Can You Ever Forgive Me? (out Dec 6) is based on the true story of Lee Israel, a struggling writer who forged personal letters from deceased authors in the 1990s to help pay the rent. Melissa McCarthy and co-star Richard E. Grant deserve praise for creating rich, complex, interesting characters. Audiences will form different opinions of them but hopefully most will agree this is one of the year's best films. Grade: A.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (out Nov 22) is loosely based on Marius Petipa's 19th Century ballet and is the story of a young girl who travels to a mysterious kingdom and must intervene when war breaks out. There's not a huge amount of depth to the narrative here. Grade: B-.

The Grinch (out Nov 29) is an animated film based on the much loved 1957 children's book from Dr. Seuss. This is acute film that should appeal to kids in the lead up to Christmas. In particular, I enjoyed the attention to detail in the town of Whoville and the rhyming narration from Pharrell Williams. Grade: B+.

Creed II (out Nov 29) is a little safer, more predictable than its 2015 predecessor. The longer it goes, the more familiar it seems. That said, it should win over most paying customers because of the two strong performances from its leading men - 31-year-old Michael B. Jordan (his body will be the envy of all) and 72-year Sylvester Stallone (who has perfected the art of self-pity). Grade: B.

Lean on Pete (out Nov 29) is a moving drama about a quiet teenager who gets a job as a horse trainer and in the process, his eyes are opened to the complexities of the world and the responsibilities of being an adult. Charlie Plummer is terrific in the lead role. Grade: A-.

Normandy Nude (out Nov 29) is a French comedy about a small town who tries to raise public awareness for their struggling farms by posing nude for an acclaimed American photographer. There are a few nice laughs but parts of the narrative feel forced and unrealistic. Grade: B.

Robin Hood (out Nov 22) is a muddled retelling of the famed story. Taron Egerton brings charisma to the lead role but it's one of the few positives in a questionable production. Grade: C+.

Widows (out Nov 22) is a winning crime thriller directed by Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and co-written by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl). It's the tale of 3 widows who follow in the footsteps of their late husbands and try to execute a $5 million heist. The film wins points for great dialogue and unpredictable nature. Quick splashes of violence and a few cool twists will catch audiences off-guard. Grade: A-.

The Children Act (out Nov 22) is the tale of a British High Court justice (Emma Thompson) trying to rule on an important case involving a 17-year-old boy refusing medical treatment. Offering up plenty to think about when it comes to work-life balance and religious freedoms, this is a powerful piece of cinema with three great lead performances. Grade: A-.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (out Nov 15) is a slooooow paced film that sets up future plot points in the franchise but doesn't create any immediate tension or meaningful drama. Jude Law is semi-intriguing as Albus Dumbledore and the visual effects are top-notch but I'm struggling to think of other positives. Grade: C+.