Denzel Washington and Colin Farrell star in star in a scene from the movie “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” Photo: CNS/Sony By John Mulderig Writer-director Dan Gilroy’s drama Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a generally intriguing character study pitting idealism against the hard realities of contemporary life and the allure of wealth and comfort. Though the film takes left-wing values for granted...

Hector and Miguel embark on an epic adventure in Disney Pixar’s Coco. Photo: Supplied. By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola For more than 20 years, Pixar have crafted stories that have taken viewers of all ages on unforgettable journeys, from the depths of the ocean, to outer space, to the Scottish highlands and Parisian kitchens. But Director Lee Unkrich’s (Toy Story 3) latest offering Coco takes...

Dan Stephens and Christopher Plummer in a scene from the film ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’Photo: CNS Photo/Bleeker Street. By John Mulderig Its rather ill-chosen title notwithstanding, The Man Who Invented Christmas (Bleecker Street) involves no denial of the Nativity. Instead, this charming fact-based historical drama tells the origin story of Victorian author Charles Dickens’...

A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is an animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of animals in the manger. By John Mulderig. The Record Magazine has 10 tickets to The Star to give away. Simply tell us why Christmas is special for you and your family. Please include your name, postal address and a contact number. Winners announced Monday 18 December.

When it comes to repetitiously threatening the world with annihilation, Hollywood is almost as persistent as North Korean state media. So the global danger looming over Justice League (Warner Bros.) feels all-too-familiar. Set to bring on the apocalypse this time is Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), a giant alien who wants to reassemble a trio of energy-generating boxes collectively known as the Unity. By John Mulderig.

A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is a delightful animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of some of the animals present in the manger. Director Timothy Reckart and screenwriter Carlos Kotkin skilfully balance religious themes such as the importance of prayer and the value of forgiveness with a more secular message about pursuing your dreams. By John Mulderig.

The hilarious romantic comedy revolves around a group of people from all walks of life whose lives collide when they all come together for an annual music festival held over three consecutive summers. Among the group of music lovers is the talented and headstrong Keevey (Rebecca Breeds), who performs alongside her father, Eamon (John Waters) in an Irish folk band. By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola.

Butchery accompanied by siren-wail screaming, franchise shock value that has long since played out and a rapid descent into self-parody, this is Jigsaw. The eighth, uh, film in the ‘Saw’ series, which is now about seven and a half movies too long – has nothing new to say and far too much about it that’s familiar, most prominently, scenes of intricately choreographed torture and murder. By Kurt Jensen

Though it presents itself as a complex, thinking person’s thriller, The Snowman, director Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s best-selling novel, is not above dabbling in penny-dreadful sensationalism. In between, this Nordic whodunit returns to plodding wearily across the frozen landscape of its unconvincing mystery. By John Mulderig.

Jackie Chan takes a sharp turn from his typically genial screen personality to become the vengeful father of a London terrorist victim in The Foreigner. In this efficiently suspenseful adaptation of Stephen Leather’s pulp thriller, director Martin Campbell and screenwriter David Marconi have produced a drama about Irish Republican Army (IRA) violence and bureaucratic treachery. By Kurt Jensen.