Asteroid City (out Aug 10) is like a modern art exhibit - it's random, weird, original, and thought-provoking. You either get it or you don't. The screenplay lacks the emotional depth of some other Wes Anderson flicks (can’t say I really cared about anyone here), but I enjoyed this for its eccentricity and bizarre humour. Grade: B+.

Chevalier (out Aug 3) is based on an 18th Century true story and stars Kelvin Harrison Jr as the first man of African descent to achieve acclaim as a composer. It's simplistic but still interesting. Loved the music. Grade: B.

Meg 2: The Trench is a sequel to the popular 2018 shark comedy.  It almost works.  The first hour is pointless and the direction is haphazard… but the comedy ramps up towards the end of the second act and the plot finally becomes stupid enough to earn laughs. Grade: C+.

The Miracle Club (out Aug 3) is a compassionate flick with a contrived screenplay. Set in 1960s Ireland, it's about four women with long-held secrets they need unburdening from. Elevating the material are the wonderful performances of the four leads – Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, and Agnes O’Casey. Grade: B-.

On the Wandering Paths (out Aug 3) is the fictional story of a French writer who, in need of physical and mental rejuvenation, goes on a 1,300km hike across rural France. The narration is overused and overwritten. A plot to device to keep details of his tragic past hidden is also an annoyance. Grade: C+.

Sisu (out Jul 27) is a Finnish action-comedy set in 1944 about a former soldier who, while fossicking for gold in the highlands of Finland, gorily slays a group of villainous Nazis. With as much blood and violence as a Tarantino flick, this is repetitive but also fun. Grade: B.

Alcarràs (out Jul 27) won the Golden Bear at the 2022 Berlin Film Festival and is a Spanish-Italian drama centred on a family arguing about the future of their struggling farm. Credible performances but I struggled with the story's slow pacing. Grade: B-.

Talk to Me (out Jul 27) is a great Australian horror-thriller with the potential to find a worldwide audience. A group of teenagers possess a mysterious embalmed hand which allows them to communicate with the dead. It’s nice to see a creative, character-driven horror flick which doesn’t rely largely on gimmicky jolts and frights. Grade: A-.

Oppenheimer (out Jul 20) will be spoken about for a long time.  Representing a slight pivot for Christopher Nolan (better known for action-thrillers), it’s a brilliant biopic about the American scientist credited with inventing the atom bomb in the 1940s. The editing sets a frenetic pace, the music is intense, and Cillian Murphy’s lead performance is extraordinary. It’s rare for a biopic to capture so many competing angles of a single individual. Grade: A.

Barbie (out July 20) is a creative Hollywood blockbuster which stands out from the pack. I’m stunned Mattel signed off on the edgy screenplay! It reminds of me a bright, colourful, entertaining Broadway musical. Using a mix of humour, dance, music, and over-the-top acting, director Greta Gerwig (Little Women) provides us with a fun two-hours where the purpose of every scene is to surprise, dazzle and entertain audiences. Grade: A-.