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Here's a look at the new films I saw this week.

Albert Nobbs

Starring: Glen Close, Janet McTeer, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Brendan Gleeson, and Maria Doyle Kennedy

Synopsis: "Albert Nobbs" is one of the films making the rounds thanks to the Academy Award recognition of its performances. And Close — who plays Nobbs — and McTeer both offer great performances worthy of nomination consideration. That's what makes this a tough movie to evaluate. There is a difference between the quality of the production and technique, and the quality of the story, at least for me. Technically, the film is done beautifully. The beats work, the way it's put together works, and the film deftly balances lighter comedic moments and drama. The performances are rich, and really drive the film. Close does an incredible job in a tough role that forces her to stretch in some different ways. McTeer also offers a great performance, as does the rest of the supporting cast. The setting and way the story unfolds all works to create a certain mood, and it's a credit to director Rodrigo Garcia that it all comes together as well as it does. That being said, this is kind of a strange and depressing film. From that standpoint, it's not totally enjoyable. It's an interesting story done well, but it doesn't leave you feeling great at the end. I'm not totally sure what the point of the film was, which is another problem. The film is worth seeing for the performances, just don't go in expecting a great, emotionally riveting film.

Rating:R for some sexuality, brief nudity and language.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Chronicle

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael Kelly

Synopsis: It has been said "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." You see elements of that idea in "Chronicle." It's also a kind of superhero film grounded in the reality that superpowers won't solve all your problems — especially when those problems are social, psychological, and emotional. That seems like heady stuff for a found-footage teen film, and it is. That's what makes "Chronicle" a cut above the typical film in this genre. You go into "Chronicle" expecting one thing — and the film delivers on that — but it rises above to tell a compelling story of friendship, family, and the disintegration of a troubled young man. It all plays out in 83 minutes, which is also an incredible feat, and a credit to director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis. That being said, I'm not a fan of the limitations of the genre. I am not in love with the found footage style, which is mostly an excuse for obscure POV shots, shaky footage, and skipping around in the timeline. This film has all those elements, but it is blessed with a more compelling story and some good performances. Like most films in the genre (which are popular because they are easy and cheap), the cast is a group of relative unknowns. Jordan has been on "The Wire" and "Friday Night Lights" on the small screen, and is probably best known, but Russell and DeHaan do most of the heavy lifting, and do a great job with the film. "Chronicle" is compelling because it makes the most of its genre and adds a compelling narrative. In that way, perhaps it could serve as a model for the genre going forward.

Rating: PG-13 for intense action and violence, thematic material, some language, sexual content and teen drinking.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Safe House

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Brenda Gleeson, Vera Farmiga, and Sam Shepard

Synopsis: We live in an interesting era for commercial entertainment — especially when it comes to depictions of any aspect of our government. That’s perhaps the biggest take away from “Safe House,” a kinda sorta CIA thriller/action adventure. Denzel Washington can play a very convincing bad guy. He earned an Academy Award for playing a corrupt cop in “Training Day,” and the makers of “Safe House” certainly want audiences to go into the film believing this is the same kind of story. But nothing is that simple in life, and nothing is that simple with this film. And that’s the trap of “Safe House.” It seems to have noble ideas and noble intentions that become a muddled mess trapped in a hail of continuous gunfire. The makers of this film want it to be mysterious, but it isn’t. They want the audience to believe Frost is a ruthless bad guy, but he’s clearly not. This whole film feels like a sort of magic trick that doesn’t work. The intention is to offer misdirection regarding the characters and plot, but it’s painfully obvious to figure out where it’s all going. Such is the trap of the David Guggenheim screenplay. Another trap is the fact that there aren’t really any likeable characters. Maybe Matt is likeable, but it’s hard to say. Maybe his ultimate course of action is noble, but it’s hard to say. Maybe the film has a message about out government and the nature of intelligence services on a global scale, but again it’s hard to say. This feels like a film made by distrustful people in a post Patriot Act world. And that’s probably the case. But there’s little depth to the exploration of these big issues, in “Safe House” they merely serve as the loosely connected plot points to justify two hours of shoot outs and explosions. Director Daniel Espinosa does a nice job with his shoot outs, car chases, and explosions, but one can’t help but wonder — what’s the point? The audience feels little investment in the characters or story, and when the predictable “twists” come up, it feels tedious. Reynolds and Washington are talented performers who are believable in their roles — well at least sort of believable. But this film feels like a hulking misfire. It’s loud, violent, and purports to be mysterious. It’s not mysterious, and little feels original about the story or the way it’s told. It falls into a long line of films and shows that want to tell us our government — and the way it conducts covert business — is corrupt. I have no trouble believing that, but I don’t want to watch a marginal action/thriller for two hours to get slapped with that message. There are the makings of something interesting with “Safe House,” sadly it just never really materializes here.

Rating: R for strong violence throughout and some language. Enter with caution.

Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

February 17 — "This Means War," "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"

February 24 — "Act of Valor," "Wanderlust," "Good Deeds," "Gone"