War on Everyone (out Nov 17) is a comedy with Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña playing two cops who give new meaning to the word "corrupt". I like the idea but it's a bit too silly and it lacks the charm of the similarly themed The Nice Guys. Grade: B.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (out Nov 17) is a lightweight prequel to the Harry Potter franchise. There are a lot of characters and a lot of beasts but it feels more like a knowledge-building history lesson rather than an exciting, free-flowing adventure. The visuals will impress. Grade: B-.

I, Daniel Blake (out Nov 17) is the story of a 59-year-old from the UK who finds himself unemployed and ineligible for welfare after suffering a major heart attack. Cinema has the power to open our eyes to the world’s issues and offer a path forward if we’re willing to take it. This film is a great example. Grade: A-.

Arrival (out Nov 10) is a little clunky in getting its message across but it's still an interesting sci-fi drama that puts your mind to work. Don’t go in thinking you can sit back, relax, and enjoy some action-heavy entertainment. It delves into how our world would react if aliens (apparently friendly) did visit and wanted to communicate. Grade: B+.

American Honey (out Nov 3) follows a poor teenager who goes on a road trip across America with a group of new friends is search of money and opportunity. It's a long film (163 minutes) but there's plenty to soak in and everyone is going to take something different away. For me, it paints a depressing picture about America's current state. Grade: A-.

Nocturnal Animals (out Nov 10) is from director Tom Ford and is a beautifully told tale of revenge and the struggle to escape one's past. The performances are superb (Michael Shannon is tipped as an awards season contender) and the film is also to be admired for its colours, lighting and imagery. This has booked a place in my top 10 list for the year. Grade: A.

Hacksaw Ridge (out Nov 3) is a World War II tale told from a very different angle. Based on actual events, it follows a soldier who refused to bear arms based on his religious beliefs and yet became a hero worthy of the Medal of Honor. The film takes a little while to get going but this latest effort from director Mel Gibson makes an impact in the second half. Grade: B+.

The Light Between Oceans (out Nov 3) is based on the 2012 novel and is centred on a married couple who live on a remote island off the coast of Western Australia. Starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, this is a sad tale that will hit audiences hard during the final act. Grade: B+.

The Accountant (out Nov 3) stars Ben Affleck as the guy who maintains the financial records for bad guys across the globe (a cool idea). The film’s most positive quality is its exploration of autism. Unfortunately, it has more subplots than a series of Game of Thrones and it's a struggle to bring them all together. Grade: B-.

Elle (out Oct 27) is a French drama from director Paul Verhoeven. It's an engrossing character study and you're never quite sure where it's heading. A wealthy woman is raped in her home and goes on a quiet quest to learn of his identity. As this goes on, she tries to juggle a number of other problems in her life. Grade: A-.