The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (out May 2) is the tale of poor man from India who flees his home country and goes on a crazy journey across Europe in search of wealth and romance. Based on a best-selling book, the characters have charm but the screenplay is odd, rushed. Grade: B-.

Long Shot (out May 2) is the story of a woman (Charlie Theron) in line to be the next U.S. President who hires a childhood acquaintance (Seth Rogen) to help give her speeches a little colour and humour. 1990s film such as Bulworth and The American President covered this material in a more convincing manner. There are a few laughs here but both the politics and the romance don't feel authentic. Grade: B-.

Top End Wedding (out May 2) is an Aussie romantic comedy about an Adelaide-based couple who head to Darwin for a quick-fire wedding but things get messy when the bride's mother goes missing. The film struggles to balance the tones between comedy and drama but it delivers in the final act with a heartfelt, emotional finale. Grade: B.

Avengers: Endgame (out Apr 24) lives up to its hype. It's not perfectly written or structured but it's an "event movie" that provides a spectacle and an experience that’s hard to forget. There are plenty of surprises, the right balance between comedy and drama, and some strong character interaction (particularly in the opening hour). See it with a big crowd! Grade: A-.

Gloria Bell (out Apr 25) is an English remake of the 2013 Chilean-Spanish film Gloria. It's the tale of a lonely woman in her late 50s (Julianne Moore) struggling to find friends and romance. Void of clichés and over-scripted dialogue, this is an authentic romantic drama that makes you care for its characters. Grade: B+.

The Chaperone (out Apr 25) is a sweet drama set in the 1920s about a middle-aged woman from Kansas who serves as chaperone for an aspiring dancer in New York City. The subplots involving the dancer don't offer much but the chaperone (played Elizabeth McGovern) is a character who becomes more and more interesting with each scene. Grade: B.

The Hummingbird Project (out Apr 25) follows a group of guys trying to make millions of dollars by building an uber-fast internet line which will be used to get stock market information. This is a boring, messy film with unlikeable characters and no key message. Grade: C.

Celeste (out Apr 25) was shot in far North Queensland and is centred on a retired opera singer looking to make a comeback. It's a film that is trying to build an aura of mystery with regards to the characters but it feels like such a shallow story when the cards are revealed. Slow going. Grade: C+.

1985 (out Apr 25) is set in that particular year and tells the story of a young man who visits his family over the Christmas holidays and tries to harness the courage to tell them he is gay. Making the most of its grainy, black and white look, this is a moving film. Grade: A-.

The Curse of the Weeping Woman (out Apr 18) is a "been there, done that" horror flick about a demonic woman who possesses young children. There's nothing particularly creepy or creative about this. Grade: C.