The Commuter (out Jan 18) is a formulaic action-thriller that stars Liam Neeson as a recently unemployed guy who must identify a particular individual on a New York City train to claim a $100,000 reward. I don't mind this genre and Neeson has made some engaging stuff previously but the content of this film doesn’t make a lot of sense. Grade: C.

The Post (out Jan 11) looks at what went on behind the scenes before The Washington Post made the decision to publish classified military documents in 1971 that showed the government had been lying about its involvement in the Vietnam War. Director Steven Spielberg pushes its themes too strongly but it's still a fascinating true story with as much relevance today. Grade: B+.

Darkest Hour (out Jan 11) is a historical drama that spans only a few weeks in the year 1940 and looks at what went on behind closed doors before Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared war against Germany. Gary Oldman ticks all the boxes with his great leading performance but the female characters (e.g. Churchill's wife and secretary) are not given as much to work with. Grade: B+.

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (out Jan 11) is about a squirrel and some other animals trying to defeat a villainous mayor who threatens their lifestyle. Given the original wasn't released in Australian cinemas, I'm not sure why this is getting a run now. It's intended for young kids with almost no humour for adults. Not a fan. Grade: C-.

All the Money in the World (out Jan 4) is set in 1973 and is based on the true story of an extremely wealthy American businessman who refused to pay a ransom when his grandson was kidnapped in Italy. The production values are strong but screenwriter David Scarpa doesn’t make the most of the 132 minute running time. The most interesting characters (e.g. Romain Duris) are the least screen time. Grade: B.

Pitch Perfect 3 (out Jan 1) is a short, tired sequel that doesn't build on the previous two films. I realise fans will be happy enough to hear these characters belting out famous songs but could they have at least come up with a funnier, more plausible scenario? Grade: C.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (out Jan 1) is the darkest comedy yet from writer-director Martin McDonagh. A grieving, foul-mouthed mother takes matters into her own hands when her daughter is killed and the local police fail to locate the killer. The film is at its best when it's trying to be funny. I wasn't as convinced by the dramatic elements and struggled to reconcile the actions of certain characters. Grade: A-.

The Greatest Showman (out Dec 26) is inspired by the life of P. T. Barnum and how he came to create his first circus. This wants to be a grand spectacle but the storyline is thin, the tension between characters feels fake, and the musical numbers are not memorable. Grade: C+.

Coco (out Dec 26) is this year's best animated feature. It's the story of a 12-year-old kid from Mexico who stumbles into the Land of the Dead and goes in search of his great-great-grandfather. This is beautifully touching tale that has a lot of say about celebrating the past and why me must remember those who have come before us. The walking, talking skeletons are great too! Grade: A.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (out Dec 26) is a terrific reboot/sequel/whatever to the 1995 original. Four school kids find themselves sucked into an unusual video game and must make their way to the end before they run out of lives. The characters are fun and there are lot of cool video game trademarks. Both children and adults should enjoy. Grade: A-.