Mothering Sunday (out Jun 2) is an above average British drama that speaks to the lingering impact of love and tragedy. Centred largely in 1924, it's the tale of a maid (Odessa Young) who falls in love with a wealthy Englishman (Josh O'Connor) but societal customs will deny them a chance at lifelong happiness. With dialogue kept to a minimum, the film's moods are built around the beautiful cinematography and seductive music score. Grade: B+.

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (out Jun 2) is the first movie from Bhutan to be nominated at the Oscars for best international feature film. It's the tale of a young teacher who is posted to "the most remote school in the world" to educate a small group of kids. This is a beautiful film which offers much to reflect upon. Grade: A-.

Pil's Adventures (out Jun 2) is an animated feature about an orphan girl who goes on a medieval adventure to save the king and expose his villainous uncle. The film is of French origin and has been dubbed into English for our audiences. I've seen better. I've seen worse. Grade: B-.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie (out May 26) is a serviceable animated feature that would be considered “middle of the pack” if ranked on a list including the television series' 238 episodes. Aside from a few musical numbers, there’s nothing overly adventurous about the film’s script. The best material goes to the middle child, Gene, who slips in plenty of adult humour to spice things up. Grade: B-.

Top Gun Maverick (out May 26) is a sensational film that surpasses its predecessor in almost every way. The flight scenes will have you twitching in your seat, the splashes of comedy are perfectly timed, and the story is kept short and straightforward. I can't imagine too many people being disappointed. Editor Eddie Hamilton deserves a lot of praise. Grade: A.

Hatching (out May 26) is a Finnish horror flick centred on a 12-year-old gymnast, her overbearing mother, and a crow’s egg she finds in the backyard. Weird and creepy. A good combination. Grade: B+.

Maigret (out May 26) is an underwhelming detective thriller about a high-profile police chief investigating the murder of a young woman. In the lead role, Gerard Depardieu looked about as tired and disinterested as I was. A feeble story. Grade: C.

Ablaze (out May 26) is an Aussie documentary about a man who, inspired by the contents of an old suitcase, goes looking for more information on his grandfather, Australia’s first prominent Indigenous filmmaker. Too staged in places but the archival footage and interviews help open audiences’ eyes to a largely forgotten piece of Australian history. Grade: B.

How to Please a Woman (out May 19) is an odd Australian comedy about an unemployed woman who gets together a group of men to start a business which is part cleaning, part prostitution. Nothing about the storyline makes sense and it lacks eroticism and edginess (only rated M). Best part is when troubled characters open up but these scenes are few and far between. Grade: C+.

The Innocents (out May 19) is a disturbing Norwegian sci-fi thriller about kids who develop telekinetic and other superpowers but lack the maturity to deal with them safely. Intense, troubling, riveting. Great performances from the young actors. Grade: A-.