Downhill (out Mar 5) is a vastly inferior remake to the 2014 Swedish release Force Majeure. It’s a boring, hollow, simplistic movie that lacks the nuance and darkness that made the original so great. Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have been miscast and Miranda Otto looks like she's been borrowed from a Saturday Night Live sketch. A waste. Grade: C-.

Honeyland (out Mar 5) is a Macedonian documentary that takes us inside the world of a passionate beekeeper (she's such a cool character) struggling to keep her small business afloat in an increasingly corporate world. The crew deserve praise for their fly-on-the-wall approach which captures the drama so powerfully without the need for narration. Strong stuff. Grade: A-.

Escape and Evasion (out Mar 5) is an Australian drama about a soldier coming to grips with a mission gone bad. Lead actor Josh McConville does a stellar job illustrating the effects of post traumatic stress disorder but the screenplay isn't as strong as it could be (there's an odd plot device involving an inquisitive journalist). Grade: B-.

Dark Waters (out Feb 27) follows in the footsteps of A Civil Action and Erin Brockovich and is the true story of an environmental lawyer who takes on a major American company on behalf of a small client. The film struggles to juggle its many characters and themes but it's still an important film about the dangers of self-regulation. Grade: B.

Motherless Brooklyn (out Feb 27) is based on the novel by Jonathan Lethem and has been brought to the screen by writer-director Edward Norton (who also stars in the lead role). It's a well-told tale set in 1950s New York about an inexperienced private detective caught up in a complex case involving murder and corruption. Grade: B+.

The Invisible Man (out Feb 27) is an effective, memorable thriller. It's the story of a woman who is terrorised by her invisible husband (who she believed was dead). There's tension from start to finish, Elisabeth Moss is outstandingly credible in the lead role, and the crew make great use of sound and visuals. Grade: A.

Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (out Feb 27) is based on a television show which is based on a book series. Set in the 1920s, it revolves around a woman who is best described as part detective, part socialite. I realise I’m new to these characters and the film is pitched at existing fans but, in giving an honest appraisal, I’m struggling to see the fuss. I liked the production values but they're not enough to overcome the dull dialogue and ham-fisted premise. Grade: C+.

The Lodge (out Feb 20) is a sticks-with-you thriller that begins innocuously and builds to a great climax. It's the story of two children and their soon-to-be stepmom who become stuck in a remote house during an intense snow storm. The less you know about it going in, the better. Grade: A-.

The Call of the Wild (out Feb 20) is a family drama that follows a muscular St. Bernard-Scotch Collie mix and his journey across the United States. I wasn't convinced by the CGI animals and the content feels very safe and "watered down" compared to Jack London's 1903 novel. It’s an unadventurous adventure. Grade: C+.

The Professor and the Madman (out Feb 20) is the story of two men who had a major part in writing the first Oxford English Dictionary in the late 19th Century. Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, sporting thick beards and equally thick Scottish accents, are doing the best with the material but ultimately, the finished product doesn’t make an impact. Grade: C.