Capsule reviews for Nov. 15

Charlie Countryman

Shia LeBoeuf stars in the title role of this pretentious low-budget drama, as a young man experiencing an existential crisis after the death of his mother (Melissa Leo), so he impulsively moves to Romania, where he meets a local woman (Evan Rachel Wood) dealing with the death of her father, only to inadvertently become mixed up with her violent mobster ex-boyfriend (Mads Mikkelsen) in seedy Bucharest. The film tries to be an edgy exploration of the grieving process by mixing in elements of romantic whimsy, crime thriller, and broad culture-clash comedy, but the result is an overwrought and muddled mess with little redemptive value. (Rated R, 108 minutes).

The Great Beauty

The title is fitting for this visually dazzling Italian epic from director Paolo Sorrentino (Il Divo), which is an ambitious follow-up of sorts to Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. It chronicles a 65-year-old journalist (Toni Servillo), a one-time novelist who spends most of his time documenting the social elite of Rome, when a secret from his past causes him to reconsider his life. As a tribute to the artistic legacy of Rome through a contemporary lens, the result ultimately is an exercise in style over substance, but it still manages to have moments that are genuinely funny and poignant. Servillo is excellent, as is the eclectic soundtrack. (Not rated, 142 minutes).

Sunlight Jr.

Compelling characters are stranded without a sufficient story in this gritty drama about a convenience store clerk (Naomi Watts) struggling to make ends meet while living with her paraplegic boyfriend (Matt Dillon) in a seedy hotel. Then she unexpectedly becomes pregnant, resulting in a series of financial hardships that strains their relationships. An audacious performance by the versatile Watts helps to elevate the latest working-class effort from director Laurie Collyer (Sherrybaby), yet the well-intentioned film can’t overcome a screenplay that feels more contrived as the problems pile up for the couple. A late twist provides a layer of social commentary before a predictable resolution. (Not rated, 94 minutes).