*First Man (Damien Chazelle, 2018): 3.5/5
Aims to demonstrate that the moon walk wasn't a fait accompli, but the result of a long, grueling journey marked by tragic setbacks and practical ingenuity.  In the loneliness of the long distance pilot, there's precious little time for poetry or humor.

Thelma (Joachim Trier, 2017): 4/5
After the disappointing English-language family melodrama Louder Than Bombs, Joachim Trier returns to Norway and returns to form.  Sheltered Christian country girl Thelma goes to college in the big city, and some Carrie-like weirdness ensues.  Like The Witch, this art film never really pins down what's going on, but it's Trier's most stylistically accomplished film to date.  [Also rewatched Reprise and Oslo, August 31st.]

The Death of Stalin (Armando Iannucci, 2017): 4/5
Another acerbic, fast-talking political satire based on true events from Iannucci (In the Loop).  You really can't make this shit up.

First Reformed (Paul Schrader, 2018): 4/5
I was pleasantly surprised and occasionally moved by how Schrader lovingly remade and updated Diary of a Country Priest.  But as with Todd Haynes' scholarly re-make of Mildred Pierce, I ended up admiring it more than genuinely liking it.  You can't improve upon perfection.