Only The Brave (out Nov 30) is based on actual events and pays tribute to a group of firefighters from Arizona. It looks at their work whilst also delving into the battles of their personal lives. A bit formulaic in places but the finale packs a strong punch. Grade: B.

The Man Who Invented Christmas (out Nov 30) recounts how acclaimed author Charles Dickens came to write one of his most famous works, A Christmas Carol, in 1843. Told using a mix of fantasy scenes and flashbacks, I found the actual novel to be more interesting than this. Grade: C+.

Wonder (out Nov 30) is based on the novel by R.J. Palacio and follows a not-so-normal looking 10-year-old who battles to make friends during his first year at middle school. It’s a little simplistic in places but it’s hard to be critical of such a heart-warming film. Jacob Tremblay (Room) is great in the leading role and the supporting cast all get the chance to shine with wise words of their own. Grade: B+.

Better Watch Out (out Nov 23) is an Aussie-American thriller about a 12-year-old kid and his 17-year-old babysitter who are terrorised by a home invader. It's not ground breaking but there are a few nice twists and a worthy lead performance from rising star Levi Miller. Grade: B.

The Teacher (out Nov 23) is a riveting Slovak-Czech drama about a teacher who has had several complaints levied against her at a suburban school. Set in 1983, it's a great exploration of power and abuse thereof. Grade: A-.

Goodbye Christopher Robin (out Nov 24) is the story of writer A. A. Milne and he came to create Winnie-the-Pooh. It's contrived in places but the message of the film resonates strongly in the final hour in exploring the way authors infuse their personal lives with their fictional works. Grade: B+.

Tulip Fever (out Nov 22) is a 17th Century tale of love, betrayal and flowers. The wife (Alicia Vikander) of a wealthy man (Christoph Waltz) has an affair with a young painter (Dane DeHaan). I enjoyed the opening hour of this period piece drama but things fell away with a peculiar finale that didn't ring true. Grade: B-.

Daddy's Home 2 (out Nov 23) is similar to the recently released Bad Moms 2 in that it's Christmas themed and adds a layer of complexity to the original by adding grandparents. This is a lightweight, family-friendly comedy that promotes familiar, wholesome values. There's an audience for this but there weren't enough laughs for me. Grade: C+.

Justice League (out Nov 16) reportedly cost $300 million and if you ask me, that money was not well spent. It’s just a repetitive, goofy smash-a-thon with very limited character development. Ezra Miller (as The Flash) gets the best of the one-liners and is the only standout. Grade: C+.

Lucky (out Nov 16) marks the final film of actor Harry Dean Stanton who passed away earlier this year at the age of 91. You get the hunch he knew it was his final film given its about an elderly man getting his affairs in order and preparing for the afterlife. My problem is that it's a very thin narrative and the supporting players add little. Grade: C+.