How to Be a Good Wife (out Dec 26) is set in 1960s France and is centred on a struggling school that teaches young women how to submissive housewives. It's like Foucault's Pendulum in the way it consistently swings between comedy and drama but on the whole, it's disappointing. The adults are absurd and the kids poorly developed. Grade: C+.

End of the Century (out Dec 26) is a disorientating drama set in Barcelona about a middle aged man who runs into a one-night-stand from 20 years ago. The alluring, dialogue-free scenes are the highlight. As for the rest... I wasn't sure it added up to much. Grade: B-.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (on Netflix from Dec 18) is a brilliant drama that takes place inside a Chicago recording studio on a hot summer afternoon in 1927. Based on the play of August Wilson (Fences), the film explores many topics (race, religion, money, music) but above all else, it’s a riveting tale of power. It’s easy to forget you’re looking at the likes of Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman (in his final role) given the way they embody their respective characters. Grade: A.

The Dry (out Jan 1) is a wonderful addition to Australian cinema. It's the story of an AFP officer returning to a small country town to look into a murder-suicide perpetrated by a close childhood friend. Eric Bana is terrific in the lead role (love his placid demeanour) and the film is loaded with memorable, distinctive supporting performances. Writer-director Robert Connolly, drawing from Jane Harper's award winning book, deserves praise for creating a credible whodunit. Grade: A-.

Dreamland (out Dec 17) is a slow, formulaic drama that never gets out of first gear. Set in Texas during the midst of the Great Depression, the story is centred on an unemployed young man (Finn Cole) who is seduced by an wanted outlaw (Margot Robbie) looking for a place to hide. These two characters have very limited arcs. Grade: C+.

The Midnight Sky (out Dec 10) is a George Clooney directed sci-fi flick about a team of astronauts returning from a long mission and a sick man on Earth (also Clooney) trying to warn them of an apocalyptic event. The screenplay is formulaic (it's very unoriginal in places) but I like the film's performances and technical elements (particularly the music). Grade: B-.

Hillbilly Elegy (out Nov 12) is based on a true story and follows a 20-something-year-old trying to get his foot in the door at a prestigious law firm while also escaping his troubled upbringing. The performances from Amy Adams and Glenn Close are "flashy" but it feels like we never really get to the heart of any characters. Grade: B-.

The Furnace (out Dec 10) is a weighty Australian film set in 1897 and is the tale of an Afghan immigrant who uneasily teams up with an injured bushman in pursuit of wealth and a new life. Delving into a little-known part of this country's history, this is a movie with something to say. Grade: B+.

The Witches (out Dec 10) is based on the famed Roald Dahl book and is the tale of a young boy who teams up with his grandmother to take down a pack of conniving witches. It's not the greatest adaptation (I was hoping for something darker with more "meat on the bone") but I could see kids having fun with this. Grade: B-.

Words on Bathroom Walls (out Dec 10) follows a teenager in his final year of high school and trying to get good enough grades to be accepted into a leading culinary school. Unfortunately, his schizophrenia has made it difficult to study (he’s easily distracted) and forge friendships. The film succeeds because of the casting and its emotions. Kudos to all involved. Grade: B+.