Gladiator II (out Nov 14) leans too heavily into nostalgia (I lost track of all the references to earlier quotes and plot points from the original) but it still deserves praise. The performances are great (it's the best Denzel Washington has been in years), the action scenes get the heart pumping, the sound is thunderous, the music is stirring, and the production values are credible. Grade: B+.

I Saw the TV Glow (out Nov 7) is a perplexing drama about a friendless, introverted teenager who forms a connection with someone over a television show. The punchline is thought-provoking but it's a wild ride getting there. Grade: B.

Memory (out Nov 14) is the story of two unlikely people who come together - a recovered alcoholic and sexual abuse survivor (Jessica Chastain) and a man suffering from early onset dementia (Peter Sarsgaard). I struggled with the contrived story (didn't believe it) but there are some great individual scenes (often involving kids and what they should/shouldn't know). Grade: B.

Red One (out Nov 7) takes itself far too seriously. Chris Evans tries to spice it up with brevity but he's the only spark. It's the tale of a kidnapped Santa Claus and two men who forcibly come together to rescue him and save Christmas. Grade: C+.

Here (out Oct 31) is from director Robert Zemeckis and is a bold idea - a camera is fixed in a set location and follows the events that take place on that spot over the history of time (with a focus on the last century). There are moments I enjoyed but on the whole, it comes across as gimmicky with shallow characters and stiff dialogue. Grade: B-.

The Pool (out Nov 7) is a documentary focused on the many different people who use the famous Bondi Icebergs pool. Selecting interesting subjects, the film does a neat job exploring Aussie culture. Grade: B+.

Audrey (out Nov 7) is a very dark Australian comedy about a mother who creepily meddles in the lives of her two teenage daughters. It doesn't always work but it's still an audacious attempt to create something wild and different. Grade: B.

Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story (out Nov 7) is a compelling Aussie documentary about the Croatian-born tennis player and the abuse she endured from her father throughout her career. The movie relies heavily on current-day interviews and “talking heads” (not my preferred style) but it’s still a powerful doco. Grade: B+.

Mozart’s Sister (out Oct 31) is an Australian documentary delving into the life of Maria Anna Mozart, sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and how her work remains underappreciated even today. Interesting. Grade: B.

There's Still Tomorrow (out Oct 31) is a terrific Italian film set in the 1940 (shot in black and white) with a likeable, compelling heroine worth cheering for. Delia is constantly abused by her unloving husband but, through interactions with friends, we see a brighter side which looks to shine through. Winner of 6 David di Donatello Awards. Grade: A-.