Paterson

I was skeptical about this one, as I don't have a ton of experience with Jarmusch and I'm not the biggest fan of poetry in general, but I was blown away. It's an intimate and personal film, filled with small but tremendously beautiful little scenes. Driver is exceptional, and I was more impacted by a particular event in this film than I could've possibly predicted.

9.5/10

Loving

A touching period-piece that could have easily fallen into a procedural rut, but instead focused on the affected family. This works wonders, as it allows Nega and Edgerton to deliver some fantastic performances.

8.5/10

Desierto

This is a boldly unique film. Ostensibly a slasher film, DESIERTO makes a few key changes. The monster stalking its prey is merely a man, tired of illegal immigrants. The setting is bright, beautiful, and as vibrant as a desert can be. Nothing is hiding in the shadows here. The cinematography is gorgeous as well, which is a given considering this is the work of a Cuaron. I think the plot falls a bit flat, and the characters could use some more depth, but I appreciated this film for trying to do something new and interesting.

6.75/10

Patriots Day

I was worried about this one feeling a bit exploitative, given the subject matter is so recent, but I was pleasantly surprised. There are some truly tense scenes, as well as several great performances here. For my tastes, everything was treated with reverence and integrity, with the one exception being maybe the bombers, but this film isn't about them. Overall, it felt genuine and heartfelt to me.

8.75/10

Gaslight

A simple, solid thriller that coined the term for this type of psychological manipulation (well, the source material did, anyway). This was my first experience with Bergman, and I was quite pleased with the performance. Everybody overacts a bit in this film, which I'm sure is more a symptom of the time than anything else, but  Boyer's performance left a bit to be desired.

7.75/10

Indignation

This Shakespearean tale set in 1950s America was wonderful. The dialogue in this film was a delight, and the setting lent weight to situations we may find more mundane today. The film lacks a bit of subtlety, but was otherwise quite fantastic.

9/10

Schindler's List

Exceptionally well-acted and shot, touching portrayals of the best and worst of humanity. Films like this are timeless classics for a reason.

9.25/10

The Founder

This story was extremely fascinating to me. Keaton's performance was a bit uneven for me, and the overall tone felt off, given the villainy on display, but I enjoyed learning the history of something so omnipresent a lot more than I had expected to.

7.5/10

20th Century Women

This film portrays a colorful cast of characters that are a joy to be around. The plot is a bit light, but the film contains some truly transcendent scenes.

8.75/10

Split

I had some issues with the resolution of some arcs, and overall the movie fell a little short of my expectations. That being said, McAvoy is phenomenal here, exhibiting tremendous skill and creating some very effective, chilling, and tense scenes. The camerawork on display is also fantastic, adding to a claustrophobic and secluded atmosphere.

7.25/10