The Chaperone (out Apr 25) is a sweet drama set in the 1920s about a middle-aged woman from Kansas who serves as chaperone for an aspiring dancer in New York City. The subplots involving the dancer don't offer much but the chaperone (played Elizabeth McGovern) is a character who becomes more and more interesting with each scene. Grade: B.

The Hummingbird Project (out Apr 25) follows a group of guys trying to make millions of dollars by building an uber-fast internet line which will be used to get stock market information. This is a boring, messy film with unlikeable characters and no key message. Grade: C.

Celeste (out Apr 25) was shot in far North Queensland and is centred on a retired opera singer looking to make a comeback. It's a film that is trying to build an aura of mystery with regards to the characters but it feels like such a shallow story when the cards are revealed. Slow going. Grade: C+.

1985 (out Apr 25) is set in that particular year and tells the story of a young man who visits his family over the Christmas holidays and tries to harness the courage to tell them he is gay. Making the most of its grainy, black and white look, this is a moving film. Grade: A-.

The Curse of the Weeping Woman (out Apr 18) is a "been there, done that" horror flick about a demonic woman who possesses young children. There's nothing particularly creepy or creative about this. Grade: C.

Burning (out Apr 18) is an absorbing drama-thriller from South Korea. It's the tale of an introverted young man who bumps into a girl he knew from school but hasn't seen in years. This is a film with some great conversations and plenty of twists and turns. Lots to think about afterwards. Grade: A-.

Thunder Road (out Apr 18) is low-budget American film (shot for less than $500k) about a chatty, insecure police officer who is battling problems at work and at home. He's an odd but endearing character. A quality drama with a dash of comedy. Grade: B+.

The Trouble with You (out Apr 18) is an excruciatingly bad French comedy about a woman who discovers her last husband was a crooked cop who wrongly imprisoned an innocent man. I didn't believe anyone's feelings or actions. It's the same jokes again and again (e.g. bedtime stories with son, guy with dead body). Grade: C-.

Breaking Habits (out Apr 18) is a curious documentary centred on a middle-aged woman named Kate who started her own religion and has spent the last few years running an illegal cannabis business in California. It’s the kind of tale that could easily be told in a 2-minute news story and be just as effective with its impact and messaging. This feel stretched (with forced interviews) in places. Grade: C+.

Hellboy (out Apr 11) is a reboot of this franchise (after film releases in 2004 and 2008) and stars David Harbour in the lead role. It held my attention for 2 hours and has a good sense of humour about it. That said, it's not offering anything that hasn't been served up in other superhero flicks. Grade: B-.