Matt's Musings

This week's big release was Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. I share my thoughts below. You can keep up with everything I'm watching by following me @knighthawk7734 on Letterboxd. The Odyssey (Theaters) Starring: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway Synopsis : For centuries, people have been fascinated by The Odyssey. It’s an epic adventure story, following brave warrior Odysseus as he’s on a journey to get home. It’s a fraught and perilous journey, and it’s a fraught and perilous homecoming. But it’s an epic story that has inspired countless generations and inspired countless other epic stories. It makes sense that we’d return to that world and story, presenting the epic journey on the big screen. And there’s no filmmaker more daring in crafting epic big-screen adventures that Christopher Nolan. In his follow up to his Academy Award-winning biopic Oppenheimer, he’s adapting an even more ambitious project in The Odyssey, which has become one of the most anticipated f...

 We’re halfway through July and have officially entered the slow season. While things will pick up in the Fall, we’re seeking only a handful of new shows each week at this point. But you might be wondering which of those new shows is worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new shows this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Mondays: Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC (Premiered July 13) About: It’s fair to say if you’ve followed this site for a while, my partner Ricky is more of the go-to guy for reality shows. The exception, for me, has long been Dancing With the Stars, which is my kind of reality. That’s true of this spin-off, too. Reigning champion Robert Irwin serves as host, with judges Mark Ballas, a pro for the main show, and his mother Shirley. Each week, a new guest arrives to help teach the 12 prospective dancers a new routine to perform and serves...

This year Star Trek turns 60. For decades, it has enthralled and entertained audiences. Part of that legacy is 13 feature films. Over the next few weeks, I'll be looking back on each of the feature films in the franchise, including where I place them in my personal rankings! Spock: Acting Captain's Log, Stardate 2258.42. We have had no word from Captain Pike. I've therefore classified him a hostage of the war criminal known as Nero. Nero, who has destroyed my home planet and most of its six billion inhabitants. While the essence of our culture has been saved in the elders who now reside upon this ship, I estimate no more than 10,000 have survived. I am now a member of an endangered species. Star Trek (2009) Franchise Ranking : 2 Starring : Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Leonard Nimoy, Bruce Greenwood, and Eric Bana Director: J.J. Abrams About : Here we get a re-boot of the whole franchise, taking things back to th...

It's hard to believe, but 1996 was 30 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 1996 that are turning 30 in 2026. Today, it's a classic disaster film. Dusty: [seductively to Melissa] "The Suck Zone". It's the point basically when the twister... sucks you up. That's not the technical term for it, obviously. Twister Starring : Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman Director: Jan de Bont About : We have landed on another personal all-time favorite as this look at 1996 continues. I've always been a fan of disaster films and Michael Crichton, and this combines them both. This is a fun story and an incredible cast. It's sad to think Paxton and Hoffman are gone now, but these are some iconic performances. I love Hunt in the lead role, too. The story has a great blend of humor, action, and some iconic set pieces. De Bont didn't have a big feature film career, but he delivered some exciting 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. Will Munny : That's right. I've killed women and children. I've killed just about everything that walks or crawled at one time or another. And I'm here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you did to Ned. Unforgiven (1992) Original List Position : 98 Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Morgan Freeman Director : Clint Eastwood About : This film is a classic Western. Eastwood made his name in the genre, but as a director he largely took on other types of films. This might be the best of the Westerns he directed, a Best Picture winner that features some iconic performances. And yet, it barely made the original list. It clocked in at just 98. A ...

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. Maria : All of you! You all killed him! And my brother, and Riff. Not with bullets, or guns, with hate. Well now I can kill, too, because now I have hate! Westside Story (1961) Original List Position: 41 Starring: Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, and Richard Beymer Director: Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise About: We come now to a classic musical. On the original list it was slightly higher than where I have it. A decade later it dropped to No. 51, slightly lower. So, I guess this positioning feels about right. I enjoy the story and the iconic music and performances here. This is a great musical that's been often imitated in the decades since its release. It even ...