Digging for Fire - B

Rated R, 85 minutes

"Digging for Fire" is one of those small, independent gems of a movie that explores relationships in a familiar but insightful way. The well-acted, low-budget dramedy is well-cast, funny and explores what happens to a relationship when the unexpected happens. The film follows the discovery of a bone and a gun which sends husband and wife Tim and Lee (Jake Johnson and Rosemarie DeWitt), each full of doubts about their future and anxiety about the present, on separate adventures over the course of a weekend. Directed, produced and co-written (along with lead actor Johnson from the TV show "New Girl"), by Joe Swanberg ("Drinking Buddies"), whose star is on the rise, "Digging for Fire" is a familiar but affecting, often funny tale of relationships and marriage. The proflic Swanberg is becoming the next, low-budget Christopher Guest, as he continues to make small, quality films; his usual themes and cast are in place in "Digging," and he mines similar themes from his other movies, this time about a couple who take a short sabbatical from each other to discover if they truly need each other. The great cast, especially Johnson and DeWitt, are wholly believable, and watch for a stellar supporting cast including Orlando Bloom, Mike Birbiglia, Chris Messina, Brie Larson, Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick, among many others, who help in the discovery. Of course, the part with the bones and digging is just a metaphor for self-discovery, and the backdrop for some the adventure that our relationships take us on (in this case, a pool party, a fight in a restaurant, and lots of dirt). At only 85 minutes, "Digging for Fire" is a fun and quick exploration, and as you wade through the last predictable act, you have a sense of where it's, but it's a satisfying, amusing look at what it takes for marriages and relationships to survive.

We Are Your Friends - C

Rated R, 96 minutes

If you've been clamoring for a movie about electronic dance music (EDM), then the slick but vacuous drama "We Are Your Friends" may be for you. Unsurprisingly, the upbeat music, and not the stale drama, is the most memorable thing about the dull movie. Cole (Zac Efron), a struggling 23-year-old DJ in the EDM scene, dreams of becoming a major record producer. When an older DJ, James (Wes Bentley), becomes his mentor, Cole connects with James' girlfriend, Sophie (Emily Ratajkowski). Cole's relationship with Sophie blossoms and breaks the bond with his mentor, which forces Cole into difficult decisions about his future. "We Are Your Friends," directed and co-written by documentary filmmaker Max Joseph in his feature film debut, it's set against the backdrop of the L.A. EDM nightlife scene and mainly features a bunch of pretty people dancing to catchy music, with as much substance as those seemingly manufactured beats. While the premise is interesting, after all and seriously speaking - few films have been made about EDM - the cast isn't strong enough to believably pull off the story. The first major mistake was casting an untested model, uhm I mean actress like Ratajowski, best known from the "Blurred Lines" videos and a tiny role as Ben Affleck's onscreen mistress in "Gone Girl," as the lead. In other words, she's lovely but a terrible actress, and her huge lips are a big, big distraction, even with fellow lead and eye candy, Efron, who's range is rather limited himself to striking some poses. I had a hard time with the notion that 1) a pretty boy like Efron's character in such party boy mode would have no serious girlfriends, 2) that he would hang around such lunkheads and 3), which was the most obvious thing in the script, that after a little time, he and Ratajowski's character would get it on. I lost interest in the banal storyline quickly, which only seems to scratch the surface of issues such as friendship and loyalty, and without some of the energizing music, this thing would be a total bore. Unless you are really, really into EDM (and/or Efron), then I wouldn't waste my time with the dull, contrived mess that is "We Are Your Friends."

No Escape - C-

Pierce Brosnan and Owen Wilson

Rated R, 101 minutes

"No Escape" could very well apply to those trapped inside the movie theater watching the mildly entertaining yet bland and highly improbable new thriller of the same name. Given the charming leads, it has a certain enjoyable intensity to it, but it also can't hide its immense predictability or mediocrity. The movie centers on an American businessman (Wilson) as he and his wife (Lake Bell) and family settle into their new home in Southeast Asia. Suddenly finding themselves in the middle of a violent anti-American political uprising, they must frantically look for a safe escape as rebels mercilessly attack the city. Directed by John Erick Dowdle ("Quarantine") and co-written by Dowdle along with his brother Drew, "No Escape" is a paint-by-numbers, contrived drama that could've easily been resolved with like, don't go. It's also a case where the movie is simply mishandled and a wrong fit for both director and stars; the Dowdle brothers are used to a different type of intensity with horror films such as "Devil" (a scary, underrated horror flick that got a bad rep due to its producer, M. Night what's-his-name), and both Wilson and Bell shine better in much lighter comedic fare, all of which hurts the film. There are a couple of brutal, very bloody scenes that are too dark for this type of thing, and I also had a hard time taking Wilson and Bell seriously, even when they're under considerable duress (namely getting shot at or beat up), which happens frequently from start to finish; I'm thankful the theater was dark because I kept inappropriately smiling at the wrong times thinking of the better roles that they've had in the past. Former "007" Pierce Brosnan has a nice supporting role here as some sort of operative that he's made a career of playing, and he easily steals scenes mainly because he's better at the whole shoot-em action piece than either of our likable but out-of-place leads. "No Escape" starts out OK, but the longer it goes, the more implausible and ridiculous it becomes, and I found it hard to believe that a common couple like this had the chops to really make it, and that he would be sent to such an unstable country in the first place. If you really believe there's no escape with "No Escape" then this "Argo"-wannabe is just for you though you'd be better off watching that 2012 Best Picture winner again, a much more satisfying, fact-based experience that will also save you a few bucks.

Dark Places - C-

Rated R, 114 minutes

There are some place you would rather not go to, and the dull, depressing new thriller "Dark Places" is one of them. In spite of an intriguing story and talented cast, you might not care much even after this muddled mystery is revealed. 25 years after testifying against her brother (Tye Sheridan/Corey Stoll) as the person responsible for massacring her entire family, a haunted woman (Charlize Theron) is approached by a secret society called "The Kill Club" that specializes in complex, unsolved cases. Looking to satisfy their morbid curiosity, the group begins its own inquiry about the case, believing that Libby's brother is innocent. To help them, Libby must unearth painful memories of the event and learn that her past may not be what it seems. Directed and written by Gilles Paquet-Brenner and based on Gillian Flynn's ("Gone Girl") best-selling mystery novel, "Dark Places" is a lackluster, downbeat whodunit that lacks the twisted fascination of Flynn's novel. Though it starts off well, many may lose interest in its sluggish, slow-as-molasses middle act, relying on an excessive amount of flashbacks to tell its story, and most depressing is the update on many of the living characters. By the time the real mystery is revealed, with a good 25 minutes of movie left, it may elicit a shrug or two instead of any real shocks. The always lovely Theron does her best with the material, and a talented supporting cast including Sheridan, Stoll, Christina Hendricks ("Mad Men") and Chloe Grace Moretz is wasted under the uneven storytelling. There are a handful of intriguing moments, but the deeply unsatisfying thriller "Dark Places" won't hold your interest.

Cop Car - B

Rated R, 86 minutes

Kevin Bacon

The independent, low-budget thriller from Jon Watts is a nice late summer entry that simmers with badness, especially in a delightfully evil performance from "The Following's" Kevin Bacon as a corrupt sheriff. When two good-natured but rebellious young boys (newcomer James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford, both excellent here) stumble across an abandoned cop car hidden in a secluded glade they decide to take it for a quick joyride. Their bad decision unleashes the ire of the county sheriff (Kevin Bacon) and leads to brutal consequences. Directed and co-written and produced by Watts, the seedy and fun "Cop Car" is a flawed but compelling thriller from newcomer Watts that starts out with an innocent joy ride that rides right into a very dangerous situation involving murder, guns and drugs. The movie brims with a nice, low-key and cat-mouse intensity that hasn't been seen in awhile, particularly the climax, which is well-choreographed; it's also well-acted in a nice, seedy turn from Bacon as the less-than-nice sheriff whose bad choices have finally caught up with him, even more memorable are the superb turns from newcomers Freedson-Jackson and Wellford in their debut film. Initially, things are playful as the boys take a joyride, then turn deadly when the sheriff begins to catch up with them and taught them. The script, with a muddled story that doesn't fully explain the sheriff's situation and a too ambiguous ending, lack the efficiency the rest of the film has, but the otherwise smart thriller "Cop Car" is a tense, entertaining ride. Definitely worth a look for your late-summer entertainment.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl - B

Rated R, 100 minutes

The bold yet absorbing new independent dramedy "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" is a frank, often dark coming-of-age story that isn't for everyone, but will still resonate for those who see it.  Like most teenage girls, 1970's San Franciscan Minnie Goetze (British newcomer Bel Powley in a breakout role here) is longing for love, acceptance and a sense of purpose in the world. Minnie begins a complex love affair with her mother's (Kristen Wiig) boyfriend, Monroe Rutherford (Alexander Skarsgård), while aspiring to be a comic book artist. Her honest journey of self-awakening and discovery is filled with many highs and lows, all helping her transition to adulthood. The superbly acted, compelling "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" is written and directed by Marielle Heller and based on Phoebe Gloeckner's best-selling 2002 graphic novel "The Diary of a Teenage Girl: An Account in Words and Pictures." It's an honest, unconventional look at teenage years of rebellion told from the female perspective, and it certainly has a layered, graphic complexity to it, not to mention loads of sex, drugs, flirtation with lesbianism and a short stint of homelessness. The highlight of the film is the superb acting, especially from the talented Howley, in a memorable breakout role; her affecting turns ground the film well and she often reminds of a young Janeane Garofalo. Minnie's affair with the much-older Monroe (Skaarsgard, very good here and different from his usual pretty boy roles) is at first creepy and off-putting, but later only underscores Minnie's desire for sex and to be loved, which she doesn't get from her distant, divorced parents (Kristen Wiig and Christopher Meloni), and only leading to further experimentation. "Teenage Girl" is set in the 1970's free-love, free-wheeling California, but it could be any time, as teens today experience and experiment with many of the same things Minnie did, yet maybe in different forms. Though "Diary" is often redundant and excessive (there's quite a bit of sex, even for a coming-of-age movie), it has some fun with the animated, comic book sequences that give light to some of Minnie's feelings. "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" is an absorbing, fresh take on teenage life that the young set may appreciate more, and Howley's strong, breakout turn is one to be seen.

American Ultra - C+

Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart

Rated R, 96 minutes

The best way to describe the uneven but often fun new action comedy "American Ultra" is "Pineapple Express" meets Jason Bourne. Part comedy, part thriller, part spy caper, it's an unusual, mildly enjoyable mash-up that sometimes works, and often doesn't. Mike (Jesse Eisenberg) is a seemingly hapless and unmotivated stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend, Phoebe (Kristen Stewart), is suddenly turned upside down. Unbeknownst to even him, Mike is actually a highly trained, lethal sleeper agent with a secret past that quickly comes back to haunt him, Mike is thrust into the middle of a deadly government operation and is forced to survive action-hero style. Directed by Nima Nourizadah ("Project X") and written by "Chronicle's" Max Landis (son of famed director John Landis), the well-cast and bloody thriller "American Thriller" is a messy mash-up that reminds of making a smoothie you've never made before and hope it ends up tasting good. When in doubt, always throw in chocolate, which seems to make all the other unusual flavors go down a little better. The "chocolate" here is the excessive amount of blood and weapons that tends to dominate the film, overtaking both good and bad elements of the movie, and director Nourizadah doesn't seem to know how to tone it down a little. The good: for the record "Twilight's" Stewart, who actually smiles a little here, and "The Social Network's" Eisenberg have some genuine chemistry making for a decent action pairing, showing that with a little training just about anyone, even a stoner, can transform into a tough action hero, killing with common items such as a spoon or dustpan. Even better is the solid supporting cast, including "Nashville's" Connie Britton, Tony Hale (a play on his "Veep" assistant role) and especially memorable character Walton Goggins of "Justified" fame in another of his creepy, off-kilter parts. The bad: the muddled plotting, which hardly makes sense and isn't fully explained, and the film's central premise seems a little unnecessary given the resources used to hunt a deadly stoner (yes, I said that) are far more dangerous than the person himself. More so, (mis)casting a lightweight, annoying actor such as Topher Grace as the film's chief antagonist is the film's biggest mistake, hurting the film to the point it's difficult to really enjoy the movie, an unfortunate move for both the movie and for a likable but hardly believable actor. "American Ultra" is very ambitious and all said once the mash-up is over, you're gonna remember the blood and action scenes more than anything else. Just be careful with that spoon, you might hurt someone.