Now in Theaters.

A Look At Frank And The Rest Of This Week's Wide And Specialty Releases.

As Above/So Below.
Director: John Erick Dowdle.
Writers: Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle.
Cast: Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge.
Where it's playing: Everywhere.

Hey look — another found footage scary movie. This one screened for critics a few hours before releasing in theaters, so chances are high it's full of cheap scares and zero creativity. These kind of films are cheap to make, which makes it easy for them to be a “box office success.” I'm crossing my fingers (and torso) the public will catch on to this strategic nonsense and explore other films. — CW

The November Man.
Director: Roger Donaldson.
Writers: Michael Finch, Karl Gajdusek (screenplay); Bill Granger (novel).
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Luke Bracey, Olga Kurylenko.
Where it's playing: Everwyhere.

Pierce Brosnan is back as a badass kicking lots of ass. My colleague over at Film Drunk compared this to the Bourne films — full of balls and great action — but said the film lacks an important element: brains. Yikes. — CW

Frank.
Director: Lenny Abrahamson.
Writers: Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan.
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy.
Where it's playing: Angelika Film Center.

If you're into British humor, Frank isn't so weird. After all, it's based on Frank Sidebottom, a character created by English comedian Christopher Mark Sievey. Frank is demented and charming (yes, this is possible), but kind of falls apart in the third act. It's still worth your time, if only for watching Michael Fassbender rocking out as a nutty musician in a giant papier-mâché head. — CW

The Discoverers.
Director: Justin Schwarz.
Writer: Justin Schwarz.
Cast: Cara Buono, Ann Dowd, Madeleine Martin.
Where it's playing: Angelika Film Center.

The Discoverers is one of those, broken family road trip movies. I haven't seen it, but the first film that comes to mind is Little Miss Sunshine. In this film, the family sets out to re-enact Lewis and Clark. Somewhere along the journey, they “discover” each other. The title has come full circle. — CW

To Be Takei.
Director: Jennifer M. Kroot.
Cast: George Takei, Brad Takei, Walter Koenig.
Where it's playing: Texas Theatre.

A documentary about one of America's most loved celebrities? Oh my. This one follows Star Trek-turned-Facebook-sensation George Takei on his journey from World War II to becoming one of today's most beloved voices in the online world. To Be Takei previously screened at the Oak Cliff Film Festival. — CW

The Trip to Italy.
Director: Michael Winterbottom.
Writer: Michael Winterbottom.
Cast: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon.
Where it's playing: Inwood Theatre.

The Trip to Italy is the sequel to the hit TV-show-turned-hit-movie, The Trip. Two guys (the incomparably hilarious Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon) eat lots of food all over Italy while cracking jokes and mocking the voices of Hollywood celebrities. — CW

Black Dynamite.
Director: Scott Sanders.
Writers: Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Scott Sanders.
Cast: Michael Jai White.
Where it's playing: The Magnolia.

This spoof, filmed as a Blaxploitation “lost relic” of 1970s, follows the story of Black Dynamite, the decade's greatest African-American action star. His martial-art filled fight against The Man is fueled by not only his brother's death but also by his love for the orphans (whom The Man got hooked on heroin). Based on that alone, this movie would seem to be a recipe for an okay film if it wasn't for the straight-face acting on the behalf of Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite) and well-placed flash of wit that makes Black Dynamite stand-out from the pantheon of parody films. You can check it out Friday and Saturday night at midnight over at the Inwood Theatre. — Chris Escarfullery