Highly Strung (out May 19) is a documentary that covers two different topics - the value of old musical instruments and a division that arises between members of the Australian String Quartet. There's a lot of repetition and the mixing of the two narratives hampers the film's flow. Grade: C+.

X-Men: Apocalypse (out May 19) isn't particularly original but it's still a well-assembled action flick. He’s a stereotypical villain but Oscar Isaac does a great job fleshing out his character’s motivations. The more interesting characters are those that straddle the line between good and bad. However, it's clear the focus is more on action pieces as opposed to internal conflict. Grade: B.

The Angry Birds Movie (out May 12) is an animated feature based on the popular video game series. Red has to deal with "anger management" issues while trying to deal with a group of green pigs who are visiting Bird Island. There are a few comedic moments but the story doesn't offer much to be energised about. Grade: B-.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (out May 12) illustrates the ups and downs in the life of a war journalist (Tina Fey) who is posted to Afghanistan. You can see the points that the film is trying to make but the narrative is choppy and a romantic subplot involving Martin Freeman adds little value. Grade: B-.

Bastille Day (out May 12) is an action film set in France but it has a very pro-American flavour. It’s centred on a CIA agent acting well outside of his jurisdiction who is trying to apprehend a group of terrorists. The ending is too formulaic but there’s some good stuff in the lead up with Idris Elba a strong action hero. Grade: B-.

The First Monday In May (out May 12) is a superb documentary that follows the creation of a fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the organisation of a gala ball in support of it. Director Andrew Rossi has shot some fascinating "behind the scenes" footage that makes this a compelling view from start to finish. Grade: A.

Bad Neighbours 2 (out May 5) has its moments. The characters are all fun with Rose Byrne at her hilarious best and Chloë Grace Moretz making a great addition to the cast. It'll entertain those who enjoyed the original but the plot is much thinner this time around. Many of the conflicts are either illogical or over-thought. Grade: B.

Florence Foster Jenkins (out May 5) is based on the true story of the infamous singer who rose to fame in the 1940s because of her awful voice. Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant are fine but relative unknown Simon Helberg steals the show as Jenkins' nervous/giggly pianist. A lot lighter than the similar Marguerite released last month. Grade: B.

Mia Madre (out May 5) is a French film about a director trying to finish a movie while spending time with her terminally ill mother. It's a peculiar style from director Nanni Moretti that blends comedy, drama and fantasy. I struggled to believe most of it until the final scenes where a few heartfelt moments finally seep through. Grade: C+.

The Man Who Knew Infinity (out May 5) is an interesting tale on paper but Matt Brown struggles to bring that same sensation to the screen. It's the story of Srinivasa Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician who challenged numerous theorems during the early 20th Century. It's too repetitive but both Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons are nice in the leading roles. Grade: B-.