California Solo

Scottish actor Robert Carlyle is the virtuoso star of California Solo, an American indie film written and directed by Marshall Lewy. Shot in and around L.A., the story follows Lachlan (Carlyle), a onetime U.K. pop star who retired from music and has been living in Southern California for years. Working on a farm owned by the dignified Warren (A Martinez), Lachlan is a personable, seemingly happy laborer whose bright smile draws customers on farmers' market days. But a DUI arrest threatens both Lachlan's freedom and his immigration status, overturning his life and opening old wounds with an ex-wife (Kathleen Wilhoite), a teenage daughter he barely knows (Savannah Lathem), and unfinished business tied to the death of his brother. Carlyle's fans will be happy to see him in a starring role, especially in a film boasting a smart, nuanced narrative. Recommended. (T. Keogh)