Mank (out Nov 19) is a biographical drama that delves into the process and motivation behind screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) as he wrote the script for one of the great films of all time, Citizen Kane. Provided you've done a little background reading beforehand (seeing the 1941 movie will help too), you'll be impressed by what director David Fincher (The Social Network) has been able to achieve in terms of narrative, performances and production design. Grade: A-.

Pinocchio (out Nov 19) is a well-crafted Italian film based on the famous 1883 book from author Carlo Collodi. Having not revisited this story in some time, I was surprised by its depth and its relevance today. Also a big fan of the production design. Grade: A-.

Monsoon (out Nov 19) is the story of a middle aged man (Henry Golding) travelling to Vietnam for the first time since he was a small child so he can spread his parents' ashes. It doesn't offer a huge amount of insight into its leading man but I like the approach of imagery over dialogue. Grade: B.

Fatman (out Nov 19) is a Christmas-themed movie about a kid who, after a bad gift, hires an incompetent hitman to kill Santa Claus (played by Mel Gibson). There are some fun concepts here (e.g. Santa being subsidised by the government and diversifying his revenue streams) but the film focuses more on the not-so-exciting stuff (e.g. the dumb hitman). Grade: C+.

Freaky (out Nov 12) is a horror-comedy about a vicious serial killer (Vince Vaughn) who swaps bodies with one of his intended victims, a high school senior (Kathryn Newton). Vaughn wins laughs impersonating a teenage girl but the script doesn't make enough of the cool concept. There are poorly fleshed out subplots (e.g. an alcoholic mother) the finale is weak, formulaic. Grade: C+.

The Comeback Trail (out Nov 12) is the story of a penniless movie producer (Robert DeNiro) who tries to kill off the lead actor (Tommy Lee Jones) in his latest film for a juicy insurance payout. I like the concept but it feels like audiences are one step ahead of the filmmakers here. It's too predictable and simplistic. Grade: C+.

Radioactive (out Nov 5) is based on the graphic novel from Lauren Redniss and delves into the life and impact of Marie Curie (played by Rosamund Pike). I was disappointed. It feels like a film made for 10-year-olds with everything forced and over-explained. The dialogue is stiff and the glimpses into the future (e.g. Hiroshima) add nothing. Grade: C.

Brazen Hussies (out Nov 5) is an interesting documentary that looks at the movement for women's rights in Australia between 1965 and 1975. It covers a lot of material inside 90 minutes and is an important reminder of how much has changed and the people who deserve the credit. Grade: B+.

The Craft: Legacy (out Oct 29) is a sequel to the 1996 original and follows four teenage witches who cause mischief at their high school. There are some half-decent themes here but director Zoe Lister-Jones struggles to bring it all together into something flowing and coherent. Grade: B-.

Rams (out Oct 29) is an Australian remake of a 2015 Icelandic film and is the tale of two estranged brothers and the goings-on at their farms in Western Australia. I think the Icelandic version did a better job fleshing out the themes and characters but I still like this story. Grade: B.