Editor’s Note: Ratings by the Motion Picture Association of America are: (G) for general audiences; (PG) parental guidance urged because of material possibly unsuitable for children; (PG-13) parents are strongly cautioned to give guidance for attendance of children younger than 13; (R) restricted, younger than 17 admitted only with parent or adult guardian; (NC-17) no one younger than 17 admitted.
Opening in Hollywood this week
“Art and Craft” — A documentary about Mark Landis, a prolific art forger who donated his fakes to museums across the country. Directed by Sam Cullman and Jennifer Grausman. (1:29) NR.
“At the Devil’s Door” — When she’s asked to sell a house with a checkered past, an ambitious young real estate agent crosses paths with a disturbed girl and gets entangled with a supernatural force. With Naya Rivera, Catalina Sandino Moreno and Ashley Rickards. Written and directed by Nicholas McCarthy. (1:32) NR.
“Bird People” — An American businessman en route to Dubai takes his overnight layover as an opportunity to start over in Europe, and a Parisian chambermaid working at his hotel also has a life-changing experience. With Josh Charles, Anais Demoustier and Roschdy Zem. Written by Pascale Ferran and Guillaume Breaud. Directed by Ferran. In English, French and Japanese, with English subtitles. (2:07) NR.
“Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity” — A documentary about the choreographer Elizabeth Streb and her daredevil dance company. Directed by Catherine Gund. (1:23) NR.
“The Boxtrolls” — An animated movie about an orphan who is raised by mischievous underground creatures and must protect them from the town villain. With the voices of Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Ben Kingsley and Elle Fanning. Written by Irena Brignull and Adam Pava. Directed by Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable. In 3-D. (1:36) PG.
“Bridge and Tunnel” — Twentysomethings struggle to cope with breakups, student loan debt and the transition to adulthood while living with their parents in the suburbs outside New York City. With Ryan Metcalf, Mary Kate Wiles and Arjun Gupta. Written and directed by Jason Michael Brescia. (1:30) NR.
“Brush With Danger” — Two undocumented immigrant siblings — she a painter, he a fighter — get caught up in Seattle’s criminal underworld. With Livi Zheng, Ken Zheng and Norman Newkirk. Written by Livi Zheng and Ken Zheng. Directed by Livi Zheng. (1:30) PG-13.
“The Equalizer” — A disillusioned former black-ops agent looking to put his dark past behind him comes out of retirement to save a young girl from ruthless Russian gangsters. With Denzel Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz and Marton Csokas. Written by Richard Wenk. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. In Imax. (2:08) R.
“Field of Lost Shoes” — During the Civil War, teenage cadets must confront the horrors of battle when they’re called upon to defend the Shenandoah Valley. With Luke Benward, Lauren Holly and Jason Isaacs. Written by Thomas F. Farrell II and David M. Kennedy. Directed by Sean McNamara. (1:36) PG-13.
“Fishing Without Nets” — A young Somali fisherman reluctantly joins a crew of pirates to hijack a cargo ship. With Abdikani Muktar, Abdi Siad and Abduwhali Faarah. Written by Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey and David Burkman. Directed by Hodierne. (1:49) NR.
“Good People” — A thirtysomething Chicago couple deep in debt find that the tenant in their downstairs apartment has passed away and left behind $400,000 in cash, but the money doesn’t make their lives any easier. With James Franco, Kate Hudson and Omar Sy. Written by Kelly Masterson. Directed by Henrik Ruben Genz. (1:31) R.
“Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart” — In this animated film set in Victorian-era Scotland, a boy who had his defective heart replaced with a cuckoo clock tries to resist falling in love, which could kill him. With the voices of Orlando Seale, Samantha Barks and Michelle Fairley. Written by Mathias Malzieu. Directed by Malzieu and Stephane Berla. (1:29) PG.
“Jimi: All Is by My Side” — A biopic covering a transformative year in the life of Jimi Hendrix as he went from an unknown guitarist to a rock musician on the verge of stardom. With Andre Benjamin, Imogen Poots and Hayley Atwell. Written and directed by John Ridley. (1:56) R.
“Plastic” — A brazen ring of college students turned credit card thieves inadvertently rob a notorious gangster and are forced to settle the debt. With Ed Speleers, Will Poulter and Alfie Allen. Written by Julian Gilbey, Will Gilbey and Chris Howard. Directed by Julian Gilbey. (1:42) R.
“Pride” — In Thatcherite England, gay and lesbian activists try to raise money to support striking miners and their families. With Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West. Written by Stephen Beresford. Directed by Matthew Warchus. (1:57) R.
“Print the Legend” — A documentary about the rise of 3-D printing technology. Directed by Luis Lopez and J. Clay Tweel. (1:38) NR.
“Smiling Through the Apocalypse: Esquire in the Sixties” — A documentary about the maverick Esquire editor Harold T.P. Hayes and his stewardship of the magazine from 1963 to 1973. Directed by Tom Hayes. (1:37) NR.
“The Song” — An aspiring singer-songwriter struggling to escape the shadow of his father, a country music legend, finds romance and writes a breakout hit, only to grapple with stardom and temptation. With Alan Powell, Caitlin Nicol-Thomas and Ali Faulkner. Written and directed by Richard Ramsey. (1:51) PG-13.
“Swim Little Fish Swim” — A young New York City married couple at a crossroads have their already fragile balance upset by the arrival of a bubbly 19-year-old French artist. With Dustin Guy Defa, Lola Bessis and Brooke Bloom. Written and directed by Lola Bessis and Ruben Amar. (1:35) NR.
“20,000 Days on Earth” — A docudrama chronicling 24 hours in the life of musician Nick Cave. Directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard. (1:38) NR.
“The Two Faces of January” — A wealthy American couple touring Greece in the 1960s meet a con artist who becomes entranced by them, and a sudden accident puts them all in danger. With Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst and Oscar Isaac. Written and directed by Hossein Amini. (1:38) PG-13.
“Two Night Stand” — After a regrettable one-night stand, two strangers wake up to find themselves snowed in, having slept through a blizzard. With Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton and Jessica Szohr. Written by Mark Hammer. Directed by Max Nichols. (1:26) R.
Also in theaters
“Altina” — A documentary portrait of the tobacco heiress and free-spirited artist Altina Schinasi. Directed by Peter Sanders. (1:19) NR.
“As Above, So Below” — To paraphrase the Dante inscription above one of the umpteenth headlamp-lighted passageways in this entertainment-free low-budget horror movie, abandon hope all ye who enter “As Above, So Below,” which is nowhere near as engaging or scary as any given episode of “Scooby-Doo.” (Robert Abele, Aug. 30) (1:33) R.
“Autumn Blood” — In a secluded farm high in the Austrian mountains, a 16-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother try to survive while keeping the recent death of their widowed mother a secret. With Sophie Lowe, Peter Stormare and Gustaf Skarsgard. Written by Stephen T. Barton and Markus Blunder. Directed by Blunder. (1:40) R.
“Cantinflas” – The film tries to capture the magic of the beloved Mexican comic actor, and it does so in fits and starts. Most of the credit goes to Oscar Jaenada in the title role. It is in crossing the border from Mexico to Hollywood that “Cantinflas” blunders. Nearly half the movie is spent following Michael Todd’s (Michael Imperioli) efforts to make “Around the World.” It is unfortunate the film didn’t stay in Mexico, where Cantinflas lived and Jaenada brings him to vibrant life. (B.S., Aug. 29) In Spanish with English subtitles. (1:36) PG.
“Christmas Ride” — After hearing a frightening supernatural warning, a young mother takes an urgent road trip with her two children and a mysterious neighbor haunted by ghosts from his past. With Brittney Ham, H.T. Altman and Russell Walden. Written and directed by Karen E. Francis. (1:48) NR.
“The Drop” — James Gandolfini shines in this crime drama about Brooklyn hard guys and their problems, but across-the-board success remains just out of reach. (K.Tu., Sept. 12) (1:46) R.
“The Expendables 3” — An action film starring Sylvester Stallone and other aging types that tries to make a virtue of necessity by constructing a film about younger folks muscling their sclerotic compatriots out of a job. That may sound interesting, but it’s really not. (K.Tu., Aug. 15) (1:43) PG-13.
“Fort Bliss” — A decorated medic and single mother returns home from an extended tour of duty in Afghanistan and struggles to reclaim the affection of her 5-year-old son. With Michelle Monaghan, Ron Livingston and Manolo Cardona. Written and directed by Claudia Myers. (1:49) NR.
“The Frontier” — After receiving a letter from his estranged father, a retired professor and activist, a ranch hand goes home to see the old man, who has just invited his personal trainer to move in and help write his memoirs. With Max Gail, Coleman Kelly and Anastassia Sendyk. Written by Carlos Colunga and Matt Rabinowitz. Directed by Rabinowitz. (1:29) NR.
“The Green Prince” — A documentary about how the son of a Hamas leader ended up spying for Israel that also explores the psychological intricacies of the secret agent/handler relationship. (K.Tu., Sept. 12) (1:41) PG-13.
“The Guest” — A friendly, helpful young man who shows up on a family’s doorstep claiming to be the good friend of their son, a fallen soldier, may not be what he seems. With Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe and Brendan Meyer. Written by Simon Barrett. Directed by Adam Wingard. (1:39) R.
“Hector and the Search for Happiness” — A quirky psychiatrist dissatisfied with his humdrum life embarks on a global quest to uncover the secret of true happiness. With Simon Pegg, Toni Collette and Rosamund Pike. Written by Maria von Heland, Peter Chelsom and Tinker Lindsay. Directed by Chelsom. (1:54) R.
“The Hundred-Foot Journey” — A sweet and unapologetic fairy tale for adults, this story of cuisines and cultures in conflict starring Helen Mirren and Om Puri has been polished to such a high sheen it’s hard to know whether to be impressed or disheartened. Or both. (K.Tu., Aug. 8) (2:02) PG.
“I Am Eleven” — A documentary portrait of 11-year-old children from around the world as they stand on the cusp of adolescence. Directed by Genevieve Bailey. (1:34) NR.
“Iceman” — A Ming Dynasty palace guard wrongly accused of murder and the three men sent to apprehend him are frozen at the height of battle and defrosted 400 years later. With Donnie Yen, Simon Yam and Wang Baoqiang. Written by Mark Wu, Lam Fung and Shum Shek Yin. Directed by Law Wing-cheong. In Cantonese and Mandarin, with English subtitles. (1:44) R.
“If I Stay” — Adapted from Gayle Forman’s popular young adult novel and starring Chloe Grace Moretz, this is a flat-out all-in fantasy romance, an unashamed tear-jerker that is unafraid of glossy emotions. (K.Tu., Aug. 22) (1:47) PG-13.
“Into the Storm” — Basically a B picture with a sizable effects budget, this film knows you bought your ticket for the tornadoes, not the dramatics, and acts accordingly. Its story line and performances are no more than serviceable, but those terrible twisters are state-of-the-art. (K.Tu. Aug. 8) (1:29) PG-13.
“Keep on Keepin’ On” — A documentary portrait of the 93-year-old jazz musician Clark Terry. Directed by Alan Hicks. (1:26) R.
“Last Days in Vietnam” — A documentary about the evacuation of Saigon during the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War. Directed by Rory Kennedy. (1:38) NR.