Thelma (out Sep 5) is an exceptional comedy about a 93-year-old woman (June Squibb) who goes in search of those who scammed $10k from her. It may sound goofy but it's anything but. The performances are top-notch, the jokes are hilarious, and there's a strong emotional undercurrent. It also has something to say about the way we approach ageing. Grade: A.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (out Sep 5) is an average sequel to the 1988 original. The interplay between Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega is the film’s strongest attribute but the rest is largely forgettable.  New characters are played by Justin Theroux and Monica Bellucci but they’re so one-note and undeveloped that you can’t take them seriously. Grade: C+.

AfrAId (out Aug 29) is a thriller about a family who adopt a revolutionary AI device to manage their home. There's early intrigue but the film weakens in the final half. Underwhelming finale. Grade: B-.

Midas Man (out Aug 29) is an interesting biopic about Brian Epstein, the man who managed The Beatles despite having no prior experience. It's only scratching the surface in terms of narrative, but I liked the lead performance of Jacob Fortune-Lloyd and the lighter tone served by director Joe Stephenson. Grade: B+.

A Horse Named Winx (out Sep 5) is a documentary that provides a nice summary of a great chapter in Australian horse racing. In addition to the famed horse, the film has a strong focus on trainer Chris Waller and regular jockey Hugh Bowman. In terms of Winx's achievements, the filmmakers zero-in on the four Cox Plate runs and the 33-consecutive wins. Offers something for everyone. Grade: B.

Strange Darling (out Aug 22) is an effectively told thriller about a serial killer going in search of new victims. The unorthodox structure makes it very memorable! Superb performances too! Grade: A-.

Touch (out Aug 22) is a beautiful film and a widowed man who travels from Iceland to London to reconnect with a Japanese woman he met 50 years earlier. It's a credible romantic tale that touches the heart and offers a few laughs along the way. If all cinema was this good, this world would be a better place. Grade: A-.

Take My Hand (out Aug 22) is an Australian romantic drama loosely inspired by the life of the film's two creators. It stars Radha Mitchell as a middle-aged woman adjusting her life after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The dialogue is stiff, the tone is confusing, and the pace is messy... but it's still a well-intentioned eye-opener about MS impacts people and those around them. Grade: B-.

Alien: Romulus (out Aug 15) is a “standalone” sequel which takes place between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). A group of enslaved youngsters flee a desolate planet but end up on a decommissioned space station swarming with aliens. They’re not the most interesting characters and the film gives off a seen-it-all-before vibe. Grade: C+.

Borderlands (out Aug 8) is an action-comedy based off a video game series created in 2009. An eclectic group find themselves looking for treasure on a war-torn planet. Aiming for a blend of Star Trek and Indiana Jones, the end result is underwhelming. Grade: C+.