Whiplash (out Oct 23) is a terrific character study about a jazz drummer trying to succeed and his sadistic teacher who keeps pushing him beyond his physical and emotional limits. Winner of the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, this is a powerful film headlined by two passionate performances from Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. Grade: A-.

Before I Go To Sleep (out Oct 16) is the story of a woman with amnesia. She wakes up each morning with no knowledge of the previous day. Why is she like this though? This is a curious thriller where she suspects that not all around her are being truthful. I wasn't fully convinced by the performances and didn't think there was enough material for 90 minutes... but a few twists and the broad nature of the mystery kept me interested. Grade: B.

A Walk Among the Tombstones (out Oct 16) is a standard but still moderately engaging thriller that stars Liam Neeson as a cop turned private detective who is investigating a murder. It's not an action fest like past Neeson films (Non-Stop, Taken) and that works in the film's favour. It's entertaining watching his character put the pieces of the puzzle together. Grade: B.

Tammy (out Oct 16) is a dismal comedy that stars Melissa McCarthy as some kind of self-centered loser who we're supposed to feel sorry for (I think) as she tries to get her life back on track. The cameos feel pointless and the jokes drag on and on and on. Grade: C.

Force Majeure (out Oct 16) is a Swedish film about a husband and wife holidaying in the French Alps. An unexpected event and a split second decision will rock their relationship. There are so many great conversation starters contained in this film. The cinematography (lots of long, single-camera shots) also adds to the tension. Grade: A-.

The Judge (out Oct 9) is the tale of a moral-less defence attorney who sees the world a little differently after defending his father in a murder trial. Robert Downey Jr's larrikin act is over the top (it's hard to buy his character's transformation) and many subplots feel undercooked (such as his wife and his former flame). Puzzling ending too. Grade: C+.

Annabelle (out Oct 2) weakens over its later stages but it's still a decent horror/thriller prequel to last year's The Conjuring. Camera angles have been carefully chosen and the music is used effectively. It centres on a young family who discover a demon in their own home. Grade: B.

Siddharth (out Oct 9) is the tale of an Indian man who goes in search of his 12-year-old son who he believes has been abducted. The film highlights serious issues within India but it's far too padded (the man spends 10 minutes at one point trying to find a phone number). Not enough material for a full length feature. Grade: C+.

Advanced Style (out Oct 2) is a roughly assembled documentary that focuses on a group of elderly women in New York who are leaving their mark in the fashion world. There's not a lot of content here but it's hard not to like the people chosen to participate. Grade: B-.

Gone Girl (out Oct 2) is the story of a struggling bar owner from Missouri who has been accused of murdering his wife. The film is to be admired for its exploration of "trial by media" and the way in which it looks at the situation through different eyes (e.g. detectives, his friends, his lawyer, her parents). A shame the ending is so unconvincing. I know what message it was trying to sell. I just didn't buy it. Grade: B+.