The Swallows of Kabul (out Aug 20) is an animated feature centered around 4 people living in a Taliban controlled Afghanistan in 1998. It needed a splash more character development (the film is just 80 minutes long) but it's still an affecting piece of cinema with simple, beautiful animation. Grade: B+.

La Belle Époque (out Aug 13) is a romantic comedy-drama that could be described as funny, charming and different. After being left by his wife of 30+ years, a man (Daniel Auteuil) hires a company to recreate the night he and his wife-to-be first met (with the help of an elaborate set and paid actors). The film has something to say about people and the way they change over time. Grade: A-.

Made in Italy (out Aug 13) is about a father (Liam Neeson) and his son (played my Neeson's real-life son Micheál Richardson) who go on a trip to Italy to sell an old, rundown house that's been in the family for decades. There's some shockingly corny stuff (such as a brash couple looking to buy the home) that tarnishes the film's good intentions. Grade: B-.

Force of Nature (out Aug 13) is a very average thriller about a heist that takes place during a hurricane in Puerto Rico. It's predictable and full of clichés. The dialogue is also unconvincing. Grade: C.

Deerskin (out Aug 6) is a warped French horror-comedy about a stranger (Jean Dujardin) who arrives in a small town and convinces locals that he's filmmaker. The unsettling film score, odd characters and bizarre plot developments make it a film to remember. Grade: B+.

Black Water: Abyss (out Aug 6) is an Aussie thriller that serves as a sequel to the 2007 original. Two men and two women find themselves trapped in an underwater cave and attacked by a hungry crocodile. There's only so much you can make of the scenario and whilst there are a few good scares, there are also a few lulls. Grade: B-.

Unhinged (out Jul 30) has one-dimensional characters and lacks nuance but if you're looking for a simple thriller, it delivers. Russell Crowe, playing a character who is easy to root against, stars as a psychopath who targets a young woman and her family after a road rage incident. Grade: B-.

Litigante (out Jul 30) is centred on a Colombian lawyer with a lot on her mind. She's frustrated by her unpleasant workplace, her stubbornly ill mother, and he inquisitive 4-year-old son. I'm not sure there's a lot to take away but it's still an engaging drama about a woman's search for happiness. Grade: B.

23 Walks (out Jul 30) is the story of two elderly people who meet on a dog walk and forge a connection. It wants to be a feel good romantic flick but several parts feel staged, stiff (like how it spaces out basic questions they ask of each other). Has the appearance of a TV soapie with its cheesy subplots and faux drama. Grade: C+.

The House of Cardin (out Jul 23) is a concise documentary that chronicles the life of acclaimed fashion designer Pierre Cardin. It feels too much like a glowing love letter (i.e. it avoids anything too negative) but it's hard not to be wowed by his achievements across a range of art forms. Grade: B.