On the Wandering Paths (out Aug 3) is the fictional story of a French writer who, in need of physical and mental rejuvenation, goes on a 1,300km hike across rural France. The narration is overused and overwritten. A plot to device to keep details of his tragic past hidden is also an annoyance. Grade: C+.

Sisu (out Jul 27) is a Finnish action-comedy set in 1944 about a former soldier who, while fossicking for gold in the highlands of Finland, gorily slays a group of villainous Nazis. With as much blood and violence as a Tarantino flick, this is repetitive but also fun. Grade: B.

Alcarràs (out Jul 27) won the Golden Bear at the 2022 Berlin Film Festival and is a Spanish-Italian drama centred on a family arguing about the future of their struggling farm. Credible performances but I struggled with the story's slow pacing. Grade: B-.

Talk to Me (out Jul 27) is a great Australian horror-thriller with the potential to find a worldwide audience. A group of teenagers possess a mysterious embalmed hand which allows them to communicate with the dead. It’s nice to see a creative, character-driven horror flick which doesn’t rely largely on gimmicky jolts and frights. Grade: A-.

Oppenheimer (out Jul 20) will be spoken about for a long time.  Representing a slight pivot for Christopher Nolan (better known for action-thrillers), it’s a brilliant biopic about the American scientist credited with inventing the atom bomb in the 1940s. The editing sets a frenetic pace, the music is intense, and Cillian Murphy’s lead performance is extraordinary. It’s rare for a biopic to capture so many competing angles of a single individual. Grade: A.

Barbie (out July 20) is a creative Hollywood blockbuster which stands out from the pack. I’m stunned Mattel signed off on the edgy screenplay! It reminds of me a bright, colourful, entertaining Broadway musical. Using a mix of humour, dance, music, and over-the-top acting, director Greta Gerwig (Little Women) provides us with a fun two-hours where the purpose of every scene is to surprise, dazzle and entertain audiences. Grade: A-.

Sugar and Stars (out Jul 20) is based on actual events and is the French feelgood tale of a young man trying to follow his dreams and become a successful pastry chef. Predictable but comforting. Grade: B.

Joy Ride (out Jul 6) is an edgy, riotous comedy about four female friends on a working holiday in China. A good cast with solid gags! Grade: A-.

Insidious: The Red Door (out Jul 6) starts promisingly but the ending is a rushed fizzer. Feels like a filler episode of a long running TV series. Grade: B-.

The New Boy (out Jul 6) is an exhausting riddle. The performances are worthy, but the allegory of writer-director Warwick Thornton was lost on me. Grade: C+.