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Nothing innovative here: a sports hero rises, falls, and rises again. But Hands of Stone has an excessive amount of foul language and a couple scenes of explicit sexuality, all of which feel superfluous to the central story.

Plots about defeating the drug trade used to be a dime a dozen, and The Infiltrator hits all the familiar beats. But strong acting and several well-executed sequences make it an engaging, if uneven, drama with an edge and a satisfying conclusion.

Who thought this story was worth telling, much less filming? Director Michael Apted has made a career out of crossing genres effectively, from religious dramas to pioneering documentaries. He's also made his share of misfires, but it's hard to...

Treads familiar ground for fans of the genre, but Westerns are so few and far between in recent years that The Ballad of Lefty Brown may feel new to younger adults. Those who remember classic Westerns will enjoy another trip to the frontier. 3.5...

This third franchise entry doesn't veer far from the formula that established Pitch Perfect as a female-driven phenomenon. But while it can still wring humor out of a familiar premise, it's all beginning to feel a little out of (auto)tune. 2.5 out...

Three of our finest actresses join Chris Hemsworth for a tale of what occurred before Snow White and the Huntsman, as well as the events that followed it. But this strange prequel-sequel hybrid has a restless, hodgepodge quality that doesn't...

When was the last time you sat back and let a movie gently take you where it wanted, without feeling worried that something objectionable was just around the corner? It was probably a Disney movie from a long time ago. Pete's Dragon is, if not...

Adventurous and ambitious if not altogether as rousing as the best summer blockbusters, The Legend of Tarzan revives a franchise for which no one seemed to be clamoring. But unlike John Carter or The Lone Ranger, this update is more often fun than...

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.