My Sweet Monster (out Jun 23) is a Russian animated feature involving a princess in search of a prince which has been dubbed into English and released to coincide with the school holidays. The musical numbers are the least convincing part given the mouth movements don't line up with the words. Very underwhelming. Grade: C-.

Lightyear (out Jun 16) is an animated film within an animated film. It's the movie first watched by the 6-year-old Andy from Toy Story (1995) which inspired his parents to buy the Buzz Lightyear toy. The themes are pushed too hard (yay teamwork!) and Buzz is a very one-dimensional character... but these weaknesses are offset by a nice supporting cast including an eccentric crew, a robot cat, and a talking auto-pilot device named I.V.A.N. Grade: B.

Men (out Jun 16) is the kind of film that makes you go “what the hell did I just watch?" A grieving woman (Jessie Buckley) goes on holidays in a small English village and meets a series of male townsfolk (all played by Rory Kinnear). This is an original, unsettling drama-thriller that is open to interpretation. Grade: B+.

The Kitchen Brigade (out Jun 16) is a French drama about an arrogant chef who loses her job at a renowned restaurant and gets a much-needed dose of humility after accepting a new job as a cook in a small youth hostel. It doesn't always make sense... but it's feel-good nature will win many over. Grade: B.

Jurassic World Dominion is the 6^th film in the franchise and represents a “coming together” of characters from previous movies.  The two stars of the 1993 original, Sam Neill and Laura Dern, interact with the two stars from the more recent flicks.  It ticks a few boxes but not quite enough to make this a distinctive, original, memorable adventure. Weak villain. Grade: B-.

A Hero (out Jun 9) won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and is a terrific film where the performances are as a strong as the screenplay. It solidifies the reputation of Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi as one who creates complex stories filled with equally complex characters. A movie about truth, fiction, and the greyness that lies in between. Grade: A-.

Benediction (out Jun 9) is a biographical drama from English director Terence Davies and is the story of a tormented poet, his several loves, and his objections to World War I. There's a lot of deep, meaningful chatter amongst the characters but I didn't find any of them to be particularly interesting. Grade: C+.

Man of God (out Jun 2) is a biographical drama based on the life of a 19th Century Greek priest who was loved by the community but earned the ire of his colleagues. An interesting story but the acting and dialogue delivery needed improvement. Grade: B-.

Mothering Sunday (out Jun 2) is an above average British drama that speaks to the lingering impact of love and tragedy. Centred largely in 1924, it's the tale of a maid (Odessa Young) who falls in love with a wealthy Englishman (Josh O'Connor) but societal customs will deny them a chance at lifelong happiness. With dialogue kept to a minimum, the film's moods are built around the beautiful cinematography and seductive music score. Grade: B+.

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (out Jun 2) is the first movie from Bhutan to be nominated at the Oscars for best international feature film. It's the tale of a young teacher who is posted to "the most remote school in the world" to educate a small group of kids. This is a beautiful film which offers much to reflect upon. Grade: A-.