What’s it about?
A time-travelling temporal agent must hunt down a criminal that’s eluded him his whole life.

What did we think?
The less you know about this film the better. Just know that it’s an Aussie film that looks like an American film, that it has excellent performances from Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook, that it involves time travel and that your brain may be doing loop-de-loops after it’s over. Don’t think about it too hard – the joy of Predestination is the watching, and the more you ponder the hows and what ifs, the more times you’ll find yourself asking “how?” and “what if…?” Which may send you mad.

What’s it about?
Forced to flee their homeland, an Indian family moves to France with the hope of educating the locals on their traditional cuisine.  The owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant a mere hundred feet across the road (Helen Miren) isn’t too happy.

What did we think?
Elizabeth says: Forget chicken soup for the soul: this is chicken tikka. A tome on cross-cultural tolerance and acceptance as well as being a feast for the eyes, this is a food lover’s paradise. Gorgeously shot, the tale of gastronomic whiz kid Hasan will linger on the palate after the meal is over… if you like that sort of thing. If not, it could be a little too sweet for you.

What’s it about?
In the titular final hours of Earth, as a fiery asteroid crashes into our doomed planet and the Mayans look set for a belated last laugh, an initially flaky young man attempts to help a lost girl find her father before the blast reaches Australia.

What did we think?
Alex says: It’s not often an apocalypse film doesn’t slot into the sci-fi genre but writer/director Zak Hilditch keeps the focus very much on human drama as James (Nathan Phillips) navigates the chaotic streets of suburban Perth with young Rose (Angourie Rice). Hilditch and the cast sustain the tension most of the way and create a hopeless, anarchic environment where most citizens turn to hedonistic partying, descend into insanity or take their own lives. There’s no Hollywood mission to avert the disaster and David Field’s world-weary, unseen car-radio announcer, who keeps us informed of the impending destruction, is a nice touch.

The ending didn’t sit quite right for me but I shan’t give anything away. It’s nonetheless a competent local effort and well worth a look.

What’s it about?
An ordinary woman (Scarlett Johansson) accidentally becomes the drug mule for a Korean drug lord dealing a new substance. She unintentionally gets the drug in her system and experiences super-human effects.

What did we think?
Angela says: It’s like all the deleted scenes from The Fifth Element, Limitless, and Kill Bill were put in a hat and pulled out at random. Throw in some clips of wildlife, Korean drug dealers, and Morgan Freeman discussing evolution and that pretty much sums it up. This movie entertains some thought-provoking concepts but, alas, executes them poorly. It’s a botched attempt at social commentary laced with lost action scenes and weak acting. While exploring the intricacies of the human brain and the world at large should make for an interesting story, this one misses the mark.

What’s it about?
A Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg seeking his father’s ill-gotten fortune, where he gets caught in the international war on terror. The story follows Günther Bachmann (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who heads up an anti-terrorism unit working in Hamburg to stop acts of terror before they happen.

What did we think?
Casey says: Anton Corbijn’s background in still photography for lots of famous bands has clearly influenced the visual aspect of this film. Coupled with the mastery of Andrew Bovell (make no mistake, it’s nothing like his earlier effort Strictly Ballroom), John le Carre’s story and characters suck you in. The tension in this film is delivered subtly, before you know it you are on the edge of you seat. Anton, John, Andrew and Phillip all in one place made this reviewer a very happy camper. A Most Wanted Man is PSH’s last completed film and truly cements why Hollywood will feel his loss for generations to come.

What’s it about?
Smart Simeons look mad and carry guns, and chase humans who also look mad and carry guns. There are a few bad eggs… well, not bad so much as scared. Then everyone is scared of everyone and the shenanigans begin.

What did we think?
Ape vs human war is fun to watch, but as well as kick-ass explosions and lots of shooting, this story manages to subtly show what makes the characters and communities tick. Feelings and Firearms: an A-grade mix.

What’s it about?
You’ve heard of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons… But did you know they had mob connections and were mates with Joe Pesci?

What did we think?
Not heavy enough to be a mob movie, and not musical enough to be a musical. The history of the Four Seasons makes for a ripping yarn but with Clint Eastwood pumping it full of grit, it doesn’t quite reach the joyous heights of the stage show until the last scene. Back away from the musicals, Clint. And get off my lawn.

What’s it about?
Yves Saint Laurent: the maestro at his best and worst, darling.

What did we think? 
Cindy says: This film is sublime. I should have more words but I don’t. If you love cinema, if you love art, if you love storytelling, then see this film. It’s a love story, it’s a masterpiece, it’s just beautiful. No words. OK, a few words. Did I mention see this film?!?

What’s it about?
Remember they made a comedy movie based on that TV show, which launched Johnny Depp’s career, about undercover cops infiltrating a high school? This is the sequel paying homage to all sequels. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back and they’re off to college to do “exactly the same mission” they had to do in the first movie.

What did we think?
Tom Harrison says: The movie plays to sequel tropes and works best with its self-aware humour. When it works it works but, with Hill and Tatum bickering about their friendship it quickly falls into the same rut every Judd Apatow “bro-love” styled movie seems to. The humour and pacing are solid and it’s much more enjoyable than the first outing. In the end it does what any good sequel should do, which is be bigger, funnier, and generally better than the first one.

What’s it about?
A series of highly implausible coincidences sees a widower (Adam Sandler) and his three daughters forced to share South African holiday accommodation with a divorcee (Drew Barrymore) who he went on a terrible blind date with and her two sons. Predictable hijinks and the titular “blending” of the families ensue.

What did we think?
It’s not often one thinks to use the term “poor man’s Brady Bunch” but that pretty much sums up this painfully unfunny vehicle. For some reason it seemed a good idea to pair Sandler – doing his wisecracking, sad-sack buffoon shtick yet again – with Barrymore for a third, worst outing. Racial stereotypes and way too many gender-based “jokes” abound. Best to avoid.

The Cherry Ripe I consumed during the screening was quite nice, though, so silver linings and all.