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Fall TV Roundup, Week 2

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 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....
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1996 Rewind: A Time to Kill

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  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 my favorite film of all time. Lucien Wilbanks : If you win this case, justice will prevail, and if you lose, justice will also prevail. Now that is a strange case. A Time to Kill Starring : Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, and Donald Sutherland Director : Joel Schumacher About: No one has a stranger filmography in the 1990s than Schumacher. There are some true, all-time bombs. But then there's some solid films. This one, his second crack at a John Grisham adaptation, is my favorite film of all time. Full stop. In the 30 years since it's been released, I have probably seen it 25-30 times. It's a great legal thriller and a great moral drama. It's a courtroom film in the tradition of To Kill a Mockingbird, and I don't say that lightly. I love the per...
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AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 30

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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. Charlie : It's a great thing to have a lady aboard with clean habits. It sets the man a good example. A man alone, he gets to living like a hog. The African Queen (1951) Original List Position : 17 Starring : Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn Director: John Huston About: Another classic film, this one a great back-and-forth between two talented actors. This comes from the great John Huston, too. This is a classic film that still resonates. Interestingly it was at No. 17 on the original list, which is a bit higher than where I have it. But it slipped all the way to No. 65 just 10 years later. I think it still holds more sway than that, if for nothing more...
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AFI 100 Years, 100 Movies: No. 31

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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. Jake La Motta : I remember those cheers / They still ring in my ears / After years, they remain in my thoughts. / Go to one night / I took off my robe, and what'd I do? I forgot to wear shorts. / I recall every fall / Every hook, every jab / The worst way a guy can get rid of his flab. / As you know, my life wasn't drab. / Though I'd much... Though I'd rather hear you cheer / When you delve... Though I'd rather hear you cheer / When I delve into Shakespeare / "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse", I haven't had a winner in six months. Raging Bull (1980) Original List Position : 24 Starring : Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci Direc...
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NFL Picks, Week 1

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 The 2026 NFL Season is here, so it's time for my weekly picks. I'll make picks each week for winners and against the spread. Let's dive into Week 1. NFL Picks, Week 1: Seahawks Over Patriots Rams Over 49ers Bengals Over Buccaneers Lions Over Saints Jets Over Titans Colts Over Ravens Steelers Over Falcons Bears Over Panthers Jaguars Over Browns Bills Over Texans Raiders Over Dolphins Vikings Over Packers Eagles Over Commanders Chargers Over Cardinals Cowboys Over Giants Broncos Over Chiefs NFL Picks Spread, Week 1: Seahawks -3.5 Over Patriots Rams -2.5 Over 49ers Buccaneers +3.5 Over Bengals Saints +7.5 Over Lions Jets +3.5 Over Titans Colts +3.5 Over Ravens Steelers -3.5 Over Falcons Bears -2.5 Over Panthers Browns +7.5 Over Jaguars Bills -1.5 Over Texans Raiders -3.5 Over Dolphins Vikings +1.5 Over Packers Commanders +5.5 Over Eagles Cardinals +11.5 Over Chargers Cowboys -2.5 Over Giants Broncos +2.5 Over Chiefs
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Now Playing

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 Labor Day presented another packed weekend at the movies. If you’re looking for an option, there’s something for everyone at the theaters. Below is my take on the new release options this weekend. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. By Any Means (Theaters) Starring : Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg Synopsis : This new drama is based on a true story, taking the action back to the 1960s in Mississippi when change and progress came slowly. We focus on an FBI Agent, Wayne Strider (Abdul-Mateen), who is trying to make change. But that’s not easy in a place where he is viewed by many as lesser because of the color of his skin. When a friend is murdered, he takes it personally. When he’s offered a chance to work on a special task force, he jumps at the chance. But it turns out this special opportunity is to pair with an enforcer for the Mob (Wahlberg) who is brought to Mississippi to use extra-legal methods. Can they manage ...
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Fall TV Roundup, Week 1

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 We’re into September, which means we’re rounding into the Fall TV Season. While it will be a few weeks until the full onslaught hits, there are still some new options to kickstart the month. But what of the new shows are worth checking out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Fall. Tuesdays: The Varnell Hill Show, Streaming Tuesdays on Paramount+ (Premiered September 1) About : This new comedy feels like something out of a different era. And yet, it’s also a product of the streaming era in terms of the content of the series. It launched with a two-episode release on Tuesday, each running about a half an hour. It focuses on Tommy Davidson as Varnell Hill, a successful but aging host of a late-night talk show. He’s hesitant to move into the modern era, despite flagging ratings. But when he’s challenged by a new Executive Producer, and a new Network President, he has little choice but to look at adapting. The series is eight ...
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