derschwart Reviews

The Righteous Gemstones: Wonders That Cannot Be Fathomed, Miracles That Cannot Be Counted (2023) Season 3, Episode 9

Goosebumps

[10/10 · 31 July 2023]

This show never ceases to amazes me. You find yourself feeling many emotions when watching any given Gemstone episode... obviously you'll laugh at several moments of humor, but I often catch myself grinning when the characters are earning their wins, which happened quite a bit during this season finale. You feel nervous during moments of suspense (massively assisted by the score of Joseph Stephens)... and you feel sad when the characters lose and feel that burn with them. I've always described The Righteous Gemstones to be as compelling as it is hilarious.

I'm not currently practicing any religion at the moment, but I was born and raised catholic... and I don't doubt for a single second that these characters don't believe in God... you can tell they really do... they're just hypocrites who don't practice what they preach... but make no mistake, the Gemstones are God fearing people. They just lost their heart and soul, Aimee Leigh, shortly before the first season starts. She's the real deal. I think anyone who has been raised with religion will feel right at home watching this show.

And also, should the writers ever see this - beautiful ending. I had goosebumps all over my body as we ended this season with the spirit of Aimee Leigh Gemstone, watching over her happy family as they enjoy some rest & relaxation by destroying things with the family monster truck, The Redeemer. Brought a few tears to my tired eyes.

Cannot wait for the fourth season. The Gemstones are welcome in my home anytime.

The Idol (2023)

above average filmmaking, bad storytelling

[6/10 · 7 July 2023]

This review is basically a the review I gave the last episode, which is a 4 out of 10. The average of all my scores combined makes a 6. I think this review explains why pretty well. I was enjoying the show and felt it was going somewhere during episode 3, but the episodes that followed fell flat and failed to develop the characters in the almost 5 and a half hours of tv time they were given.

At the end of the day I'm glad I watched this series because it is incredibly different and also very very well filmed. What left a lot to be desired was the pacing of the story, and now that the series is complete it is safe to say The Weekend's debut acting performance was just plain old bad, but I do think if he keeps at it a unique thespian will eventually emerge.

I liked the handler characters much more than I liked the main characters. Lily Rose, Hank Azaria, Eli Roth, Rachel Sennott, Troy Sivan, Da'Vine Joy Randolph - in my view - all turned in great performances and I hope to see some of the fresher faces among the names in future films or tv shows, particularly Rachel Sennott, Troy Sivan, and Da'Vine.

The way the story captured on film is better than the story itself. Truly nothing got better than the very first shot of the series' first episode.

Couldnt stick the landing, but I still find it to be an interesting creative endeavor, and I hope should the creative side involved in this attack another project, they consider crucial elements of storytelling and character development.

The Idol: Daybreak (2023) Season 1, Episode 3

The Bigger Picture getting a little clearer

[8/10 · 19 June 2023]

I don't fault anyone for not liking this. It's okay to not like things, but to say this show is definitively bad at this point isn't right either. It isn't. What became clear to me in this episode is that Jos' handlers simple want to make a product out of her. Something that sells, something that's new... that "bad girl pop" icon.... And Tedros just wants to turn her into whatever he wants her to be, catapulting himself into the music industry and positioning himself at the tip-top of Jos' future success... even after his meeting with the handlers, who just want to make her a product, they were completely content with leaving her in his care, cuz it seems like they're gonna make something that'll push them in the direction they've been pining for... but at what cost? Tedros is clearly an abusive cult of personality with loyalists to boot.

This is a good show. It's an interesting piece of art that has been unraveling more and more with each episode.

The Idol: Double Fantasy (2023) Season 1, Episode 2

Again, not as bad as people are saying

[7/10 · 12 June 2023]

If you're finding yourself liking this show, you aren't alone. It has imperfections but what doesn't? It's an over the top art house take on a celebrity queen and all her handlers. There's really interesting stuff at play. The music video shoot, which makes up the bulk of the episode was really interesting and moments like this, as well as the photoshoot and video shoot at Jos' house in the first episode, is where the show is very strong and well made. It may be a little hedonistic for some, but I feel like it's all gonna come at a cost.

I also want to say again that I don't think The Weekend is doing "bad" I think for now the character is sort of 1 dimensional, and it's totally possible that may change by the time the story ends: that'll be the more interesting end of his performance, he's Cleary gonna have a downfall. It's the rat tail man.

The Idol: Pop Tarts & Rat Tales (2023) Season 1, Episode 1

Not as bad as everyone says

[6/10 · 12 June 2023]

Unsure why this series is being review bombed. I feel maybe it's the type of show/film that isn't everyone's cup of tea, which is fine... except they marketed it to everyone. And it just... isn't. It reminds me of French cinema in that it's told somewhat like a docudrama.

While I think the first episode had "issues" there's lots of interesting things at play. I think the filmmaking is very well done - particularly the opening shot of the first episode. And also watching the stars team scramble when someone posts some unsavory content about the Depp's character on Twitter, ruining her plan to make a comeback.

Everyone is also saying The Weeknd can't act, should stick to music. I don't think that's necessarily fair - his character, so far - is poorly written. Can't imagine what another actor could bring to it.

I'm probably gonna watch all of it because I love Hank Azaria and he's really funny in his role here.

Not for everyone - not necessarily good - but interesting - something to keep an eye on, if you think you can.

Clerks III (2022)

Understand where the material came from, but still...

[4/10 · 12 April 2023]

I was shocked that I didn't like this movie. I love Kevin Smith flicks, almost every single one. This is my least favorite Smith flick. The movie is just wall to wall morbid. Which I understand death's presence in the first act, it just overplays its hand. The fact that Rosario Dawson reprises her role is in this movie as a ghost is ridiculous, her character would've served the plot much more if she was alive. And of course, it jumps the morbid shark by killing the main character of the trilogy by - you guessed it - a heart attack. Just a buzzkill ending to a story decades in the making.

I do understand this comes from Smith's own heart attack, but he lived, and he's gonna keep making movies. I wish he would've had similar insight for his most precious original characters. Looking forward to his next film "The Death(s) of Jay & Silent Bob"

Yellowstone: Cigarettes, Whiskey, a Meadow and You (2022) Season 5, Episode 6

"No such thing as dying of old age"

[8/10 · 16 December 2022]

In season 2 episode 6 "blood the boy". John Sutton tells Tate after killing a deer that there's no such thing as dying of old age, that something comes to kill us all. Well here we are in season 5 with Dutton sleeping next to an old man on the trail that would die the fabled cowboys death... head in his saddle, gazing at the stars. For me that's what made this episode very memorable and interesting to watch. I know season 5 has been a little slow but somehow I think that the peaceful death porrrayed in this episode is one of the last ones we'll see for quite a while. Certainly won't be how John goes... old timer going means it passes John right by.

All My Friends Hate Me (2021)

Not traditional horror, but you're telling me this isn't stuff of nightmares?!?!?

[8/10 · 2 August 2022]

I see many reviews dismissing the horror status of the film and I just disagree. There are thousands of movies where it's not all in the characters head, somethings genuinely off and things spiral from there. This movie is genuinely horror due to being told from Pete's perspective, a dude with horrible anxiety going through a rough mental weekend, nervous about proposing perhaps? That's what makes this a horror. As a person with social and general anxiety, you can really see that this person is truly living out a nightmare scenario on his birthday weekend. To me that made this film unique. And the actors playing the friends are hilarious, they're the comedic backbone of the film. The horror is just Pete's point of view. Unfortunately he just imagined himself in the wrong kinda movie. His friends are having a blast!

Men (2022)

Not for the faint of heart, doesn't mean you should hate it either

[10/10 · 26 May 2022]

A horror movie that holds symbolism dear. It's amazing. I refuse to let this review spoil a single thing. But I will say there's graphic violence as well as "graphic" nudity... it's all smart... it's all part of the deal. All three acts are told as if they belong in a genre of their own... and it truly leads up to the most grotesque thing I've ever seen in a movie theater. And I loved it. The low reviews here are simply the faint of heart letting you know this movie got em'. I implore you to find out what has them so flustered.