Matt's Musings

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 standout from the Fast Franchise. Dominic Toretto : The most important thing in life will always be the people in this room. Right here, right now. Salute, mi familia. Fast Five Starring : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwyane Johnson Director : Justin Lin About : The Fast Franchise is a fascinating study. The original film was good, and iconic in its own way. But after a couple limp sequels, the franchise really took off with the fourth installment. That paved the way for Fast Five . Some view it as the best in the franchise, and it's tough to argue against that. It has some of the best action set pieces. It also has one of the best villains, expands the world in a creative way, and introduces Johnson as Hobbs. I love this film, and while it's not my favorite of the franchise, it's hard to ar...

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. No. 86: M.A.S.H. (1970) Original List Ranking : 56 Starring : Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, and Sally Kellerman Director : Robert Altman About : The great Altman makes an appearance on the list. This film makes it on the the re-done list a decade later, too, and Altman gets another entry on the list. This is a film that is often overshadowed by the long-running television series. But this has a bit of a different style and tone. Still, it's iconic and of a piece with its time. It has an incredible cast and does an incredible job of telling this story. It's a good film with some iconic scenes. Altman's style isn't my favorite, but ...

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. No. 87: Bonnie and Clyde (1967) Original List Ranking : 27 Starring : Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway Director: Arthur Penn About : This is the highest ranking film on the original list so far. It naturally was a part of the list a decade later, though clocking in lower at No. 42. Still, nearly 60 years later it remains an iconic part of the American cinematic landscape. It features two big stars in Beatty and Dunaway, each of whom would only grow in stature in the years that followed. It's also a classic American story, based on the real life criminal couple, their exploits, and their downfall. And it's a larger-than-life story with some great sequences. ...

We've made it to March. That brings us some of the most anticipated films of the Spring. It's a strong mix of blockbusters and family fare as we move away from the films of 2025 and the Oscars and into a new year. Let's dive in. Friday, March 6: The Bride (Theaters): This is another take on the world of Frankenstein, this one from director Maggie Gyllenhaal. This one stars Christian Bale and Academy Award nominee Jesse Buckley. It looks pretty great. Hoppers (Theaters): This is the latest from Pixar. We've had some animated features in 2026, but this looks like the biggest yet. This should be good for the whole family. Protector (Theaters): Matthew Modine and Milla Jovovich take the lead in this action thriller. It's a lower end release for the week, but it will fill the void for action film fans. War Machine (Netflix) : Alan Ritchison takes the lead in this new action film. Netflix has had a strong slate the past few years, this could be interesting for action f...

It was a quieter week at the theaters and on streaming, but we still got a great new black comedy. I also looked at a couple releases left over from President’s Day weekend. Below is my take on the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Goat (Theaters) Starring : Caleb McLaughlin and Gabrielle Union Synopsis : We all have dreams. Often, it takes a lot of work and a lot of patience to realize those dreams. But if you stay locked in, you’re ready to take advantage when the opportunity arises. That’s certainly a thought that’s at the heart of the new animated film Goat, which is now playing nationwide. The film is a sports movie of sorts. It’s set in a world populated by animals where the biggest sport is Roar Ball, a take off on basketball. The film comes from producer Stephen Curry, who voices a character in the film, and is focused on a young goat that dreams of starring on the court. But he’s deemed too s...

We’re finally through the Winter Olympics, which means we’ll start getting the flood of new shows leading to the end of the Emmy consideration window. But, until then, we only have a few that popped off last week. Still, what of those 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. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Mondays: The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins, Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC (Premiered January 18) About : This is the latest sitcom for NBC, which comes from the team behind 30 Rock. It’s an interesting concept focusing on a former NFL player, Reggie (Tracy Morgan), who is trying to rehab his image after his career ended in scandal. Now, he’s hired a documentary filmmaker (Daniel Radcliffe) to tell his story, hoping to get into the Hall of Fame. The series made its debut behind the actual NFL playoffs last month, but now launches into its regular timeslot post-Olympics....