Matt's Musings

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 Robert Rodriguez joint. Seth: Peachy, Kate. The world's my oyster, except for the fact that I just rammed a wooden stake in my brother's heart because he turned into a vampire, even though I don't believe in vampires. Aside from that unfortunate business, everything's hunky-dory. From Dusk Till Dawn Starring : George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Juliette Lewis, Selma Hayek, and Harvey Keitel Director: Robert Rodriguez About: We're closing in on October and smack in the middle of spooky season. That makes it a great time to talk about this one, which plays as more of an action film but is definitely a lot of fun. It's hard to believe this one is 30 years old. It's a great cast, led by Clooney. Tarantino gives a fun supporting performance. There is good action and this is rea...

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. Scottie: One final thing I have to do... and then I'll be free of the past. Vertigo (1958) Original List Position: 61 Starring: James Stewart and Kim Novak Director: Alfred Hitchcock About: This is one of Hitchcock's classic films, and one of a few iconic ones featuring Stewart. Hitchcock is a director that makes a number of appearances on this list. This film came in at No. 61 in the original list, jumping up to No. 9 a decade later. That speaks to the enduring power of this and a few other of Hitchcock's films. This is well worth seeking out and one I quite enjoy.

  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. Travis Bickle : You're only as healthy as you feel. Taxi Driver (1976) Original List Position : 47 Starring : Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster Director : Martin Scorsese About : Just a last week we talked about Scorsese in a classic film led by De Niro. This week, we are at it again with another iconic film. Ironically this one sits at 47 on the original list and slipped to 64 on the revised list. I actually have it a bit higher than Raging Bull . The performance is, again, spot on. It's a very difficult story and I can understand it's not as comfortable a watch. But I think that is, in part, what makes it a more iconic film. Either way, it's a cl...

  I had a solid start to the season in Week 1, finishing above .500 in both sets of picks. Let's keep it going! Here's my Week 2 selections. NFL Picks, Week 2: Bills Over Lions Panthers Over Falcons Bears Over Vikings Eagles Over Titans Patriots Over Steelers Packers Over Jets Buccaneers Over Browns Ravens Over Saints Texans Over Bengals Broncos Over Jaguars Chargers Over Raiders Cowboys Over Commanders Seahawks Over Cardinals 49ers Over Dolphins Chiefs Over Colts Rams Over Giants Last Week : 11-5 NFL Picks, Spread Week 2: Bills -4.5 Over Lions Panthers -2.5 Over Falcons Bears -5.5 Over Vikings Titans +6.5 Over Eagles Steelers +5.5 Over Patriots Jets +4.5 Over Packers Buccaneers -8.5 Over Browns Saints +8.5 Over Ravens Texans -2.5 Over Bengals Broncos -2.5 Over Jaguars Raiders +6.5 Over Chargers Commanders +3.5 Over Cowboys Cardinals +4.5 Over Seahawks 49ers -12.5 Over Dolphins Chiefs -6.5 Over Colts Rams -6.5 Over Giants Last Week : 9-7

 It’s the second weekend in September and we again have a variety of theatrical releases, but what of them are worth checking out? 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. The Fix (Theaters) Starring: Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi Synopsis: Combat leaves a scar on everyone. Sometimes the wounds are physical. Often, the wounds experienced in combat run deeper. You can’t see them, but they dig at those who’ve returned day after day. And it can drive them to make sweeping changes when returning. It’s those tough wounds that stick with people the longest. That’s at the heart of The Fix, a new drama that opens on Friday. It follows a group of CIA soldiers who, after things fell apart in Afghanistan, carry plenty of wounds back to their everyday lives. They look fit on the outside, but they carry the scars of their actions and of what might have been with them all the time. In the film...

 We’re past Labor Day, and now we’re past the Emmys. The Fall TV onslaught is coming. We’re not quite there yet, though we did get a crop of new shows to kickstart September. 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 shows this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesdays: The Drop: A Snowfall Saga, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX (Premiered September 8) About: This new series is a spin-off of Snowfall, the successful series set in 1980s Los Angeles and focused on the drug trade. That series ran for six seasons and now has a spin-off that moves the action to the early 1990s and focuses on the burgeoning gangster rap movement. It locks on to two characters from the original series—Leon (Isaiah John) and Wanda (Gail Bean)—who are trying to navigate a changing world. Wanda, in particular, is trying to ply her hustle toward making it as a producer in the rap game....