Maria (out Jan 30) is from Chilean director Pablo Larraín and is a biopic centred on the final week in the life of acclaimed opera singer Maria Callas (played by Angelina Jolie). I liked the splash of comedic playfulness (Callas was a self-aware diva) but as an historical drama, I still don't have a clear picture of who Callas was. Grade: B-.

Babygirl (out Jan 30) stars Nicole Kidman as a high-profile CEO who, sexually unfulfilled by her husband at home, has an affair with a young male intern (Harris Dickinson). The film wants to be gritty, edgy but too many plot points were contrived. Was the intern really that much of a mind reader? Grade: B-.

10 Lives (out Jan 30) is a silly animated family flick about a cat who uses up his quota of lives, but gets a second chance at life by transforming into other animals. The idea runs out of puff quickly. Grade: C+.

Flight Risk (out Jan 23) is a nonsensical thriller. Set largely aboard a plane, it features three key characters - a U.S. Marshall, a chatty pilot, and a witness who will testify in a key trial. Really hard to buy into. Grade: C.

A Complete Unknown (out Jan 23) doesn't follow music biopic norms and is a fitting tribute to the iconic Bob Dylan. It's focused more on WHO he was as opposed to WHAT he did. There are a lot of songs (you could almost call this a musical) and its through Dylan’s own lyrics that we understand his personality and perspective on the world. Timothée Chalamet is wonderful in the lead role. Grade: A-.

The Brutalist (out Jan 23) is a 3 ½ hour epic set in 1950s Philadelphia about a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant architect (Adrien Brody) in pursuit of the "American Dream". This is a sensational film. The characters are multi-dimensional (both heroic and flawed) and the themes are as relevant today as they've ever been. Grade: A.

Sing Sing (out Jan 16) is a brilliant drama based on the true story of a theatre group established inside a maximum-security prison. With a cast featuring many ex-cons who were part of the programs, it's a moving tale about the way "art" can provide hope and friendships. Grade: A.

Magic Beach (out Jan 16) is an ambitious Australian family film from director Robert Connolly. Based on the 1990s children’s book authored by Alison Lester, it consists of 10 animated short stories. I applaud the fresh approach (different styles of animation, minimal dialogue) but I'm worried the lack of a clear, simple narrative will puzzle/bore the target audience. Grade: B-.

Wolfman (out Jan 16) is the latest Hollywood take on the man-turned-werewolf creature who was first seen on screen in 1941.  Australian director Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man) gives it his best shot with the creepy setting and noises (thumbs up to the sound engineers) but, in the same vein as previous Wolfman flicks, I didn’t find the character that interesting. Grade: B-.

We Live in Time (out Jan 16) is a romantic drama spanning several years about a couple forced to make a series of decisions when one is diagnosed with cancer. The jumbled timeline doesn't add much and a few plot points feel forced (the cooking contest). Still, I like the pairing of Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh as well as the music score from Bryce Dessner. Grade: B.