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. Ethan Edwards : Livin' with Comanches ain't bein' alive. The Searchers (1956) Original List Position : 96 Starring : John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, and Natalie Wood Director: John Ford About : This is a fascinating film. It's one of the signature entries from Wayne, and one of his classical Westerns. It also comes from the director Ford, who is revered. And yet, in the original listing, it nearly didn't make it. This is a film that is higher for me than where it landed on this original list. But when it came to re-doing the list a decade later, this film was ranked No. 12. That is an incredible jump up for the film, and probably refle...

 We've made it to May, which is the official kickoff to the Summer Movie season. While there are some interesting releases, May is lighter on blockbusters than in year's past. Let's dive in. Friday, May 1: * The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Theaters) : The big film to kickoff summer is this highly anticipated sequel. This should be a fun romantic comedy to begin the season. * Animal Farm (Theaters): This is an animated film based on the George Orwell novel of the same name. Yes, you read that correctly. But, this seems aimed at kids? * Deep Water (Theaters): We have a plane that crashes in shark infested waters. So, a shark movie and a disaster movie. I'm already seated. * Hokum (Theaters): This is a horror release. It's more of a haunted house type set up with Adam Scott in the lead role. It looks creepy. * Swapped (Netflix): This is an original animated feature with a voice cast that includes Michael B. Jordan. This offers some family-friendly entertainment at home. F...

 It was a packed weekend at theaters with three big theatrical releases as well as a new action film on Netflix. Below is my take on the new releases I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Apex (Netflix) Starring : Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton Synopsis: This new action film from director Baltasar Kormakur focuses on a woman (Theron) who suffered a terrible mountain climbing accident. That accident forms the opening sequence of the film. Now, sometime later, she’s trying to recover and rediscover her love for exploration rafting in Australia. The natives aren’t exactly friendly, but she comes across one man, Ben (Egerton) who seems to be trying to help. When it turns out he might be the biggest threat of them all, it pits the two against each other in a battle for survival. This one has some big action sequences and is mostly a two-hander pitting Theron against Egerton in a battle of wills and a battle for s...

 We’re making our way through April, with some interesting new series making their debut. But what 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 Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Thursdays: Half Man, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on HBO Max (Premiered April 23) About : This is the new series from creator/star Richard Gadd, who was the force behind the phenomenon Baby Reindeer. That show didn’t click for me the way it did for others, and I feel like that might end up being the case here. In the early going we’re introduced to Ruben (Gadd) and Niall (Jamie Bell). They have a past and a connection, and their meeting in a secluded place as Niall is about to get married doesn’t seem to be going well. It ends in a physical confrontation, and then we’re quickly thrown into the past. We see Ruben and Niall as teenagers, and spend the bulk of the premier episode getting...

 The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. While the Broncos didn't have any picks in the first two rounds, they still found a way to grab value with the seven picks they made over the course of the draft. Below is a look at the selections. Tyler Onyedim, DT, Third Round : This was the Broncos' first pick, taken at the top of the Third Round. It certainly fills a critical need. The Broncos lost depth on the defensive line and could use an influx of young playmakers to make a difference. That seems to be what they're getting with Onyedim, who could compete for a starting spot opposite Zach Allen. Jonah Coleman, RB, Fourth Round : The Broncos used the first of two Fourth Round picks on Coleman, the running back out of Washington. He might not have a huge impact in 2026, but the comparison Sean Payton drew to J.K. Dobbins indicates he could be a long-term answer along with R.J. Harvey to lead the Broncos' rushing attack. Kage Casey, OT, Fourth Round: The second of the Fourth Ro...

It's hard to believe, but 2006 was 20 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2006 that are turning 20 in 2026. Today, it's a Christopher Nolan film. Cutter : Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick h...