Matt's Musings

Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. La La Land (2016) Starring : Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling Director: Damien Chazelle About: I remember the Oscars this year. For a moment, they called La La Land and I thought my favorite film of the year had won Best Picture. That's a rarity for me. Alas, it was not to be. Some people love and revere Moonlight . I think it's a fine film with a great performance, but this is the film that really spoke to me. The beautiful production, the sweeping musical numbers, and a story that cuts straight to the heart. It features two iconic performances and some really beautiful and timeless moments. This is Chazelle's masterpiece and another under-rated film.

Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. Up in the Air (2009) Starring : George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick Director: Jason Reitman About: Reitman's first three films were all bangers. The first two have been on this list, but this was his third and I think his best. It's adapted from a novel by Walter Kirn, but if you've read the book you know how much Reitman breathed into this story. It perfectly captures a difficult moment in the U.S. economy with real life interviews, but at the heart it's about a man with a very specific view of the world. We see how that view is challenged and changed, and how he comes back around to a sad, solitary point-of-view. I love Kendrick and F...

 Week 14 wasn't my best week. Let's get back on track in Week 15. NFL Picks, Week 15 : Buccaneers Over Falcons Bears Over Browns Bengals Over Ravens Chiefs Over Chargers Bills Over Patriots Giants Over Commanders Eagles Over Raiders Jaguars Over Jets Texans Over Cardinals Broncos Over Packers Rams Over Lions Panthers Over Saints 49ers Over Titans Seahawks Over Colts Cowboys Over Vikings Steelers Over Dolphins Last Week : 6-8 Season : 134-73 NFL Picks Spread, Week 15 : Buccaneers -4.5 Over Falcons Browns +6.5 Over Bears Bengals +1.5 Over Ravens Chargers +5.5 Over Chiefs Bills -1.5 Over Patriots Giants -1.5 Over Commanders Raiders +13.5 Over Eagles Jets +12.5 Over Jaguars Texans -7.5 Over Cardinals Broncos +1.5 Over Packers Rams -4.5 Over Lions Panthers -2.5 Over Saints 49ers -13.5 Over Titans Colts +10.5 Over Seahawks Cowboys -6.5 Over Vikings Dolphins +3.5 Over Steelers Last Week : 6-8 Season : 97-111

It was a solid week for new films, with some interesting offerings making their way to theaters and streaming. Below is my take on the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. 100 Nights of Hero (Theaters) Starring : Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, and Nicholas Galitzine Synopsis : This is the time of year where we get all kinds of stories offered in theaters. Among them are creative and daring pieces with strong casts. But not all of them find their way within the big swings they take. Such is the case with 100 Nights of Hero, a new IFC film that gets a limited release this Friday. It’s got a great cast and a unique hook. It has a quality look of a fairy tale brought to life. But, in the end, it doesn’t deliver on its premise. We’re whisked to an alternate world where women’s only role is to marry and produce heirs to please the local leaders. Into this was thrust Cherry (Monroe), a beautiful young woman who has...

We’re into December now, and that means that the flow of new shows for 2025 is coming to an end. But there are still some new shows out there that you might be curious about. Which of them are worth your time? That’s where this weekly post comes in. I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Fridays: Spartacus: House of Ashur, Fridays on Starz (Premiered December 5) About : Once upon a time, Starz had a popular series Spartacus. One of the characters on that series, Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay), who died a gruesome death. But, through the magic of TV and story, his character is back to head this new spin-off series. That return is explained though an early sequence in the pilot. And then, we’re dumped back into the gladiatorial arena with plenty of action. There’s plenty of violence, plenty of sex, and plenty of nudity. It’s definitely an over-the-top exploration of the world, but if you were a fan of the original ...

Week 14 : Denver Broncos 24, Las Vegas Raiders 17 Season Record : 11-2 (6-0 Home) Key Play : In the Fourth Quarter, with the Broncos leading 21-7, the Raiders had a chance to score before turning it over on downs. The Broncos added a field goal to take the 17-point lead on the following possession. Recap : This was a better game to watch and a better offensive showing than the first matchup, a 10-7 slog on a Thursday night. I enjoyed watching the Broncos' offense move the ball better. The defense was solid and the game was further apart than it appeared. The Broncos are back in the No. 1 position in the AFC and hold the tie-breaker. The team just needs a solid final four games to go into the playoffs on a high note! Game Balls: * R.J. Harvey . The rookie continues to lead the way on offense, providing 75 rush yards, 25 pass yards, and a touchdown. * Marvin Mims . The receiver did it in the Special Teams game, scoring a kick return touchdown to help fuel the win. * Nik Bonitto . Ano...