Matt's Musings

We’re in November and that means a couple things for our game. First, we’re nearing the end of the Fall season. Second, we’re going to see a flood of new releases every single week. That begins this week as we have four new wide releases. But before we dive in, let’s look back at last week. I thought Maleficent: Mistress of Evil looked like the strongest anchor, and that bore out. Not only that, but Maleficent was the Best Value. So stringing it along the first three screens was the right play. I also bet on The Current War . That was off the mark. So, in keeping with the theme of the season, I was close, and better than the Most Popular Pick, but not quite at the top. I feel like it’s coming though. This week we have a slew of new releases, but only one that figures to compete for the top of the Box Office. But with a crowded, and divided field, it’s about hitting on the right value. As always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in

We're at the mid-point in the season and Lindsay is still in the lead, four picks up. I have to try and rally. Can I get there? Only time will tell. Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 9: 49ers Over Cardinals (49ers) Texans Over Jaguars (Jaguars) Bills Over Redskins (Bills) Eagles Over Bears (Eagles) Titans Over Panthers (Panthers) Steelers Over Colts (Colts) Vikings Over Chiefs (Vikings) Jets Over Dolphins (Dolphins) Lions Over Raiders (Raiders) Seahawks Over Buccaneers (Seahawks) Broncos Over Browns (Browns) Packers Over Chargers (Packers) Patriots Over Ravens (Patriots) Cowboys Over Giants (Cowboys) Last Week : 12–3 Lindsay : 11-4 Season: 70–51 Lindsay: 74-47 NFL Picks Spread, Week 9: 49ers -9.5 Over Cardinals Texans -2.5 Over Jaguars Bills -9.5 Over Redskins Bears +4.5 Over Eagles Titans +3.5 Over Panthers Steelers +1.5 Over Colts Vikings +2.5 Over Chiefs Dolphins +5.5 Over Jets Lions +2.5 Over Raiders Seahawks -6.5 Over Buccaneers Broncos +2.5 Ove

Here's a look at everything that's coming in November, and it's a lot. This month, for the first time, I'm going to be chronicling bit Streaming Site releases. We are seeing more and more of these, and they're even working their way into the Oscar conversation. Some those are becoming a part of the consideration for those looking at their cinematic options each month. Friday, November 1: Harriet: This biopic stars Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman. The trailer looks great, and Erivo has produced some solid performances in tough roles in the past few years. This could be an award season contender. Terminator: Dark Fate: This sequel is really meant to pick up after the events of "T2: Judgement Day," and ignore all the other sequels, even the ones with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He's in this one, as is Linda Hamilton, and it looks positively dull and unnecessary to me. Motherless Brooklyn: This drama stars Edward Norton, who also directs. People have

We've turned toward the November stretch. In the space of the first 12 days of November, two new streaming sites will emerge. And the existing streaming sites and networks aren't about to let Apple and Disney have all the glory. So there's plenty of new stuff out there for all to see. Let these weekly recaps be your guide, as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Treadstone, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on USA (Premiered October 15) About: This show is set both in the past, showing some of the tangential things that happened before Jason Bourne, and in the present, where new sleeper agents are awakening even though the Treadstone program is supposed to be kaput. This leads to a lot of hand-wringing from the CIA folks, and a lot of ponderous backstory for everything else. And all of it, while possibly appealing to the die-hards, wasn't really that compelling to me.

Week 8: Indianapolis Colts 15, Broncos 13 Season Record: 2-6 (1-3 Home) Key Play: In the fourth quarter, with time running down, Jacoby Brissett was nearly sacked by Von Miller but escaped his grasp and fired a 35-yard pass to TY Hilton for a long first down. It led to a last-minute, 51-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri to give the Colts the 15-13 lead, and the win. Recap: The Broncos seem to find new heart-breaking ways to lose. On Sunday, the team looked competitive and actually led until there was less than a minute left in the game, then the wheels came off the bus. The defense couldn't hold at the end, and Vinatieri hit another 50-plus yard field goal. He missed one field goal and an extra point, but in the clutch he nailed it. And it was the Broncos' third loss this season that happened thanks to a field goal at the last second. And after the game, Joe Flacco let the coaches have it. He hasn't played great, but it's fair to wonder if the play calling is

On Wednesday we wrap up our look at "The Stand," and our look at Stephen King with The Last Word on Heaven. Heaven is something that we yearn for and hope for, but it's also something that we get wildly divergent opinions about. That is especially true in Popular Culture. Belinda Carlisle once mused that Heaven is a place on earth. The band Creed, who were mostly Catholic, sang about Heaven in the song "Higher," talking about it as a place with Golden Streets. On NBC, the comedy "The Good Place" has given us images of Heaven and its counter-part. Most of it is used for comedic purposes. In "Field of Dreams," some wondered if Heaven was located in Iowa. In the Robin Williams film "What Dreams May Come" it was a beautiful, if surreal dreamscape. And in "The Invention of Lying," Ricky Gervais painted the hope for Heaven as something like the best place you could imagine, a paradise where you can be your best self. Ev

Rakesh: But Joy, everyone deserves a second chance. Joy: I know, and I got mine with the God Account. That's why I cannot fail at this, too. Life is about making choices, often hard choices. And some of those lead to regret. But God also gives us chances to make a difference. And for Joy (Jessica Lu) that's been making amends after giving up her daughter. That's what drew her to New York, where she began receiving the friend requests. For Miles (Brandon Michael Hall), it's been a tough time. The feeling that the God Account moved on and picked someone else was a tough pill to swallow. But Miles swallowed it, and his pride, to try and help Joy and continue helping those God put in their path. I've been teaching about "The Stand" as part of GTW the past few weeks. And one of the fascinating arcs is with Mother Abigail, who was chosen as God's representative to reach the people of a fallen world. And while she starts by following God's will

Last week there were a pair of new wide releases, but it felt like the important thing was dialing in on value. And that ended up being the case as the film atop the Box Office —  Maleficent Mistress of Evil  — wasn’t a part of the Perfect Cineplex. I thought Judy had a shot at Best Value and Joker seemed like the right choice for anchor. I was right on both accounts. Judy ended up as the Best Value, and Joker was the top anchor for the Perfect Cineplex. But while I went Joker x2 and Judy x5, the Perfect Cineplex chose Joker , Zombieland Double Tap and Judy x6. So I was close, but just a tad off the mark. This week there are seven new films entering the game, none of which figures to take one of the top four spots at the Box Office. So how do you win? It’s about finding the value. As always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App Blog league! You can join the league here . On to this week’s competition. New

Another week, and another strong performance from Lindsay, who leads me by five picks through seven weeks. Will this week be better? We'll see. As always, Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 8: Vikings Over Redskins (Vikings) Seahawks Over Falcons (Seahawks) Eagles Over Bills (Bills) Bears Over Chargers (Bears) Rams Over Bengals (Rams) Colts Over Broncos (Colts) Lions Over Giants (Lions Buccaneers Over Titans (Buccaneers) Saints Over Cardinals (Saints) Jets Over Jaguars (Jaguars) 49ers Over Panthers (49ers) Patriots Over Browns (Patriots) Texans Over Raiders (Raiders) Packers Over Chiefs (Packers) Steelers Over Dolphins (Steelers) Last Week : 8–6 Lindsay : 10-4 Season: 58–48 Lindsay: 63-43 NFL Picks Spread, Week 8: Vikings -15.5 Over Redskins Seahawks -4.5 Over Falcons Eagles +1.5 Over Bills Chargers +4.5 Over Bears Rams -12.5 Over Bengals Colts -6.5 Over Broncos Lions -6.5 Over Giants Buccaneers +2.5 Over Titans Cardinals +9.5 Over Saints Jets +5.5 Ove

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Zombieland Double Tap Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, and Rosario Dawson Synposis: It's been a decade since "Zombieland" burst onto the scene. That film gained popularity as time went on, making it a cult classic. And it was long rumored there would be a sequel, but it never happened. There was an attempt to make a TV series, but that didn't take. Now 10 years later, the sequel is finally here. And it's everything you could have hoped for if you're a fan. All four of the original stars are back, and it feels like we never left. The humor and easy rapport are still there. Added to the mix are fun additions like Dawson, Zoey Deutch, Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch. There's even a fun surprise celebrity cameo at the end. The opening also has plenty of winks and nods to the audience, and the sequel has plenty of winks and nods to the past history of this worl

We're nearly to November, and as we've seen the flood of new network shows released, we're now seeing the Streaming Sites getting into it. And with Apple+ and Disney+ set to bow in November, that flood might turn into a tidal wave heading into the last month of the year. So let these weekly posts be your guide as I wade through the waves of new content. In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Treadstone, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on USA (Premiered October 15) About: With all the movies in the Jason Bourne world, it feels like we've pretty well wrung all the drinkable water out of this plot premise, but "Treadstone" is going back to the well hoping a tangential connection to the movies will draw in viewers. If the tepid pilot is any indication, the nostalgia and name value won't last long. This is about the Treadstone project, t

We have now seen all 15 of the new Fall Shows premiering across the 15 networks. Now that they've all debuted, it seems about right to go through and rank them by what we've seen. Here they are in ascending order! 15. Carol's Second Act, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on CBS About : This one features Patricia Heaton as a woman who went back to medical school to become a doctor after a divorce and is now the "old intern." It's meant to be funny. It isn't. It was painful. 14. Nancy Drew, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW About: This is a new take on the teen detective stories (except she's a young adult now, and the world feels very much like the one crafted in "Riverdale"). I'm sure this works for someone, but I thought it was dull and uninspired. 13. Mixed-ish, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC About: This is a spin-off of "Black-ish," and the premise could be good. The cast is nice. The execution and stories were... well dull is probabl

As we continue our look at The Stand , we look at The Last Word on Politics in Revelation, too. Apocalyptic tales have been a big part of the cultural landscape for a long time. Roland Emmerich, a director who broke in by giving us Independence Day with Will Smith, has long trafficked in them. Anyone remember The Day After Tomorrow ? How about How about another gem, 2012 , which was based on the Mayan Theory that the world would end in 2012. We’ve talked about some of the Christian theories of the coming of Christ and the end of the world, but this is another group that had its own prophecy which, likewise, didn’t seem to come to fruition. But if natural disasters aren’t your thing, how about human-made ones? Movies like Terminator are about our technological hubris eventually plunging us into a dystopia that leads to our extinction. Or, really, that’s the underlying message that serves as a vehicle for the delivery of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s witty repartee. Or how about The Bo

Week 7 : Kansas City Chiefs 30, Broncos 6 Season Record : 2-5 (1-3 Home) Key Play : In the third quarter, leading 20-6, Matt Moore connected with Tyreek Hill on a 57-yard TD pass to make it 27-6, salting away any hope of a Broncos comeback. Recap: The Broncos came in having won two straight while the Chiefs came in having lost two straight, with Patrick Mahomes injured. The Broncos opened with a TD on the opening drive, and Mahomes was lost for the game in the first quarter. And yet, the Chiefs put up a 20-0 stretch after Mahomes left the game. The Broncos looked flat in all three phases of the game, especially on offense as the Chiefs bottled everything up, sacked Flacco at will and forced one of the worst performances I've seen. The Broncos' season shifts from this point. It's no longer about the playoffs, it's about figuring out what and who is good enough to be part of the 2020 attack. Sooner or later that will mean activating Drew Lock from IR and throwing hi

Last week Lindsay gained another pick on me to expand her lead to three, and with last night's pick of The Chiefs, she's up to a four-pick lead. Can I come back? Even I'm starting to doubt at this point. As always, Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 7: Broncos Over Chiefs (Chiefs) Rams Over Falcons (Rams) Bills Over Dolphins (Bills) Jaguars Over Bengals (Jaguars) Lions Over Vikings (Vikings) Packers Over Raiders (Packers) Texans Over Colts (Texans) Giants Over Cardinals (Giants) 49ers Over Redskins (49ers) Chargers Over Titans (Chargers) Saints Over Bears (Saints) Seahawks Over Ravens (Seahawks) Cowboys Over Eagles (Cowboys) Patriots Over Jets (Patriots) Last Week : 8–6 Lindsay: 9-5 Season : 50–42 Lindsay : 53-39 NFL Picks Spread, Week 7: Broncos +3.5 Over Chiefs Rams -3.5 Over Falcons Dolphins +16.5 Over Bills Jaguars -3.5 Over Bengals Lions -1.5 Over Vikings Packers -6.5 Over Raiders Texans +1.5 Over Colts Giants -2.5 Over Cardinals 49ers -9.5

Last week Joker continued to hold the top spot at the Box Office, but I suspected The Addams Family might be the better option at anchor. That proved true. But where I was off was on what lower-end films would return value.  I went for Hustlers , liking its chances. And it was the fourth best performer. But the Best Performer was The Lion King , and so the Perfect Cineplex loaded up on The Addams Family and The Lion King , making headway with the younger crowd. Again, I had solid instincts but didn’t quite maximize my value. But it’s a long season, and I still have time to get there. This week a pair of new wide releases will be vying for audiences, with Angelina Jolie’s ruthless queen likely to get the top spot. But will Maleficent be the Best Value? Let’s weigh the evidence. As always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App Blog league! You can join the league here . On to this week’s competition. New at the Bo

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week. Jexi Starring: Adam Devine, Rose Byrne, and Alexandra Shipp Synopsis: We live in a technological age. Siri and Alexa can help accomplish functions to make things in our lives easier, and we take them for granted. But you can't help but wonder if that's the path toward "Judgement Day," though that's a different kind of movie. "Jexi," which comes from Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, isn't looking to make a deep statement about technology, but rather seeking to find the fun and humor in the possibilities of this topic. In it as young guy (Devine) who is locked in on and devoted to his phone gets a new one with a brand new operating system, Jexi (Byrne), who throws his life into turmoil. She has strong opinions, and isn't afraid to share. She pushes him out of his comfort zone and, at one point, gets a little too attached. Devine is pretty hilarious, and Shipp does a nice job as his romantic foil.

We're coasting through October, and all the new network shows have now debuted. But we're starting to get a rise in new cable and streaming options, so the flow hasn't yet begun to dry up. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesday Nights: Almost Family, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered October 2) About: This latest drama is one that, as I mentioned when reviewing the pilot last week, is more than a little cringe-worthy. Timothy Hutton plays a renowned fertility doctor who is caught in the pilot having used his own "material" to help women conceive. It causes a scandal and leads to charges. His daughter (Brittany Snow) struggles with the realization, and soon finds she has new sisters (Megalyn Echikunwoke, Emily Osment) as a result of her dad's actions. I thought the pilot was rough and, at times, quite gross. There is even an

Week 6 : Broncos 16, Tennessee Titans 0 Season Record: 2-4 (1-2 Home) Key Play: Trailing 13-0 and facing a fourth and four from the Broncos' 13-yard line, quarterback Ryan Tannehill rolled out and was sacked by DeMarcus Walker, turning the ball over on downs and ending the Titans' hopes for a comeback. Recap: Two weeks ago, the Broncos' season looked blank. And now, there is hope again. But as Red has said time and again, "hope can be a dangerous thing." Let's hope that isn't the case for Broncos fans like myself, who think we might be able to beat the Chiefs on Thursday night and get to 3-4, moving closer to the playoff race. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First let's take a moment to appreciate Sunday. I said last week a concern was the Broncos hadn't played four good quarters. I think we saw that yesterday, at least on defense. The Titans are no slouches on defense themselves, so that might excuse some of the lack of omph we sa

For our second week of The Stand, we're looking at The Last Word on Evil. And when you're looking at evil in The Stand, that naturally means looking at Randall Flagg. Last week we focused more on Mother Abigail, and her role in the dreams. This week, we'll look at her opposite number, and how it meshes with what we see in Revelation 6-7. But it's also a time to consider the novel upon which this story is based. Stephen King originally published The Stand in 1978. In that original version, all the action took place during the summer of 1980. So it was a bit of a future looking piece. It expands upon the scenario of his earlier short story Night Surf, and presents a detailed vision of the total breakdown of society after the accidental release of a strain of influenza that had been modified for biological warfare causes an apocalyptic pandemic, killing off over 99% of the world's population. Published in 1978, The Stand is the fourth and longest novel King publ

"I've been keeping my cool my whole life, I've always been the nice guy. The good samaritan, but the thing is, Eric is dead, Jesus is dead, and I'm god damn sick of being nice." — Aaron, "The Walking Dead" "The Walking Dead" returned for its 10th season on Sunday, October 6. Each week of its season I'll be looking at the show and its themes. "The Walking Dead" is back for its 10th season, and it comes with a lot of questions. Last year we lost some core characters, and with Michonne (Danai Gurira) leaving this season, there are more changes coming. And likely that will have to do some with the fight against the Whisperers, which is ongoing. The end of last season was a bit of mis-direct in the final episode, where the confrontation we expected didn't take place. And in this premier, there were yet more questions. Though we do end up seeing the return of the Whisperers before the end of the episode. What's of more

We've hit Week 6 of the NFL Season, and after a big Week 5, Lindsay has taken the lead. She nailed 11 picks in Week 5 to go from two behind to two ahead. Let's see if I can catch up. As always, Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 6: Patriots Over Giants (Patriots) Buccaneers Over Panthers (Panthers) Ravens Over Bengals (Ravens) Seahawks Over Browns (Seahawks) Texans Over Chiefs (Chiefs) Redskins Over Dolphins (Dolphins) Eagles Over Vikings (Eagles) Saints Over Jaguars (Saints) Falcons Over Cardinals (Cardinals) Rams Over 49ers (49ers) Cowboys Over Jets (Cowboys) Broncos Over Titans (Broncos) Chargers Over Steelers (Chargers) Packers Over Lions (Packers) Last Week : 7–8 Lindsay : 11-4 Season: 42–36 Lindsay: 44-34 NFL Picks Spread, Week 6: Patriots -16.5 Over Giants Buccaneers +1.5 Over Panthers Bengals +11.5 Over Ravens Seahawks -1.5 Over Browns Texans +5.5 Over Chiefs Redskins -3.5 Over Dolphins Eagles +2.5 Over Vikings Saints +1.5 Over Jaguars Fal

After a couple slow weekends at the Box Office, we have four new entries this week including three new wide releases. Those are likely to split the Box Office pool. And in addition, Joker is still going strong and is likely to be the Top Spot at the Box Office yet again. But, the good news, is there is no more daily scoring. Last week Joker dominated the thinking and was split in daily scoring. As a result, you had to look for the value. I bet on Sunday, placing it on the max of three screens. For most of the weekend I was sweating it out after Joker had a huge opening Friday. But in the end, Sunday out-performed projections and became the Best Value, which worked well for me. But I missed on the complimentary screens and fell just shy of the Perfect Cineplex. Close but no cigar seems to be my lot so far this Fall. Hopefully I can do better moving forward. This week there are four new movies, and it’s all about the right combination to produce value. Is it Joker ? Perhaps