(Image credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Although his films have been highly acclaimed and nominated for multiple Oscars , I’ve always been slightly skeptical of the work of writer-director Martin McDonagh. He’s undeniably clever, but there’s a show-offy style to his cleverness that bothers me, especially when it’s in service of making self-important social commentary.

So I went into his new film “Wild Horse Nine” with relatively low expectations, just hoping for something less self-serious than “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and less smarmy than “Seven Psychopaths,” his two previous collaborations with star Sam Rockwell.

Tom's Guide Verdict: 'Wild Horse Nine'

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Verdict: “Wild Horse Nine” is a slight but entertaining dark comedy from writer-director Martin McDonagh, with strong performances from John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as a pair of CIA agents on leave from their South American assignment in 1973.…