The Meg (out Aug 16) is complete trash... but I think that was the intention and so it's mildly entertaining. Don't go in expecting a Jaws-style thriller. This is a shark "comedy" where the film mocks the genre by deliberately using dumb characters, well worn cliches, and farcical escape acts. It loses its way in the final act in trying to become more serious. Grade: B-.

BlacKkKlansman (out Aug 16) is based on some “fo’ real shit" and is the story of an African American police detective and his white partner who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the late 1970s. It's a fun, uncomfortable ride and you won't know whether to laugh or cringe at the absurdity of the situation. It's likely to spark debate about how much America has changed… and not changed over the past few decades. Grade: B+.

On Chesil Beach (out Aug 9) is an unorthodox love story. Set in 1962 (just prior to the cultural revolution of the late 1960s), we follow an insecure married couple who try to harness the courage to have sex of the first time. This is a moving character study with newcomer Billy Howle and three-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn, Lady Bird) both delivering exquisitely awkward performances. Grade: B+.

The Spy Who Dumped Me (out Aug 9) could have been funnier but on the plus side, it does a great job mixing genres and it throws in a few surprises. It's the story of two not-so-bright women who become de facto spies and must deliver an important parcel to a contact in Vienna. Grade: B.

Knock (out Aug 2) is the tale of a middle-aged man who gets a new lease on life by becoming a doctor in a small French town. There's something odd about the whole film. The leading character is tricky to like and the inclusion of the villainous priest only adds to the silliness. Grade: C+.

Summer 1993 (out Aug 2) is a Spanish drama about a 6-year-old who loses her mother and struggles to fit in with her new family. There's an authenticity to the performances of the young actors but in trying to be an intriguing character study, the film doesn't quite get there. A touch slow. Grade: B-.

The Wife (out Aug 2) is the story of an acclaimed author and the wife who has stood by his side for decades. As he prepares of accept the Nobel Prize for literature, secrets come out of the woodwork and things are about to get messy. You kind of always know where it's going but the great performances from Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce make it a worthwhile look. Grade: B+.

Mission Impossible: Fallout (out Aug 2) is another strong entry in this successful franchise. There's a worthy story, a few good twists, a bunch of great characters, and some terrific action pieces. Hard to ask for much more from this genre. Grade: A-.

Whitney (out Jul 26) arrives a little too soon after last year's documentary (Whitney: Can I Be Me) but it still makes an impression thanks to its broad range of interviewees, access to archival footage, and the skillful editing of Sam Rice-Edwards. Grade: B+.

The Breaker Upperers (out Jul 26) is a dark, dark comedy (out Jul 26) and many scenes will leave you with the conflicting emotions of laughter and shock. It's the story of two middle aged women who make a living by helping customers break up with their partners. Stars Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek deliver the jokes with precision and it’s hard to believe they can keep a straight face. James Rolleston is also terrific in creating a truly moronic character. Grade: B+.