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. 92: Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Original List Ranking : 59 Starring : James Dean and Natalie Wood Director : Nicholas Ray About : James Dean had an incredible appeal. His short life and career seems to have only grown that appeal for generations of film fans. Rebel Without A Cause might not be the best of his films, but it's certainly iconic. For that reason, it's not a surprise that it ended up on the original AFI List. Like so many early entries in my personal rankings, it didn't make the list 10 years later. There's a variety of reasons that could have happened, but I think it comes down to the fact this film has some iconic moments and wi...

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. 93: Fantasia (1940) Original List Ranking : 58 Starring : Walt Disney Director : Various About : This is another entry on the original list that didn't carry forward to 2007. It's not the highest ranked film to miss the subsequent list, but it's understandable that it was a selection on the original list. It is a classic piece of entertainment, and a unique offering. It is a fusion of animation and classical music played as a soundtrack. It's not a linear film or a linear story, but an anthology set to music. The most famous of which features Mickey Mouse and an iconic piece of music. It's a work that I enjoy and appreciate. It's daring...

We’ve reached the big game. This is the final game of the season and a championship tilt between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. It wasn’t the expected matchup in September, but here we are. So, who is going to get the victory? Let’s dive in. Seattle Seahawks (14-3) at New England Patriots (14-3) About : The Seahawks had a magical season. Sam Darnold, cast aside by the Vikings after a 14-win season, pulled off the feat again in Seattle. Riding a strong defense, the Offensive Player of the Year in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and a solid running game, they’ve met every challenge. The bested the Rams and 49ers to earn the No. 1 seed then did it again in the playoffs. And Darnold, who led the league in interceptions despite a strong season, saved his best for last. He went for 346 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover in beating the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. They are the favorites, and deservedly so. The Patriots, meanwhile, turned things around in a big way. Th...

We’ve reached the end of January, and it brought a group of interesting new releases. Below are my thoughts on the movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Arco (Theaters) Starring : Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, and America Ferrera Synopsis: We get plenty of animated films that look at brightly colored worlds and fascinating timelines. In the world of animation, you can go anywhere and do anything. That’s part of the fun of these worlds that are bound only by the lengths of imagination. The film Arco, which gets a wide release this Friday, is a brightly colored glimpse of the future. It got a limited release in 2025, earning an Academy Award nomination as Best Animated Feature. And it’s likely this bright, colorful world will appeal to viewers of all ages. It’s another animated feature told in an anime style. But unlike All You Need is Kill, released earlier this month, this one has a more family-friendly fee...

As we reached the end of January, we hit a lull in the tide of new programming. With the Super Bowl and the Olympics on deck, some of the flood is waiting for the end of February and into March. But, still, we’re getting new series. So, which of these new series is 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. Wednesdays: Riot Women, Wednesdays on BritBox (Premiered January 14) About : A little late to the party here, as this series has been on a couple weeks. It follows a group of lonely, middle-aged women in England who find an outlet and a future by forming a punk band. The music isn’t bad here, and the stories, while cliché, will tug at your heartstrings. It’s not as easy to find the show, unless you subscribe to this British content streamer. But if you do, and if you’re looking for a series with a blend of drama and humor, this will hit t...

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. F1 Starring : Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and Javier Barden Director : Joseph Kosinski Total Nominations : 4 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound About : This is the first of the 10 nominees I'm looking at in part because being nominated, especially in the Best Picture field, is the win. This was a good film. It was one of my favorites from 2025, but it's not a serious contender in the Best Picture race. It got four total nominations, which is solid, but it's likely not a favorite in any category. If I had to project its best chance at a win, I think it comes in Best Sound. The sound mixing and design in the film was incredible. But I would not be shocked to see it go home empty-handed. Still, you have to appre...