Off the Rails (out Mar 10) is the story of three middle-aged women who, following the death of a close friend, go on a European holiday together to honour her memory. When trying to be reflective and emotional, it works. When trying to be fluffy and comedic, it’s super corny. Grade: B-.

Bergman Island (out Mar 10) is the tale of two writers who go to a home in Sweden once occupied by filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and use it as inspiration for their own screenplays. It’s slow going… but thankfully the story in the second half (where one of the scripts comes to life) boosts the interest levels. Grade: B-.

The Batman (out Mar 3) distinguishes itself from the successful Christopher Nolan-helmed Batman trilogy. It's dark, heavy, interesting… and a little frustrating. I’ve seen stronger stories. It's a one-note Batman and a not-so-exciting group of villains. The limitations of the screenplay are offset by the stellar direction of Matt Reeves and cinematography of Australian Grieg Fraser. Many instances where I thought “whoa, that’s a great shot!” Grade: B+.

Blind Ambition (out Mar 3) is a great documentary that focuses on a 4-man team from Zimbabwe who are competing in the World Wine Tasting Championships for the first time. If you’re someone who likes seeing good things happen to good people, this film deserves your attention. Grade: B+.

Miss Marx (out Mar 3) is a drama that looks at a series of events in the life of English socialist Eleanor Marx (Romola Garai) between her father's death in 1883 through to her own death in 1898. The costumes and sets (with a splash of archival footage) help capture the period but the dreary dialogue (including several monologues) and choppy storyline make it difficult to be deeply invested in this character. Grade: C+.

Studio 666 (out Feb 24) blends fiction and reality in that it’s a horror-thriller about the Foo Fighters renting a house, writing their 10th album and then being possessed by supernatural beings. Described by frontman Dave Grohl as being “absolutely insane”, their acting skills leave a lot to be desired but it’s still a fun, different take on the normal music documentary. Grade: B-.

Cyrano (out Feb 24) is a 2021 movie based on a 2018 stage musical based on an 1897 play. If you're new to the material, it's a classic tale of unrequited love where one lie leads to another... and off we go. The songs are sweet, simple, and allow the characters to express their deepest feelings. Entertaining! Grade: A-.

Hive (out Feb 24) is a Kosovan film about a woman who has lost her husband to war and, in spite of a gossiping, repressive community, starts a new female-led business to financially support her family. It's an eye-opening look at the oppression women of the world still experience today. Depressing and sincere. Grade: A-.

Uncharted is an Indiana Jones style adventure starring Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg and Antonio Banderas. This is complete trash… but in a fun way. Nothing makes sense but there are good set pieces (such as an early scene where Tom Holland plays a bartender/grifter) and there’s decent banter between the leads. Grade: B.

Flee (out Feb 17) is the first film to be nominated at the Academy Awards for best international feature, best animated feature and best documentary feature. It’s the story of a boy who fled war torn Afghanistan with his family in 1980s and sought a new home and a new future. Blending different styles of animation, this is an incredibly moving film that highlights the emotional scars forever carried by refugees. Grade: A.