A Hero (out Jun 9) won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and is a terrific film where the performances are as a strong as the screenplay. It solidifies the reputation of Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi as one who creates complex stories filled with equally complex characters. A movie about truth, fiction, and the greyness that lies in between. Grade: A-.

Benediction (out Jun 9) is a biographical drama from English director Terence Davies and is the story of a tormented poet, his several loves, and his objections to World War I. There's a lot of deep, meaningful chatter amongst the characters but I didn't find any of them to be particularly interesting. Grade: C+.

Man of God (out Jun 2) is a biographical drama based on the life of a 19th Century Greek priest who was loved by the community but earned the ire of his colleagues. An interesting story but the acting and dialogue delivery needed improvement. Grade: B-.

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.