DEREK EX MACHINA, created by author and editor Derek L.H., is a blog dedicated to exploring the effect that video games and film have on people.
All tagged review
Sing Sing stands far above its contemporaries due to its uniquely authentic and intellectual approach to its story, performances, and themes about hope, humanity, and integrity. This film respects those whose story this film is based on while also being a story full of heart and humanity that its depicted inmates share.
Widows - while certainly having some excellently realized commentary on modern western culture and the increasing spread of apathy - doesn’t manage to do much you haven’t seen before in a heist film […] It’s certainly flawed, but it’s clear that this film was a product of smart and lovingly-crafted writing and direction, which alone makes it worth a watch.
Beautiful Boy creates a narrative experience that was intimate in a way that few other films are able to replicate. This film provides a refreshing and insightful look into the extent to which addiction affects family. More than anything, though, Beautiful Boy dares to show the lengths we’re willing to go to save those we care about, even when we know that it very well may be for nothing.
First Man is an intriguing exploration of Neil Armstrong’s personal journey masked underneath his more public one that history has made everyone familiar with. While it’s perhaps Damien Chazelle’s weakest feature film, First Man still manages to impress and inspire awe.
With a screenplay that feels awkward and tonally confused, performances that either feel miscast or missing strong characterization, and a structure that feels both formulaic and dated, Venom is a corporate, mediocre mess. Given the plethora of comic-book-to-film adaptations we’ve seen this decade, there are many, many better ways to spend your time if you’re looking for an enjoyable comic book adaptation.
A Star is Born leaves a significant emotional impact to its audience, and it’s delivered in a tightly edited film with a screenplay that both trusts the performances of its actors and the intelligence of its audience. […] Whether you enjoy romances or find the genre too cliché-filled, A Star is Born is a film that simply can’t be missed.
Clock in Its Walls is an admirably imaginative and heartfelt film with a tragically underdeveloped screenplay, making for a film that, while having a strong core, isn’t a necessity for fans of the genre.
White Boy Rick tells an intriguing story in a disappointingly clumsy manner. Despite having admirable aspects to it, White Boy Rick’s lack of focus and an emotional core leaves something to be desired.
Whether you're a fan of suspense films or are on the fence of whether or not screens-only cinematography has a future, Searching is an impressive, exciting film - one that I think we'll continue to talk and think about for a long time.
Operation Finale delivers incredibly thrilling first and third acts which are unfortunately sandwiching a second act that takes a few missteps with its pacing, often lingering on some unnecessary details. Despite that, Finale manages to be an entertaining thriller that captures both an important and fascinating historical moment.
Very rarely do comedy films every leave a profound impact on me, and yet Sorry to Bother You has managed to do just that. Through its plethora of details, fast pace, excellent writing, and great performances around the board, it's clear to see that Sorry to Bother You was a passion project from beginning to end, and that energy radiates off the screen. It's a film that will make you laugh and also make you think about its themes of power, money, and success.
In an era of political uneasiness, hatred, and what at times feels like chaos, Won't You Be My Neighbor? gives us an important reminder of a man that wanted us to realize that neighborly kindness towards others can make the world a significantly better, happier place.
