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Suave spies, gangsta rappers, joyriding kids and happy campers — this weekend's new movies are overflowing with variety.
The biggest shout-out this weekend goes to "Straight Outta Compton," an energetic and dynamic musical biography of N.W.A, the pioneering West Coast rap band that brought its angry observations of Southern California life to the world. Director F. Gary Gray ("Friday," "The Italian Job") depicts the rise of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and their cohorts vividly to life, while showing the forces that united and divided them.
Destined to come in second behind "Compton" at the box office is "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," a sexy and slightly silly take on the '60s spy series. Director Guy Ritchie turns the story of American spy Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Russian agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), joining forces during the Cold War to rescue an East German woman (Alicia Vikander), into an engaging start to what could be a fun franchise.
Two made-in-Utah movies open today, and they're both really good. "Once I Was a Beehive" is a warm-hearted comedy about a teen (Paris Warner) who experiences the quirks of LDS girls' summer camp. And "Point B" is a tartly funny science-fiction comedy about university scientists who invent a teleport device.
"Cop Car" is a riveting, stripped-down thriller about two runaway kids (James Freedson-Jackson and Hays Wellford) who find an abandoned police cruiser. When they take it, they discover the sheriff (Kevin Bacon) is really desperate to get it back. Director Jon Watts' no-frills approach creates maximum thrills.
A strong cast raises the game in the coming-of-age drama "Ten Thousand Saints," about a Vermont teen (Asa Butterfield) who moves to New York to live with his estranged father (Ethan Hawke) — and creates a makeshift family with his dead best friend's brother (Emile Hirsch) and pregnant girlfriend (Hailie Steinfeld). Directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini ("American Splendor") perfectly capture the '80s era of New York's East Village.
Lastly, the documentary "Listen to Me Marlon" is a fond profile of Marlon Brando, using the actor's private audio diaries as narration. Brando's commentary about his films is fascinating for movie buffs, but his random philosophies are less interesting.