At Eternity's Gate (2018)

Willem Dafoe is excellent as Vincent Van Gogh. His portrayal of a mentally unstable man is harrowing. It is accented by some crazy camerawork that is wildly distracting and made my head hurt. Maybe that was the intention. But it was very uncomfortable on the plane. The pacing of the movie is also not really conducive to watching it on a plane, but I quite liked it.

Aquaman (2018)

There are some really good things about this superhero movie at a time when we're all sick of the genre. James Wan's direction is notable. I saw tinges of Furious 7 in the action sequences (and the final battle is Tolkien-esque). I love the zooms, in and out, in the Sicily scene, giving us a sense of scale and continuity between the separate chases. The underwater visuals are spectacular. The production design for Atlantis and the other underwater realms is visually stunning. And I also liked some of the music. There are some interesting choices (Pitbull singing Africa?). But every now and then, you hear music reminiscent of Vangelis's score for Blade Runner. I thought I might have caught a reference in the beginning too, when Nicole Kidman's character says the sea washes away tears in Atlantis, like teardrops in the rain (from the monologue at the end of Blade Runner). That's the best line in the movie. The rest of the dialogue is really cheesy. And it's a shame because there are some real nuggets of inspiration in the writing. The central conflict between Aquaman and his brother is quite interesting. We are engaged in the war between land and sea over pollution and warships because these are genuine problems in our world. Much less consequential is the conflict with Black Manta. It's obviously setting something up for a future movie, but he is totally insignificant and uninteresting  in this movie. Finally, I have to mention the acting because Amber Heard and Jason Momoa are just terrible. They can only do so much with bad writing...

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

I like a good mystery, but the fun is in the buildup to the revelation. And everything before the revelation in this movie is kind of dull. Poirot interrogates all the passengers separately so all of the movie stars get a a little bit of screentime and a couple lines to say, but with every little reveal I'm like so-what. There are hints of Sherlock in the style, but without the likability of Sherlock. If you don't know the solution, it's kind of clever. But immediately after, I fell asleep. I admit, I don't know how the movie ends and I couldn't be bothered to go back and find out. At least it looked nice.

The Florida Project (2017)

The Florida Project is a touching story about the innocence of childhood. The kids are highly entertaining as they just try to be kids. They're authentic and honest. Willem Dafoe acts as a father figure to young Moonee as well as to her mother Haley. He protects these kids. The movie is empathetic towards this little seen population living adjacent to the happiest place on Earth. The juxtaposition of their poverty and the riches of Disney World and its millions of annual visitors that never see this nearby population is devastating. These kids manage to entertain themselves in the shadow of kid wonderland. The brilliance of this movie is its perspective. The audience sees from the perspective of young Moonee. She cannot comprehend everything around her. But we can make a pretty good guess. The director need not spell everything out as you would for a 6-year-old. And the purple! It is beautifully filmed on film. Save for the final scene filmed on iPhone without Disney's permission. That's real filmmaking.

Dog Eat Dog (2016)

I was a little disappointed that Nicholas Cage didn't show up to the morning screening, but I was otherwise pleasantly surprised by his performance. This could have been a tired old crime story, but under Paul Schrader's direction we get a fresh take. In the Q&A, he gave an example of how he updated the classic genre. The strip club has been done before, so he did it in black and white. And the contrast between the black and white with the solid vibrant blues and reds (notably resembling police lights, or a drug-induced high) is striking. The use of color in this film is one of its greatest stylistic strengths. Willem Dafoe is really creepy. The first shot is a close up of his deranged face. And then in a manner reminiscent of a Quentin Tarantino film, he commits an admittedly stylish bloody double murder.  And then of course there is Nicholas Cage. And he is Nicholas Cage as usual, but it kind of works here. It is almost a parody of that type of character and he plays it up.

A Most Wanted Man (2014)

This is not your James Bond/Jason Bourne kind of spy movie.  There is little-to-no action, just the slow burn of an espionage thriller.  Real spy work is not glamorous, it is unrewarding and requires patience.  This movie requires the same of the audience--but patience is not my strong suit.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent in his final role as a contemplative Gunther, a veteran in the spy game grappling with failure with the best German accent.  Compare this to Rachel McAdam's German accent that almost sounds dubbed. I don't think it sounds like her at all.  Robin Wright perfectly plays a role that is similar in demeanor to her House of Cards character.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Right from the beginning as the film opens with a yodel, you can tell that this film is something special.  Wes Anderson must be one of the most stylish directors out there and his storytelling ability is superb.  From his use of miniatures for wide shots, to the colorful costumes and ornate sets, Anderson gives this triumphantly fun adventure his distinctive signature stamp.  He presents an intriguing whodunnit that builds layers of mystery in a unique world of his own creation.

Ralph Fiennes is perfectly cast as the mustachioed concierge.  He delivers Anderson's trademark fast-paced, witty humor effortlessly.  Newcomer Tony Revolori shines as the dutiful young lobby boy Zero among a fantastic ensemble cast.  This movie has serious Oscar potential.  Maybe Wes Anderson will even land his first nomination for Best Picture.