Monos (out Jul 2) is a Lord of the Flies-like tale about a band of inexperienced teenage commandos in Columbia who are asked to guard a kidnapped woman. With a credible young cast and some brutal plot twists, I enjoyed the shifting power dynamics with the group of naive youths. Great setting too. Grade: A-.

The Booksellers (out Jul 2) is an interesting documentary about a group of experienced booksellers in New York City who reflect on their industry.  It covers a broad range of topics but above all else, it highlights our affection for physical books (particularly classics) and their "value" to individual collectors and broader society. Some of the collections in the film are staggering.  Grade: A-.

Bellbird (out Jul 2) is set on a small New Zealand farm.  It's centered on a father and son who are questioning their future and their livelihood following a family tragedy.  There are no big revelations on offer but it's still a nicely told story.  Grade: B.

It Must Be Heaven (out Jul 2) is the fictional story of a Palestinian film director and his curious observations as he travels across the world. He rarely speaks and he maintains the same monotonous expression throughout.  An odd film but it highlights how strange the human race can be.  Grade: B.

Love Sarah (out Jul 2) is the tale of an eclectic group who open a bakery in London to honour the memory of a deceased love one.  It's predictable, formulaic and contrived but the tasty food and warm-hearted performances help compensate.  Grade: C+.

Hey everyone! With cinemas closed for a short time in Australia, it's a rare chance for me to take a break from seeing and critiquing films. I'm therefore putting my website "on ice" until new release moves arrive again in early July (I am missing my beloved movie popcorn).

If you're looking for something to stream, you can always look through my annual best of the year lists (click here) or go through my detailed archives (click here). Hopefully you can find some great films to revisit or watch for the first time.

I'm still on air every Thursday morning at 6:40am on ABC Brisbane radio.  Instead of reviewing new cinema released, I'm focusing on my favourites over the past 25 years which people can stream or buy.  If you've missed any of the segments, here are the films I've mentioned:

• Jun 25 - Inside Job (2010) and The Big Short (2015)
• Jun 18 - Donnie Darko (2001) and Looper (2012)
• Jun 11 - Sideways (2004) and Back to Burgundy (2017)
• Jun 4 - Take This Waltz (2011) and Blue Jasmine (2013)
• May 28 - The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) and Call Me by Your Name (2017)
• May 21 - Sing Street (2016) and 500 Days of Summer (2009)
• May 14 - The Lives of Others (2006) and The Skin I Live In (2011)
• May 7 - Man on Wire (2008) and Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
• Apr 30 - Michael Clayton (2007) and Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
• Apr 23 - Chicago (2002) and Moulin Rouge! (2001)
• Apr 16 - The Insider (1999) and Spotlight (2015)
• Apr 9 - Adaptation (2002) and Spirited Away (2001)
• Apr 2 - Billy Elliot (2000) and Magnolia (1999)
• Mar 26 - Election (1999) and Brooklyn (2015)

Onward (out Mar 26) is bizarre. It's the story of two elves who botch a magic spell designed to bring their late father back to life. Instead, only the “bottom half” of their dad regenerates and they’re forced to interact with a confused pair of legs that cannot see or hear them. A few tears may be shed during the climax but it's an odd narrative that doesn't flow from scene-to-scene. Grade: B-.

Romantic Road (out Jul 2) is a documentary that follows a long married couple who use a 1930s Rolls Royce to go on a 6 month road trip across India. They're nice people but the film is light when it comes to significant, interesting content. Grade: B-.

The Current War (out Mar 19) recounts the rivalry between Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla as they battled to bring electric power to U.S. consumers. The film rushes through the interesting detail and goes off on some bizarre tangents (e.g. the first guy sentenced to death by electric chair). Disappointing. Grade: C.

Honey Boy (out Mar 12) is written by actor Shia LaBeouf and is loosely based on his childhood and the fractured relationship he shared with his father. The scenes shared between LaBeouf (who plays the dad) and youngster Noah Jupe are excellent. Grade: B+.