Matt's Musings

As 2017 fades away, I'm looking back at my favorite things of the year. In this final post of the year, I'm listing my favorite and most disappointing movies of the year. A couple of notes — first some of the most interesting possible films of the year are still in limited release and I'm not in the place where they've been limitedly released (The Post, The Phantom Thread, Molly's Game, I, Tonya). So I haven't seen everything. Second, these lists are subjective, even moreso than regular movie reviews. This is the list of 10 movies that I enjoyed most during the year in ascending order. The five most disappointing also appear in ascending order. I hope you didn't have to see any of those. 10. Beauty and the Beast — This was the big, live-action adaptation of the classic Disney tale, and it featured some great performances from Dan Stevens and Emma Watson. I loved the look and the music. They nailed the adaptation. It was a lot of fun. 9. Logan — By ...

We've reached the end of 2017, and I'm listing my favorite things for the year. This post has my top 15 TV Series. I know what you're thinking, it should be 10. But there was a ton of shows this year, and I didn't want to limit myself. So there's 15 in ascending order. And, I think, a surprise at the end. For the first time in years, "Game of Thrones" has been de-throned as my favorite show. Of course, it's still on the list, so I haven't completely turned. 15. The Crown, Season 2, Netflix — This second season was released in December, and it wasn't quite as strong at the first season. But it was still very compelling. Claire Foy is great, and it is hard for me to imagine what this series will be like with a new cast in season three. 14. Brockmire, Season 1, IFC — At this point in time I don't get surprised by much any more, but this simple comedy about a disgraced TV announcer who hits rock bottom and falls down a couple more rung...

The Meme gives it away, but a special episode of "Game of Thrones" is on this list. Today I continue my best of 2017 with my favorite TV Episodes of 2017. The list is below, in ascending order. 10. "Vergangenheit," episode 2.06 "The Crown" — The second season of "The Crown" wasn't quite as good as season one, but this was an excellent episode that really served as a showcase for Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth and Alex Jennings as The Duke of Windsor. I really enjoyed the historical context, too. 9. "Crisis on Earth X," D.C. TV Universe — This is really four episodes, the eighth episode of the current seasons of "Supergirl," "Arrow," "The Flash," and "D.C.'s Legends of Tomorrow," but it's really one continuous movie. And it was awesome. It was some of the most fun I had watching TV this year. 8. "Chapter 6," 1.06 "Legion" — In a show that was weird and fre...

We are rapidly approaching 2018, and as we do it’s time for my lists of my favorite performances, episodes, shows, and films of 2017. In this post, I’ll look at my favorite performances from the big screen, including writing and directing. This comes from the movies I've seen this year. Notably I've not yet gotten to see "The Post," "I, Tonya," "Molly's Game," "The Phantom Thread," or "All The Money in the World," which are still in limited and won't likely go wide until 2018. Best Actor: * Jeremy Renner, "Wind River" — I loved this movie and the subtle and beautiful performance from Renner. * Kumail Najiani, "The Big Sick" — I've loved him on "Silicon Valley" for years, but his work in this deeply personal original story was great. * James Franco, "The Disaster Artist" — Franco is incredibly talented, and this film is a great exhibit of his range and commitment to c...

We are rapidly approaching 2018, and as we do it's time for my lists of my favorite performances, episodes, shows, and films of 2017. In this post, I'll look at my favorite performances from the small screen! Below are the lists, divided into comedy and drama. There were 500 scripted series in 2017, so that's a lot of TV. I saw a lot of it, but these performances are based on the series that really moved me. Best Actor, TV Comedy: * Hank Azaria, "Brockmire" — This series was one of the surprises of Spring for me, and Azaria was a big reason why. * Titus Burgess, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" — He's one of the funniest parts of the show. * Keir Gilchrist, "Atypical" — This Netflix show was one of the year's surprises to me. * Andy Samberg, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" — This show was really strong in 2017, and Samberg is a big reason why. * Brandon Michael Hall, "The Mayor" — My favorite new network sitcom, and ...

We’re heading into another four-day holiday frame for New Years, as the weekend kicks off on Friday, December 29 and wraps up on Monday, January 1. And while last week saw a glut of new entries to the game, this week sees a pretty static lineup at our Fantasy Movie League options. And most see a pretty static finish at the Box Office, too, with Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle sitting atop all the prognostication charts. But how they finish will be key. Last week it looked like Star Wars was poised to pull in around $125 million, making it an ideal anchor. It fell short of that mark and made just $100 million. Jumanji , meanwhile, was projected at about $45 million and went for $50-plus, making it a better anchor option. I was right about Darkest Hour , which was just $16 FML bucks and added 700 screens, being a great shot at Best Value. It was. But hedging my best with Star Wars cost me. The Perfect Cineplex was Jumanji x3, The Greatest Showma...

It's Week 17 of the Regular Season, and Lindsay and I remain close. We're just five apart as the regular season draws to a close. Time to see how we do in Week 17! Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 17: Vikings Over Bears (Vikings) Steelers Over Browns (Steelers) Cowboys Over Eagles (Eagles) Lions Over Packers (Packers) Colts Over Texans (Colts) Patriots Over Jets (Patriots) Redskins Over Giants (Redskins) Panthers Over Falcons (Falcons) Bills Over Dolphins (Dolphins) Ravens Over Bengals (Ravens) Broncos Over Chiefs (Broncos) Titans Over Jaguars (Titans) Chargers Over Raiders (Raiders) 49ers Over Rams (Rams) Saints Over Buccaneers (Saints) Seahawks Over Cardinals (Seahawks) Last Week: 12–4 Lindsay: 11-5 Season: 157–82 Lindsay: 152-87 NFL Picks Spread, Week 17: Bears +12.5 Over Vikings Steelers -14.5 Over Browns Cowboys -2.5 Over Eagles Lions -7.5 Over Packers Colts -3.5 Over Texans Patriots -15.5 Over Jets Redskins -3.5 Ov...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week! Pitch Perfect 3 Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, and Hailee Steinfeld Synopsis: In the fall of 2012 a little movie about college acapella singers was released. It was the kind of movie that could have gone under the radar, but instead it exploded because of great characters, great songs, and a hardcore fan base that was thrilled with what they saw. That led to a sequel in the summer of 2015 and now, two and a half years later, the core cast is back for one last go-around. Predictably this film wasn't incredibly reviewed, but it's not the kind of movie that's made for critics. It's made for fans, and if you were a fan of the first two films, you'll likely be pretty pleased with this final installment. It puts the focus back on the core ladies — including a bigger part for Camp than in the sequel. And it's about them growing up and finding their place in the world. There...

The year is quickly winding down, and it's time to look back at the best of the year we're leaving behind. For me, these are some of the posts that I think the most about during the year, and some of the most fun. First, a note about the process for these best of lists. There are a lot of different criteria you can use to create a Best of List. Some go strictly about metrics tied to quality. That is one valid method of creating a Best of List, going the objective route. I've tried that in year's past, and when selections are close, I'll often lean toward objective metrics as a tie-breaker. But that's not how I craft these lists. For me, a Best of List is about what inspired, awed, and moved you during the year. To me, that's a very personal, subjective way to look at art, and that's the method I tend to lean toward when I'm working on these lists. So when you see my Best of 2017 posts as we roll toward the end of the year, know these are deriv...

2017, and thus its fall, is nearly gone. So this is the last of the new shows this fall. But, don't worry, new winter series begin on Tuesday, January 2. In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. HBO Miniseries: Gunpowder, a three-part miniseries (Debuted December 18) About: Kit Harrington, of "Game of Thrones," stars in and produced this mini-series for the BBC which then aired on HBO over three straight nights. (It is available in HBO on demand, and has been replaying the last week.) It's about the gunpowder treason and plot from the 1600s, the plan to destroy the government hatched by a group of oppressed Catholics. It's an interesting historical story, and had a good cast. But there was an aspect of the production that was a bit dry. That could stem partly from it not being a part of our history and having to try and remember some of the pol...

For the Broncos, it's two steps forward, half a mile back this season. Week 16 kept that theme. Week 16 : Washington Redskins 27, Broncos 11 Season Record : 5-10 (4-3 Home) Key Play : In the fourth quarter, with the Broncos trailing 13-3, Kirk Cousins connected with Josh Doctson on a 48-yard touchdown strike with just over 12 minutes left. The Broncos fell behind 20-3 and never recovered. Recap: The Broncos saw their possible future franchise quarterback play on Sunday. He wore No. 8 for the Redskins, and he threw for three touchdowns against the somewhat revised No Fly Zone. His team also came away with a 16-point home win and clearly looked better. If Kirk Cousins comes available, the Broncos are expected to make a serious play for him. And judging by what we saw Sunday, he'd be a huge upgrade. But one that comes at a cost. Still, that's a discussion for a future date. For now, we can look at what the Broncos actually put on the field. Brock Osweiler looked like a ...

I hope this Christmas Eve finds you well. And now, my favorite part of my favorite Christmas Special. Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about. Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. [moves toward the center of the stage] Lights, please. [a spotlight shines on Linus] "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 sha...

Tomorrow is the final Sunday of Advent, and it's also Christmas Eve. It's the time when we celebrate the greatest light, the only meaningful light, coming into this world. That's what our Advent Series Brighter has been about — focusing on the one true light and not the others that drown it out. On Wednesday a new musical, "The Greatest Showman," and it had a song that really caught my attention when considering this topic. The song is called "Never Enough," and it's a love song. But the chorus really speaks to something in our culture when we latch on to those other lights for fulfillment. All the shine of a thousand spotlights All the stars we steal from the nightsky Will never be enough Never be enough Towers of gold are still too little These hands could hold the world but it'll Never be enough Never be enough For me Never, never Never, never Never, for me For me That is the point of the last few weeks of s...

Star Wars is here, and so is Christmas. This week saw two wide releases on Wednesday, three more on Friday and the expansion of several smaller films. In total, with Star Wars condensing down to one entry from daily pricing, there are nine new options for Fantasy Movie League this weekend. That’s a lot. But before we look ahead, it’s time to see how things went last weekend. I correctly called that Star Wars on Friday was the best anchor, but it all came down to how you filled out the cineplex. The most popular option was Star Wars (Friday), Thor: Ragnarok x7. That brought in $126.6 million. The Perfect Cineplex, which correctly nailed that Daddy’s Home 2 would be the Best Value, was Star Wars (Friday), Daddy’s Home 2 x7, which brought in $150 million. That combination was correctly nailed by 713 people. My lineup: Star Wars (Friday), Wonder x2, The Shape of Water x5 brought in $123.7 million, so I have some work to do. With a plethora of options this week, it...

There's just two weeks left in the NFL Regular Season, and just four picks separate me and Lindsay. Time to see how it all shakes out. Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 16: Ravens Over Colts (Ravens) Vikings Over Packers (Vikings) Saints Over Falcons (Saints) Patriots Over Bills (Patriots) Browns Over Bears (Bears) Lions Over Bengals (Lions) Redskins Over Broncos (Broncos) Rams Over Titans (Rams) Chiefs Over Dolphins (Chiefs) Chargers Over Jets (Chargers) Panthers Over Buccaneers (Panthers) Jaguars Over 49ers (Jaguars) Cowboys Over Seahawks (Cowboys) Cardinals Over Giants (Giants) Steelers Over Texans (Steelers) Eagles Over Raiders (Eagles) Last Week : 10–6 Lindsay : 10-6 Season: 145–78 Lindsay: 141-82 NFL Picks Spread, Week 16: Ravens -13.5 Over Colts Vikings -6.5 Over Packers Falcons +5.5 Over Saints Bills +12.5 Over Patriots Browns +6.5 Over Bears Lions -4.5 Over Bengals Redskins -3.5 Over Broncos Rams -6.5 Over Titans Chiefs -10.5 Over Dolph...

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week. Star Wars: The Last Jedi Starring: Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Adam Driver Synopsis: It's been 40 years since "Star Wars" debuted in theaters. In that time, it's become a huge part of the cultural landscape. So many people remember what it was like seeing "Star Wars" for the first time. I was not yet born when "A New Hope" debuted, but I can remember watching "Star Wars" on video from an early age, setting up my toys and acting out the battles. And I remember the feeling of seeing those original films in 1997, upon their re-release. There was magic in the lights coming down and those words crawling across the screen. And it's that magic, and those childhood experiences, that have drawn many to these new films. In 2015, "The Force Awakens" spoke to that sense of nostalgia with...

Christmas is coming, but so are new shows. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows this fall. And, by the way, new shows for the winter begin January 2, so there's not much of a break in the flow of "new." If you don't see a new show listed below, check previous weeks. Monday Nights: Gunpowder, Miniseries on HBO each night at 10 p.m. (Premiered December 18) About: Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. In America, those words probably make you think of "V for Vendetta." But in England, they have a different significance. HBO has been Kit Harrington's TV home for years, but we're used to seeing him as Jon Snow, savior of Westeros. In "Gunpowder," a mini series he helped produce (as he's playing one of his distant relatives), he plays a Catholic bent on taking down an oppressive and brutal government. To do that, he teams up with Guy Fawkes (Tom Cullen), a...

The Golden Globe award nominations were announced a week ago. There were some surprises and curious additions, as there always is. The Globes is the first of the big awards to launch in the new year, and often doesn't sync up with some of the others. It's also a group that sometimes makes some curious choices in terms of TV programs and movies. While I will wait to make predictions until closer to the awards (January 7, 2018), I will share a few selections I thought they missed. The Big Sick (Best Picture, Musical or Comedy, Best Actor, Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay):  You could have expected "The Big Sick," one of the best comedies of the year, to have landed a number of award nominations. Instead, it got none. And that's a shame, especially considering the Globes has a musical/comedy category. A film like "Get Out" isn't really a comedy, and certainly isn't a musical, yet it got in th...

"We are who they grow beyond." — Yoda, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" If you haven't yet seen "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," you might want to skip this post until you do. (SPOILERS BELOW). There is a lot to digest in the new "Star Wars," and I'll have a full review later in the week. But for now, there's some ideas I've been mulling on since seeing it (twice). The biggest of which is what the movie says about the past. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamil) is reluctant to train Rey (Daisy Ridley). He's suffered failures in his life and he doesn't think he can be who she needs. Master Yoda, one last time, appears to set Luke on the right path. He tells him that remembering and honoring the past is good, being a slave to it isn't. Holding on to a dream or vision of what was can prevent you from moving forward. And you don't have to be perfect to be a teacher. He leaves Luke with this wisdom, "We are who they grow be...