Blaze (out Aug 25) is a moving, effective Australian drama about a 12-year-old girl who witnesses a traumatic event and relies on a series of fantasies to help cope. Directed by artist-turned-filmmaker Del Kathryn Barton (she won the Archibald Prize in 2008 and 2013), this is movie that impresses at all levels - from the subtle performances to the striking imagery. Grade: A-.

Beast (out Aug 25) has an unnecessarily contrived backstory but it's a very good action-thriller a family stuck in a South African safari park who must find their way back to civilisation while avoiding a hungry, vicious lion. Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur (Everest) extracts maximum tension by using long, continuous shots and convincing visual effects. Grade: B+.

Fire of Love (out Aug 25) is a documentary pulled together using archival footage that chronicles the lives of two renowned French volcanologists. Thought this would be more interesting than it actually was but it's repetitive in places with the risk v. reward messaging. Grade: B-.

Hit the Road (out Aug 25) is an Iranian drama about an arguing family going on a lengthy road trip. Strong performances, moving themes. Grade: B+.

Everybody's Oma (out Aug 11) is an Australian documentary about a filmmaker who chronicles his mother's growing struggles with Alzheimer's Disease. This is a big-hearted movie with a loveable title character. Makes you think a lot about this debilitating disease and the support required to cope with it. Grade: A-.

Bosch & Rockit (out Aug 18) is an Australian father and son tale set in the late 1990s. Newcomer Rasmus King plays Rockit – a surf-loving teenager trying to find his place in the world while Luke Hemsworth plays Bosch – a single dad who wants to be there for his son but keeps making mistakes. It's a little clunky and formulaic in places but it’s still a worthy story bolstered by great performances. King is an actor to watch going forward. Grade: B+.

Girl at the Window (out Aug 18) is a dreadful horror-thriller about a young woman who thinks her next-door neighbour is a serial killer. One of the worst scripts I've seen in a long while. Grade: C-.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (out Aug 18) is an interesting, progressive character study that offers up material we don’t usually see on the big screen. It’ll provide great talking points with family/friends and is not to be missed. It's the tale of 60-something-year-old Nancy (Emma Thompson) who, having had a disappointing sex life with her late husband, hires a young escort to fulfil her needs. Grade: A.

Nope (out Aug 11) marks the third film of writer-director Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) and it’s his most obscure yet. Some weird stuff goes on at a remote ranch and a group of strangers, led by two siblings, come together to get to the bottom of it. I’m split down the middle. It’s the kind of movie where you’re never bored but you’re also never fully buying into events as they unfold. Maybe multiple viewings are required? Grade: B.

The Princess (out Aug 11) is a documentary that covers the life of Diana from her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 through to her death in 1997. There's no current day interviews, recreated scenes, or narration. It relies solely on archival footage to tell its story. It's nicely put together but it offers nothing we didn't already know about the subject. Grade: B-.