Flow (out Mar 20) is a Latvian animated feature, with zero dialogue, made using open-source 3D computer graphics available to the public. That not selling it? Should I mention that it won the Academy Award for best animated film?!?! It’s the tale of a black cat trying to find their way to higher ground when a devastating flood sweeps through its forested home. With stunning visuals and a surprisingly moving story, this is memorable cinema. Grade: A-.

The Return (out Mar 20) stars Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche and is a retelling of The Odyssey, a famous work attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. The three-person screenwriting team struggle to adapt the material to the screen. It's not convincing. The stiff dialogue, which comes across like a bad Shakespearean stage show, doesn't help either. Grade: C+.

Bonhoeffer (out Mar 20) is a biopic based on the life of German Dietrich Bonhoeffer who stood up to the Nazis during World War II. His story is worthy of a movie, but the dialogue here comes across as stiff and simple. Grade: B-.

One of Them Days (out Mar 6) is a comedy starring Keke Palmer and Sza about two close friends going on a series of misadventures to pull in overdue rent money. Can't sustain the momentum all the way through but liked the film’s fun energy. Grade: B.

Mickey 17 (out Mar 6) is the latest from Oscar winning director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) and is the story of a space-travelling volunteer who is killed again and again… but can be brought back to life through “reprinting”. Star Robert Pattinson gives it his best shot and the middle act has interesting elements. Sadly, the supporting cast are dull, the laughs fail, and the finale is bland. Grade: C+.

Every Little Thing (out Mar 6) is a simple documentary about a Los Angeles woman who cares for sick/injured hummingbirds at her home. Her work is noble but I'm not convinced there's enough interesting material for a 90-minute length feature. Grade: B-.

Spit (out Mar 6) is an underwhelming sequel to the 2003 original. Johnny Spitieri (David Wenham) is funny in small doses but when he’s front and centre for the whole movie, his silliness becomes tiring. The script doesn’t give him enough interesting things to do. A few new characters (e.g. a kind-hearted immigrant, a clueless lawyer) help save the movie. Grade: B-.

Hard Truths (out Mar 6) is more gold from director Mike Leigh. It's tale of a middle-aged woman who is one of the most miserable, negative people you could imagine. Star Marianne Jean-Baptiste is exceptional in creating an individual who is inherently unlikeable but also someone you want to know more about. Grade: A-.

In the Lost Lands (out Feb 27) is a CGI-heavy action film starring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista. Set in a dystopian future, it's about a witch who goes in search of a werewolf. With average dialogue and a limited storyline, I struggled. Grade: C.

Inside (out Feb 27) is an Australian drama centred on an incarcerated 18-year-old boy, recently moved to an adult prison, who is struggling with his mental health. Good performances but not sure the script provides enough insight into these characters. Grade: B-.