Matt's Musings

The first weekend in March brought us a few big, new releases. But what of them were worth checking out? Below is my thoughts on the new films I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. The Bride! (Theaters) Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Annette Bening, and Peter Sarsgaard Synopsis: Since Mary Shelley released Frankenstein in 1818, the story has continued to fascinate audiences. We’ve seen it adapted time and again, in many interesting ways. That included the 1935 sequel that put the focus on Frankenstein’s bride. But was that sequel told the way Shelley would have wanted? That’s a central question at the heart of this new take on the story of The Bride, crafted by writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal. It supposes that Shelley had more to say about her creation, the world, and the role of women. The film picks up in the 1930s in Chicago. Frankenstein (Bale) has adopted the name of his long-dead creator. He’s b...

We’re into March, with the Olympics behind us, and seeing the wave of new shows explode. But what of these new shows are worth your time to check out? 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. Tuesdays: RJ Decker, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC (Premiered March 3) About : This new series is based on the book from Carl Hiaasen. At the outset, we meet RJ Decker (Scott Speedman), a news photographer accused of assault. He’s quickly framed and convicted. Flash-forward 18 months, and Decker is now divorced and starting over as a Private Investigator. But he’s still laser focused on an old case from his news days. Now he’s trying to get his life together and do a little good. The premise here is simple and the opening was wild. I enjoyed Speedman in the lead role and the rest of the cast. The pilot moved at a decent pace, and I thought the story and tone were fun. This slots in n...

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. One Battle After Another Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Teyana Taylor Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Total Nominations : 13 Nominated For : Best Pictures, Best Director (Anderson), Best Actor (DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Penn), Best Supporting Actor (del Toro), Best Supporting Actress (Taylor), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Sound About : Now, we're on to the front-runners. One Battle After Another is a terrific film that will win Academy Awards. But the question is how many awards it will win. I think Production Design and Sound are long-shots. Casting feels like it leans Sinners , especially after it won the Actor Award...

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. Hamnet Starring : Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal Director: Chloe Zhao Total Nominations : 8 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Director (Zhao), Best Actress (Buckley), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Score About : This is the final countdown for Best Picture nominees. Hamnet is a wonderful film and a strong contender. Will it win Best Picture? Probably not. Will it win an Oscar, I think it will. It is likely the second or third option in most categories. The craft here is strong, but it is perhaps not as strong as some other contenders. As noted, I think Frankenstein is a more likely option in some craft areas. In Casting, I'd wager Hamnet is behind Sinners . In Picture, Screenplay, and Director, I'd wage...

It's hard to believe, but 2011 was 15 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2011 that are turning 15 in 2026. Today, it's a tale from the diamond. Billy Beane : Let them make the mistakes. When your enemy's making mistakes, don't interrupt them. They're giving you an out. Just giving it to you. Take it. Say "thank you." Moneyball Starring : Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman Director : Bennett Miller About: It's hard to take a non-fiction book about the business of baseball, and how to manipulate it with statistics and no money, and make it a compelling film. I'm sure there aren't many that read Moneyball and immediately saw it as an enduring film. And yet, that's what it's become. Even 15 years later it's a classic. I also didn't know I needed a buddy comedy starring Pitt and Hill, but we get that with Moneyball , and it's top shelf. The di...

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. Byam : Captain Bligh, you've told your story of mutiny on the Bounty, how men plotted against you, seized your ship, cast you adrift in an open boat, a great venture in science brought to nothing, two British ships lost. But there's another story, Captain Bligh, of ten cocoanuts and two cheeses. A story of a man who robbed his seamen, cursed them, flogged them, not to punish but to break their spirit. A story of greed and tyranny, and of anger against it, of what it cost. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) Original List Ranking : 86 Starring : Charles Laughton and Clark Gable Director : Frank Lloyd About : The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It was t...