The Dead Don't Hurt (out Dec 5) is a slow-ish Western set in 1860s America about an abused woman trying to survive in a male-dominated world. The emotions don't resonate strongly enough but liked the production values. Grade: B-.

Rumours (out Dec 5) is a dismal political comedy about G7 leaders who must fend for themselves after an apocalyptic event. It's the same joke for 90 minutes (i.e. politicians are dumb and selfish) and I didn't laugh once. Grade: C-.

Piece by Piece (out Dec 5) won’t shake any foundations but it’s there to be enjoyed for people who want it. It's a puff-piece style documentary about musician Pharrell Williams with a focus on his strengths, achievements, and collaborations with other famous artists. I’ll say this though – I liked the Lego animation approach and it creates an interesting point of difference. Grade: B.

Moana 2 (out Nov 28) isn't up to scratch compared to the 2016 original. Our heroine goes in search of other civilisations and cursed islands. Not the most exciting story and the themes are heavy-handed. Liked the animation. Grade: B-.

Your Monster (out Nov 28) is a weird but not-too-bad comedy about a theatre performer who busts up with her boyfriend but then finds comfort in the arms of a "monster" who lives in her home. Grade: B.

Heretic (out Nov 28) is a horror-thriller about two religious women who, in trying to convert folk to their religion, arrive on the doorstep of a man in the middle of a pelting rainstorm. It’s not a bad idea for a movie but the execution is subpar. The biggest frustration is the topsy-turvy nature to the characters and how they don’t stay true to themselves. Grade: C+.

Wicked: Part I (out Nov 21) is a very strong adaptation of the award-winning Broadway musical. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are fantastic. Director Jon M. Chu (In the Heights) has crafted a flashy piece (colourful sets, a gazillion overemoting extras) which is fun but also emotional. Grade: A-.

Goodrich (out Nov 21) has its moments but its largely a thin, unfulfilling drama about a middle-aged man (Michael Keaton) trying to get his personal and professional lives back on track (both are a mess). Grade: B-.

No Other Land (out Nov 21) is one of the year's best documentaries. Set between 2019 and 2023, it follows a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist as they try to raise international awareness about a group of roughly 1,000 Palestinians being forcibly removed from their remote homes in the West Bank. Eye-opening with interesting characters and backstories. Grade: A-.

Christmas Eve in Miller's Point (out Nov 14) is an unorthodox holiday comedy-drama set around a Christmas Eve dinner. With no clear plot and a billion actors, it becomes an observational piece as we flick back and forth between characters engaged in random conversations. A shame these people aren't remotely interesting. Grade: C.