Being Flynn
Starring Robert De Niro, Paul Dano, Julianne Moore, Olivia Thirlby
Paul Dano’s smooth, high forehead is a canvas awaiting the arrival of worry lines, and this young actor’s alert yet haunted looks are perfect for the appearance of wormy states of anxiety. He’s a great worrier, which is a plus in his performance as the fledgling writer Nick Flynn in Paul Weitz’s father-son drama Being Flynn. The father is Jonathan Flynn, brought to vivid life by Robert De Niro in his best performance since, well, 1997’s Jackie Brown. De Niro’s Flynn is an estranged father, ex-con, alcoholic and general all-around blowhard who reaches out to the son he hasn’t seen in 18 years when he’s evicted from his apartment. It isn’t long before Flynn the elder is homeless and visiting the shelter where Nick works (with his on-again, off-again girlfriend Denise, played with superb matter-of-factness by Olivia Thirlby). De Niro’s Flynn believes himself a great novelist and raconteur, and Paul Weitz’s script has too many flights of literary fancy (it’s told in double voiceover by father and son), yet the actors keep it grounded (especially Julianne Moore as the put-upon, single parent seen in flashbacks). It’s an imperfect but effective film, without a whiff of unearned sentiment. Opens March 2. 3/5 stars —Dan Loughry

The Forgiveness of Blood
Starring Tristan Halilaj, Sindi Lacej, Refet Abazi
In modern day Albania, blood feuds still rule the land. Dictated by a 15th century legal code known as Kanun, these squabbles-turned-ego-driven-vengeance quests keep some families locked in their homes for years, lest they be assassinated in retribution. Director Joshua Marston, who previously examined the drug mule phenomenon with 2004’s Maria Full of Grace, brings us into this archaic way of life through the eyes of two Albanian teenagers caught in the fray. Played by lanky newcomer Halilaj, Nike is cut off from friends and social life when his father murders a member of a neighboring clan. His younger sister, meanwhile, attempts to keep the family business alive, despite threats and further challenges. Marston and Albanian co-writer Andamion Murataj manage to convey Nike and his siblings’ boredom without being boring. The score is sparse, allowing visuals and natural sound to do all the work, while a tension and underlying sense of danger exists in almost every frame. Bits of discussion between elders illuminate the Kanun and its provisions, while a shifty mediator, part of an industry that stands to profit from these feuds, shows up at one point. This is skillful, restrained and satisfying filmmaking. Opens Feb. 24. 4/5 stars —Lawrence Ferber

On the Ice
Starring Josiah Patkotak, Frank Qutuq Irelan, Teddy Kyle Smith
On the Ice unfolds in Barrow, Alaska—a snow-covered town as bleak as it is white, where the sun doesn’t set between May and August. Unfortunately, despite the unique location, much of this indigenous film is familiar and undistinguished. Teenagers and inseparable friends Qalli (Patkotak) and Aivaaq (Irelan) go seal hunting one morning. Qalli arrives late to see Aivaaq fighting with James (John Miller). A shovel and knife are drawn, and James is killed. The boys cover up the crime. As Qalli and Aivaaq try to keep the truth of what happened a secret—from the authorities, their parents, their friends and even each other—the guilt messes with their heads. Adding to their problems, Aivaaq is battling substance abuse, and Qalli’s father (Smith) is determined to discover what really happened. Although the leads are compelling, it’s hard to care about them as they make multiple wrongheaded decisions. Moreover, much of the acting is as stiff as the plotting is contrived. And while watching Aivaaq and Qalli emcee at a party is nicely contrasted with ritual drumming in school, the fascinating glimpses into Iñupiaq culture can’t compensate for a thriller that is visually interesting but offers too few thrills and even less psychological insights. Opens Feb. 24. 2/5 stars —Gary M. Kramer

Seeking Justice
Starring Nicolas Cage, January Jones, Guy Pearce
Nic Cage must hate him some Liam Neeson lately. Alas, here’s the latest entry in Cage’s growingly suck-ass, latter years IMDB CV. Cage is Will, a milquetoast teacher whose wife, Laura (Jones), is savagely raped. Enter Simon (Pearce), a dapper, mysterious fellow who offers a quid pro quo—we’ll kill the rapist, you’ll owe us a favor. Sure enough, this bargain proves tainted, with a diabolical conspiracy at its core. The cinematic equivalent of an artificial preservative, there is absolutely nothing natural or organic about this ‘thriller’ on any level. In full hack mode, director Roger Donaldson makes Joel Schumacher look like Apichatpong Weerasethakul, with painfully forced Bourne-esque, jittery style (most likely the result of post-production effects) and a predictable series of ‘twists.’ The cast is almost entirely Central Casting grade. The dialogue and situations are preposterous. And what has Cage done to his face? Pearce brings a welcome evil and weight to his scenes, and one does get sucked into this cheesiness, much like a dumb genre movie on Cinemax at 3 a.m. Dexter’s Jennifer Carpenter makes an inexplicable cameo, and Tobey Maguire is listed as a producer. Yep, I’m gonna say it—this is a miscarriage. Opens March 9. 1/5 stars —Lawrence Ferber