Heroic Losers (out Jun 10) is a nice comedy about an eclectic group from a small Argentinian town who plan a creative heist to steal from a man who stole from them. It's the fun characters that make this work. Grade: B+.

Percy v Goliath (out Jun 10) is based on actual events and is the story of a Canadian farmer sued by giant agricultural company Monsanto for illegally using their patented seeds. It’s well-intentioned but also over-simplified and hammy. Grade: B-.

Cousins (out Jun 10) is a New Zealand film spread across several decades about three cousins living very different lives. The continual crisscrossing of timelines makes it difficult to follow at times but, thanks to the performances of the adult actors, the film still generates an emotional reaction. Grade: B+.

Spirit Untamed (out Jun 12) may entertain very young audiences but there isn’t much for those aged 10 and above. The story is slight and the character development is weak. It’s the tale of a mischievous girl who is whisked away to a country town and bonds with a wild horse. Grade: C+.

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (out Jun 10) is a Japanese animated feature about a young, feisty, wheelchair-bound woman who starts seeing the world differently after befriending her new caretaker. The opening is corny but it develops into a sweet, big-hearted drama. Grade: B.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (out Jun 3) is another solid entry in this successful franchise. Loosely based on actual events, it's centred around a young man charged with murder who claims he was possessed by a demon. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga make a formidable team once again. Grade: B+.

Lapsis (out Jun 3) is a puzzling, eyebrow-raising dark comedy set in a dystopian world. Much of the film is spent watching a middle-aged contractor hike through a forest and lay network cables for an exploitative company. If you like weird, strange and different with a dash of politics, this is for you. Grade: A-.

Minamata (out Jun 3) is based on actual events and is the story of an acclaimed, alcoholic photographer (Johnny Depp) who travels to Japan in 1971 to expose those behind an environmental disaster. We’ve seen similar tales (e.g. Erin Brockovich, Dark Waters) that offer more in terms of engaging characters and narrative. This one is a little dull. Grade: B-. 

Deliver Us From Evil (out Jun 3) is a South Korean action-thriller about a retired hitman dragged into an assignment involving a kidnapped 9-year-old girl. The story itself is formulaic (we’ve seen it so many times before) but the fight scenes are nicely choreographed and the cast have been well chosen. Grade: B.

Breaking Bread (out Jun 3) is a fun, feel-good documentary about an annual food festival that tries to unite Israelis and Palestinians on the basis that “there’s no room for politics in the kitchen.” The chefs / restaurant owners have interesting backstories and the food is mouth-watering. Grade: B+.