There have been a couple of noteworthy deaths in the last few months, one of whom was the immensely talented Gene Hackman. In this courtroom drama he is at his most contemptible, a character trait he exceeded at. John Cusack stars as a juror who teams up with a mysterious woman to prevent a lawyer from manipulating an explosive trial. Hackman heads an excellent ensemble cast.

The second of the noteworthy deaths is that of Pope Francis. This remarkable film has wonderful performances from both Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins, who could both be excellent choices for a new Pope. It does go into some detail of the process for choosing a new head of the Catholic Church, which is somewhat complicated and political. This is the intimate story of one of the most dramatic transitions of power in the last 2,000 years. Frustrated with the direction of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio requests permission to retire in 2012 from Pope Benedict. Instead, facing scandal and self-doubt, the introspective Pope Benedict summons his harshest critic and future successor to Rome to reveal a secret that would shake the foundations of the Catholic Church.

In this crime drama, Jasmeet Bhamra is a British detective of Indian origin who has recently lost her son. Grieving the loss of her child to murder, she moves to another town where she’s tasked with investigating the disappearance of a missing child. Although traumatised by her own situation, Bhamra pressures her senior officers to let her be on the case. This is an adequate story exploring themes of trauma, grief and the immigrant experience in the UK.

This true-story crime thriller dramatises the hunt for 13-year-old Yara Gambirasio’s killer in 2010.  Letizia Ruggeri is a determined prosecutor who becomes consumed with the case of a missing teenager and goes to extreme lengths to get to the truth, leading to a massive DNA sweep across Italy, ultimately resulting in the arrest of Massimo Bossetti, a construction worker, who vehemently professed to his innocence. The revelations as to how DNA can be used in many different ways is remarkable.

The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 was the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in U.S. history, resulting in the deaths of 168 people. This gripping documentary revisits that shocking day, talking to those who were in charge of the various law enforcement agencies, those who survived the nightmare and those who still grieve for the loved ones they lost. There is also an interview conducted with Timothy McVeigh whilst he was in prison. Disturbing, to say the least.

It’s amazing how many gurus there are these days. They seem to be everywhere. I guess in these troubled times some of us turn to those who will steer us on an easier path. This path doesn’t exist as we older people have suddenly realised. But Bikram Choudhury was the guru to the rich and famous, as well as us normal people. The revelations that come to light here are astounding, mainly because Choudhury got away with his misdemeanours. It’s reported that he is still training teachers in Mexico, or somewhere south of the border.

Wildlife documentaries have a wonderful calming effect on the soul. This is a beautiful story of the plight of the Pangolin, that have walked on this earth for 85 million years, with the dinosaurs as companions, but now they are faced with extinction due to illegal trafficking. A volunteer conservationist man discovers purpose helping rescue a trafficked baby pangolin in South Africa. He dedicates himself to rehabilitating the endangered animal for release into the wild, forming a special bond in the process. The “Pangolarium” is a unique rehabilitation facility for pangolins. It’s located in South Africa’s Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, a collaborative effort between the reserve, the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG), and Lepogo Lodges. Such a beautiful animal on which very little is known.

This is quite a good film, albeit predictable, which explores the familiar theme of Gallo, a mostly absent dad who finds out he may not be his son’s biological father. The two embark on a wild adventure through Mexico to find the truth, questioning Benito’s mum’s many suitors in the process. Yes, it’s a familiar scenario, but the scenery is beautiful.