Dancer (out Dec 1) is a documentary that chronicles the life of Sergei Polunin, a Russian ballet dancer who took the world by storm 10 years ago but then fell from grace. It's an interesting story but not a fascinating one. Grade: B-.

Bad Santa 2 (out Nov 24) contains plenty of insults but there's not much to offer in the way of narrative and laugh-out-loud moments. This time around, Billy Bob Thornton's foul-mouthed character teams up with his mother and former colleague to rob a dodgy charity. Grade: C.

Up for Love (out Dec 1) is an odd French film about a woman who falls in love with a man but has conflicting thoughts about his short stature. It struggles to mix goofy comedy with heartfelt drama and ends up being a disappointment. Grade: C.

Trolls (out Dec 1) is about a cute group of creatures (kind of like Smurfs) who are trying to hide from some hideous monsters out to eat them. It's easy to see the family-friendly message the film is trying to push but the screenplay is not as interesting as it could be. Grade: B-.

The Fencer (out Nov 24) is set in the early 1950s tells the true story of an accomplished Estonian fencer who was on the run from the Nazi's secret police. It comes across as corny in places but it's still an interesting drama about a little known piece of history. Grade: B.

War on Everyone (out Nov 17) is a comedy with Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña playing two cops who give new meaning to the word "corrupt". I like the idea but it's a bit too silly and it lacks the charm of the similarly themed The Nice Guys. Grade: B.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (out Nov 17) is a lightweight prequel to the Harry Potter franchise. There are a lot of characters and a lot of beasts but it feels more like a knowledge-building history lesson rather than an exciting, free-flowing adventure. The visuals will impress. Grade: B-.

I, Daniel Blake (out Nov 17) is the story of a 59-year-old from the UK who finds himself unemployed and ineligible for welfare after suffering a major heart attack. Cinema has the power to open our eyes to the world’s issues and offer a path forward if we’re willing to take it. This film is a great example. Grade: A-.

Arrival (out Nov 10) is a little clunky in getting its message across but it's still an interesting sci-fi drama that puts your mind to work. Don’t go in thinking you can sit back, relax, and enjoy some action-heavy entertainment. It delves into how our world would react if aliens (apparently friendly) did visit and wanted to communicate. Grade: B+.

American Honey (out Nov 3) follows a poor teenager who goes on a road trip across America with a group of new friends is search of money and opportunity. It's a long film (163 minutes) but there's plenty to soak in and everyone is going to take something different away. For me, it paints a depressing picture about America's current state. Grade: A-.