Heights

During one day and night in Manhattan, the lives of a famous actress (Glenn Close), her photographer daughter (Elizabeth Banks), the daughter’s fiancé (James Marsden) and an aspiring actor (Jesse Bradford) intertwine in unexpected ways. Written by Amy Fox from her play (with an unusual credit for “additional screenplay materials” going to director Chris Terrio), the film tells an intriguing story, albeit with the too-neat symmetry of a well-made 19th-century play. Close, in one of her best performances in years, gives the actress unexpected warmth. But with the other actors, Terrio adopts a low-key, naturalistic, almost grimy style that makes the characters look pinched and listless. As a result, the effort of eavesdropping on their conversations often feels like more trouble than it’s worth.