Robert Horton

Laid-back ‘Sword of Trust’ could have been a sharper satire

Laid-back ‘Sword of Trust’ could have been a sharper satire

Seattle’s Lynn Shelton goes South for a funny but too-low-key comedy about Confederate dunderheads.

Laid-back ‘Sword of Trust’ could have been a sharper satire
Restraint, Awkwafina’s performance hold ‘The Farewell’ together

Restraint, Awkwafina’s performance hold ‘The Farewell’ together

This comedy, about a Chinese-American slacker visiting the old country, avoids becoming maudlin.

Restraint, Awkwafina’s performance hold ‘The Farewell’ together
‘The Lion King’ remake is technically perfect, but oddly inert

‘The Lion King’ remake is technically perfect, but oddly inert

This photo-realistic remake of the 1994 animated classic looks great but is a passionless non-event.

‘The Lion King’ remake is technically perfect, but oddly inert
Toxic machismo gets a shocking send-up in ‘Art of Self-Defense’

Toxic machismo gets a shocking send-up in ‘Art of Self-Defense’

Jesse Eisenberg and Alessandro Nivola are superb in this dark, violent and highly original film.

Toxic machismo gets a shocking send-up in ‘Art of Self-Defense’
One-note ‘Crawl’ revels sadistically in graphic gator gore

One-note ‘Crawl’ revels sadistically in graphic gator gore

A woman and her father battle a hurricane and huge alligators. There’s not much else going on.

One-note ‘Crawl’ revels sadistically in graphic gator gore
This 1980s-style buddy comedy puts stars in the driver’s seat

This 1980s-style buddy comedy puts stars in the driver’s seat

Comedian Kumail Nanjiani gets a much-deserved breakout role playing Stu the Uber driver in “Stuber.”

This 1980s-style buddy comedy puts stars in the driver’s seat
‘Ophelia’ unsteadily revisits ‘Hamlet’ from female perspective

‘Ophelia’ unsteadily revisits ‘Hamlet’ from female perspective

There’s fine acting from Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts, but this fails as both potboiler and quasi-Shakespeare.

‘Ophelia’ unsteadily revisits ‘Hamlet’ from female perspective
‘Midsommar’: There’s creepy stuff galore under the midnight sun

‘Midsommar’: There’s creepy stuff galore under the midnight sun

From explicit nudity to spooky Swedes, director Ari Aster’s follow-up to “Heriditary” is truly bonkers.

‘Midsommar’: There’s creepy stuff galore under the midnight sun
‘Spider-Man’ good enough but suffers from ‘Avengers’ hangover

‘Spider-Man’ good enough but suffers from ‘Avengers’ hangover

For Peter Parker (Tom Holland), the loss of his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is an issue.

‘Spider-Man’ good enough but suffers from ‘Avengers’ hangover
‘Yesterday’ gets by with a little help from a great cast

‘Yesterday’ gets by with a little help from a great cast

It’s also got a killer idea — a global hiccup leaves just one man who remembers the Beatles.

‘Yesterday’ gets by with a little help from a great cast
It’s no classic, but ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ gets the job done

It’s no classic, but ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ gets the job done

When teenagers foolishly enter a spooky basement, a demon doll gets loose to wreak havoc.

It’s no classic, but ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ gets the job done
Four big stars for comic, poignant and wonderful ‘Toy Story 4’

Four big stars for comic, poignant and wonderful ‘Toy Story 4’

The animated franchise that can do no wrong returns with another thoroughly lovable adventure.

Four big stars for comic, poignant and wonderful ‘Toy Story 4’
‘Last Black Man’ mourns for the lost soul of San Francisco

‘Last Black Man’ mourns for the lost soul of San Francisco

The film is a moody, surreal elegy to a city that’s been conquered by gentrification and wealth.

‘Last Black Man’ mourns for the lost soul of San Francisco
‘Dead Don’t Die’ puts a Jim Jarmuschian spin on the zombie genre

‘Dead Don’t Die’ puts a Jim Jarmuschian spin on the zombie genre

In-jokes and deadpan drollery by the likes of Bill Murray abound in this enjoyably shaggy outing.

‘Dead Don’t Die’ puts a Jim Jarmuschian spin on the zombie genre
‘International’ hits a low-key point in the ‘MIB’ franchise

‘International’ hits a low-key point in the ‘MIB’ franchise

It’s agreeable enough, with nice rapport between stars Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth.

‘International’ hits a low-key point in the ‘MIB’ franchise
After a smart start, ‘Late Night’ peters out in the late going

After a smart start, ‘Late Night’ peters out in the late going

Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling are fun to watch, but the plot takes an unwelcome conventional turn.

After a smart start, ‘Late Night’ peters out in the late going
‘Phoenix’ one of the darkest moments in the ‘X-Men’ franchise

‘Phoenix’ one of the darkest moments in the ‘X-Men’ franchise

Clunky dialogue and phoned-in performances make this feeble outing unworthy of any timeline.

‘Phoenix’ one of the darkest moments in the ‘X-Men’ franchise
Mild-mannered approach makes ‘Secret Life of Pets 2’ refreshing

Mild-mannered approach makes ‘Secret Life of Pets 2’ refreshing

This good-natured sequel’s a welcome change from the hyperactivity of most kids’ movies.

Mild-mannered approach makes ‘Secret Life of Pets 2’ refreshing
Taron Egerton, in full Elton John regalia, in a scene from “Rocketman.” (Paramount Pictures)

‘Rocketman’: Silly and over the top — just like Elton John

Elton’s songs are as catchy as ever and Taron Egerton’s performance is spot-on.

Taron Egerton, in full Elton John regalia, in a scene from “Rocketman.” (Paramount Pictures)
Godzilla proves no match for tedium in latest monster flick

Godzilla proves no match for tedium in latest monster flick

His fights with monsters such as Mothra are pretty cool. But then the humans start talking.

Godzilla proves no match for tedium in latest monster flick