Matt's Musings

It's hard to believe, but 1991 was 35 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 1991 that are turning 35 in 2026. Today, it's a classic comedy. Mitch Robbins : Value this time in your life kids, because this is the time in your life when you still have your choices, and it goes by so quickly. When you're a teenager you think you can do anything, and you do. Your twenties are a blur. Your thirties, you raise your family, you make a little money and you think to yourself, "What happened to my twenties?" Your forties, you grow a little pot belly you grow another chin. The music starts to get too loud and one of your old girlfriends from high school becomes a grandmother. Your fifties you have a minor surgery. You'll call it a procedure, but it's a surgery. Your sixties you have a major surgery, the music is still loud but it doesn't matter because you can't hear it anyway. Seventies, you and the wife r...

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. Forrest Gump : My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Forrest Gump (1994) Original List Position : 71 Starring: Tom Hanks, Sally Field, and Robin Wright Director : Robert Zemeckis About: This was a big movie for me when I was in high school. I remember seeing it on the big screen. It was a sensation. It even altered the kind of projects we did in school. It will always hold a special place for me because I remember that experience. But as an adult, I appreciate the craft and storytelling. It's epic and crowd-pleasing. It was No. 71 on the original list, slipping to No. 76 a decade later....

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. Henry Hill : [Narrating] As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster. Goodfellas (1990) Original List Position : 94 Starring : Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci Director : Martin Scorsese About : Scorsese has been a fixture on this list. We've seen him deliver masterpieces in different decades and genres. That's the case with Goodfellas, which is another of his signature films. It was No. 94 on the original list, moving to No. 92 just 10 years later. I have it significantly higher, and I have it as my highest of his films on this list. It's a very different kind of mafia movie than The Godfather , and yet it feels like the c...

 We've made it to Week 5 of the NFL Season. It was another mediocre week for me. Let's see if I can do better this week. NFL Picks, Week 5: Cowboys Over Buccaneers Jaguars Over Eagles Texans Over Titans Bengals Over Dolphins Patriots Over Raiders Vikings Over Saints Browns Over Jets Steelers Over Colts Giants Over Commanders Bears Over Packers Broncos Over Chargers Lions Over Cardinals Seahawks Over 49ers Falcons Over Ravens Rams Over Bills Last Week : 8-8 Season : 37-27 NFL Picks Spread, Week 5: Cowboys -9.5 Over Buccaneers Jaguars -6.5 Over Eagles Texans -6.5 Over Titans Bengals -6.5 Over Dolphins Raiders +3.5 Over Patriots Vikings -1.5 Over Saints Browns +2.5 Over Jets Steelers -2.5 Over Colts Giants +2.5 Over Commanders Bears -2.5 Over Packers Broncos -3.5 Over Chargers Lions -4.5 Over Cardinals Seahawks -2.5 Over 49ers Falcons +2.5 Over Ravens Rams -2.5 Over Bills Last Week : 10-6 Season : 35-29

 It’s another loaded week at the movies including two hotly anticipated releases. Below is my take on this week’s new movies. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Digger (Theaters) Starring: Tom Cruise, John Goodman, and Riz Ahmed Synopsis: There have been plenty of films where the performance of the star overshadowed the film itself. That almost seems to be the plan with Digger, which built all of its first marketing campaigns around star Cruise, and his history on the silver screen. And it turns out that is for good reason. The film comes from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who has delivered some challenging and unique films in the past. This film fits that mold well and may well be the starring vehicle needed to propel its star into the Oscar conversation. The film defies description in some ways. It focuses on Digger Rockwell (Cruise), an oil tycoon whose empire is built on mining in the far reaches of the globe. But that...

 We’re into October and the thrust of the Network Fall premiers are upon us. That combined with everything else leaves a flood of new viewing options. So, which new series are worth your time? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Mondays: Private Eyes: West Coast, Mondays at 8 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 5) About : In recent years, The CW has shifted the bulk of its original programming to international series, most often from Canada. That’s the case with this new detective series, part of a Canadian-themed Monday night. And this one is itself a spin-off. The Original series was set in Toronto and kicked off in 2016, running five seasons. Now, a few years later, the stars Jason Priestly and Cindy Sampson are back, dealing with being new parents and trying to get back in the game now on the West Coast of Canada in Vancouver. All of it is a little harmless fu...