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Winter TV Roundup, Week 11

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We’re making our way toward Spring, and that means the tide of new shows is rising. Networks and streamers are getting those new shows in to flood the market before the dog days of summer. But what of these 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 series this winter. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks! Tuesdays: R.J. Decker, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC (Premiered March 3) About: This new detective series is based on a Carl Hiaasen novel. It centers on R.J. Decker (Scott Speedman), a former photojournalist who went to prison on a trumped-up assault charge. Now, he’s working as a private investigator. The pilot introduced the world and a key case that helped shape and define our protagonist. The second episode slipped more into the case-of-the-week mold. I like Speedman, and I like the idea here. But the second episode was dry and seemed to expound on the things I struggled with in t...
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Oscar Recap

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 Another year of Oscars is in the books, with the 2025 movie season officially, finally, in the books. It was a successful and interesting telecast. Below is a couple takeaways from the year in movies. * Horror had a day . Not only did Amy Madigan win for Weapons, Sinners was one of the biggest, most awarded films of the night. Frankenstein also brought home three awards. In total, that meant eight of the 24 awards handed out went to horror films. That's quite a showing. *Paul Thomas Anderson had a day. He won for his script, his direction, and his film. It was a big night on the biggest stage for one of the most celebrated creators. * We had a tie and a no-show. Usually these award programs follow a pattern and script. But that got flipped when we had a tie in the Best Live Action Short, then had Best Supporting Actor winner Sean Penn not show up. Both felt like unusual twists on the night. * The Opening was perfect. Conan O'Brien was solid as a host, but his best bits came ...
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2011 Rewind: Bridesmaids

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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 classic comedy. Lillian : This is such a stone-cold pack of weirdos, and I am so proud! Bridesmaids Starring : Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, and Melissa McCarthy Director : Paul Feig About : There was a time when the summer season offered up a banger comedy every year. In 2011, that banger comedy was Bridesmaids . Two years earlier we got The Hangover , an iconic comedy that was very much focused on the wild antics of a group of men. In Bridesmaids , we saw the same formula repeated with a group of fun women. Or, as Lillian puts it above, a stone-cold pack of weirdos. Wiig has long been a personal favorite, and she's awesome here. But this is a film where the whole is stronger than the sum of its parts. Rudolph, McCarthy, and especially Byrne all give iconic performances. The cast is stron...
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AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 82

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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. Ratso Rizzo : I'm walking here! I'm walking here! Midnight Cowboy (1969) Original List Ranking : 36 Starring : Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight Director : John Schlesinger About : This is another Best Picture winner. It also earned an Academy Award for the director, Schlesinger, and for the Adapted Screenplay. It factored much higher on the original list, and remained fairly high (43) on the 2007 update. And it's not hard to see why. It's a film that's oft remembered and oft quoted. While Hoffman didn't win for his performance, it's a memorable part of the film. Even those who haven't seen it in full have seen clips, including the one ...
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AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 83

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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. Alex : Well, put it this way, I feel very low in myself. I can't see much in the future, and I feel that any second something terrible is going to happen to me. A Clockwork Orange (1971) Original List Ranking : 46 Starring : Malcolm McDowell Director : Stanley Kubrick About : This is a film that is controversial in its subject matter. It was considered quite edgy in its time, though by some modern content standards it's not quite as out there. The subject is dark, but this film from the legendary director Kubrick does a nice job of trying to tell this story. On the original list it was quite high up, but by the time the new list was issued in 2007, it had ...
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Oscar Predictions

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The 98th Academy Awards will—finally—take place on Sunday, March 15. That will put an end, officially, to the 2025 Movie Year. It’s a fascinating slate of films. Below are my fearless predictions for Sunday’s ceremony. I also wanted to add a twist of what would win if I alone, based on personal taste and preference, were voting. So, the “Will Win” is my official selection. Whereas “Matt’s Winner” is me voting with my heart. Enjoy the picks below and we’ll see what happens on Sunday night! Best Picture Bugonia Frankenstein F1 Hamnet Marty Supreme One Battle After Another  The Secret Agent Sentimental Value Sinners  Train Dreams Will Win : Sinners. I think the tide has turned. Matt’s Winner: Sentimental Value. I’ve thought about it a lot. I just loved this film. Best Actor Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon Michael B Jordan – Sinners  Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent Will Win/Matt’s Winner: Michael B. Jord...
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Best Picture Nominees: Sinners

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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. Sinners Starring : Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosakau, Haliee Steinfeld, Delroy Lindo, and Miles Caton Director : Ryan Coogler Total Nominations : 16 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Director (Coogler), Best Actor (Jordan), Best Supporting Actress (Mosaku), Best Supporting Actor (Lindo), Best Original Screenplay, Best Score, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Original Song About : This is the film that set the record with 16 nominations. It's one of the best motion pictures of the year and figures to be a big contender on Sunday night. It's not a question of if it will win, but rather how many it will win. I think it's a lock in Original Score and Casting. When it ...
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