Matt's Musings

Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films. No. 90: An American in Paris (1951) Original List Ranking : No. 68 Starring : Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, and Oscar Levant Director : Vincente Minnelli About : Gene Kelly had a certain set of skills that made him an iconic performer. He thrived during an era when the song and dance man held incredible sway. An American in Paris is one of those films. It's set in Paris in the aftermath of World War II, with Kelly playing a struggling artist. It is directed by Minnelli, who put together a solid body of work. The story is somewhat standard for this genre, featuring a love triangle and more. There aren't the number of iconic songs and pieces in this film that th...

Back in 1998, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest films as voted on by members of the cinematic community. The year, I'm looking at the films on that list, re-ranked according to my preference. Check back Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year as we walk through this list of classic films. No. 91: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937) Original List Ranking : 49 Starring : Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, and Roy Atwell Director : William Cottrell, David Hand, and Wilfred Jackson About : This is a classic of Disney animation. It's also the rare entry on the list so far where it actually moved up on the revised list. It moved all the way to No. 34. It's an enduring piece of the legacy of Walt Disney animation. It's one of the earliest entries, and one of the most enduring. It's the story, the music, and the way it's all put together that stands out. I enjoy this film and I think it's a timeless classic. It's a great s...

The Academy Awards are coming on March 15. We got the final list of nominees on January 22, and between now and the awards I'll be looking at the 10 Best Picture nominees and their chances of winning an award. The Secret Agent Starring : Wagner Moura and Tania Maria Director : Kleber Mendonça Filho Total Nominations : 4 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Actor (Moura), Best Casting, and Best International Feature About : This is another strong contender that got four nominations, including one in the new category of casting. It's one of two International Features that made the Best Picture field, too. I don't see this winning Best Picture, but it should be a strong contender in at least one race. Moura gives a great performance, but he's likely in third or fourth place in a competitive category. It's hard to know how Casting plays out, as it's a new award. But with some bigger Best Picture contenders in that field, I don't think The Secret Agent wins there....

The first weekend in February brought some viewing options, but not all of them were winners. 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. Dracula (Theaters) Starring : Caleb Landry Jones and Christoph Waltz Synopsis : Since Bram Stoker’s novel was released in 1897, people have been fascinated by the story of Dracula. And we’ve seen that story told countless times on the big screen since the 1920s. Some of those versions have been transcendent, while others have been regrettable. We got the former in 2024 with Robert Eggers dark vision in Nosferatu. Now, we’re getting the latter version with the latest film from Luc Besson. It’s Dracula and subtitled A Love Story. That title proves more ironic the longer you watch the film, but that’s only the beginning of my issues with the film. We begin in 1480 in Eastern Europe. We’re introduced to Vlad (Jones) and his bride, Elisabeta (Zoe Bleu). The...

We’re into February, and the Winter Olympics has begun. That will grind the tide of new series the next two weeks to a near halt. But you might have some time to check out new shows and have questions about which options are for you. Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Winter. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Thursdays: Field Generals: History of the Black Quarterback, Streaming Thursdays on Peacock (Premiered February 5) About : February is Black History Month, and it’s also the Super Bowl. It makes sense that Peacock, which is broadcasting the Super Bowl this year, would launch a docuseries aimed at sports fans that honors Black History Month. This series looks at the history of Black quarterbacks in the NFL. It’s a weekly series, running Thursdays on the streamer. The pilot aired Thursday, with more to follow weekly. The pilot was around an hour and was a great deep dive into the history of the game o...

The Academy Awards are coming on March 15. We got the final list of nominees on January 22, and between now and the awards I'll be looking at the 10 Best Picture nominees and their chances of winning an award. Train Dreams Starring : Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, and Kerry Condon Director : Clint Bentley Total Nominations : 4 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, and Best Cinematography About : This past year was a great one for Netflix. They had a number of high-profile films drop throughout the fall and into December. They were rewarded with a pair of Best Picture nominations, including Train Dreams. While this might have been a minor surprise for some, I loved this beautiful little film based on the short story from Dennis Johnson. It's beautifully shot and pensive. It has a deeply emotional story and ended as one of my favorites of last year. That being said, I think it's a long-shot for Best Picture. But can the film win somewhere?...