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. Antonio Salieri: [reflecting upon a Mozart score] On the page it looked nothing. The beginning simple, almost comic. Just a pulse. Bassoons and basset horns, like a rusty squeezebox. And then suddenly, high above it, an oboe. A single note, hanging there, unwavering. Until a clarinet took over and sweetened it into a phrase of such delight! This was no composition by a performing monkey! This was a music I'd never heard. Filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing, it had me trembling. It seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God. Amadeus (1984) Original List Ranking: 53 Starring: Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham Director : Milos Foreman Abou...

 We’re into the new league year and have seen major movement among veterans. We’re still a bit away from the draft, where rookies will start to shake up the standings. But this is start up season. So, if you’re looking to jump into dynasty, it’s time to take stock of the players available. Below is my Top 50 Dynasty RBs, divided into seven tiers. Tier 1: No. 1: Bijan Robinson No. 2: Jahmyr Gibbs About: The top tier, for me, is these two, who both went in the same draft. Both have dominated in the past few years despite having backfield competition. Both saw their primary backfield mate leave this off-season, meaning it could lead to an even bigger role as a runner and receiver. Isiah Pacheco and Brian Robinson, Jr., feel like handcuffs. Bijan and Gibbs are the top two guys in a tier of their own. Tier 2: No. 3: James Cook No. 4: De’Von Achane No. 5: Jonathan Taylor No. 6: Ashton Jeanty No. 7: Breece Hall No. 8: Ken Walker III No. 9: Bucky Irving No. 10: Quinshon Judkins About: As ...

 The final week of March ended with a few interesting wide and limited releases. Below is my take on the new movies I saw this week. Keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Fantasy Life (Limited) Starring: Matthew Shear, Amanda Peet, and Alessandro Nivola Synopsis: This new comedy comes from Shear, who serves as the writer, director, and the star. In it, he plays Sam, a man going through a crisis. That crisis led him to drop out of law school, and while he’s with his therapist (Judd Hirsch), he finds a new job opportunity—watching the children of his therapist’s son (Nivola), whose marriage to an actress (Peet) is on the rocks. Can Sam get himself together and make this opportunity work? What happens when he has a connection to the actress? Those are the focus of this film, which is just 90 minutes but still feels a bit too long because of its lack of structure and direction. Shear is a decent actor but it’s hard to tell where this wants...

 We’re through March and making our way into Spring. Still, the tide of new shows continues at a steady pace. You might have a lot of things vying for your time, which leaves you wondering which of these new shows is worth checking out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Winter/Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Sundays: The Count of Monte Cristo, Sundays at 9 p.m. on PBS (Premiered March 22) About : This is another take on the classic novel. This time Sam Claflin stars as Edmund Dantes, the falsely accused man who is imprisoned and, upon release, seeks to right the wrongs. I liked the pilot well enough, which was mostly set up and culminated with Dantes in prison. The second episode, which featured Jeremy Irons, was focused on his time in prison, how he learns to rebuild himself, and his key to the secret treasure that will fund things. He’s in prison for years, as his family, friends, and lo...

We're making our way into April, which offers a blend of big releases and smaller films. Below is a look at the new movies coming in April. Wednesday, April 1: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Theaters): This is a big, animated sequel to the Mario Brothers. It returns the same voice cast while expanding the world. This should be a huge release to kick off the month. Friday, April 3: The Drama (Theaters): This is a dramatic film starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as a married couple going through some issues. It's a good cast and an intriguing premise, it should be a big draw for cinephiles. The Great Awakening (Theaters): This is a docudrama focused on the historical spiritual movement of the same name. This figures to be ideally timed for Easter weekend. Pizza Movie (Hulu) : This is a new comedy headlined by Gaten Matarazzo of Stranger Things . This looks like a fun and potentially wild ride. Friday, April 10: You, Me & Tuscany (Theaters): This is a new romantic comedy ...

It's a new year, but the rewind continues. In these weekly posts, we will be looking at films that are celebrating an anniversary in 2026. I will be going back throughout the year, looking at a few films from different milestone years that stand out to me now a decade, two decades, or three decades on. It's a fun journey, and I hope you'll join me in looking back! For our next set of films, we're jumping back to 2006. Films from 2006 are turning 20 years old in 2026, and when you look at the list it feels hard to believe some of these titles are 20 years old. In this set I'll be looking at six films, mostly smaller films, that stand out now 20 years after their release. Check back each Sunday as we explore another title in the rewind and celebrate the films that are marking a milestone anniversary in 2026!