Matt's Musings

Ugh, Broncos... Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs 29, Broncos 19 Season Record: 3-4 (3-1 Home) Key Play: In the first quarter, with Jamaal Charles carrying the ball, he fumbled and it was recovered by Marcus Peters, who returned it for a touchdown to make it 7-0 Kansas City. The Broncos never recovered, as the Chiefs ran away with the game. Recap: Let's talk about Trevor Siemian for a minute. I felt, like most of us did, that he had a good first season. He wasn't great or perfect, but he was far from the only problem for the Broncos. And he clearly looked like the best option in training camp, and that was confirmed in the first two weeks of the season, when Denver started out 2-0 and Siemian appeared to be really growing into the position. But that has quickly faded. The Broncos are 1-4 since, and the offense has been beyond anemic. Denver scored just 10 points in a loss to the Giants, got shut out in Los Angeles against the Chargers, and looked awful, turning the ball over five ti...

We're almost to November, so the flow of new shows has slowed down, but it hasn't stopped. We will continue to get new offerings well into December before a short break for the holidays. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Hit the Road, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on Audience (Premiered October 17) About: One of two new series on Audience, the channel that features original programming from DirecTV. This one is about a family of musicians led by Jason Alexander, as the patriarch, and Amy Seitz, as the matriarch. I really didn't care much for the pilot, but the second episode was slightly better. Alexander is a gifted comedian and performer, the material here just isn't really up to par. The second episode had a slightly more interesting story, but I don't know if that's enough given the crowded TV climate. When anyone and everyone is m...

November is here, bringing with it a mixture of holiday films, award contenders, and big blockbusters. That's going to be the case for the balance of 2017. Here's what the month has in store! Wednesday, November 1: Bad Moms Christmas — This follow up to the successful summer comedy returns Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn to the world, but sets the action near the craziest of holidays. And, as a bonus, we get to see the moms that made our trio of bad moms! This will likely salve the craziness of the holiday season. Friday, November 3: Thor: Ragnarok — This is the third solo outing for Thor, this time joined by The Hulk. His stand alone movies haven't always been the greatest, but the lighter tone of the trailers for this one give me hope. This might be the best one yet. The Killing of a Sacred Deer — This horror thriller reunites star Colin Farrell with his "Lobster" director. This film looks a little more somber and unsettling, by design. It's also...

"If we start tomorrow right now, everything we've beaten, everything we've endured, everything we've risen above, everything we've become ...if we start tomorrow right now, no matter what comes next, we've won ...we've already won!" — Rick, "The Walking Dead." "The Walking Dead" returned for its eighth season on October 22. Eighth! It seems almost hard to believe that this show has run for so long, but it's also not that hard to see that the show was starting to show its age last season. Ratings for this eighth season premier were the lowest they've been since season two. And I don't see them bouncing back a lot higher. But they might level off if the show does a better job with the narrative in this eighth season. That, to me, could be a big IF. The seventh season was a lot of treading water. It started with a brutal reveal of a cliff hanger that kept people talking about the show all summer. But it was what followed th...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Geostorm Starring: Jim Sturgess, Gerard Butler, Abbie Cornish, and Andy Garcia Synopsis: When it comes to disaster films, you can't really come in with too high of expectations. I mean, it's not like these movies are usually built around high concept stories and well-defined characters. So when you see a movie like "Geostorm" has a 12 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, it's not really a red flag. It's expected. I mean, this isn't art. It's a popcorn movie and and a fun diversion at best. And if you're judging by those metrics, "Geostorm" fits the bill. It casts Butler as the smartest man in the world — a guy who worked with 17 other nations to build Dutchboy, a weather satellite system that keeps big storms from wreaking havoc on the Earth. You know, after we ruined the world through Global Warming. Then his personality got him kicked off the project, and three years later Dut...

Week 7 was another crazy one, but I still managed to get 12 picks right. That helped me close the gap with Lindsay by one. She still holds a two pick lead as we head into Week 8! Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 8: Dolphins Over Ravens (Dolphins) Vikings Over Browns (Vikings) Falcons Over Jets (Falcons) Bills Over Raiders (Raiders) Saints Over Bears (Saints) Bengals Over Colts (Bengals) Patriots Over Chargers (Patriots) Eagles Over 49ers (Eagles) Panthers Over Buccaneers (Buccaneers) Seahawks Over Texans (Texans) Cowboys Over Redskins (Redskins) Steelers Over Lions (Steelers) Broncos Over Chiefs (Chiefs) Last Week: 12–3 Lindsay: 11-4 Season: 61–45 Lindsay: 63-43 NFL Picks Spread, Week 8: Dolphins +3.5 Over Ravens Vikings -9.5 Over Browns Jets +4.5 Over Falcons Bills -2.5 Over Raiders Bears +8.5 Over Saints Colts +10.5 Over Bengals Patriots -7.5 Over Chargers Eagles -12.5 Over 49ers Panthers +2.5 Over Buccaneers Seahawks -5.5 Over Texans Cowboys -2.5 Over Redskin...

Movie can surprise you. I think that's something I really took away from my first viewing of "The Shallows," during a weekend in June 2016, when it was released. It was a little shark movie that cost about $17 million to make, ran 85 minutes, and featured only one real performer — Blake Lively. I went in not sure what to expect, and what I got was one of the best films of the year, and one of the bravest performances. But what helps "The Shallows" stand out — and I'd call it the second best shark movie behind "Jaws" — is that it's a genre piece that transcends genre. Yes, she fights a shark for survival, but more importantly than that she's fighting against her own inner demons. And it's that last part that helps you invest in the character and the story in a real way. Nancy (Lively) is on a journey of grief, one that's taken her away from her life and the future she envisioned for her self and into a remote beach to connect with he...

The new fall TV season is more than a month old, and yet new shows keep flying at us. This flood of new shows, while slowing, will keep going strong into early December. If you haven't found one you like yet, give it time and you may find something yet. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Hit The Road, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on Audience Network (Premiered October 17) About: Everyone is doing original programming now, it's the hip new thing. Audience Network is the network that is owned by DirecTV and provides original programming. Now they've launched two new comedies that are trying to expand the network brand and provide value to those inclined to be cord-cutters. This first comedy stars Jason Alexander and Amy Pietz as the patriarch and matriarch of a singing family out on the road on a tour. But things aren't as they appear, and not e...

Well, that happened. For the first time since 1978, we were shut out against the Chargers. What a day for the Broncos. Week 7: Los Angeles Chargers 21, Broncos 0 Season Record : 3-3 (3-1 Home) Key Play: Early in the first quarter, on a punt, the Broncos kicked it to Travis Benjamin, who returned the punt 65 yards for a touchdown to put the Chargers up 7-0. That, as it turns out, would have been enough. Recap: The Broncos look bad. I joked that they've taken three straight bye weeks, which is funny, but it's also not funny. The Broncos were off during Week 5 then failed to show up for winable games against the Giants (Week 6) and Chargers (Week 7), and now find themselves at 3-3 and quickly slipping from playoff consideration. I'm not impressed by Vance Joseph and even less impressed by Mike McCoy and his "work" with the offense. Of course there are still problems. The offensive line has never been repaired and Trevor Siemian is, at the very least, not progressi...

One of the shows that came into this season under a microscope was "Hawaii 5-0," the veteran CBS drama that airs on Friday nights. The show began its eighth season in September, but there were a lot of questions after two of the original stars quit the show. In response — "Hawaii 5-0" brought in a couple new characters played by Meaghan Rath and Beulah Koale to reboot the season. The question was how the show would work and how it would come together. Would it be the same show? I follow "Hawaii 5-0" and have watched it since it first debuted. I enjoy it for what it is, which is essentially a low-key action show. Sure, there's some procedural elements. But "Hawaii 5-0" never felt like the typical CBS crime drama, it felt more outlandish and more based on action sequences and a few personal touches. It's popcorn television, which made it a perfect feel for Friday nights. And I hadn't imagined when it started that the show would last thi...

This week during our staff meeting, one of the ideas that came up was what our deepest fear is. Of course, this being the scary movie season, it feels like a question people are asking a lot. There are many places that have monthlong fear fests. October has Friday the 13th and Halloween this year, so there was plenty to explore. And, of course, we all have fears that those movies explore. For example, I grew up on the coast of California, but I was never that excited about being in the Ocean. Why? Well, I saw "Jaws" at an early age. It remains one of my favorite films, and though on some level I realize a shark attack like that is highly unlikely, it still creeps me out. And the hundreds of shark attack films since "Jaws" have done little to dissuade me. But that's not the only kind of horror film that hits a little too close to home. I have watched hundreds of horror films — in fact in college I did a research project on the evolution of slasher films. But ther...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. The Foreigner Starring: Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, and Dermot Crowley Synopsis: Jackie Chan has long been known for his action stylings. He's a gifted physical performer and that's helped him establish a career. But he's said that he's interested, as he's getting older, in starring in more dramatic roles. "The Foreigner" is a step in that direction, as he stars in a movie that feels a bit like his version of 'Taken." His daughter is killed in an IRA bombing, and he's determined to get the names of the bombers from a former IRA member turned government official (Brosnan). This sets off a violent cat-and-mouse game. Except that, if you really watch the movie, it becomes more the story of the official, his network, and what happens when a few elements decide to go rogue. During that part of the story in the second and third acts, Chan largely disappears then pops up again for a few action se...

Week 6 was brutal. Nothing seemed to go according to plan, and as a result I went 4-10 on the week. Lindsay did a little better, going 6-8 on the week and opening up a three pick lead. But there's still time for me to right the ship. Let's hope that begins in Week 7. As always, Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 7: Chiefs Over Raiders (Chiefs) Bills Over Buccaneers (Bills) Panthers Over Bears (Panthers) Titans Over Browns (Titans) Saints Over Packers (Saints) Jaguars Over Colts (Jaguars) Rams Over Cardinals (Rams) Dolphins Over Jets (Dolphins) Vikings Over Ravens (Vikings) Cowboys Over 49ers (Cowboys) Steelers Over Bengals (Steelers) Broncos Over Chargers (Broncos) Seahawks Over Giants (Giants) Patriots Over Falcons (Patriots) Eagles Over Redskins (Eagles) Last Week: 4–10 Lindsay: 6-8 Season: 49–42 Lindsay: 52-39 NFL Picks Spread, Week 7: Chiefs -2.5 Over Raiders Bills -2.5 Over Buccaneers Panthers -3.5 Over Bears Titans -5.5 Over Browns Packers +5.5 Over ...

Tonight we continue our discussion with "Up In The Air," a drama/comedy from director Jason Reitman that was released in 2009. This is one of my favorite films, and the best from Reitman. He kicked off his feature film career with "Thank You For Smoking" in 2005, then followed up with "Juno" in 2007 before releasing this film. And this film was a hit for him, with audiences and critics. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, though it didn't win any awards. One of the things the film did really well was capture a certain time and struggle in our country, particularly as regards the economy. The film shot in 2008 in St. Louis and Detroit, two cities hit hard by the bursting of the housing bubble and the economic crisis. And they used real people, sharing real stories of being laid off, to create something powerful and memorable. And that's one of the reasons the film stood out. But the other focus of the plot was the philosophy of the central char...

We're deep into the new fall TV season now, and the wave, or rather flood, of new shows is washing over us. There's been a lot of options but, for me, few diamonds in the rough. Hopefully you've found something new you like. If not, the wave isn't about to abate any time soon. In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows this fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Monday: Valor, Mondays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 9) About: The CW offered a pair of new shows this fall, "Valor" is about a group of special forces helicopter pilots embroiled in something deeper. I thought the pilot leaned a bit too much into other soapy shows on the network. By contrast, the second episode plays it a little more straight. But I found that's not always better. There's a lot going on here, and on the one hand I give The CW a bit of praise for stretching out of their typical demographic. But I wasn...

We all feel that way, Trevor... Week 6 : New York Giants 23, Broncos 10 Season Record: 3-2 (3-1 Home) Key Play: In the first half, with the Broncos trailing 10-3 and less than two minutes left in the half, Trevor Siemian threw a short pass that was intercepted by Janoris Jenkins, who returned it for a touchdown, making the score 17-3 and putting the game away. Recap: For years now, I've been leery of the uniform combination that includes Navy Blue tops and Navy Blue pants. I think it's really the pants that put it over-the-top, especially in Prime Time. We always seem to find new ways to lose. Such was the case on Sunday night, as we returned from a bye week for a nationally televised home game against a team that came in 0-5 with their best players all out and injured. The Broncos were favored by 12.5 points, and it felt like the classic trap game. As was the Week 3 game in Buffalo. And for the second time this season, the Broncos fell into the trap. The team came out flat,...

The TV Season is up and going again, and though they were the final network to make the leap, the CW is finally going, too. And, for the most part, that means DC Universe series. So here's a look at how all four shows returned and how they're looking as we kick off a new season. Super Girl, Mondays at 8 p.m. About: As we left off, "Super Girl" wrapped up her second season, first on the CW, on a sad note. She saved Earth but lost her love, Mon-El. And as we pick up season three, she's not taking things too well. She's detached, focused on saving as many people as possible and has let her life as Kara Danvers go, which isn't good for her or anyone. Don't worry, by the end of the premier she's back to something of her old self, but it was interesting to see Melissa Benoist take a new dimension. And the season is setting up well, too. Kara's friend, Lena Luthor, bought the paper, which will bring in a new dimension, and we got to see this season...

The Denver Broncos will begin their post-bye portion of the season tomorrow night as they host the New York Giants. But heading into the bye, the team was a Top 5 squad in the NFL, going 3-1 and, at times, looking unstoppable. It's also fair to argue they haven't played a complete four quarter game yet, so here's three hopes for the rest of the season. 1. Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders get more involved. The Broncos are winning. That's important. And I don't want to diminish that. But DT and Sanders have complained about not being more involved, and that's a fair point. They are two of the best receivers in the NFL, and yet it seems like the offense has somewhat passed them over. In fact, DT hasn't scored a TD yet this season. That's got to change, and I think it could change as early as Sunday night. 2. Get healthy and stay that way. The Broncos have struggled with injuries pre-season and early in the season, and the injuries have come where th...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Blade Runner 2049 Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, and Ana de Armas Synopsis: "Blade Runner" is considered a cult classic and a sci-fi masterpiece. Based on the short story from Phillip K. Dick, the Ridley Scott film wasn't an immediate hit when it was released. But over the past 30 plus years, it's become a classic and revered film. Which is why the idea of a sequel, especially one executive produced by Scott and once again starring original film hero Ford, was met with such excitement. On Friday, we finally got that film. This new one, set 30 years after the original, is directed by Denis Villenueve, and featured Gosling in the starring role as a contemporary Blade Runner, and a new wave of replicant, named K. K is charged with "retiring" an old model replicant, still viewed as a threat, and there uncovers a deeper mystery. It leads him to seek out former...

After briefly taking the lead following Week 4, Lindsay surged back in front in Week 5, outscoring me by three picks. Will it last? Let's find out. NFL Picks, Week 6: Panthers Over Eagles (Panthers) Falcons Over Dolphins (Falcons) Ravens Over Bears (Ravens) Texans Over Browns (Texans) Lions Over Saints (Saints) Packers Over Vikings (Packers) Patriots Over Jets (Patriots) Redskins Over 49ers (Redskins) Jaguars Over Rams (Jaguars) Buccaneers Over Cardinals (Cardinals) Chiefs Over Steelers (Chiefs) Raiders Over Chargers (Raiders) Broncos Over Giants (Broncos) Titans Over Colts (Titans) Last Week : 6–8 Lindsay: 9-5 Season: 45–32 Lindsay: 46-31 NFL Picks Spread, Week 6: Panthers -2.5 Over Eagles Falcons -11.5 Over Dolphins Bears +7.5 Over Ravens Texans -9.5 Over Browns Lions +4.5 Over Saints Packers -3.5 Over Vikings Jets +9.5 Over Patriots 49ers +9.5 Over Redskins Jaguars -2.5 Over Rams Buccaneers -2.5 Over Cardinals Chiefs -3.5 Over Steelers Chargers +6.5 Over Raiders Broncos -12.5 ...

Tonight we tackle the world of dreams with "Inception," a fascinating film that came out in 2010. It comes from director Christopher Nolan, and it was incredibly well received by critics and audiences. It got an 86 percent critical score and 91 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty outstanding. It was also a big player during awards season, nominated for eight Academy Awards and winning four for its technical presentation. And this was a labor of love for Nolan, who began working on the screenplay after seeing "The Matrix" in 1999 and presented an 80-page treatment to Warner Brothers in 2001. He worked on it for nine to 10 years before finally making it into a film, and I think that dedication to story and craft shows. But what the film really boils down to (aside from a controversial ending that had people talking for years) is an exploration of the weight of grief and loss. Many of Nolan’s films have similar themes. By worldview he’s somewhat ...

We're in early October and the onslaught of new series is in full swing. This week The CW joins the fray. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new series this fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Monday Nights: 9JKL, Mondays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 2) About: It's fair to wonder how the CBS comedy block on Mondays is going to fair in a few weeks when "The Big Bang Theory" moves back to Thursday nights. Veteran "Kevin Can Wait" isn't strong, and "Superior Doughnuts" didn't have a huge following last year. Then there's the new shows. "Me, Myself, and I" slid in its few weeks on the air. But "9JKL" might be the true weak spot. I mentioned last week that I didn't care for much of anything about the pilot. Shockingly, the second episode was possibly worse. It wasn't funny, the pacing was off, and the storytelling was painful. This is easily th...