Devs

I really like seeing movie directors get into longer-form storytelling like limited TV series (yes, I'm mostly referring to Twin Peaks: The Return). Even with the flaws in the story, Devs is a well-crafted sci-fi parable, with some of the best visuals and sound I've experienced from "TV". First off, a warning - if you don't like slow-paced stuff, this isn't for you. If you watch the pilot and thought "damn, this is slow as hell, I'll keep watching and see if it speeds up", just quit now, it never does. It's definitely unhurried in its desire to drive the story along, and I dig that. There's a stillness in many of the moments, letting you sit with the melancholy and the heartbreak, but also appreciate the beauty in small moments. Offerman is probably the best performance in this, a hollow shell of a man whose soul has been torn apart by grief, and drives many of these moments home. The other performances are a bit stilted and cold, but as the story goes on, you see that it's at least partially by design. It doesn't make for great storytelling to have people walking around like emotionless zombies, but that is kinda how the last couple episodes feel like. Some of the lofty dialogue and near-archetypal characters doesn't help with its relatability. Overall, I don't think the reveals hit perfectly right, and I don't think I'll be clamoring back to this anytime soon, but for anyone wanting modern "hard sci-fi" and are willing to stick with it, this is a fine way to spend your time. Alex Garland, hurry up and make more content! Directed by Alex Garland, Ranked!