Derrick ❤️ Movies

Tessa Thomson Electric in Nia DaCosta’s Night of Debauchery "HEDDA" [Review] It’s a rare thing to see both a break out lead performance from an ever reliable performer and a break free moment from franchise shackles for a director.

#HEDDA gets better on a rewatch and better the more I think about it.Thompson is phenomenal as the titular titan of chaos, and Nia DaCosta directs the absolute hell out of this film. The best movie you'll watch on streaming right now without question. review out, enjoy!

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"Bugonia" Humanity's Self-Destruction, Big Pharma and Aliens?? [Review] "Bugonia" pulls the rubber band until it snaps, and before you have a chance to gather your senses it unfolds with unrelenting insanity - a staple of Yorgos and a welcomed explosion of WTF.

I love me some Lanthimos, and #BUGONIA is absolutely a Yorgos vibes check. Shockingly accessible but no less weird, Stone and Plemons make a meal out of this insane pressure cooker of a thriller. In select theaters tomorrow, everywhere Oct 31st. Review out, enjoy!

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Ethan Hawke Shines in Richard Linklater's "Blue Moon" [Review] "Blue Moon" is a character study of genius, brought to life by a powerhouse performance from Hawke, a sharp script and a soft touch from Linklater's hangout direction.

Really enjoyed BLUE MOON, a dazzling showcase for Ethan Hawke as he chews through pages of dialogue with a masterful balance of wit, heartache and self destruction. In select theaters now. Review out, enjoy!

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"A House of Dynamite" Tension-Filled Missile Fizzles Out [Review] "House of Dynamite" simply attempts too many things without saying anything for itself, leaving it in a sort of limbo where its highs are rocket ships in space but the lows are scouring the bottom of ...

It's such a shame that A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE starts off incredibly strong and sadly implodes to nearly unwatchable (in a bad way) the longer it goes. On Netflix Oct 24th. Review out, enjoy!

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"Frankenstein" Faithful Adaption with Flawed Execution [Review] There may not be a justification for yet another version of a timeless tale, but for all its faults "Frankenstein" still sits as a cinematic experience to behold even if it makes some stumbles along t...

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New Lanthimos is a hell of a way to start a Friday morning! #NowWatching

"Roofman": Channing Tatum's Career Best Performance [Review] "Roofman" is a heartfelt showcase for Tatum and a light watch whose safe play and sticking to convention ends up serving as a compliment to its charm

ROOFMAN is the Mystery Screening tonight, so here's my review out of TIFF. Genuinely enjoyed this one more than expected, with Channing Tatum turning in a career best performance. Worth checking out tonight or Oct 17th when it releases wide. Enjoy!

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"One Battle After Another" Masterpiece of Our Time [Review] "One Battle After Another" is a masterpiece, the true movie moment of our time and one of the most important films to see as it arrives at the precise time it needs to. This timeless yet timely tale t...

I had a lot to say about #OneBattleAfterAnother and I still don't think I said it all! Truly the movie of our time, the best film of the year, and an undeniable cinematic event! Review out, enjoy!

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"Ballad of a Small Player" First Major Misfire from Berger [Review] once the ominous atmosphere and chaotic gambling framework and high strung bright lights fade, "Ballad of a Small Player" has no hand left to play. It is at best a fun time spent with Farrell who is r...

I'm all for hyper stylized, sweaty Colin Farrell, but BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER is a sometimes kinetic but mostly meandering misfire that defined style over substance. In select theaters Oct 15th, Netflix Oct 29th. Review out, enjoy!

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Gonna take a bunch of Tylenol, get autism, get rich counting cards at a casino, then take some horse tranquilizer with some raw milk and sewer water while stomping on viles of polio and measles vaccines to turn back to normal.

Since that's apparently how this all works now.

"The Smashing Machine" More Unanimous Decision Than KO Victory [Review] Safdie's final product feels more self indulgent than self reflective, and approaches the material at arms length and a sort of meandering disinterest in his subject. At no point in "The Smashing Mach...

Wish I enjoyed this more, but it just didn't live up to the hype nor does it ever land a knockout punch. In theaters Oct 3rd. Review out, enjoy!

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"My Father's Shadow" Powerful Recollection of Parental Memory [Review] "My Father's Shadow" is a profound piece of cinema, a wondrous triumph and one of the best films of the year.

One of my favorite things about festivals is discovering hidden gems like My Father's Shadow. A magnificent, moving piece of cinema that isn't just one of the best films of the festival, it might be one of the best films of the year. Review out, enjoy!

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10 Films We Totally Recommend Seeing at TIFF 2025 It's that time of year again! The fall festival season is upon us, with big and small titles hitting Venice, then Telluride, and then the Toronto

Strap in folks, there's gonna be a TON of these coming over the next two weeks! The first round of TIFF films I've seen and recommend to put on your radar! Enjoy!

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"Highest 2 Lowest" Cinematic Love Letter From One of the Greats [Review] "Highest 2 Lowest" is Lee at his most reflective and sentimental, using masterpiece source material to deliver a thrilling and deeply funny love letter to cinema, music, New York, creativity, legacy, ...

Absolutely adored Highest 2 Lowest, a messy and sometimes silly but always electric loose adaption of a masterpiece that, in itself wrestles with legacy and purpose in some truly profound ways. Review out, enjoy!

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"Relay" Exciting Thriller They Just Don't Make Anymore [Review] "Relay" is a well crafted, taut, clever thriller that works best when operating within its genre confines. It manages to blend formulaic thriller tropes with unpredictability and arresting intrigue, s...

Dug the hell out of #RelayMovie a taught, throwback paranoid thriller they just don't make any more, but probably should. Review out, enjoy!

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"Honey, Don't" Proves it's Time for the Coen Brothers to Reunite [Review] ...even at its funniest and horniest it fails to jolt any electricity into its disjointed and purposefully convoluted plot, leaving "Honey, Don't" feeling as flat as its Bakersfield desert setting.

The solo Coen Brother experiment continues to not pay dividends, and even with their muse Margaret Qualley at the lead, HONEY, DON'T is another misfire. In theaters Aug 22nd. Review out, enjoy!

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"Nobody 2" Sometimes Fun Action Sequel, Mild Musings on Fatherhood [Review] "Nobody 2" feels half baked and undercooked, and while there's some fun to be had sometimes it's all but forgotten by the time you get home.

Sadly, I was not a fan of the latest unnecessary sequel #Nobody2. Review out, enjoy!

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YouTube video by ForReel Weapons | This Week On ForReel, Episode 8

Had a blast talking #Weapons with the ForReel crew today! Check out our conversation! Yes it contains spoilers.

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We stan HARD for Margaret Qualley 'round these parts. #NowWatching HONEY DON'T

"Weapons" Frightening, Weird, and Yes, Very Funny [Review] I'm not ready to call "Weapons" a masterpiece, but I am ready to call it an evergreen brain worm that - if you're willing to let it - stays with you indefinitely and will be a film we talk about for a...

Dug the hell out of #WeaponsMovie another banger from Zach Cregger who is more than solidifying himself as a distinct voice in horror. Completely spoiler free review out, enjoy!

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"The Naked Gun" Joke Per Minute Comedy, Legacy Sequel Done Right [Review] Sure, it's not quite as good as the original, but it doesn't have to be so long as it honors its legacy and does right by the classics. "The Naked Gun" does both of these things, and if you're looking...

Had an absolute blast with #TheNakedGun a tried and true parody comedy that more than delivers on the laughs and jokes. In the ever growing hellscape that is life in 2025, this is the kind of escapism cinema needs now more than ever. Full review out, enjoy!

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I'm genuinely proud at how well this little remix works.

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Fleeting Family Drama, Same Old MCU [Review] "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is a tale of two films; one that attempts to take its first steps into new directions and one that backtracks into the same old tired Marvel machine.

I enjoyed #FantasticFourFirstSteps a lot when I left the theater, but the longer I was away from it and reflected on it, the more glaring those issues became for me. Spoiler free review out, enjoy!

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"Oh, Hi!" Hilarious, Endearing, Wacky Take on Rom-Coms [Review] "Oh Hi!" is a sort of millennial "Misery" told through a series of unfortunate situationships. There's an earnestness from Brooks' direction and screenplay that allows even the most outlandish events ...

Enjoyed OH, HI!"more than most out of Sundance. In theaters Friday! Review out, enjoy!

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Chaos, Dark Humor Reign in A24's Modern Western "Eddington" [Review] It's a big swing and even bolder execution from a filmmaker who dives head first into both with complete abandon, and that approach is always going to draw lines in the sand. Though I feel good about ...

Had a lot to say about #eddington and I'm not even sure if I said it all or if what I said makes sense. But those are the best kinds of films, the kind you just HAVE to talk about. Review out, enjoy!

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"Cloud" Internet Anonymity is the Gateway to Hell [Review] You have to respect workhorse filmmakers who bang out 3 films a year and rarely miss. It's a class of veteran savoy that is rare even among the best of

Saw CLOUD back at TIFF last September and really enjoyed it. It's in select theaters now and if you're a fan of Kurosawa's work, I'd recommend this one. Also a really good double feature with EDDINGTON.

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"I Know What You Did Last Summer" Pretty Cast, Same Bland Story [Review] "I Know What You Did Last Summer" feels more unnecessary than even the most unnecessary sequels out there. It has forgettable, second screen watchability and is hardly fit for the big screen.

Some things are better left in the 90s, and the latest requel #iknowwhatyoudidlastsummer is one of them. New review out, enjoy!

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"Superman" Big, Beautiful Mess Bursting With Color, Hope [Review] "Superman" is overly ambitious, overstuffed, and quite messy most of the time. But it's also consistently entertaining, delivering the kind of hopeful hero we've long been waiting to see on the big sc...

#Superman may be a whole lot of movie and while not all of it works, James Gunn's sincerity and love for the lore brings a hopeful hero to life in some of the best and much needed ways that only a comic book movie can. Review out, enjoy!

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Stayed clear of all my fellow critics' reviews to decide for myself on this highly anticipated flick! #NowWatching

Halfway Through 2025: These Are The Best Films (So Far) 2025 has been an interesting year for cinema. All throughout the strikes and other extenuating circumstances, the common turn of phrase for almost 2 years

There's still a lot of films left to see, but here's my mid-year review of the top 10 best films of the year so far! Number 1 will shock you!!!

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