The King's Choice (out Aug 24) is a Norwegian drama set during the early years of World War II. The King is approached by the German military and must make a decision with major ramifications. It's a touch too long but this is still another interesting real life tale that historians should enjoy. Grade: B+.

American Made (out Aug 24) stars Tom Cruise as a commercial airline pilot who is recruited by the CIA to take reconnaissance photos over Colombia. It's not long before he's involved in drugs, arms and people smuggling. It's repetitive during the middle stages but it's still an intriguing true story that is predominantly framed as a comedy. Grade: B.

47 Metres Down (out Aug 24) is the tale of two young women who go scuba diving in Mexico and find themselves trapped in a cage at the bottom of a sea floor while being circled by threatening sharks. The screenplay is contrived but the filmmakers still create tension by using the claustrophobic setting to great effect. Grade: B.

Maudie (out Aug 24) is based on the life of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis. Rushing between events a little too quickly, it recounts her struggles with rheumatoid arthritis and the fractured relationship with her husband. It's less focused on her art which is also a disappointment. Grade: B-.

The Dark Tower (out Aug 17) is based on the Stephen King book series and follows a boy who travels to a parallel universe to help save the planet. I can't speak for the novels but this film was dull. It rushes between events, character development is slight, and Matthew McConaughey is a weak, confusing villain. Grade: C+.

Hampstead (out Aug 17) may be based on an actual events but this is a contrived story filled with superficial characters. It's the tale of a widow with financial difficulties (Diane Keaton) who befriends a homeless man (Brendan Gleeson) who lives nearby. Grade: C.

Annabelle: Creation (out Aug 10) is a tired horror-thriller that relies on familiar tricks and formulas and lacks originality. A group of girls find themselves terrorised by a creepy-looking doll with a mysterious past. Grade: C+.

Logan Lucky (out Aug 17) marks the return of Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh after 4 year absence. In the same vein as his Ocean's Eleven franchise, this is a fun heist flick about some not-so-smart guys who try to break into the bank vault at a major US speedway. While I wish the characters relied more on skill than luck, this is still entertaining. Grade: B+.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (out Aug 10) is a fun, cool, wild ride. The script isn't groundbreaking but the futuristic world created by director Luc Besson elevates it above other action films we've seen this year. It had my attention from start to finish. Grade: A-.

Wind River (out Aug 10) is a drama about an FBI agent investigating a homicide in Wyoming. The performances are fine and the setting is beautiful. That said, the screenplay is slow in places and the actions of the characters don't always ring true. Grade: B-.