Hardcore Henry
⋆⋆ out of four stars
Rated: R for graphic violence, obscenity, nudity, sex, drugs.

As a technical achievement, "Hardcore Henry" is almost virtuosic. Shot entirely on GoPro cameras, it delivers its herky-jerky story of a souped-up bionic man on the run using a point of view that's reminiscent of a first-person-shooter video game. In other words, it's like watching a 90-minute YouTube session of "Call of Duty" crossed with the 1970s TV series "The Six Million Dollar Man." "Hardcore Henry" will find fans among gamers whose satisfaction is derived from racking up hundreds of kills, while ignoring such traditional values as character and motivation.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Demolition
⋆⋆ out of four stars
Rated: R for language, sexual references, drug use.

Jake Gyllenhaal again demonstrates his affinity for portraying souls on the brink. But this movie is so heavy-handed that his efforts are the only reason to see it. The film is a letdown from Jean-Marc Vallee, the director of "Dallas Buyers Club." Gyllenhaal's character, Davis, is a Wall Street exec who has just lost his wife. Instead of mourning, he begins to disassemble things such as his refrigerator — a compulsion that will escalate seriously. "Demolition" is mainly for Gyllenhaal fans who relish his oddball roles.
Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

Born to Be Blue
⋆⋆⋆ out of four stars
Rated: R for drugs, language, violence, sexual situations.
Theater: Edina.

Sometimes known as the James Dean of jazz, trumpeter Chet Baker was among the most photogenic of jazz musicians. Yet by the time he died in 1988, a heroin addiction had so transformed his boyish appearance that he looked decades older than his 58 years. "Born to Be Blue" tells that resonant story, providing a meaty role for Ethan Hawke. The film stumbles a bit in the beginning, but as it progresses, it finds its footing. By the final act, it's chilling how much Hawke has transformed into the late career musician, looking aged well beyond his years.
Pat Padua, Washington Post

Take Me to the River
⋆⋆⋆ out of four stars
Theater: Lagoon. Unrated.

"Take Me to the River" opens with 17-year-old Ryder (Logan Miller) in a car with his parents, on the way to a family reunion. He asks whether his relatives know that he's gay. His mom replies that maybe it's best that they don't. It's the first uneasy step in a movie that revels in its uneasiness. It pivots from what I expected it to be: a family drama about an outsider. Instead, it becomes an eerie mood piece about secrets buried deep in a family's fabric. But "Take Me to the River" is too vague for its own good, losing its power as it meanders into its second act.
Molly Eichel, Philadelphia Inquirer