Action Picks

David Ayer puts Brad Pitt through the wringer as a Special Forces officer stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash, fighting the elements alongside his combat dog. It is a stripped-down man-versus-nature grind built on tension and payoff rather than filler. J.K. Simmons rounds out a tough, physical cast, and it lands a solid 7.5 on IMDb.

Alan Ritchson plays a former soldier racing a life-or-death medical delivery while a ruthless cartel turns the run into a deadly manhunt, with Owen Wilson and Rodrigo Santoro along for the ride. Scott Waugh keeps it moving with betrayal at every detour and bullets closing in, exactly the kind of momentum action fans want. Note that screenings this week are thin, so plan ahead if you want to catch it.