Uproar (out Nov 30) is formulaic but still very likeable. It's a New Zealand film, set in the 1980s, about a high school kid forced to pick a side in a simmering political landscape. Finds the right balance between humour, drama, and feel-good. Grade: B+.

The Old Oak (out Nov 30) is the latest (and perhaps final) film of director Ken Loach. It's the story of a small, declining town in Northern England who becomes divided when a large group of Syrian refugees move in. With great casting, it's a film to be admired for astutely capturing the best and worst of the human condition. Grade: B+.

Trolls Band Together (out Nov 30) is an adequate animated feature which continues the franchise. It's easy to follow and the villains are fun... but the musical numbers don't add much. For kids, not adults. Grade: B-.

Napoleon (out Nov 23) struggles to compress 28 years into 2.5 hours and while it doesn’t quite work as an historical drama (the battle scenes become tiring), it does work as a darker comedy and with the exploration of the love-hate relationship between French leader Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Josephine. Grade: B.

The Musical Mind: A Portrait in Process (out Nov 23) is an Australian documentary which delves into the mindset of four talented musicians and what makes them tick. Directed by Scott Hicks, the narrow scope, and continual references to Shine (a prior Hicks film) makes me wonder if there's a wide audience for this. Grade: C+.

The Royal Hotel (out Nov 21) is a gritty Aussie drama about two female Canadian backpackers who, in desperate need of money to fund the rest of their holiday, take jobs as bartenders in a remote mining town. The pace is slow at times (and audiences may want more from the finale) but it's an eye-opening look at a seedier part of Australia. Liked the continually changing dynamic between the two women. Grade: B.

Thanksgiving (out Nov 16) is a horror flick about a serial killer murdering, in brutal fashion, select folk from a small American town. It’s a bit all-over-the-place but that suits the intentional blend of comedy and gore. Grade: B.

Bromley: Light After Dark (out Nov 16) is an Australian documentary about artist David Bromley. Avoiding flattery of the subject matter, it’s an interesting exploration of what we consider “art” to be. Grade: B.

A Savage Christmas (out Nov 16) is an underwhelming Aussie comedy about a dysfunctional family and a bunch of secrets which spill into the open at a Christmas Day lunch. To each their own... but the joke delivery is stiff, and I didn't find this funny at all. Grade: C.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (out Nov 16) is an entertaining prequel which doesn’t come across as a mere cash-grab. It has an interesting story to tell. I love the core concept - an origin story about a villain. The execution doesn't always match the ambition (ending is rushed) but from the detailed sets and costumes to the strong lead performances, this is generally good. Grade: B+.