Matt's Musings

  We’ve made it to August, which means the NFL Season is just around the corner! Over the course of the month, I’ll be previewing each of the division races, looking at the teams in order of finish from 2025. Below, we continue with the NFC South. Let’s dive in! Carolina Panthers (8-9) About : The Panthers backed into the division title and the playoffs. Three teams finished tied, all one game under .500, and the Panthers were the tie-break winner. They lost in the Wild Card Round, but they made it. A lot of this season will depend on the continued evolution of Bryce Young and the offense. He has a true No. 1 receiver in Tet McMillan, but the rest of the offense has some questions. Last year seemed like the best-case scenario for the team. I don't know that they luck out again. Prediction : The Panthers will finish around the same place, with eight or nine wins, and likely be short of the playoffs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) About : The Buccaneers started hot and faded quickly. Inj...

  There were a lot of interesting films released the first weekend in August. Below is my take on the new movies I saw. You can keep up with everything I'm watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Cookie Queens (Limited) Synopsis : There is an activity that is practically a right-of-passage each Winter. It’s when Girl Scout Cookies go on sale. Many people wait all year for those few short weeks when those cookies will be available for purchase and mass consumption. But how much time do you spend thinking about those who are selling the cookies? The new documentary Cookie Queens follows a few Girl Scouts around the country as they embark on the annual tradition. Some are veterans who are trying to set new personal bests, some have a vested interest in using the fundraiser money for camp, and some are just getting started. But all of them are trying their best to peddle their wares at a fever pitch over a short span of time. The film follows a quartet of sellers, track...

The first part of August has been a robust time for new series as networks, streamers, and cable channels try to get in that last gasp of summer. But what of the 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 summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.  Tuesdays: Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered August 4) About: The annual Hard Knocks look at a team’s pre-season preparation begins, this time with the reigning Super Bowl champions. The first episode is about setting the stage for what’s to come, with the Seahawks being a successful team that’s relatively stable. The first episode celebrated the success of last year while getting ready for what’s to come. I enjoyed the peak behind the curtain, and I think this could be a fun installment. For fans of the NFL, this is what you’re looking to see! The series continues w...

  We’ve made it to August, which means the NFL Season is just around the corner! Over the course of the month, I’ll be previewing each of the division races, looking at the teams in order of finish from 2025. Below, we continue with the AFC North. Let’s dive in! Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) About : The Steelers won the AFC North and made the playoffs with Aaron Rodgers in 2025. But it wasn't their greatest performance. The division was a slog, and while the Steelers outlasted the rest their playoff run was short-lived. That led to Mike Tomlin stepping down, being replaced by Mike McCarthy. The Steelers pumped up the offense this off-season, adding Michael Pittman in trade and drafting Germie Bernard. They also added Rico Dowdle to the backfield, and brought back Rodgers. Will it be enough to make the playoffs again? How about just having a more exciting offense? It's possible, but hardly a lock. Prediction : I think the Steelers are in the mix in the AFC North but fall short of t...

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 the start of a franchise. Trent : I don't want you to be the guy in the PG-13 movie everyone's *really* hoping makes it happen. I want you to be like the guy in the rated R movie, you know, the guy you're not sure whether or not you like yet. You're not sure where he's coming from. Okay? You're a bad man. You're a bad man, Mikey. You're a bad man, bad man. Swingers Starring: Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn Director: Doug Liman About : You're so money and you don't even know it! We've all had a friend like Trent, and Vaughn plays the part perfectly here. Before Favreau was known for his directing prowess, and his connection to Star Wars, he was Mikey in Liman's film. Favreau wrote the film, so it makes sense he has a good feel for the material. I was never the...

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. Don Jose: We all dream of being a child again, even the worst of us. Perhaps the worst most of all. The Wild Bunch (1969) Original List Position : 80 Starring : William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, and Robert Ryan Director : Sam Peckinpah About : This is a good, old-fashioned Western. It's violent and focuses on the wild element of the West. It's been an action movie favorite over the years for that reason. It lands at No. 80 on the original list, staying relatively consistent at No. 79 on the revised list a decade later. I enjoy the action and the performances here. The story holds your attention and I like the way it's put together. This is a solid, cla...