Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (out Apr 28) is a Japanese film from Oscar nominated director Ryusuke Hamaguchi. It consists of three peculiar short stories (each about 40 minutes long) where characters converse about love and romance. Strange yet memorable. Grade: B+.

The Northman is based on the same tale which inspired William Shakespeare to write Hamlet.  It’s a 10^th Century Viking tale about a warrior with “hate running through his veins” who seeks revenge against the uncle who murdered his father.  Directed by Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse), this is grim, dark, gruesome, bloody, and interesting. Grade: B+.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (out Apr 21) features Nicolas Cage playing a warped, alternate version of himself (ala Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm). He comes an undercover agent and helps the CIA bring down a criminal arms dealer. I like the idea but the execution is poor. It's a goofy, over-the-top, singular idea stretched out over 107 minutes. Grade: C+.

Farewell, Mr Haffmann (out Apr 21) is a French movie set in the middle of World War II about a married couple hiding a Jewish man (the husband's former boss) in their basement. This feels like half a movie. The story has merit (noting we've seen this sort of stuff before) but it struggles to make us interested in these people. Grade: B-.

The Lost City (out Apr 14) is a comedy which stars Sandra Bullock as a depressed writer who is kidnapped, whisked away to a remote island, and "rescued" by male model she loathes (Channing Tatum). The jokes are repetitive and there's zero tension (the characters act like they aren't even in danger) but the supporting characters, headlined by a scene stealing Da'Vine Joy Randolph, provide just enough entertainment to compensate. Grade: B-.

The Good Boss (out Apr 14) is a Spanish farce about a successful company owner who, in trying to schmooze judges and win a major award, sticky-tapes over growing issues in his business and personal life. This is a winner. Most jokes hit the mark and a subdued, scheming Javier Bardem is terrific in the lead role. Grade: A-.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (out Apr 14) is one of the year’s best and most original feature films. It's like Sliding Doors on steroids. A storyline which is bat-shit crazy insane (characters existing in multiple universes) with a touching finale offering heartfelt joy and significant life lessons. A rich, wonderful, audacious project. Grade: A.

Happening (out Apr 14) is a French drama set in the 1960s about a young college student who falls pregnant and seeks an abortion (illegal in France at the time). Star Anamaria Vartolmei does a beautiful job capturing her character's fragile state. Confronting. Powerful. Grade: A-.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (out Apr 7) is, by a narrow margin, the best of the three Fantastic Beasts movies. The story is easier to follow, there’s a better blend of comedy and drama, and Mads Mikkelsen creates a worthy villain worth rooting against. It still has weaknesses though. For a film which is 142 minutes long, it’s not offering much in terms of narrative and character advancement. Grade: B.

Nobody Has to Know (out Apr 7) is a drama set in Scotland centred on the romance between a man suffering from short-term amnesia and a woman helping look after him. The finale rings enough emotional bells but it's a slow journey to get there. Grade: B-.