Serena (out Nov 27) is a dreary 1920s drama about a wealthy land owner who runs afoul of both the law and his wife. None of the characters are particularly endearing and it all leads to a finale that will leave you asking one question - "is that it?" Grade: C+.

Men, Women & Children (out Nov 27) follows a group of characters (some old, some young) trying to connect through social media, dating apps, blogs, adult websites, and online video games. It's the younger cast members that shine most brightly. A shame about the ending though. Most of the characters go through a life-changing epiphany that doesn’t ring true. Grade: B-.

When The Queen Came To Town (out Nov 27) is a documentary about Queen Elizabeth's maiden visit to Australia in 1954. It's not offering a lot in the way of insight. It's just a bunch of interviews overlaid with news footage. Fans of the Queen will enjoy but can't see it having much appeal to others. Grade: C+.

Nightcrawler (out Nov 27) follows a strange, socially awkward guy who takes footage of crime scenes and sells it to newsrooms at major TV networks. This film may shake you up a bit. Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a chilling, unsettling performance. He's created one of the creepiest characters that we’ve seen on screen this year. Grade: B+.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (out Nov 20) isn’t up to scratch. By splitting Suzanne Collins’ concluding novel into two movies (for studio $$$$$$$), we’re left with a film that never gets out of first gear. It’s heavy on padding and light on action. The finale isn’t even close to matching the excitement from the earlier releases. Am expecting much more from Part 2 next year. Grade: B-.

The Dark Horse (out Nov 20) is a New Zealand film that follows a troubled man who starts a chess club for kids in his community. Not everyone is a fan though. A few moments are over-dramatised but this drama (based on a true story) hits the right marks when it needs to. Grade: B+.

The Drop (out Nov 13) is a crime drama that begins with a simple bar robbery and escalates into something much bigger. Thankfully, the film isn't ruined by overly convenient moments or unbelievable twists (as can often be the case). It's a little slow in places but the ending is worth it. Also nice to see the late James Gandolfini in his final role. Grade: B.

My Old Lady (out Nov 13) follows a struggling American writer who travels to France so that he can sell a property that he has inherited from his late father. It won't be that easy though. There are parts that will tug at the heartstrings but for the most part, the characters are difficult to like and it's a film that pushes its messages too forcefully. Grade: B-.

Let's Be Cops (out Nov 13) is a dumb comedy about two losers who impersonate police officers and stumble across a major crime ring. There’s only so far you can take this concept and I quickly grew tired of the crude, endless chatter between the two leading characters. I can think of many other buddy cop comedies (Bad Boys, Hot Fuzz, The Guard, The Heat, Lethal Weapon) that I'd rather watch. Grade: C+.

Love, Rosie (out Nov 6) is the story of two great friends who take 12 messy years to finally figure out they're in love with each other. Every emotion, every action feels over exaggerated here. It's just a myriad of convenient plot devices (complete with musical interludes) that push the characters together and then pulls them apart. Pretty actors but struggled to sense the connection. Grade: C+.