Flora and Son

• Director: John Carney
• Writers: John Carney
• Starring: Eve Hewson, Oren Kinlan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jack Reynor

Grade: B

John Carney knows his lane, and he sticks to it. Just as Guillermo del Toro has mastered films with fanciful horror, and Miyazaki has cornered the market on wistful animated fantasy for all ages, Carney has breathed new life into independent musicals, with lovely films like Once, Sing Street, and Begin Again. None of the above-mentioned films necessarily break the mold in terms of characterizations or drama, but there’s a lived-in tenderness, along with a number of catchy songs, to each of them that breaks through. His latest, Flora and Son, coming to select theaters on Friday, is no exception.

El Conde

• Director: Pablo Larraín
• Writers: Pablo Larraín, Guillermo Calderón
• Starring: Jaime Vadell, Gloria Munchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger, Catalina Guerra

Grade: C

In his still young career, Pablo Larraín has already made a name for himself by re-contextualizing the lives of famous figures throughout history. Though he’s certainly made other notable films, his best known work – Jackie and Spencer – examined specific periods in the lives of people like Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana, while adding in elements of additional genres to make a less straightforward biopic. His latest, El Conde, which translates to “The Count” and hits Netflix on Friday, attempts the same formula but mashes in one too many genres, ultimately failing to measure up to his already high standard.