Black Panther (out Feb 15) gets a little confusing during the opening character intros / history lessons but develops into a terrific superhero flick with a rich, compelling story. It's laced with political messages, has a few neat twists, and blurs the line between good and evil. Director Ryan Coogler (Creed) also deserves praise for the action scenes that are light on special effects and editing. Michael B. Jordan the pick of the great cast. Grade: A-.

Lady Bird (out Feb 15) is about a restless high school senior from Sacramento who isn’t sure what she wants out of life. There are storylines that we've seen before in other teen flicks but what separates this from the pack is the way in delves into the relationship between mother and daughter. Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf deserve all the praise they have received. Grade: A.

The 15:17 to Paris (out Feb 8) is a bizarre film. Based on the true story of a foiled terrorist attack on a Paris bound train in 2015, director Clint Eastwood has cast the three real life heroes in the leading roles. It's an interesting concept (despite the fact their acting skills are sub par) but what will bore audiences is the lengthy, lengthy introduction. The terror attack is only featured prominently in the final 20 or so minutes. Grade: C+.

Fifty Shades Freed (out Feb 8) is the final and weakest film in the franchise. The opening half will only further heighten the dreams of those who yearn to be rich and famous. The second half uses a cheesy, cliched storyline that looks borrowed from an episode of Neighbours or Home & Away. I wish I knew the safe word so I could escape the cinema early. Grade: C.

Happy End (out Feb 8) is the latest from French director Michael Haneke and is centred on a wealthy family going through a series of self-inflicted problems. In a similar vein to previous works, Haneke leaves deliberate gaps in the narrative to keep audiences on their toes. I'm a fan of the style but these characters aren't particularly interesting. Grade: B-.

Insidious: The Last Key (out Feb 8) is a horror film unlike anything you've seen before. No, wait. I mean the opposite. It's got long silences followed by shrieking music and creepy looking things that jump out. This might be considered tolerable if the characters (particularly the two sidekicks) weren't so dull and idiotic. Grade: C.

Den of Thieves (out Feb 1) reminded me of the iconic Michael Mann heist film, Heat. We see both perspectives as a group of not-so-by-the-book cops try to outsmart some seasoned criminals. The film hour is a messy snooze-fest but as the big robbery is orchestrated in the second hour, things get more interesting. Grade: B-.

Molly's Game (out Feb 1) tells the true story of Molly Bloom - a woman in her mid 20s who ran some of the biggest underground poker games in the world. There's far too much narration from writer-director Aaron Sorkin but it's still a great tale that's worth telling. Grade: B+.

Phantom Thread (out Feb 1) is the latest from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson and dissects the power struggles between a renowned fashion designer, his sister, and his latest lover in 1950s London. The less you know going in the better. These are fascinating characters who are part of an unorthodox love story. Grade: A.

Swinging Safari (out Jan 18) is an odd comedy centred around three families that pays homage to 1970s Australia. Director Stephan Elliott has fun recreating the setting but the storyline feels very personal to him... and not so much for everyone else. Grade: C.