Gus Van Sant delivers one of his most consistently entertaining films

The director of “Milk” and “Good Will Hunting” returns with one of his finest and most enjoyable films, while several other movies explore intricate, substantial themes.

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Here’s our roundup.

“Dead Man’s Wire”: After a period of relative inactivity, Gus Van Sant delivers one of his most consistently entertaining films in years, an exhilarating crime dramedy based on true events, depicting the straightforward story of an agitated Indianapolis man who takes a banker hostage. Everything in the film clicks, especially Bill Skarsgard’s standout performance as Tony Kiritsis, a man exasperated by the bank’s strict (and greedy) stance on his overdue mortgage payments, which he attributes to a failed investment by the bank. He devises a bizarre scheme to attach a wire linked to a shotgun around the neck of bank employee Richard O. “Dick” Hall (Dacre Montgomery) and then presents demands to Hall’s indifferent father vacationing in Florida (Al Pacino). The media goes into a frenzy over this highly publicized and televised event, which also involves a charismatic DJ (Colman Domingo) whom Tony admires. In the process, Tony emerges as a sort of antihero by challenging corporate America. Sound familiar? Journalists scramble to get the story, but it’s the sharp rookie reporter Linda Page (San Jose native and “Industry” star Myha’la) who might seize her moment to shine. Van Sant’s film meticulously recreates the details of 1977, while the screenplay by Austin Kolodney is rich with sharp wit and an understanding that this story, nodding to Sidney Lumet’s classic “Dog Day Afternoon” (which starred Pacino) and other great ’70s American films, feels relevant today because people are once again outraged at corporate America and the system. Details: 3½ stars out of 4; opens Jan. 9 in select theaters, expands Jan. 16.