Twist (out Apr 29) is a modern day retelling of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. It might appease 12-year-olds but it's hard to believe anyone with a greater maturity will be convinced by the contrived storyline and subpar performances. Grade: C.

Land (out Apr 29) is the story of a middle-aged, suburban woman (Robin Wright) who, after a tragic event, has shut herself off from the world in a dilapidated cabin in the Wyoming wilderness. Withholding her backstory works against the film (it would have helped us buy into her decisions along the way) but Land finds its feet in the second half thanks to the arrival of a hunter played by Demián Bichir. A simple but effective tale. Grade: B+.

Mortal Kombat (out Apr 22) is a fast-paced, R-rated action reboot based on the popular video game series. For a movie which is mostly one-on-one fighting for 90 minutes, this is surprisingly entertaining. It doesn't take itself seriously, most jokes hit the mark, and the casting is great (Australian Josh Lawson is MVP). Grade: A-.

The Dissident (out Apr 22) is an excellent documentary that looks into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. It includes interviews with his fiancé, fellow journalists, investigating officers and other activists. Delving into the role of the Saudi Arabian regime, this is scary stuff. Grade: A-.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (out Apr 22) portrays its real-life subject as a gifted musician, a powerful civil rights activist, and a troubled human being with questionable taste in men. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics subplot is clunky and the drug/alcohol addiction stuff become repetitive... but the film works when it focuses on Billie Holiday and her activism. Andra Day is wonderful in her first ever film role. Grade: B.

Six Minutes to Midnight (out Apr 22) is a fictional thriller set just prior to the start of World War II. A British spy infiltrates a local school filled with German children and tries to gather intelligence. This isn’t good. It’s trying too hard to give the audience what it thinks it wants. It’s incredibly corny and is filled with farcical chase sequences and villains that belong in a Scooby Doo cartoon. Grade: C.

This Little Love of Mine (out Apr 22) is a contrived, unrealistic romantic comedy where you know the ending after 15 minutes. A successful female lawyer travels to her childhood home (an idyllic island) where, on behalf of a client, she tries to get an old friend to sign a contract which will make him heir to a billion dollar fortune. The dialogue is terrible. There’s an audience for this type of movie... but sadly, it’s not me. Grade: C-.

The Unholy (out Apr 15) is unsatisfying. It's a horror flick about a young woman from a small American town who is visited by the Virgin Mary and starts performing miracles. It's the kind of movie where every character is a walking cliché and the subplots have been sticky-taped on to get to a 90-minute run time. Grade: C.

Ascendant (out Apr 8) is an Australian-made thriller about a young woman being held hostage in the elevator of a 120-story building in Shanghai. It's lacking when it comes to ideas, villains and credible narrative but I liked the passionate lead performance from Charlotte Best. Grade: C+.

Aalto (out Apr 15) is an attention-grabbing documentary about acclaimed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. It focuses on his beautiful creations and also the influence of his two wives on his designs. You may not know his name beforehand but you’re likely to remember it after seeing this. Grade: B+.