The Mole Agent (out Jun 17) is an Oscar-nominated documentary from Chile. It follows an 83-year-old man who becomes an undercover spy in a nursing home to see if its residents are being mistreated. You can see what director Maite Alberdi is trying to say but, despite the moderately interesting characters, it’s not particularly profound. Grade: B-.

Dream Horse (out Jun 10) is based on actual events and is the tale of a Welsh woman who, looking for meaning in her life, convinces an eclectic group of townsfolk to start a horse racing syndicate. This film seems scared of conflict (it's all a bit too "nice") and is so stuffed full of sentimentality that it’s almost impossible to consume. Still, it's watchable thanks to the performances of the cast with Toni Collette giving it her all. Grade: B-.

Heroic Losers (out Jun 10) is a nice comedy about an eclectic group from a small Argentinian town who plan a creative heist to steal from a man who stole from them. It's the fun characters that make this work. Grade: B+.

Percy v Goliath (out Jun 10) is based on actual events and is the story of a Canadian farmer sued by giant agricultural company Monsanto for illegally using their patented seeds. It’s well-intentioned but also over-simplified and hammy. Grade: B-.

Cousins (out Jun 10) is a New Zealand film spread across several decades about three cousins living very different lives. The continual crisscrossing of timelines makes it difficult to follow at times but, thanks to the performances of the adult actors, the film still generates an emotional reaction. Grade: B+.

Spirit Untamed (out Jun 12) may entertain very young audiences but there isn’t much for those aged 10 and above. The story is slight and the character development is weak. It’s the tale of a mischievous girl who is whisked away to a country town and bonds with a wild horse. Grade: C+.

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (out Jun 10) is a Japanese animated feature about a young, feisty, wheelchair-bound woman who starts seeing the world differently after befriending her new caretaker. The opening is corny but it develops into a sweet, big-hearted drama. Grade: B.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (out Jun 3) is another solid entry in this successful franchise. Loosely based on actual events, it's centred around a young man charged with murder who claims he was possessed by a demon. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga make a formidable team once again. Grade: B+.

Lapsis (out Jun 3) is a puzzling, eyebrow-raising dark comedy set in a dystopian world. Much of the film is spent watching a middle-aged contractor hike through a forest and lay network cables for an exploitative company. If you like weird, strange and different with a dash of politics, this is for you. Grade: A-.

Minamata (out Jun 3) is based on actual events and is the story of an acclaimed, alcoholic photographer (Johnny Depp) who travels to Japan in 1971 to expose those behind an environmental disaster. We’ve seen similar tales (e.g. Erin Brockovich, Dark Waters) that offer more in terms of engaging characters and narrative. This one is a little dull. Grade: B-.