Eternals (out Nov 4) is a touch underwhelming. You can see what director Chloe Zhou is searching for (less action, more interaction) but the new characters lack spark and charisma compared to the likes of Iron Man or Black Panther. The lack of a complex villain also contributes to the lethargic pace. Grade: B-.

Passing (out Oct 28) marks the directorial debut of Rebecca Hall and offers a not-so-well-known look into a form of racial discrimination that existed in New York in the 1920s. I wasn't sold on the finale but the performances and depiction of the era make this worth the trip. Grade: B.

Julia (out Nov 4) is a documentary that pays homage to Julia Child - the chef who rose to fame in the 1960s and laid the groundwork for a bunch of celebrity chefs who grace our television screens today. It's hard not to be wooed by her infectious personality and take-no-nonsense determination. Grade: B+.

The Harder They Fall (out Oct 21) is an entertaining Western filled with confident, bad-ass characters, punchy one-liners, and a rockin' soundtrack. Power games aplenty. Grade: B+.

Antlers (out Oct 28) is a decent horror flick about two kids and a creepy creature they're keeping hidden in the basement. I like the way this plays out. Good characters and a few surprises on offer. Grade: B.

Halloween Kills (out Oct 28) is a horror film void of ideas. It fails to capitalise on the decent 2018 reboot and offers zero in terms of character development. It's just a bunch of senseless murders involving dim-witted characters. A shame. Grade: C.

Ron's Gone Wrong (out Oct 28) is a cute, wholesome animated feature about a boy who befriends a broken robot and learns lessons about friendship. Targeted at the younger crowd, the film doesn’t try to overcomplicate things and tells a simple story. Rising star Jack Dylan Grazer and the experienced Zach Galifianakis are great as the lead voices. Grade: B.

Malignant (out Oct 21) has a half-decent idea at its core but the characters push too hard for laughs and it weakens what could have been a quality horror-comedy. Grade: C+.

The Last Duel (out Oct 21) is based on actual events, set in the year 1386, and depicts the final judicial duel sanctioned by the French government. The style becomes repetitive (you'll know what I mean once you've seen the film) but the lead performances are great (particularly Jodie Comer) and, as you'd expect from director Ridley Scott, it culminates with a gritty, violent, believable climax. Grade: B+.

Becoming Cousteau (out Oct 21) is a documentary where the older you are, the more likely you are to be interested in the subject matter. It's centered on Jacques Cousteau who is best known for his oceanic nature shows that first aired on television in 1966. The film isn't offering much that isn't already widely known about Cousteau but it's still nice to be reminded of his value to society and the world. Grade: B-.