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Derek Smith

Derek Smith's writing has appeared in Tiny Mix Tapes, Apollo Guide, and Cinematic Reflections.

Blu-ray Review: Jacques Audiard’s ‘The Beat That My Heart Skipped’ on the Criterion Collection

by Nick Schager Derek Smith
September 17, 2025

The Beat That My Heart Skipped gets a long-overdue release on Region 1 Blu-ray.

Read My Lips

4K UHD Blu-ray Review: Jacques Audiard’s ‘Read My Lips’ on the Criterion Collection

by Ed Gonzalez Derek Smith
September 16, 2025

Audiard’s early-aughts breakthrough film still pulsates with passion and urgency.

Dreams

‘Dreams’ Review: An Immaculately Controlled Portrait of a Romantic Awakening

by Derek Smith
September 5, 2025

The film gracefully envelops us in the joys and confusion of feverish passion with no outlet.

Saving Face

Blu-ray Review: Alice Wu’s ‘Saving Face’ on the Criterion Collection

by Derek Smith
September 1, 2025

Saving Face is a coming-out story that elicits plenty of universal truths.

Preparation for the Next Life

‘Preparation for the Next Life’ Review: Bing Liu’s Clear-Eyed Portrait of Love on the Fringes

by Derek Smith
August 28, 2025

One small, shrewd decision after another allows the film to sustain its naturalism to the end.

Cairo Station

Review: Youssef Chahine’s ‘Cairo Station’ on Criterion Collection Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
August 20, 2025

A classic of Egyptian cinema gets a sparkling new transfer and a solid slate of extras.

Route One/USA

Review: Robert Kramer’s Docufiction Epic ‘Route One/USA’ on Icarus Films Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
August 18, 2025

Route One/USA unfurls as an extended series of snapshots of America.

Nobody 2

‘Nobody 2’ Review: Bob Odenkirk’s Assassin Will Satisfy Lovers of Dad Jokes

by Derek Smith
August 13, 2025

Behind the violence and gore, Nobody 2 only offers the skeleton of a narrative.

The Home

‘The Home’ Review: Pete Davidson Deadpans His Way Through a Cynical Horror Freak-Out

by Derek Smith
July 24, 2025

This is a hodgepodge of jump scares and disturbing imagery in search of a cohesive story.

Carnal Knowledge

4K UHD Blu-ray Review: Mike Nichols’s ‘Carnal Knowledge’ on the Criterion Collection

by Derek Smith
July 21, 2025

Nichols’s divisive fourth feature is a fascinating cultural artifact.

You Can Count on Me

Review: Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘You Can Count on Me’ on Criterion 4K UHD Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
July 19, 2025

Age hasn’t dulled the heartache of Lonergan’s finely tuned portrayal of grief.

Rosa la Rose: Fille Publique

Review: Paul Vecchiali’s ‘Rosa la Rose: Fille Publique’ on Radiance Films Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
July 14, 2025

The film is a highly stylized, compassionate, and unflinching examination of sex work.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Review: A New Chapter, Yes, but a Franchise Still Past Its Sell-By Date

by Derek Smith
June 30, 2025

This nostalgia-fueled adventure story is rendered soulless by the blatant product placement.

Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould

Review: François Girard’s ‘Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould’ on Criterion 4K UHD Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
June 26, 2025

The film proves that biopics needn’t color within the lines to effectively portray their subjects.

Midnight

Blu-ray Review: Mitchell Leisen’s Screwball Comedy ‘Midnight’ on the Criterion Collection

by Derek Smith
June 16, 2025

Midnight is tautly scripted, brilliantly structured, and exquisitely acted.

Bottoms

Review: Emma Seligman’s Go-for-Broke Comedy ‘Bottoms’ on Kino Lorber Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
June 13, 2025

The film gets a generous helping of supplements, including two compelling commentary tracks.

The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost

Review: Katô Tai’s ‘The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost’ on Radiance Films Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
June 11, 2025

This take on the famous ghost story homes in on the emotional undercurrents of the tale.

Materialists

‘Materialists’ Review: Celine Song’s Rom-Com Is Self-Aware, but Don’t Call It a Reinvention

by Derek Smith
June 9, 2025

Throughout, the film is consistently in conversation with the rom-com genre as a whole.

Fear Street: Prom Queen

‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ Review: A Rote Standalone Slasher in the ‘Fear Street’ Series

by Derek Smith
May 23, 2025

Like its predecessors, the film is an often awkward mix of YA drama and R-rated gore.

The Rapacious Jailbreaker

Review: Nakajima Sadao’s ‘The Rapacious Jailbreaker’ on Radiance Films’ Blu-ray

by Derek Smith
May 11, 2025

The Rapacious Jailbreaker is shot through with an undercurrent of absurdist humor.

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