Movies

Adapted from the writer John Brandon’s eponymous 2008 novel, “Arkansas” intercuts the escapades of a pair of low-level drug couriers with the back story of their mysterious mafia boss. Less a mob thriller than a ruminative drama about a life built around orders and betrayals, the movie takes an unusual perspective on a familiar genre but is weighed down by its dull, uneven pace.The problems begin right from the film’s verbose opening, in which Kyle (Liam Hemsworth), a drug runner, delivers a voice-over monologue about lacking a “philosophy of life.” There’s a lot more talk after this, as Kyle is dispatched on an interstate errand with a fellow cog-in-the-machine, Swin (the movie’s director, Clark Duke). They’re stopped on the way and taken underwing by John Malkovich’s Ranger Bright — a loathsome minion of the big boss, Frog, whose identity remains a mystery well into the film.[embedded content]It takes a while for the plot to kick into action, and, once it does, the film weaves back and forth between Frog’s duplicitous rise to the top of a modest Southern drug ring and the mostly foolish antics of Kyle and Swin. There’s a laid-back, mumblecore vibe to the film that might have worked had there been more irony or humor in the script, or more personality in the lead performances. As it stands, “Arkansas” is a drag, and it feels dated, too: Swin’s courtship of a local nurse (Eden Brolin) starts with her calling him out for being persistent and creepy. His response: “Do you like creepy?” Are we really still doing this in 2020?ArkansasRated R for sudden bursts of graphic violence. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators. More

Slow and sweet and unassuming, “Driveways,” the second feature from the Korean-American director Andrew Ahn, tackles major themes in a minor key. And with little to mark its quiet accumulation of life-changing events, this small-town character study is perpetually in danger of drifting past without pulling you in.Which would be a shame, as its performances are among the most affecting I’ve seen in quite a while. Shot in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., the film gathers together three people in various stages of transition. There’s Del (the great Brian Dennehy, who died last month), a widower and retired Korean War veteran who spends solitary days on his porch and chummy evenings playing bingo at the V.F.W. hall. The arrival next door of Kathy (Hong Chau), an Asian-American single mother, and her eight-year-old son, Cody (the delightful Lucas Jaye), doesn’t so much disrupt Del’s long-held routine as expand it in ways that will offer unexpected gifts to all three.[embedded content]Kathy has come to clean out the home of her dead sister, and is shocked to discover that she has inherited a filthy hoard that includes an expired cat. While she prepares the home for sale — and processes her guilt over neglecting her estranged sibling — Cody, smart and sensitive, reads manga and avoids the rowdy neighborhood boys. With seemingly little access to his father, Cody is drawn to the gruff yet kind old man next door, and soon he and Del are forming a low-key connection.Suffused with a sense of decline and loss, regret and letting go, “Driveways” is discreet to a fault. Devoid of anything resembling drama, the script (by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen) is slight and allusive. No obvious political points jar the movie’s gentle rhythms, just casual reminders of all-too-common realities: the devastation caused by the 2008 financial downturn, the strain of single parenting, the feeling of not quite fitting in. Only a cast this strong could give the film weight, and both Christine Ebersole, as a racially insensitive neighbor, and Jerry Adler, as Del’s increasingly forgetful friend, make small moments memorable.What we might remember most, perhaps appropriately, are Dennehy’s warm, weary features and rich line readings. In a lovely final monologue, Del advises Cody to avoid rushing past the experiences in life that matter, as they pass so quickly on their own. Much like the careers of beloved actors.DrivewaysNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 23 minutes. Rent or buy on Amazon, iTunes and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators. More

Here are a few of the best events happening on Thursday and how to tune in (all times are Eastern).Scenes From ‘Oedipus Rex’7 p.m. on ZoomOn Thursday, Frances McDormand, Oscar Isaac, John Turturro, Jeffrey Wright, Frankie Faison, David Strathairn and the NYC public advocate Jumaane Williams will read scenes from Sophocles’ ancient tragedy “Oedipus Rex,” about arrogant leadership, ignored prophecy and a plague that ravages the city of Thebes. (Ring any bells? You wouldn’t be alone.) The live event — presented by Theater of War Productions — will be followed by a moderated discussion about the pandemic with audience members.When: 7 p.m.Where: Register here to receive a Zoom link ahead of the event.David Mamet’s ‘November’8 p.m. on YouTubeThe new weekly series “Spotlight on Plays” — presented by Broadway’s Best Shows, a new platform for theatrical content — gets underway on Thursday evening with David Mamet’s “November,” a 2008 comedy about an unpopular president seeking re-election. John Malkovich, Patti LuPone, Dylan Baker, Ethan Phillips and Michael Nichols star. The productions, which will be available only at the designated streaming time, will benefit the Actors Fund. Shows coming later in the series include “Significant Other” with Gideon Glick and “Love Letters” with Bryan Cranston and Sally Field.When: 8 p.m.Where: The Actors Fund YouTube channel and the Broadway’s Best Shows YouTube and Facebook channels.A Discussion Among Boundary-Breaking Women6 p.m. on ZoomBeing brave and giving back in these challenging times. That’s the focus of an interactive discussion titled “UnordinaryWomen, UnordinaryTimes.” Among the nine panelists are Peggy Whitson, a former NASA chief astronaut and the first female commander of the International Space Station; Amy Sherald, a contemporary painter and the first African-American woman to paint the official portrait of a first lady, Michelle Obama; Anne Pasternak, the first woman to lead the Brooklyn Museum; Brittany Packnett Cunningham, co-host of “Pod Save the People”; and Julissa Arce, author of the best-selling book “My (Underground) American Dream.” The event — hosted by the fashion brand Lafayette 148 in support of Girl Rising, a campaign for girls’ education — will be moderated by the journalist Isha Sesay.When: 6 p.m.Where: Register here to receive a Zoom link ahead of the event.Indigo Girls Kick Off Concert SeriesFrom a room in Atlanta, where they will be appropriately socially distanced, the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls will begin a weekly livestream concert and Q. and A. series on Thursday. The format is request-based, so have yours ready. They will also perform songs from their upcoming studio album “Look Long.” The series will run through at least May 21, and the May 14 concert will include an optional donation, with all proceeds going to charity.When: 7 p.m.Where: The Indigo Girls Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.Peter Libbey contributed research. More