MOVIE MINIS

OPENING THURSDAY

A review for “Ready Player One,” directed by Steven Spielberg, will appear in Thursday’s Living section.

NOW PLAYING “The Death of Stalin”

BA group of bumbling lackeys struggled for power after General Secretary Comrade Joseph Stalin had a stroke and died in 1953. It’s a cartoonish depiction of real people and real events. Starring Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor and Simon Russell Beale. Directed by Armando Iannucci. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Services) Rated R for language throughout, violence and some sexual references. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 46 minutes.

“Flower”

D+A teen bent on being bad hatches a plan with her stepbrother to exact revenge on his molestor. We’ve seen high-schoolers behaving badly before, but the film can’t quite nail the necessary tone, aiming for dark, but missing the comedy. Starring Zoey Deutch, Kathryn Hahn and Joey Morgan. Directed by Max Winkler. (Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, graphic nude drawings, some drug content and a brief violent image. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 30 minutes.

“Foxtrot”

BA family is told their soldier son has been killed, but their grief turns to anger when they find out it isn’t true. Meanwhile, their son is stationed at a remote outpost in Israel. It is arch and ironic, and also devastatingly sad. Starring Lior Ashkenazi, Sarah Adler and Yonaton Shiray. Directed by Samuel Maoz. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for some sexual content including graphic images, and brief drug use. At Landmark’s Midtown Arts. 1 hour, 51 minutes.

“I Kill Giants”

Review not available in time for publication. A girl girl regularly brings a Norse warhammer to school and has an imaginary life in which she is a skilled giant killer, but in reality, this might be her way of coping with troubles at home. Starring Imogen Poots and Madison Wolfe. Directed by Anders Walter. Unrated. At AMC Conyers Crossing. 1 hour, 44 minutes.

“Leaning Into the Wind”

BArtist Andy Goldsworthy reflects on his early influences, environmental change and the exquisite liminal connection he’s been pursuing over the course of his career. The documentary is gorgeously photographed and offers viewers a change to consider the work of an artist who defies the recent commodification cult to embrace the ephemeral and the nominally “worthless.” Starring Andy Goldsworthy. Directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated PG for brief strong language. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 33 minutes.

“The Leisure Seeker”

DA long-married couple takes a road trip, but the man’s mind is slipping and the woman’s patience waning. There are many fine moments, but the scattered few isn’t worth an almost twohour investment. Starring Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren. Directed by Paolo Virzi. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) Rated R for some sexual material. At the Springs Cinema & Taphouse and Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 52 minutes.

“Madame”

Review not available in time for publication. An American couple disguises their maid during a Parisian dinner party to even out the number of guests, but the maid runs off with a wealthy guest and her employer must chase her all over Paris to thwart the affair. Starring Toni Collette, Harvey Keitel and Rossy de Palma. Directed by Amanda Sthers. Unrated. At Plaza Theatre. 1 hour, 31 minutes.

“Midnight Sun”

D+A teen girl is hypersensitive to the sun but manages to snag a boyfriend who doesn’t know about her disease. A special date night could turn into bad news if they don’t make it home before sunrise. The film has a ridiculous storyline, but even worse, the lead couple has no chemistry. Starring Bella Thorne, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Quinn Shepherd and Rob Riggle. Directed by Scott Speer. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for some teen partying and sensuality. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE OK for teens and older kids, too mature for younger kids.

“Pacific Rim Uprising”

BThe kaiju are back and the pilots must fight them off to save the world again. The film moves at a breakneck clip, but when the moment to save the world comes, it’s profoundly affecting. Starring John Boyega, Cailee Spaeny and Scott Eastwood. Directed by Steven S. DeKnight. Katie Walsh, Tribune News Services) Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and some language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 51 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE OK for teens and older kids but way too violent and scary for little kids.

“Paul, Apostle of Christ”

BLuke visits his friend Paul who is incarcerated in Nero’s prison to record his final words of wisdom. It’s well-timed with Lenten reflections and offers both solace and a bracing, even revolutionary, challenge. Starring Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner and Joanne Whalley. Directed by Andrew Hyatt. Rated PG-13 for some violent content and disturbing images. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 48 minutes.

“Sherlock Gnomes”

CSomeone is kidnapping garden gnomes all over London and the detective Sherlock Gnomes and his sidekick Watson investigate the case. There are some fun bits, but it doesn’t have the kind of true wow factor to make it stand out from the rest of the pack. Starring voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp. Directed by John Stevenson. Rated PG for some rude and suggestive humor. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 26 minutes.

“Unsane”

BA woman seeing a psychiatrist for trauma from a stalker situation gets tricked into committing herself to an insane asylum. It could’ve been a lowbrow genre entry, but the director is in his best mode and turns it into something extraordinary. Starring Claire Foy and Joshua Leonard. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) Rated R for disturbing behavior, violence, language and sex references. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 37 minutes.