Days of the Bagnold Summer (out Feb 18) is a British coming-of-age comedy about a rebellious, rock music loving teenager who reluctantly must spend the summer holidays with his "most boring person in the world" mother. It's over-scripted and doesn't always flow smoothly but it's still fun to watch these two characters push each other's buttons. Monica Dolan is wonderful as the mum. Grade: B.

The Little Things (out Feb 18) wants to follow in the footsteps of David Fincher's Zodiac – in that it’s more about the investigating detectives than the serial killer – but it’s inferior in almost every way. It’s hard to believe three Oscar winning actors (Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto) could be involved with something so unsatisfying. Grade: C+.

Firestarter (out Feb 18) is a documentary that goes behind the scenes of the Bangarra, an acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company. The politics won't be new to Australian audiences (the film feels pitched at international crowds) but the backstories to these dancers are interesting and moving. Grade: B+.

The Truffle Hunters (out Feb 18) is a riveting documentary that fills your brain and lifts your spirits. It's about the elderly Italian men who search for one of the rarest foods in the world - the white Alba truffle (often selling for more than $10,000 AUD per kg). There’s no unnecessary narration and no talking heads. It's a simple, beautiful film that takes us deep inside this fascinating world and its curious characters. Grade: A.

Wild Mountain Thyme (out Feb 4) is a disappointing romantic drama set in Ireland about two farmers (Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan) who refuse to admit they're in love with each other. The dialogue is over-written, the plot becomes repetitive, and the finale is laughable. Grade: C.

The People Upstairs (out Feb 11) is a Spanish comedy-drama about two couples from the same apartment building who catch up for drinks and nibbles. The conversations spin in strange directions and, while the four actors never leave the apartment, you’re never quite sure what’s going to happen next. Grade: B+.

Escape from Extinction (out Feb 11) is a documentary, narrated by Helen Mirren, that looks at the many animal species on the brink of extinction and the work being done in zoos to regenerate their numbers. Its repetitive, simplistic nature makes me wonder if it’s pitched more at kids than educated adults. Grade: B-.

Assassins (out Feb 11) is a very interesting documentary that delves into the investigation and trial of two women charged with the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. We see things play out in real time and there’s great behind-the-scenes access to the lawyers and journalists involved. Grade: A-.

Long Story Short (out Feb 11) is about a recently married man who jumps forward a year in his life every few minutes. The message is well intentioned (time is precious) but it’s tough to make this work as the film is largely Rafe Spall acting confused and asking questions about each year he missed. Grade: C.

Synchronic (out Feb 11) is a multi-genre film about two paramedics confused by a series of deaths/injuries related to a new designer drug. I didn’t care a lot about the characters and their troubled backstories but in terms of the film’s time-twisting concepts, I was intrigued. Grade: B.