Matt's Musings

Here's my picks for the 10 best movies I saw in 2013 (that were 2013 releases) and the five worst. As always, some releases that are award nominees haven't been released, or I haven't gotten to see them... Best Movies — In ascending order : 10. World War Z — Heading into the summer, this was one of the big movies that I thought would be a bust. Nothing about it really seemed to be working, and there were tales of major problems during production. But the final product of this film was one of the best summer movies. It was a fascinating take on the zombie genre, and it felt like a very solid film that went in a completely unexpected direction. I liked it, and I could see it setting the stage for a sequel. 9. The Millers — Every year there is a wild comedy released during the summer that just works. This year it's "The Millers," a late summer release that had little buzz prior to coming out. It got lost in the summer shuffle during previews, but this was a con...

Here are the 10 best episodes I saw in 2013. The list appears in ascending order. 10. "Election Night," The Newsroom, HBO — Aaron Sorkin is a great writer. "The Newsroom" hasn't reached the heights of some of his other shows, like "The West Wing" and "Sports Night," but "Election Night" felt more like what we've come to love about Sorkin shows. Some didn't like the story, but I actually thought it was the best part of a better second season of "The Newsroom." This may never be a great series, but I really enjoyed this two part episode. 9. "Pilot," The Bridge, F/X — This was the series map for "The Bridge," and was perhaps the series best episode. It set the template for the show, introduced a rich world, and asked a lot of questions that subsequent episodes would tackle. This was the episode that hooked you for the show, and it was beautifully put together. 8. "Chicago," New Girl, FO...

Today I begin my top 10 lists for 2013 with the top 10 TV Shows of the year. This is my favorite 10 shows (in their correct/current season) this year. Next I'll have my 10 favorite individual episodes, and tomorrow I'll tackle my favorite and least favorite films. Here they are in ascending order: 10. The Bridge, F/X — This was a fascinating series, adapted from a Denmark series of the same name, took a hard look at the relations between El Paso, Texas and Mexico. It had a central crime story, and that was OK, but it was the exploration of the characters that was more fascinating. This series was somewhat uneven, but the beginning and the end made up for it. This was a great year for F/X drama, but "The Bridge" narrowly beats "The Americans" for me as the best new series on F/X. I loved the performances from Diane Kruger and Demian Bichir, and I can't wait to see where it goes in season 2. 9. Master's of Sex, Showtime — This was the best dramatic s...

The journey of the regular season is complete. Three more wins to achieve the ultimate goal. Week 17 : Broncos 34, Raiders 14 Season Record : 13-3 (7-1 Home) Key Play : Up 17-0 in the second quarter, Peyton Manning connected with Demaryius Thomas on a 63-yard touchdown strike to put the team up 24-0. The play made the Broncos the highest scoring offense in NFL history. A later TD strike to Thomas gave Manning the single season record for yardage. Recap : The Broncos only needed a half to get done what they needed to accomplish. The team set a record as the highest scoring offense in NFL history, and Manning added the single-season yardage mark to go with his touchdown mark. The team posted 31 points, scoring on all five first half possessions, to take a commanding lead. The Broncos needed to win the game to lock up the top seed in the AFC, and they did just that. Then the Broncos got a good look at Brock Osweiler, who wasn't half bad in the second half as the Broncos closed out the...

The NFL regular season ended with a flourish on Sunday as the final 16 games yielded plenty of surprises. Heading into the day, I predicted the Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Colts, Chiefs, and Dolphins would be the playoff teams for the AFC, while the Seahawks, Panthers, Eagles, Bears, Saints, and 49ers would get it in the NFC. I was 10/12. Surprises : * AFC Playoff team collapses: The Ravens struggled against the Bengals, which was a pretty safe bet. But I was shocked that the Dolphins imploded against the Jets, falling out of the playoffs. The Dolphins  looked to be in the driver's seat after beating the Patriots to move to 8-6. But the team scored just seven points in losing two games to AFC East foes, falling short. * The Chargers looked flat. Coming in, the Chargers knew all they needed was a home win to get in the playoffs. And they just had to get by a Kansas City Chiefs team they'd already beaten in Arrowhead that was resting all its starters. So what happened, the Charge...

Apparently these didn't load on Friday... You can tell they're authentic, though, by how we did... Week 17 : Panthers -7.5 Over Falcons (Panthers) Bengals -5.5 Over Ravens  (Bengals) Steelers -6.5 Over Browns (Browns) Lions +3.5 Over Vikings (Lions) Titans -6.5 Over Texans (Titans) Jaguars +11.5 Over Colts (Colts) Dolphins -6.5 Over Jets (Dolphins) Redskins +3.5 Over Giants (Giants) Patriots -9.5 Over Bills (Patriots) Bears -3.5 Over Packers (Bears) Broncos -12.5 Over Chargers (Broncos) Chiefs +9.5 Over Chargers (Chargers) Seahawks -10.5 Over Rams (Seahawks) Saints -12.5 Over Buccaneers (Saints) Cardinals +2.5 Over 49ers (49ers) Eagles -6.5 Over Cowboys (Eagles) Last Week : 9-7 Lindsay : 7-9 Season : 129-112 Lindsay : 118-123

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. American Hustle Starring: Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner Synopsis: In his poem Marmion, Walter Scott wrote “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!” Those words come to mind when watching “American Hustle,” a film that examines con artists of all kinds during the late 1970s. The film starts with a disclaimer — “some of this actually happened.” Though the inspiration for “American Hustle” is the real-life FBI operation known as “Abscam,” this isn’t a docudrama. The names, places and details have been changed. This is a work of fiction that looks at some people’s lives, using a familiar historical event to help prop up the plot. It was also a chance for “Hustle” director David O. Russell to reunite with some actors who have been a part of his recent Academy-Award nominated films. Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence won Oscars in Russell films, while ...

"Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends." — Clarence, "It's A Wonderful Life" Like so many others, I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" this Christmas. It's a timeless tale, authored in 1946 by Frank Capra, that reminds us of what's really important in life. And this is the perfect time of year to remember that, too. My mother-in-law has a plaque on her wall that says the most precious things in life aren't things. Beside it is a picture of her children and grandchildren. It's a reminder of the connections in life, and how important they are. The people we touch and interact with are the most important. During his Christmas sermon last night, Pastor Graham read a quote from C.S. Lewis about us never having met a mere mortal. There is nothing mere about people in your life, they are precious gifts from God. But sometimes we forget that. Sometimes we forget the role we play in all their lives, too. Clarence, when showing G...

There's just one week left, but still plenty of drama in the NFL. Here's how I think it all shakes out. AFC : No. 1 seed — Denver Broncos, AFC West Champs. The Broncos play the Raiders, and I think Manning and crew will play. Being the top seed is a win away, and I think that's on their minds. No. 2 seed — New England Patriots, AFC East Champs. The Patriots got the big win they needed on Sunday against the Ravens, and they should wrap up the No. 2 spot with a win against the Patriots. No. 3 seed — Cincinnati Bengals, AFC North Champs. The Bengals have a final game with the Ravens. It means a lot to the Ravens, but I suspect that Bengals want to win. I think they want to get past the Ravens, knock them out of the playoffs, and lock up the three seed. No. 4 seed — Indianapolis Colts, AFC South Champs. Most people correctly predicted the AFC playoff regresser would be in the AFC South. Sadly, it was the Texans that imploded while the Colts quietly put together a solid season. ...

A win, a record, and a step closer to being the top seed! Week 16 : Broncos 37, Texans 13 Season Record : 12-3 (7-1 Home) Key Play : In the early fourth quarter, with the Broncos nursing a 16-13 lead, Matt Schaub fired a pass downfield that was intercepted by Broncos' safety Mike Adams. The Broncos took that turnover and scored 21 straight points to salt away a 24 point victory. Recap : It was a day of highs and lows on Sunday. Peyton Manning set the single season touchdown record with four TD tosses, giving him 51 for the year. The Broncos won and took another step toward homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. But Von Miller, the star linebacker for the Broncos, was injured and people suspect that he tore his ACL, ending his season. It has been a season of tough injuries for the Broncos, particularly on defense, so this was more bad news heading into the playoffs. But, still, the Broncos offense is back on track and the team is on pace to finish as the AFC's best team in...

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” — Matthew 2:1-2 When you follow a star, good things can happen. That's what we get in Matthew when we learn of the Magi, men who saw a star, followed it, and found the Messiah. Theirs is a fascinating story. They weren't Christians — which didn't technically exist — and they weren't Jews. Yet they found the prophecy and believed, an act of faith in an unlikely place. People sometimes struggle with the idea of Jesus' birth. People struggle with the idea of a virgin birth. But it's interesting that it is a concept that has been emulated and copied in popular culture. Consider "Star Wars," not a film series tied closely to faith. Yet even that series included a plot point that centered on a virgin birth. People ...

Here's mine and Lindsay's picks for the week. Only two weeks left in the regular season, so the pressure is on! Week 16 : Dolphins -2.5 Over Bills (Dolphins) Vikings +7.5 Over Bengals (Vikings) Jets -2.5 Over Browns (Jets) Cowboys -3.5 Over Redskins (Cowboys) Broncos -11.5 Over Texans (Broncos) Jaguars +5.5 Over Titans (Titans) Colts +6.5 Over Chiefs (Colts) Rams -5.5 Over Buccaneers (Rams) Panthers -3.5 Over Saints (Panthers) Giants +9.5 Over Lions (Giants) Seahawks -10.5 Over Cardinals (Seahawks) Steelers +2.5 Over Packers (Packers) Chargers -10.5 Over Raiders (Chargers) Ravens -2.5 Over Patriots (Ravens) Bears +2.5 Over Eagles (Bears) 49ers -11.5 Over Falcons (49ers) Last Week : 8-8 Lindsay : 4-12 Season : 120-105 Lindsay : 111-114

"All I can do is do the work. And do everything I can to be back at the highest level." -Kobe Bryant Last season, the Lakers were expected to be the Western Conference favorites. The team had Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, to go with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. They were supposed to dominate the league. But it didn't happen. When Bryant blew his Achilles tendon near the end of the regular season, any glimmer of championship hope faded away. The Lakers were a failure and a disappointment. The team was bounced in the first round of the playoffs, and then in the off-season the team was broken up. Heading into this season, pundits thought the Lakers would be a disaster. Howard is in Houston. Nash is still injured. Kobe was coming back from injury. The team was a patchwork and the prediction was they'd finish 12th in the Western Conference. Publicly Kobe Bryant scoffed at that projection. And as the season began — and the upstart Lakers went 10-9 without Bryant — that looked...

Here's a look at the movies I saw this week. Dallas Buyers Club Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, and Dennis O'Hare Synopsis: An A.I.D.S. diagnosis in 2013 means something a lot different than it did in 1985. Now, thanks to improvements in medicine and medication, people can live with the disease a lot longer. And the stigma about it has lessened, too, thanks to education, understanding, and a changed culture. But when Ron Woodroof (McConaughey) — a hustler and cowboy living in Texas — got the diagnosis, it was a death sentence in a number of ways. The immediate threat was the 30 days he was given to live. But the larger threat was the end of life as he knew it — not just his hustler ways but the death of all the connections he'd forged. People were afraid of Ron, and he was truly cut off. That is until he met Rayon (Leto), someone in a similar circumstance, who became a friend. What is fascinating about "Dallas Buyers Club," a film that ...

"If technology is a drug – and it does feel like a drug – then what, precisely, are the side-effects? This area – between delight and discomfort – is where Black Mirror, my new drama series, is set. The 'black mirror' of the title is the one you'll find on every wall, on every desk, in the palm of every hand: the cold, shiny screen of a TV, a monitor, a smartphone." — Charlie Brooker, creator of "Black Mirror" Of all the shocking, thought-provoking things that have made their way to TV in America in 2013, "Black Mirror" is the one that sticks with you. It's not an American product — it was created in England in 2011 — but it has come to our shores this fall. The series — which has six episodes total — is nothing short of shocking. I wrote about the series' first episode before, so I won't re-hash the plot — except to say six weeks later I still haven't stopped thinking about it. I will say that the rest of the episodes are simil...

"By the grace of God, I am here to seek asylum. This is the only place in the world where I can find peace." — Brody, "Homeland" Redemption is hard. It's hard for people. It's hard for characters. And it can be especially hard for TV shows. Once you lose the plot, the goodwill of fans, and any sense of clarity, it is often too late. Whether that's true of "Homeland" remains to be seen when it reconvenes in the fall for its fourth season. But what's not up for debate is that the show entered Sunday's third season finale in a bit of a crisis. When "Homeland" premiered three years ago, it was easily the best show on television. It had a fantastic premise, great performances, and a gripping story. There was a natural ending to that first season — Brody (Damien Lewis) was a terrorist who needed to follow through on his plan. But higher powers — viewers, Showtime executives, and show producers — who intervened. Brody lived, but his ...

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." — Mahatma Gandhi. We are in the season where we see some deeply powerful and emotional films. Some have big pushes from studios and major directors — like "American Hustle" or "The Wolf of Wall Street" — or they have a big, family-friendly hook — "Like Saving Mr. Banks." "Philomena" doesn't have any of those things, yet it is a powerful and fascinating stories that everyone, but especially Christians, should make a point to see. "Philomena" was nominated for a Golden Globe award, and could be a contender at the Academy Awards as well. But it's not a film that's likely to get a lot of hype and publicity. It's a simple story of an Irish woman looking for her son and the reporter that helped her on the search. It is a small, independent film that isn't getting a big ad push. I went to see it largely because of its nomination and cast — w...

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" — Linus, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" The most beautiful moment in any Christmas movie comes near the end of a 25-minute cartoon special created in 1965. I'm speaking, of course, of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I've said ...

"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant." — Kobe Bryant. I don't know what it is about us, but we really like to compare one thing to what came before it. We do it with restaurants, movies, TV shows, athletes, and even our co-workers. I couldn't help but think about that this week when a friend got some reviews that really had nothing to do with him. They had to do with someone else, and people grieving the change. I think that happens a lot in our society. We do it with athletes all the time. The best example is Michael Jordan, who was a once-in-a-lifetime talent that was incredible. He won titles, he dominated the league, and he was the best player in the league. Since he retired — and really even before he retired — people have tried to find the next Michael Jordan. One of the ones always in Jordan's shadow has been Kobe Bryant. It makes sense, to some degree. Both are talented shooting guards. Both have won titles and hav...

Week 15 : Chargers 27, Broncos 20 Season Record : 11-3 (7-1 Home) Key Play : In the fourth quarter, trailing 24-17, Peyton Manning sought to rally the Broncos. After beginning backed up deep in their own territory, the Broncos hit some passes and moved toward mid-field. On first down at the 33, Manning stepped up and was hit by Chargers' defensive lineman Corey Liuget as he threw, causing the pass to be tipped and intercepted by Thomas Keiser. That resulted in a field goal that salted the game away. Recap : Good teams take care of their business. They win division games. They win games they're supposed to win. And they win at home. Before Thursday night, the Broncos had played like a good team. In his two years with the Broncos, Manning had been perfect against the AFC West. In addition, the team had won 13 straight regular season games at Mile High. All that came to a crashing halt as the Chargers ran the ball, controlled the clock, and frustrated the Broncos. That combined wi...

"Welcome to the city that care forgot." — Albert, "Treme" "Treme," the latest TV drama from David Simon, is coming to an end. The show is in its fourth season and has just three hours left. But that doesn't mean that the show doesn't still have plenty to say. I am one of those that loved "The Wire." I still consider it the greatest show of all time. Looking back, you can see what Simon sought to accomplish with the show. He wanted to take a hard look at urban America, and the myriad of issues that keep us from moving forward. That show took a hard look at ports, government, the education system, and the media. All play a role in the drug war that America will, likely, never win. "Treme" has been a very different show. It's set in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and it's centered on the people that have tried to be part of the recovery — focusing mainly on the music industry. I thought the first season ...

Here's this week's picks. Only three weeks to go in the regular season and I'm nursing a five pick lead. Week 15 : Broncos -10.5 Over Chargers (Broncos) Redskins +6.5 Over Falcons (Falcons) Jaguars +1.5 Over Bills (Jaguars) Bears +1.5 Over Browns (Bears) Colts -6.5 Over Texans (Colts) Dolphins +2.5 Over Patriots (Patriots) Eagles -4.5 Over Vikings (Eagles) Seahawks -6.5 Over Giants (Giants) 49ers -5.5 Over Buccaneers (49ers) Chiefs -4.5 Over Raiders (Chiefs) Panthers -11.5 Over Jets (Panthers) Cowboys -6.5 Over Packers (Cowboys) Cardinals -2.5 Over Titans (Cardinals) Saints -5.5 Over Rams (Saints) Bengals -2.5 Over Steelers (Bengals) Lions -5.5 Over Ravens (Lions) Last Week : 10-6 Lindsay : 8-8 Season : 112-97 Lindsay : 107-102

"Come to Los Angeles! The sun shines bright, the beaches are wide and inviting, and the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see. There are jobs aplenty, and land is cheap. Every working man can have his own house, and inside every house, a happy, all-American family. You can have all this, and who knows... you could even be discovered, become a movie star... or at least see one. Life is good in Los Angeles... it's paradise on Earth." Ha ha ha ha. That's what they tell you, anyway."— Sid Hudgens, "L.A. Confidential" "L.A. Confidential" was arguably the best movie of 1997. It didn't win Best Picture — that honor went to "Titanic" — but it might be the most favorably remembered of the big films that year. And in the time since its release, it's been oft copied, usually to little success. It's not just the big screen that has tried to re-capture the period piece glory of "L.A. Confidential," but the small sc...

Another week and another giant performance for the Broncos' offense. They hung 51 points and held on to the top spot in the AFC West and AFC. Week 14 : Broncos 51, Titans 28 Season Record : 11-2 (7-0 Home) Key Play : With the Broncos trailing 21-17 and the first half winding down, the Broncos got into scoring position and kicker Matt Prater lined up for a 64-yard field goal, which would set an NFL record. Prater lined it up, made history, and gave the Broncos momentum heading into the second half. The Broncos, who were down 21-10 at one point, outscored Tennessee 41-7 down the stretch for the commanding win. Recap : Denver survived the brutal stretch of its regular season by going 3-1 against San Diego, Kansas City (2) and New England. They are in first place, so all they have to do is hold on and stay healthy. The Broncos didn't look great at times against Tennessee, falling behind by two scores in the first half. But as they have been prone to do all season, the team finished...

Growing up, NBC was "Must-See TV" on Thursday nights. Since "ER" went off the air in 2009 — and arguably for a while before that final ending — Thursdays were no longer the domain and province of NBC. That changed on December 5 with "The Sound of Music Live." The show drew more than 18 million viewers and a 4.6 in the coveted 18-49 demographic, making it the most successful non-sports event for the network in years. So what does it mean? The reviews of the show have been mixed. Some suggested the lack of a live audience hurt the efficacy of the show. Some suggested that Carrie Underwood wasn't the right choice to play Maria. Some questioned the show overall. Having watched the whole thing, I think a live audience could have helped. That being said, with the number of complex sets you have to wonder if they needed a large sound stage that wouldn't accommodate a live audience. Also, I think because the special was on TV some people were expecting som...

Pay cable networks have the luxury of mining some different territory for comedy. Showtime had a comedy about someone dealing with terminal cancer and one about a burned out nurse and her co-workers. HBO mined comedy from a celebrity and his friends, some 20-something girls trying to make it in the world, a show about nothing from the master of comedies about nothing, and one about an incompetent Vice President. But few have mined the real world kind of issues of HBO's latest foray, "Getting On," based on the British series of the same name. It attempts to mine comedy from the staff of a geriatric long-term care facility at a hospital. Comedy, of course, is a relative term with the show. It comes from the duo who created and ran another unusual HBO show, "Big Love." Though the principle cast are known for comedy — Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, and Niecy Nash — this isn't a laugh-out-loud kind of show. There are some amusing things, but this isn't a typi...

One of the most highly anticipated films of the fall was "Oldboy." It is a re-make of the 2003 South Korean original, this time directed by Spike Lee. "Oldboy" is a cult classic, and highly violent film. It's part of a revenge trilogy. I, of course, knew none of this when I went to watch the American re-make. I, like actress Elizabeth Olsen who said she didn't know the ending of her own film until she saw the premier, was taken back by the story. To call it grim would be underselling it greatly. But it got me thinking, this seems to be a dour trend in films of this type. I loved the American re-make of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," to the point I put it on my top 10 list for the year it came out. But the story wasn't exactly the feel good type. It involved rape, abuse, incest, murder, and Nazis. Not exactly the kind of stuff you want to spend your time focusing on. "Oldboy," similarly, has a lot of dark content. It includes murde...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and Lenny Kravitz Synopsis: The second act in a trilogy can be the most freeing. You don’t have to establish the world and the characters, as is the case in the first chapter, and you don’t have to craft the ideal ending, a burden that falls to the third chapter. In the middle chapter, you can go deeper and set the stakes higher. “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” does just that. In the grand tradition of “The Empire Strikes Back,” it’s the rare sequel that might be better than the original and certainly leaves viewers wanting more. And since the third book in the series — “Mocking Jay” — will be split into two additional films, similar to the path taken by “Harry Potter” and “Twilight,” this installment also got to chew up the most narrative mov...