These past two weeks, I've had a lot of free time on my hands. I figured I'd finally catch up on my movie-watching. The following ten completely arbitrary movies have kept me thoroughly entertained:

1. The Aviator

As someone who’s now seen all five of the collaborations between my favorite director, Martin Scorsese (tied with Christopher Nolan), and brilliant actor Leonardo Dicaprio, I had high hopes for this movie. I was not disappointed. The story of the man who revolutionized air travel while struggling with mental illness offers viewers a great deal of insight into the tragedy that sometimes goes into our greatest achievements. Leo offers one of his most powerful performances while the visuals and storytelling helmed by Scorsese make for gripping entertainment.

2. Django Unchained

Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of slave turned bounty hunter, Django, offers a non-stop thrill ride that leaves you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll. Quentin Tarantino’s seventh directorial outing never has a dull moment. The dialogue is quality, the violence is gloriously over-the-top, and justice is served left and right. With unforgettable performances from actors Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained never fails to entertain.

3. Gangs of New York

Scorsese and Dicaprio’s first outing together may start off slow, but once the ball gets rolling, the story of a young man (Dicaprio) avenging the death of his father offers several moments of character insight and nail-biting action sequences. Daniel Day Lewis’s performance as Bill “The Butcher” Cutting is one of the most lauded of his career. If you have a patient temperament and three hours to spare, Gangs of New York is for you!

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel

This movie was my first time being exposed to the style of director Wes Anderson. The use of symmetrical shots and fascinating color combinations made for a film that was particularly dazzling visually. The story follows the concierge at a hotel who is wrongfully framed for the murder of his mistress. He is shortly thereafter jailed and must be saved by his beloved lobby boy, whom he’d formed a close friendship with. The movie offers captivating drama as well as many moments of comedic relief. Ralph Fiennes puts forth one of his best performances to date and overall the film is a masterpiece both visually and plot-wise.

5. I Am Michael

I Am Michael offers an in-depth character study into the life of Michael Glatze, an LGBT+ advocate turned conservative zealot. When gay icon Michael, played by James Franco, has a health scare, he begins to question his place in the world and stumbles upon religion along the way. Shortly thereafter, he ends his relationship and pursues his newfound faith. Along the way, he becomes convinced that same-sex attraction is an abhorrent sin and becomes the very type of person he used to oppose. Though infuriating at times, the movie offers a fascinating look at the relationship between faith and sexuality. I’d recommend it to anyone who can appreciate the story but can still handle watching a previously likable character descend into despicability.

6. Inglorious Basterds

Tarantino’s sixth directorial outing also never fails to satisfy. Brad Pitt plays Lt. Aldo Raine, the head of an American Jewish squad of Nazi hunters during WWII. These hunters soon see a golden opportunity when they discover that Hitler and all the other high-ranking Nazis will be in the same theater one night to watch the premiere of a German film. Little do they know that the Jewish owner of the theater is plotting the same thing. Though not even remotely accurate historically, Inglorious Basterds is yet another grand slam for Quentin Tarantino. If you’re in the mood for suspenseful entertainment and can overlook the glaring historical inaccuracies, this is the movie for you!

7. Interstellar

This masterpiece from my other favorite director Christopher Nolan delves into the fluidity of time itself and the relationship that people have with it. Matthew McConaughey plays Cooper, a former astronaut living on an Earth that’s only growing more decrepit as time goes on. When NASA calls on him to go into space to find a new habitable planet, he must leave his beloved daughter and other family members in order to save the human race. The only problem is, time runs more slowly for him on space than for his daughter on Earth. He warns his daughter before leaving that upon his return, they may even be the same age. Although the film is very intellectually heavy, if you can follow along, it offers a very rewarding, heartwarming experience. Though not as tough to follow as Nolan’s other works like Inception or The Prestige, Interstellar is not a movie you should watch while multi-tasking. It’s another lengthy one, so if you have a little under 3 hours to spare, you won’t regret watching!

8. Moana

Given that I’m 5 years old at heart, I never pass on a good kids’ movie, especially from Disney. Moana did not disappoint. The story follows a Polynesian girl who must go on a journey to save her village from destruction. The movie has its fair share of well-composed music, hearty comedic situations, and intimate emotional moments. Personally, I’ve been listening to the soundtrack on loop since I watched it. This well-animated Disney flick is fun for the whole family. I’d recommend it for anyone from 5 to 105.

9. Those People

This dramatic story of a love triangle is largely driven by the universal problem of conflicting desires. Artist Charlie is torn between a long-time crush on his non-reciprocating friend Sebastian and charming pianist Tim whom he meets in a restaurant. Ultimately, when Charlie and Tim begin dating, Sebastian begins to have a number of personal struggles, including jealousy at Charlie’s new relationship. When drama ensues, Charlie and Sebastian both have to evaluate what they truly want while Tim is caught in the middle. I’d recommend this one more for the drama than the romance, but if soap opera reminiscent love triangles are your thing, I’d recommend this one!

10. The Wolf of Wall Street

The fifth, and most recent, collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio is a spellbinding look into the debauched and dishonest life of Jordan Belfort (Dicaprio), a corrupt stockbroker being investigated by the FBI. Fair warning: this movie is probably the most vulgar film I’ve ever seen. Between the regular usage of profanity, gratuitous sex and nudity, and the repeated use of illegal drugs, this one’s not for the faint of heart. If you can get past all of that, however, the film is a dramatic achievement of the highest caliber. I was fascinated with Jordan from the film’s opening seconds and quickly became invested with his story. The film even makes you want to root for him despite his flagrant depravity. Though it’s another lengthy one, The Wolf of Wall Street is worth a look for anyone who isn’t easily offended by its intentionally indecent grandiosity.