridge by a militia headed by a ruthless gang leader (Sylvester Stallone). Surrounded on all sides, the father-and-son team fights for survival. After a promising setup, the narrative momentum lags in the middle and the stakes never build as intended. (Rated R, 88 minutes).

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found

While celebrating the emotional power of photographs, this expansive documentary from director Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) helps to preserve the vital legacy of its late subject. Launched by the discovery of 60,000 negatives of Cole’s work in a Swedish bank vault in 2017, the film proceeds to trace the life and career of the South African photographer known for his visual chronicles of racial oppression His most notable collection focused on Apartheid in his homeland, the result of which forced him into exile and personal disillusionment. The film builds a cumulative potency in sharing story that Cole himself was prevented from fully telling. (Not rated, 106 minutes).

Flow

From humorous to heartwarming to harrowing, this quietly powerful charmer is highlighted by richly detailed and visually striking animation. The dialogue-free story follows a cat abandoned in the woods, where it reluctantly forms a bond with other outcasts of various species. A stray boat provides only temporary shelter from persistent floods and massive sea creatures. It’s a cute and cuddly tale of peaceful coexistence in the wild, yet also a survival saga where danger lurks around every corner. Dabbling in dystopian fantasy, the film conveys a message of environmental conservation in the face of climate change, and the resilient feline protagonist takes care of the rest. (Rated PG, 84 minutes).

Never Look Away

The stunning imagery along the front lines takes a back seat to the conflict inside the head of famed videographer and journalist Margaret Moth in this revealing and intriguing documentary from rookie director Lucy Lawless. It chronicles the life and career of Moth, a charismatic yet enigmatic New Zealand native who became one of the world’s foremost war correspondents by documenting footage from Bosnia to the Middle East often at her own peril. But were her actions courageous or reckless? Lawless probes her troubled personal life and tumultuous relationships for clues as part of a thorough portrait of a media maverick whose work deserves a salute. (Not rated, 85 minutes).

Whiteout

By stripping away context and exposition, this testosterone-driven survival thriller never provides sufficient incentive for emotional investment in who lives and who dies. It follows Henry (James McDougall), a nerdy tech expert at a corporate office raided by Russian terrorists. Henry is abducted and held hostage at a labor camp, where he meets some fellow captives with an escape plan. But fleeing captivity turns out to be the easy part when they are left alone in the snowy Siberian wilderness. Through its lean script and stereotypical characters, the film offers a half-hearted exploration of primal instincts during times of desperation, albeit with minimal subtlety or surprise. (Rated R, 91 minutes).