Firestarter (out May 12) is based on a Stephen King book (some will also remember the 1984 film) and revolves around a young girl with the power to create fire. It's surprising how little story there is here. Did a bunch of stuff get left on the cutting room floor? A very standard run-and-chase movie. Grade: C.

Operation Mincemeat (out Jul 12) isn’t fully satisfying but it’s still an interesting yarn to add to the memory bank. It's the story of an elaborate, borderline-farcical deception tactic orchestrated by the British military in the middle of World War II. The better scenes in the movie revolve around the idea's execution while the weaker stuff involves an unnecessary love triangle. Grade: B-.

To Chiara (out May 12) is an Italian drama from writer-director Jonas Carpignano. It's the tale of a 15-year-old girl from a well-to-do family who finds her world upended on learning that her father is a drug runner for the local mafia. Swamy Rotolo, in her first significant film role, turns in a beautiful performance where facial expressions trump dialogue. Grade: B.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (out May 5) is more over-the-top spectacle than it is heart. Our beloved hero helps prevent multiverse travelling powers from falling into villainous hands. The most interesting character (America Chavez) is under-developed with the film more focused on its one-dimensional villain, dull romance and colourful action sequences. Grade: C+.

Petite Maman (out May 5) is a French drama from director Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire). With a running time of just 72 minutes, Sciamma is meticulous in the way she lays the rug down... and then pulls it out from under the audience. A thought-provoking film that asks the question - what if you could travel back in time and see your own parents as kids? Grade: A-.

The Drover's Wife (out May 5) is based on the 3,000 word Henry Lawson short story from 1892 and offers a tour de force lead performance from writer-director-star Leah Purcell. The supporting players/subplots lack complexity but this is Purcell's show and you understand her character in rich detail. Grade: B+.

Downton Abbey: A New Era (out Apr 28) has a LOT going on (perhaps too much so). The best storyline is the "film within a film" as the residents of Downton allow a movie to be made within its beautiful walls. It needed more tension (everyone is too polite and civil) but there are decent laughs headlined, of course, by the delightful Maggie Smith. Grade: B.

After Yang (out Apr 28) is set in the not-too-distant future and is the story of a family which includes a "techo-sapien" - an adult-sized, lifelike robot who offers fun and support to all. Like a cross between Ordinary People and Black Mirror, the film takes interesting ideas and weaves them together into something emotional and thought-provoking. Grade: B+.

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (out Apr 28) is a Japanese film from Oscar nominated director Ryusuke Hamaguchi. It consists of three peculiar short stories (each about 40 minutes long) where characters converse about love and romance. Strange yet memorable. Grade: B+.

The Northman is based on the same tale which inspired William Shakespeare to write Hamlet.  It’s a 10^th Century Viking tale about a warrior with “hate running through his veins” who seeks revenge against the uncle who murdered his father.  Directed by Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse), this is grim, dark, gruesome, bloody, and interesting. Grade: B+.