Matt's Musings

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week. Venom Starring : Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate, and Reid Scott Synopsis : We've long-since passed peak superhero film status at the cinemas, but they still find ways to bring more and more characters from the Marvel and D.C. worlds to the big screen. That's the case with "Venom," a long gestating property that was released in early October just in time for Halloween. The film focuses on a traditional villain in the Spiderman universe, and tries to center a film on an origin story that makes him a semi-hero. If you're having Halle Berry "Catwoman" flashbacks, never fear, this is better. Not great, but better. Hardy takes the lead role as Eddie Brock, a journalist who hits a rough patch after trying to uncover dark deeds from a nefarious organization. Soon, he finds himself roped in by a scientist (Slate) from said organization, and is infected with something that turns out to ...

We're almost to November, and the tidal wave of new shows continues. While the traditional networks are slowing down, and in fact preparing to wrap up their "Fall" offerings in the next couple weeks, we're still getting plenty of streaming options. And that doesn't even count the returning shows that I don't recap each week here. Each Tuesday 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: The Conners, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC (Premiered October 16) About: This spin-off from "Roseanne" includes all the characters but the titular one. The first episode was a bit of a downer, as the series had to explain the big absence and did so in a way some fans found crass. I didn't have a problem with it because the series began laying the groundwork last year, and it felt like the kind of story they would tell. It was also an emotional showcase for Sa...

"Negan deserved to die when it ended. Rick was wrong because he made a call that wasn't his to make. I just want to make sure that you're not wrong in the same way that he was." - Jesus, "The Walking Dead" "The Walking Dead" began its ninth season on Sunday, October 7. Throughout the season I'll be recapping the episodes each Monday, considering themes and where the series is headed. Next week is going to be rough. I'm not ready. We've known Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) was leaving, and last night as the episode closed we saw how it's going to happen. But there will be plenty of time to dwell on that next week. For now, the focus is on the new world that Rick has tried to build. We've seen the hope of it in he premier as Rick tried to honor the dream of his son, Carl, by bringing peace to the world. And for him, that meant sparing the life of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). As he said in the finale, his mercy overcame his...

Week 8 : Kansas City Chiefs 30, Broncos 23 Season Record: 3-5 (2-2 Home) Key Play: In the second half, leading 23-14, Patrick Mahomes connected with Kareem Hunt on a 23-yard TD pass on fourth down, putting the team up 30-14. The Chiefs never looked back. Recap : The Broncos are 3-5 and any hope of making the playoffs is over. The team trails the Chiefs by four games in the AFC West, and was swept by the Chiefs. A Wild Card berth is unlikely. In short, it's a lost season and it's possible the Broncos trade some key pieces before Week 9, including Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Brandon Marshall and Bradley Roby. We'll see about that. It was another day of self-inflicted wounds, too. Case Keenum threw another INT, as he has every game this season. He also fumbled the ball. And there were plenty of penalties, too. Phillip Lindsay likely would have had 150 yards or more if not for the constant holding calls. This team is hard to watch, and it's only getting harde...

We've reached November, well almost. And with it comes a mix of some of the most anticipated film releases of the year. Let's see what pre-Christmas presents await us in November. It's a slate that gives us reason to be thankful. OK, enough with the holiday puns. Friday, November 2: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms : It's hard to get much more holiday season appropriate than this Disney film, which started its ad campaign a year ago. Needless to say, we've been waiting and with this cast (which includes Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and Kiera Knightly), there's plenty to get excited about. Bohemian Rhapsody: Almost everyone has heard and enjoyed Queen music, even if you didn't always know it was them. In fact, shows like "Glee" even brought it to life for new generations. Rami Malek is an incredibly talented actor, too, and I'm sure he'll be great as Freddie Mercury. The film had some troubled production and drew mixed reviews, so i...

We're nearly to the halfway point of the season, and I'm maintaining a lead. Will it last? We'll see. Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 8: Texans Over Dolphins (Dolphins) Jaguars Over Eagles (Eagles) Bears Over Jets (Bears) Bengals Over Buccaneers (Buccaneers) Steelers Over Browns (Steelers) Chiefs Over Broncos (Chiefs) Lions Over Seahawks (Lions) Redskins Over Giants (Redskins) Panthers Over Ravens (Panthers) Colts Over Raiders (Colts) Rams Over Packers (Packers) 49ers Over Cardinals (Cardinals) Saints Over Vikings (Vikings) Patriots Over Bills (Patriots) Last Week : 11–3 Lindsay : 8-6 Season: 65–42 Lindsay: 50-57 NFL Picks Spread, Week 8: Dolphins +7.5 Over Texans Jaguars +2.5 Over Eagles Bears -6.5 Over Jets Bengals -4.5 Over Buccaneers Steelers -8.5 Over Browns Broncos +10.5 Over Chiefs Lions -2.5 Over Seahawks Redskins -.5 Over Giants Panthers +1.5 Over Ravens Colts -2.5 Over Raiders Packers +9.5 Over Rams 49ers +.5 Over Cardinals Saints ...

Well, Halloween returned to theaters last weekend and was, indeed, the biggest film. The question in daily scoring was which day would provide value. I bet on Saturday, but Friday was the better option. However, I noted Old Man and the Gun was likely to have a good shot at Best Value. And it did, indeed, capture Best Value. But thanks to banking on the wrong day of Halloween , and Venom not quite living up to expectation, I didn’t get high enough to be the Perfect Cineplex. My instincts were solid, but in fantasy sometimes it doesn’t quite pan out. (David Johnson fans are nodding their heads sadly right now.) This week four new films join the game, and none of them looks all that special. That’s fine, because we still have all these giant October releases out there for us to enjoy. And as always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App Blog league! You can join the league here . Let’s see how this week stacks up. ...

We wrapped up our discussion this term with a look at "Just Mercy," the fantastic book from Bryan Stevenson. After two weeks of looking a films that told fictional stories of race and justice issues, "Just Mercy" is sobering because it is real. John Grisham said of Stevenson’s book, “Not since Atticus Finch has a fearless and committed lawyer made such a difference in the American South. Though larger than life, Atticus exists only in fiction. Bryan Stevenson, however, is very much alive and doing God’s work fighting for the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless, the vulnerable, the outcast, and those with no hope. Just Mercy is his inspiring and powerful story.” Stevenson's family attended the Prospect African Methodist Episcopal Church, where as a youth Stevenson played piano and sang in the choir. His later views were influenced by the strong faith of the church, where churchgoers were celebrated for “standing up after having fallen down.” These experienc...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. First Man Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, and Kyle Chandler Synopsis: Damien Chazelle has started his career on fire. His first feature film, "Whiplash," was the finest film I saw the year it was released, and remains powerful thanks to his direction and the performances. Then, he followed up with "La La Land," a film that very nearly won Best Picture and was a beautiful, stylish musical with rich performances. For his third feature, Chazelle is taking on something different with "First Man." Based on the screenplay from Josh Singer and the book from James R. Hansen, the film looks at the space race through the eyes of Neil Armstrong (Gosling) and his wife Janet (Foy). And it's beautiful. Gosling, who starred in "La La Land," has an incredibly expressive face. He's able to convey so much emotion and range without spoken word, and Chazelle captures that beautifully. Armstrong ...

The Fall network slate is almost all out and we're starting to get a picture of what has delivered on its promise and what hasn't. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall, and trust me there's a lot. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: The Conners, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC (Premiered October 16) About: The biggest hit for any network last season was the re-birth of "Roseanne," which dominated Tuesday nights and was quickly renewed. Then Roseanne Barr went on Twitter, the show was cancelled, and a media storm ensued. The end result was Roseanne bowing out of the show that she created and bore her name, allowing the rest of the cast and characters to spin-off into a new series. It was good news for those that were employed on the series, and good news for ABC, which needed the series to anchor its Tuesday lineup. Last week we finally got to see the premier, and how ...

"For a long time I wanted it too, maybe more than anyone.But killing each other when the world already belongs to the dead? It's not the way. Not anymore." - Rick, "The Walking Dead" "The Walking Dead" began its ninth season on Sunday, October 7. Throughout the season I'll be recapping the episodes each Monday, considering themes and where the series is headed. One of the things that made shows like "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones" different is the element of surprise. Anything could happen at any time to these characters we love, and often did. There were stakes because anyone could be killed. In fact, the back half of season eight was memorable not only because Rick's son, Carl, died, but because his death had a profound effect on his father and the world. This season was robbed of some of its power when it became known that Andrew Lincoln, Rick Grimes to TWD fans, was leaving the show. And quickly. In fa...

Week 7: Broncos 45, Arizona Cardinals 10 Season Record: 3-4 (2-2 Home) Key Play: In the first half, with the Broncos leading 7-0 thanks to a Todd Davis INT return for a touchdown, Emmanuel Sanders took a handoff, rolled out and hit Courtland Sutton on a 28-yard touchdown pass to put the Broncos up 14-0. The route was on. Recap: On Tuesday, Von Miller said the Broncos were gonna kick the Cardinals behinds. He, of course, used a different word. It was an unexpected and brashly confident statement from the Broncos' best player, and one we don't usually hear. Coming off a four-game losing streak and a woeful defensive stretch that saw the Broncos give up more than 200 yards rushing to a single rusher two games in a row. Would Von's words inspire his team? We found out early on Thursday, as the Broncos' defense played with intensity. They scored two defensive touchdowns, something not done since 1989, and the offense strung to life, too. The team delivered on Von...

Lindsay had a stronger Week 6, but she still trails by a sizeable margin. Let's see if she can close the game. Lindsay's picks in Brackets. NFL Picks, Week 7: Broncos Over Cardinals (Cardinals) Chargers Over Titans (Chargers) Colts Over Bills (Colts) Patriots Over Bears (Patriots) Browns Over Buccaneers (Browns) Lions Over Dolphins (Dolphins) Vikings Over Jets (Jets) Eagles Over Panthers (Eagles) Jaguars Over Texans (Jaguars) Saints Over Ravens (Saints) Redskins Over Cowboys (Redskins) Rams Over 49ers (Rams) Chiefs Over Bengals (Chiefs) Falcons Over Giants (Falcons) Last Week : 9–6 Lindsay : 9-6 Season : 54–39 Lindsay: 42-51 NFL Picks Spread, Week 7: Broncos -2.5 Over Cardinals Chargers -6.5 Over Titans Colts -6.5 Over Bills Bears +3.5 Over Patriots Browns +3.5 Over Buccaneers Lions -.5 Over Dolphins Vikings -3.5 Over Jets Panthers +4.5 Over Eagles Texans +4.5 Over Jaguars Saints +2.5 Over Ravens Redskins -1.5 Over Cowboys 49ers +10.5 Over Rams Chiefs -5.5 Over Ben...

There are few movies that have endured the way Halloween has. The low-budget horror film from John Carpenter launched a genre and made Jamie Lee Curtis a star. It’s inspired countless sequels and re-makes. And now, 40 years later, it’s getting another sequel that returns Curtis to the world of Haddonfield. It will be by far the biggest event this weekend. But more on that in a minute. Last week I bet on A Star is Born and The Hate U Give , with Smallfoot providing some buffer. Venom again bested predictions and was the right anchor. And while The Hate U Give was, for a time, listed as the best value, it got eclipsed by the nebulous Best of the Rest at the end. So I fell short of the mark. But I haven’t given up the fight. Daily scoring returns this week, adding a new wrinkle to the game. And as always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App Blog league! You can join the league here . Let’s see how this week stacks...

"What is it in us that seeks the truth?" - Jake, "A Time to Kill" There are movies that just stick with you. For me, that movie has always been "A Time to Kill." I first saw it when I was in high school, and it's always been a movie I've come back to. At times in my life it was in different places on my all time list, but for the last decade plus it's been right at the top, my favorite movie of all time. And there's a lot that I like about the film. There are a lot of themes it explores in a powerful way. It considers marriage, and fidelity in marriage. It looks at society and race relations, and it presents a pretty warts and all view of race relations in our country, and makes a powerful statement there. But to me, this has always been a film about justice. It's my favorite movie of all time, but it's one I don't agree with. It presents the quintessential view of American justice, but I think it's off from Biblic...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Bad Times at the El Royale Starring: Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, Cynthia Erivo, and Lewis Pullman Synopsis: We've reached that season where we start getting interesting movies of substance. "Bad Times at the El Royale" isn't obvious Oscar bait, but it has the kind of craft and performances that might get it in the conversation. Writer/director Drew Goddard has done some interesting work in the past, but what he does with "El Royale" feels special. It has a vibe that reminds me of Quentin Tarantino's film style, though with a little more measured violence. But there's plenty of style and interesting characters, cool dialogue and fun twists. It's about an unlikely group that ends up at the El Royale, a once popular hotel in Lake Tahoe that sits on the California/Nevada border. But after losing its gaming license, it became a forgotten and secluded property. And...

We're in the middle of October, and the fire hose seems to be opening wider as it pertains new shows. The CW premiered last week, and we got a few new cable offerings, too. And now we're going to get the ABC Tuesday lineup tomorrow, which includes three new shows, but that's a question for next week. Below is a look at the new shows we already have. I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesday Nights: All American, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 10) About: This Fall The CW only rolled out two new shows, but one of them — "All American" — was one of the most anticipated shows of the Fall. For me and for others. And we finally got a look at the show, based on a true story, about a young man and athlete at Crenshaw High School and is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High School. Daniel Ezra leads the cast as Spencer James, and Taye Diggs stars ...

"You're not saving the world Rick, you're just getting it ready for me." — Negan, "The Walking Dead." "The Walking Dead" began its ninth season on Sunday, October 7. Throughout the season I'll be recapping the episodes each Monday, considering themes and where the series is headed. It's not easy to build a new world. It's a beautiful idea, but it's far from simple to get it executed. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) allowed his mercy to overcome his wrath at the end of the eighth season, and it was in part fueled by his love for his son. So Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) lived. While Negan's presence hung over the premier, we didn't see him. Instead, he finally appeared in the second episode as Rick shared a vision of the future. As he said, "We're not just fighting to survive anymore. We're making a new beginning." Negan, from inside his prison cell, was less sure. In fact, he believes Rick's journey is jus...

Week 6: Los Angeles Rams 23, Broncos 20 Season Record: 2-4 (2-2 Home) Key Play: In the fourth quarter, with the Broncos trailing 20-13 by trying to come back, the Rams ran a long drive milking the clock. Cairo Santos capped a 13-play, 72-yard drive with a 21-yard field goal to make it 23-13. It was enough to hold off the Broncos. Recap: There was a moment near the end of the first half when the Broncos got the ball back down 13-3 with just seconds left. Chad Kelly, the backup QB trotted out onto the field to the cheers of the home crowd. It was for nothing more than a kneel down, and it was because Case Keenum was being evaluated for a concussion. But it was a microcosm of the Broncos' season. It was hope. And for a brief moment, the most popular guy in Denver got on the field. Now Keenum had some strong moments in the second half, helping the Broncos get close before losing. He completed a 40-plus yard pass to each of the Broncos' top three receivers. But it was also ...