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The comeback of writer/director M. Night Shyamalan continues with this showcase for actor James McAvoy, who plays a man with at least 23 different personalities. The film works on its own terms while also building on Shyamalan's previous output in...

Raises some interesting ideas about trust, sacrifice and purpose, but not even an international cast led by Matt Damon can compensate for an overall failure of imagination in this slack, detached story.

A consciousness-raiser about the extermination of Armenians at the outset of World War I, The Promise is a noble effort that has some moving moments but doesn’t come together in a way that generates an emotional response equal to the atrocities it...

What could have been a by-the-numbers story of an unlikely hero triumphing over the odds receives added inspiration from faith-fueled characters.

Neither the pick of the litter nor the runt, Megan Leavey, about a Marine and her dog, feels closer to a formulaic feel-good Hollywood story than its based-on-a-true-story disclaimer might indicate. While never as deeply moving as it wants to be,...

Its pleasures are mild, but the latest Smurfs movie—the third film in the franchise—aims to entertain younger viewers without torturing older kids and adults who might get dragged along to the theater. On that score, it mostly succeeds. The story...

The eighth film in the Fast and the Furious franchise keeps the series on cruise control, for better or worse. This latest entry should satisfy core fans, while those not already sold on the series may find the one-upping of big stunts and car...

Themes of confession and forgiveness blossom late in a film that creates a powerful sense of time and place. That’s more than enough to navigate a few bumps in the storytelling.

Though not a sequel to one of the studio's earlier hits, Pixar's Coco feels like a retread. Colorful and musically buoyant at times, the film nevertheless has a too-familiar story arc—not to mention a rather creepy premise. 2 out of 5.

A one-dimensional take on the dark underbelly of suburban culture, this story, written by the Coen Brothers and directed by George Clooney, is never dull, but leaves you wondering what the point is, and why we're supposed to care. 2.5 out of 5.

Lighthearted on the surface, Ferdinand tells a familiar story of triumph while navigating some darker elements. Although this animated kids flick doesn't break new ground, it should prove diverting for younger viewers. 3.5 out of 5.

Must all franchise finales be divided into two parts? The Divergent Series: Allegiant—Part 1 halts the downward slide in quality of these drawn out concluding entries. It's not great, but it's a small step up from the dreary Hunger Games finale.

If you believe the "show don’t tell" dictum about how art should work, prepare yourself: God's Not Dead 2 is an endless stream of "telling" that shows how far Christian filmmakers have to go in creating stories that reach beyond their core...

The characters keep talking and talking through Ron Howard's latest adaptation of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon novels. Plot twists and a sense of mystery are slow to develop in a story that's constantly explaining what's happening and why.

This is a tale that's more than merely strange, including astral projection and other practices that are troubling from a Christian perspective. At the same time, Doctor Strange is much more philosophically fascinating and briskly entertaining...

While not groundbreaking in its narrative, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk builds as it goes, leading to an effective, emotional payoff, thanks to a stellar cast. But this is more of an antiwar film exploring the perceptions—true and false—of the...

What starts as a light comedy about the relationship between an aspiring actress and her driver never generates many laughs. Old Hollywood is the star of Rules Don't Apply, but it's really just a vanity project gone wrong for star/director Warren...

The elements are all here for a successful period gangster drama - including Ben Affleck directing - but while the film never shoots blanks, Live By Night isn't ultimately satisfying. It’s exciting around the edges but less interesting at the...

One of the stronger entries in the Alien franchise, Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant spends an hour building characters and suspense before unleashing its jump-scares and against-all-odds battle between humans and aliens. But the philosophical...

A look at Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion, fueled by Turner’s interpretation of Scripture, should be memorably provocative. Instead, it builds to a finale that feels more like a revenge thriller with arguable Scriptural justification.