Every Little Thing (out Mar 6) is a simple documentary about a Los Angeles woman who cares for sick/injured hummingbirds at her home. Her work is noble but I'm not convinced there's enough interesting material for a 90-minute length feature. Grade: B-.

Spit (out Mar 6) is an underwhelming sequel to the 2003 original. Johnny Spitieri (David Wenham) is funny in small doses but when he’s front and centre for the whole movie, his silliness becomes tiring. The script doesn’t give him enough interesting things to do. A few new characters (e.g. a kind-hearted immigrant, a clueless lawyer) help save the movie. Grade: B-.

Hard Truths (out Mar 6) is more gold from director Mike Leigh. It's tale of a middle-aged woman who is one of the most miserable, negative people you could imagine. Star Marianne Jean-Baptiste is exceptional in creating an individual who is inherently unlikeable but also someone you want to know more about. Grade: A-.

In the Lost Lands (out Feb 27) is a CGI-heavy action film starring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista. Set in a dystopian future, it's about a witch who goes in search of a werewolf. With average dialogue and a limited storyline, I struggled. Grade: C.

Inside (out Feb 27) is an Australian drama centred on an incarcerated 18-year-old boy, recently moved to an adult prison, who is struggling with his mental health. Good performances but not sure the script provides enough insight into these characters. Grade: B-.

The Last Journey (out Feb 27) feels like a movie which is impossible to dislike. It's a Swedish documentary about a middle-aged son who takes his 80-year-old father on a road trip to France to help reinvigorate his passion for life. Plenty to think about! Grade: A.

I'm Still Here (out Feb 27) is a Brazilian 1970s drama centred on the true story of Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres), a loving mother who must confront the absence of her husband who has been imprisoned by government authorities. Profiling a darker chapter in Brazil’s history, telling a beautiful family tale, and highlighting the power of photographs and memories, I’m Still Here is great cinema. Grade: A-.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (out Feb 27) is an Iranian film about a family who disintegrates when the father is appointed as a judge for the Revolutionary Court, and the two daughters rebel against Iranian authorities. It's a strong film, for the most part, but the weak, Hollywood-style ending undermines the good work. Grade: B.

The Monkey (out Feb 20) is based on a Stephen King short story and is the story of an old wind-up robotic toy with sinister powers. From the over-the-top deaths through to the “you can’t say that” dialogue, there’s a plethora of eyebrow raising moments for those with darker sense of humour. While it works as a comedy it misses the mark with its more dramatic themes about family and death. Clumsy ending too. Grade: B.

Bird (out Feb 20) is a British drama centred on an impoverished, free-spirited 12-year-old girl who befriends a young man looking for his birth parents. It's a curiously odd story from writer-director Andrea Arnold but, for the same reason, it holds your attention. Good performances all round. Grade: B+.