The Sense of an Ending (out May 25) is about a cranky old man (Jim Broadbent) who receives a strange letter which revives memories of his college years. There's early intrigue but the ending doesn't offer the "pay off" you might expect. Grade: B-.

Don't Tell (out May 18) is an Australian drama that looks at a court case that took place in 2001 and the cover-up of the sexual abuse of children in a Toowoomba school. The dialogue is a little clunky (particularly showing the side of the defence) but the performances are superb and this is a Spotlight-style story that needs to be told. Grade: B+.

John Wick: Chapter 2 (out May 18) is as good as the original... if not more so. The action scenes are stylish and well-choreographed. The laughs also provide a nice contrast with the gory violence. It's hard to imagine anyone that's a better fit for such material than Keanu Reeves. Grade: A-.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (out May 18) is an awful supernatural drama that reminds me of rubbish such as Clash of the Titans. Arthur endlessly whines for an hour about not wanting to be a hero (despite everyone around him being slaughtered) and then magically decides to "man up" in the closing scenes. A bizarre film. Grade: C.

Viceroy's House (out May 18) is an historical drama that looks at the debate that took place behind closed doors in 1947 that led to the separation of India and Pakistan. It's a balanced film that examines numerous points of view. A romantic subplot weakens the film. Grade: B.

Snatched (out May 11) features Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer as a mother-daughter combo who are kidnapped while on holiday in Ecuador. There's a crudeness to the comedy that works but the overall narrative isn't particularly interesting. Grade: B-.

Alien: Covenant (out May 11) follows a group of humans who have set off on a lengthy mission to colonise a new planet. Ridley Scott's film tries to explore some deep philosophical questions (e.g. where do we come from?) but it's odd balancing that up with the ho-hum action scenes. Grade: B.

Free Fire (out May 11) as interesting idea on paper but it struggles with its execution. It is set almost entirely in a rundown factory and features an hour-long shootout between two groups after an arms deal goes wrong. It's trying to be witty but runs out of ideas. Grade: C+.

A Dog's Purpose (out May 4) is a film for dog lovers. They’ve found the cutest dogs imaginable and continually put them in situations that will melt hearts. That wasn't enough for me though. The film tries to blend comedy and drama but creates cheesy scenarios (such a kidnapping) that are laughably bad. Grade: C.

Pork Pie (out May 4) is a New Zealand comedy about three strangers who find themselves on the run from the police. Everything fits too neatly and the drama feels forced and manufactured. Grade: C+.