Normandy Nude (out Nov 29) is a French comedy about a small town who tries to raise public awareness for their struggling farms by posing nude for an acclaimed American photographer. There are a few nice laughs but parts of the narrative feel forced and unrealistic. Grade: B.

Robin Hood (out Nov 22) is a muddled retelling of the famed story. Taron Egerton brings charisma to the lead role but it's one of the few positives in a questionable production. Grade: C+.

Widows (out Nov 22) is a winning crime thriller directed by Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and co-written by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl). It's the tale of 3 widows who follow in the footsteps of their late husbands and try to execute a $5 million heist. The film wins points for great dialogue and unpredictable nature. Quick splashes of violence and a few cool twists will catch audiences off-guard. Grade: A-.

The Children Act (out Nov 22) is the tale of a British High Court justice (Emma Thompson) trying to rule on an important case involving a 17-year-old boy refusing medical treatment. Offering up plenty to think about when it comes to work-life balance and religious freedoms, this is a powerful piece of cinema with three great lead performances. Grade: A-.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (out Nov 15) is a slooooow paced film that sets up future plot points in the franchise but doesn't create any immediate tension or meaningful drama. Jude Law is semi-intriguing as Albus Dumbledore and the visual effects are top-notch but I'm struggling to think of other positives. Grade: C+.

Shoplifters (out Nov 15) is a wonderful Japanese film that won the Palm D'or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. With a few curious twists, it's the tale of poor family who informally "adopt" a young girl who is need of assistance. Grade: A-.

Spitfire (out Nov 15) is a British documentary that will appeal to plane enthusiasts. It looks at the role played by the Spitfire designers and pilots during World War II. Grade: B.

The Old Man & The Gun (out Nov 15) is an amusing "truth is stranger than fiction" tale about an elderly man who robs a series of banks in the United States and continually gets away because of his charming, polite demeanour. Robert Redford has announced this will be his final on-screen performance and it's a nice way to bow out. Grade: B+.

Patrick (out Nov 8) is awful. I realise it's supposed to be lightweight family entertainment but every part of the story feels unrealistic and phony. It's the tale of a young, unmarried woman who reluctantly inherits her grandmother's dog and suddenly finds a new lease on life. Grade: C-.

The Girl in the Spider's Web (out Nov 8) is a sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with Claire Foy taking over the role previously held by Rooney Mara. There's some beautiful cinematography but the storyline is a mess. Too many twists, too many gaps and some very dull characters (such as Mikael Blomkvist). Grade: C.