Bullet Train (out Aug 4) is set on the famous train from Tokyo to Kyoto. On board is the son of a famous crime lord, a locked briefcase containing $10 million, and a bunch of experienced assassins with missions to complete. The colourful train, hip soundtrack and famous actors provide a “gloss” that mask its flaws and unoriginality. A friend summed it up best – “if this was on Netflix and starred a bunch of nobodies, it would be terrible.” Grade: C+.

Juniper (out Aug 4) is a New Zealand film that fits nicely into the genre I call “two people reluctantly coming together and unexpectedly helping each other out.” A rugby-loving teenager is forced to bond with his alcoholic, insult-loving grandmother. Charlotte Rampling is terrific as is newcomer George Ferrier. Grade: B+.

The Forgiven (out Jul 28) follows a well-to-do British couple holidaying in Morocco who, while driving in the middle of the night to a party, strike and kill a young boy. The bulk of the film is then devoted to the way in which this couple deal with the tragic event – both in terms of their physical actions and their mental scars. A few scenes are tedious but Ralph Fiennes is good in the lead role and I like the questions asked by writer-director John Michael McDonagh. Grade: B.

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+.