Full Time (out Jul 28) is an intense French drama about a single mum (Laure Calamy) having a tough time. We may not personally relate to her problems but, thanks to the skills of writer-director Eric Gravel, it feels like we’re walking alongside her throughout, and this provides us with a deep appreciation of her troubled life and fragile emotional state. Grade: A-.

Press Play (out Jul 28) is shallow but the two leads do just enough to get this over the line. It's the story of a young woman who, through the power of a mix tape (stick with me), goes back in time to save a man she loves. Grade: B.

Murder Party (out Jul 28) is a dreadful French comedy which tries to turn the Cluedo board game into a movie. It's hard to believe a single thing that takes place. Grade: C-.

Where the Crawdads Sing (out Jul 21) is set in 1960s North Carolina and is the tale of a twenty-something-year-old woman on trial for murdering an ex-lover. The court room scenes are the most interesting element with David Strathairn the pick of the cast as the defence lawyer. As for the rest of the film (largely flashbacks), much of it comes across as a corny, trashy Mills & Boon romance. Grade: B-.

The Black Phone (out Jul 21) misses opportunities to become a standout within the action-thriller genre but it still held my attention all the way through. It's got a cool blend of drama, horror and supernatural, plus a super lead performance from 15-year-old newcomer Mason Thames. It's the tale of a kid trying to escape the clutches of a serial killer. Grade: B.

Official Competition (out Jul 21) is a Spanish comedy about a talented director (Penélope Cruz) trying to bring together two-big name actors (Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez) for a new movie. There's some terrific interaction between the characters but I'm not convinced this adds up to much. Grade: B.

Thor: Love and Thunder (out Jul 7) is a tiring, empty addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's a lame comedy show for the first two thirds before shifting into something more dramatic for the final act. Lacks spark. Lacks originality. Grade: C+.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (out Jun 24) is an entertaining, frenetically-paced animated feature that keeps this franchise kicking. This time around, we follow an 11-year-old Gru who wants to join his favourite team of super villains. Grade: B+.

The Phantom of the Open (out Jul 14) is based on a true story and follows a hapless golfer (Mark Rylance) who sneaks his way into qualifying for the 1976 Open Championship. It's loose with the facts but Rylance is solid and it's hard not to cheer for a guy with such blind optimism. Grade: B-.

The Gray Man (out Jul 14) is a limp action flick about secret CIA operative programs and the dodgy people running them. Trying to be a more light-hearted version of Jason Bourne, this is predictable from start to finish. Grade: C+.