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. Rocky : Ah come on, Adrian, it's true. I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know? 'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood. Rocky (1976) Original List Position : 78 Starring : Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, and Talia Shire Director...

The off-season is in full swing. We've seen free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, it's time to take stock of the roster and begin figuring out who will be the final 53 players to suit up for the Broncos during the 2026 NFL Season. Over the next few weeks, we'll be looking at each unit for the Broncos. Today, that continues with the Special Teams. On the Roster : Will Lutz, Jeremy Crawshaw, Luke Basso, and Mitchell Fraboni About : The Special Teams is usually the easiest to judge, especially later in the off-season. The Broncos only have one kicker and punter on the roster, and I don't expect competition. Interestingly, the team brought in Basso to compete at long snapper. Will he unseat Fraboni? It's possible, but currently I don't see it happening. The bigger question is returner, and whether Marvin Mims, Jr.'s, skill in that arena will secure his roster spot in a crowded receiver room. Roster Predictions : Lutz, Crawshaw, and Fraboni make the team.

 The final weekend in May was packed with new options. Below is a look at the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Backrooms (Theaters) Starring : Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor Synopsis: This is the new film that comes from director Kane Parsons, based on his popular YouTube series. That gives the film a built-in audience, and it pulled crowds this weekend. It focuses on a furniture store manager, Clark (Ejiofor), who is having a rough time. Business is beyond slow, and his personal life is in shambles. His most consistent human contact is with his therapist, Mary (Reinsve), who has some issues of her own. When he discovers a secret portal to another realm in the depths of his store, it opens up a whole new mystery for Clark. The mystery threatens to envelope him and his whole life. It’s an interesting concept with nearly endless options for how the story can develop. Since it’s culled from a l...

 We’ve made it to summer. Memorial Day has passed, the days are getting longer, and, in most places, school is over. That might leave you with some extra time to pass in the air conditioning. But what of the new shows this summer 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. Fridays: Star City, Streaming Fridays on Apple TV (Premiered May 29) About : The world of For All Mankind is getting bigger. That series, which debuted when Apple TV launched in 2019, presented an alternate history for the space race. In this alternate timeline, it was the Soviet Union that made it to the moon first. This new series, Star City, is a spin-off set in the same world. It takes the action back to the 1960s just as the Soviet Union lands on the moon first, telling the story from the perspective of the scientists, KGB officers, and cosmonauts that made it possible. The first two episodes dropped in a block Friday...

This year Star Trek turns 60. For decades, it has enthralled and entertained audiences. Part of that legacy is 13 feature films. Over the next few weeks, I'll be looking back on each of the feature films in the franchise, including where I place them in my personal rankings! Kirk : Damn it, Bones, you're a doctor. You know that pain and guilt can't be taken away with a wave of a magic wand. They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my pain taken away! I need my pain! Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) Franchise Ranking : 13 Starring : William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, and Laurence Luckinbill Director : William Shatner About : As seems to happen when this franchise reaches a high, the follow up film falls back. The fourth installment is a creative wonder, and one of the best. This fifth installment, well as yo...

It's hard to believe, but 2001 was 25 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2001 that are turning 25 in 2026. Today, it's the humble start of a franchise. Dom : I live my life a quarter mile at a time. Nothing else matters: not the mortgage, not the store, not my team and all their bullshit. For those ten seconds or less, I'm free. The Fast and the Furious Starring : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, and Ted Levine Director : Rob Cohen About : I remember when I first saw The Fast and the Furious . It was a summer release, and it was a fun, action-packed adventure. It was pitched as Point Break with cars, and that felt apt for this first film. It was fun and engaging with a good cast and some good performances. I never imagined what it would lead to 25 years later, but I still appreciate this first film. It's not the best of the franchise, but it has a lot of charm and really sets the tem...