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.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (out Jan 18) is the last in this popular trilogy. What began with intrigue and strong character development in the 2014 original, finishes with a lethargic action thriller where everyone feels like they're going through the motions. Grade: C+.

I, Tonya (out Jan 25) tells the tale of the tale of Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan and “the incident”. Unable to settle on a single version of the "truth", writer Steven Rogers has created a movie that is part comedy, part drama and part mockumentary. I don't think there's enough interesting material to fill two hours but the performance of Australian Margot Robbie makes it worth a look. Grade: B.

Sweet Country (out Jan 25) is set in the 1920s and while it drifts between storylines, is ultimately about the ramifications that arise when "a white fella is shot by a black fella." Described as Australian’s equivalent of an iconic American western, this is a gripping, moving drama that pulls back the curtain on a darker chapter in our history. Grade: A-.