Dog (out Mar 17) is the kind of movie where you know what'll happen from the outset. A former U.S. Army Ranger suffering from PTSD (Channing Tatum) befriends an ex-military dog battling demons of her own. The film struggles in trying to be both a light-hearted canine flick that families can enjoy, and a darker tale of war, PTSD and suicide. Well-intentioned but not particularly deep or memorable. Grade: B-.

Book of Love (out Mar 10) is a trashy, manufactured romantic comedy about two unlikely people who team up to create a successful book. One is a boring English idiot and the other is a struggling single mother from Mexico. It's amazing how little sense this made. Grade: C.

Facing Monsters (out Mar 10) is an Australian doco about a local surfer who takes on huge waves in an isolated, dangerous spot on the West Australian coast. It’s a very personal story and those involved were not afraid to “open up” but I’m not sure there’s enough insightful material here to warrant a full length feature. Grade: B-.

Off the Rails (out Mar 10) is the story of three middle-aged women who, following the death of a close friend, go on a European holiday together to honour her memory. When trying to be reflective and emotional, it works. When trying to be fluffy and comedic, it’s super corny. Grade: B-.

Bergman Island (out Mar 10) is the tale of two writers who go to a home in Sweden once occupied by filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and use it as inspiration for their own screenplays. It’s slow going… but thankfully the story in the second half (where one of the scripts comes to life) boosts the interest levels. Grade: B-.

The Batman (out Mar 3) distinguishes itself from the successful Christopher Nolan-helmed Batman trilogy. It's dark, heavy, interesting… and a little frustrating. I’ve seen stronger stories. It's a one-note Batman and a not-so-exciting group of villains. The limitations of the screenplay are offset by the stellar direction of Matt Reeves and cinematography of Australian Grieg Fraser. Many instances where I thought “whoa, that’s a great shot!” Grade: B+.

Blind Ambition (out Mar 3) is a great documentary that focuses on a 4-man team from Zimbabwe who are competing in the World Wine Tasting Championships for the first time. If you’re someone who likes seeing good things happen to good people, this film deserves your attention. Grade: B+.

Miss Marx (out Mar 3) is a drama that looks at a series of events in the life of English socialist Eleanor Marx (Romola Garai) between her father's death in 1883 through to her own death in 1898. The costumes and sets (with a splash of archival footage) help capture the period but the dreary dialogue (including several monologues) and choppy storyline make it difficult to be deeply invested in this character. Grade: C+.

Studio 666 (out Feb 24) blends fiction and reality in that it’s a horror-thriller about the Foo Fighters renting a house, writing their 10th album and then being possessed by supernatural beings. Described by frontman Dave Grohl as being “absolutely insane”, their acting skills leave a lot to be desired but it’s still a fun, different take on the normal music documentary. Grade: B-.

Cyrano (out Feb 24) is a 2021 movie based on a 2018 stage musical based on an 1897 play. If you're new to the material, it's a classic tale of unrequited love where one lie leads to another... and off we go. The songs are sweet, simple, and allow the characters to express their deepest feelings. Entertaining! Grade: A-.