12 Strong (out Mar 8) is based on the true story of U.S. Special Forces who risked their lives to perform a critical mission in Afghanistan in late 2001. The dialogue doesn't feel authentic in places but it's hard to be too critical given it pays tribute to the real life heroes. Grade: B.

Red Sparrow (out Mar 1) is a Russian spy thriller made from a similar mould to that use in The Bourne Identity series. Rather than develop trained assassins, the Russian military has selected candidates for their beauty and are using them to seduce key targets. It’s an intriguing screenplay with a few subplots lurking in the background but it never quite fulfils its promise. Grade: B-.

The Square (out Mar 1) is a Swedish comedy which won the prestigious Palme d'Or at last year's Cannes Film Festival. It begins with an art installation at a museum in Stockholm and then goes on some utterly bizarre tangents. It's not for everyone but for those who see it, "unforgettable" feels like an appropriate adjective. Grade: A-.

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (out Mar 1) is based on the memoir of Peter Turner and chronicles his interactions with American film star Gloria Grahame during the final two years of her life between 1979 and 1981. With great lead performances from Annette Bening and Jamie Bell, this is a warm, heartfelt romantic drama about the dreams we chase and the people who shape them along the way. Grade: B+.

Finding Your Feet (out Feb 22) is the story of an elderly woman who reconnects with her older sister and finds new love after her husband shacks up with another woman. I wasn't sold on the rushed, predictable final act but there are some heartfelt scenes during the opening hour that many will relate to. Grade: B+.

Winchester (out Feb 22) is not-so-exciting horror thriller set in the early 1900s about a elderly woman (Helen Mirren) building an extravagant mansion to serve as the resting place for ghosts and spirits (both good and bad). The true story on which it is based is interesting but as for the film... not so much. Grade: C.

Game Night (out Feb 22) is about a group of friends who host a fake kidnapping/crime solving game but don't realise that an actual kidnapping is taking place at the same time! Leave your brain at the door with this one. The more you think about it, the less sense it makes. That’s not to say that you can’t have fun watching it. The story doesn’t flow particularly well but there are some great individual scenes that make it worth the price of admission. Grade: B.

The BBQ (out Feb 22) is an Aussie comedy that stars Shane Jacobson as husband/father who is mocked on national TV after a family BBQ goes wrong and then enters a prestigious cooking competition to set things right. They're well intentioned characters but I couldn't be won over by such a goofy, cheesy story. Grade: C+.

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.