Matt's Musings

With just five weeks left, every game counts. As always, Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 13: Saints Over Cowboys (Saints) Falcons Over Ravens (Falcons) Bills Over Dolphins (Dolphins) Bears Over Giants (Bears) Broncos Over Bengals (Broncos) Texans Over Browns (Texans) Rams Over Lions (Lions) Packers Over Cardinals (Packers) Colts Over Jaguars (Jaguars) Panthers Over Buccaneers (Panthers) Titans Over Jets (Titans) Chiefs Over Raiders (Chiefs) Patriots Over Vikings (Patriots) Seahawks Over 49ers (Seahawks) Steelers Over Chargers (Steelers) Eagles Over Redskins (Eagles) Last Week : 10–5 Lindsay : 9-6 Season : 110–66 Lindsay : 92-84 NFL Picks Spread, Week 13: Saints -7.5 Over Cowboys Falcons +1.5 Over Ravens Bears -4.5 Over Giants Broncos -3.5 Over Bengals Texans -6.5 Over Browns Rams -9.5 Over Lions Packers -14.5 Over Cardinals Colts -3.5 Over Jaguars Chiefs -14.5 Over Raiders Patriots -6.5 Over Vikings Seahawks -10.5 Over 49ers Steelers -3.5 Over Chargers ...

It’s been a week, but I’d be willing to wager many of us are still eating turkey and all the fixings. I know I am. That’s what happens when you have a bountiful feast — you have it again and again for days after. The same is true at the Box Office this week. Sure, there’s a couple new films in the game, but mostly it’s the leftovers of the bountiful feast week had Thanksgiving week, when five new movies opened in wide release. But can I do better with them this week? Of all the things out there, I thought Creed I I looked like it had a favorable chance to provide value. It wasn’t bad, even outpacing some projections. But Ralph Breaks the Internet was the Best Value, and The Grinch was a close second. Never underestimate the appeal of children’s films during holiday weeks. It’s a lesson I should have learned by now, and one I won’t forget as we consider this week after Thanksgiving when folks are looking to break up shopping trips with some movie revelry. There isn’t much n...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Bohemian Rhapsody Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazello, Allen Leech, and Aiden Gillen Synopsis: Biopics are a classic form of cinema, and biopics on famous musicians are one of the surest ways to draw an audience and get in the Oscar conversation. "Walk the Line," "Ray," even "Straight Outta Compton" have earned accolades and award recognition. So it seems like a good set up for "Bohemian Rhapsody," which tells the story of Queen, and specifically Freddie Mercury, and is directed by Bryan Singer. And the film does indeed feature songs we love and an origin story for the band, led by a stand out performance from Malek. HOWEVER, this isn't the solid film that one might expect. There are moments that were fascinating, like Mercury's background, how the band came together and a great sequence showcasing how they created "Bohemian Rhapsody" it...

December is right around the corner (it literally begins on Saturday), which means new shows this Fall are slowing to a trickle. In fact, most are wrapping up. But, still, some persist. In fact, one debuted on Sunday. So I persist. 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. Sunday Nights: Escape at Dannemora, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered November 18) About: This docudrama premiered last week, and still boasts a solid cast. Patricia Arquette is likely to be an award nominee, and she's been quite good in a different kind of role. Paul Dano and Benicio del Toro are good, too. And there's all the elements of something that should be compelling here, including Ben Stiller directing each installment. But, there's something about it that just doesn't quite work for me. I can't get into the story and I'm not drawn to the characters despite t...

"You are where you do not belong." - Whisperer, "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. The mid-season finale brought a death, some clarity and set the board up for the challenges of the second half of the season. In short, it's everything we've come to expect from "The Walking Dead." And I'll get to thoughts in a minute, but first a bit about my process. I mused last week about what it would mean if the Walkers were now capable of speech, thought and more. I knew this was part of a new threat, The Whisperers, that are part of the comics. Last night's mid-season finale revealed what they are, but those who are fans of the source material already knew. I'll say up front, and people who know me well already know this, I don't like to read source material ...

Week 12: Broncos 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Season Record: 5-6 (3-3 Home) Key Play: In the fourth quarter, leading 24-17 with just over a minute left, the Steelers faced third and goal at the Broncos' three. Ben Roethlisberger dropped back to pass and was intercepted by Shelby Harris, sealing the upset win. Recap: Do you believe in Miracles? Sorry to steal from Al Michaels, but I feel like I've just witnessed a Thanksgiving Weekend miracle. The Steelers came into Denver 7-2-1, the hottest team in the AFC. And the Broncos, at 4-6, were coming off a nice win against the Chargers, but hadn't had a good season. And now, at 5-6 with an easy schedule, instead of talking about draft picks, it's time once again to think about playoff possibilities. In fact, it's too early to feel good about anything, but the Broncos have a favorable path to at least nine wins, and a possible playoff berth. I thought that would be their path back in August, but heading into the bye we...

Quite often I review the first two of new streaming series, and mean to go back. Sometimes it doesn't happen. But I thought I would check in on a couple of series I've finished to follow up. The Bodyguard, Streaming on Netflix Episodes: 6 About: This show, starring Richard Madden of "Game of Thrones," this one comes from England and focuses on an Army veteran with PTSD and a crumbling marriage who is assigned to lead the protection detail for the Home Secretary. Things don't go as planned and soon he's drawn into a deeper conspiracy. This was a show that went in a direction different from what I expected, and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. There is talk of a second season, and I could see that being something interesting, too, based on where this one ended. Madden was good in the lead role and the episodes were compelling. Six felt like a good length, too. The Haunting of Hill House, Streaming on Netflix Episodes: 10 About : This one came out ah...

As always, Lindsay's picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 12: Bears Over Lions (Lions) Cowboys Over Redskins (Redskins) Saints Over Falcons (Saints) Jaguars Over Bills (Jaguars) Bengals Over Browns (Browns) Ravens Over Raiders (Raiders) Patriots Over Jets (Patriots) Eagles Over Giants (Eagles) Buccaneers Over 49ers (49ers) Panthers Over Seahawks (Seahawks) Chargers Over Cardinals (Cardinals) Steelers Over Broncos (Steelers) Colts Over Dolphins (Dolphins) Packers Over Vikings (Packers) Texans Over Titans (Texans) Last Week : 7–6 Lindsay : 5-8 Season: 100–61 Lindsay : 82-79 NFL Picks Spread, Week 12: Lions +4.5 Over Bears Redskins +7.5 Over Cowboys Saints -13.5 Over Falcons Jaguars -3.5 Over Bills Browns +3.5 Over Bengals Raiders +10.5 Over Ravens Patriots -9.5 Over Jets Eagles -6.5 Over Giants 49ers +3.5 Over Buccaneers Seahawks +3.5 Over Panthers Cardinals +12.5 Over Chargers Steelers -3.5 Over Broncos Dolphins +9.5 Over Colts Packers +3.5 Over Vikings Texans -6.5 Ove...

Sometimes you take a big swing and it pays off handsomely. Sometimes it goes the other way. Last week, for me, it went the other way. I thought Instant Family would be an instant hit during this Thanksgiving week. That was a mistake. And I ended up with just $79 million in my Cineplex. Instead, The Grinch was again the best value — and the best anchor — and the Perfect Cineplex ended up with $104 million. So, yeah, I was a touch off. And with five wide releases joining the fray on Wednesday, this week will be even more packed out. Time to figure out where the value lies. 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. New at the Box Office: The biggest new release is the animated hit Ralph Breaks the Internet , the follow up to the original. It boasts a ridiculous 86 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it has nea...

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Dan Fogler, Jude Law, Johnny Depp, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, and Ezra Miller Synopsis: When "Harry Potter" ended in 2011, it felt like the end of an era. It was also kind of a bummer to think we were done with that world, but an even bigger bummer to think about ever re-making those films. So when "Fantastic Beasts," and its new cinematic world, came to be in 2016, it was an exciting moment. And the first film, which featured fun performances from Redmayne, Waterston, Sudol and Fogler, was a fun journey. It was bright, colorful and funny. It was a film that was fun to watch. As befits the second installment in a larger series, the second part was going to get darker. And this one does get darker, and expands the story. This time with the focus front-and-center on Grindelwald (Depp), who was merely revealed at the end of the first f...

We've reached the week of Thanksgiving and we're closing in on a time when the new shows will take a pause for the Holidays. But before then, we're seemingly getting a groundswell. There were a pair of new shows on Sunday night, and three new streaming series this week. Sunday Nights: My Brilliant Friend, Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered November 18) About: HBO is doing something different with this series, offering an Italian-language series here in America. It's based on the novel from  Elena Ferrante, who collaborated on the teleplay. The eight-part series is playing out over four weeks, as HBO is airing new episodes on Sundays and Mondays. The series follows the novel, which begins in the present when a woman learns her friend is gone. She then begins recounting their life together, beginning when they were girls in the 1950s. For those that don't like slower character pieces, and especially those that aren't into subtitles, this will be a tall ask. ...

"I  know what it's like to worry about your family. Carry the burden of protecting them. To feel guilt when they suffer." — Michonne, "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. For the longest time, I've said that the biggest threat in the world of "The Walking Dead" is other people. And for the most part that's been true. It is a brutal and dangerous world, but the living have been the big threat. The Saviors and Negan were the most recent in a long line, but it's always been the quest for power among men that's posed the most danger to survivors. Perhaps not much longer. With this jump into the future have come a new threat — the whispers. We got a piece of that in last week's episode, as Rosita (Christian Serratos) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt) were pin...

Week 11: Broncos 23, Los Angeles Chargers 22 Season Record: 4-6 (2-3 Home) Key Play: In the fourth quarter with 16 seconds left and trailing by two, Case Keenum connected with Courtland Sutton on a 30-yard pass to set up the go ahead field goal from Brandon McManus to win the game. Recap: The Broncos had a bye week in Week 10, and though they didn't make any big changes, the team came back ready to fight. And we saw that on Sunday. The Broncos bent but didn't break early, and were able to get a few turn overs from Phillip Rivers, while Keenum was interception free for the second straight game. Those are all positive signs. And the Broncos were able to keep it close, commit to the run, and run well. Those are also good signs. The defense was able to hold a potent offense in check, limiting them to 22 points, and the team was able to get a big road win. So this is a team that could make some noise down the stretch. And in an AFC with a lot of teams fading, it's actual...

"My turn." — Claire Underwood, "House of Cards" When season five of "House of Cards" ended, it was clear that Claire was going to be front-and-center. What was less clear is all the turmoil that would occur before that season took place. By now, unless you've been in a coma lo these many months, you know that Kevin Spacey isn't a great guy, and has since become persona non-grata in Hollywood. And that's the right thing to do. What he's been accused of is inexcusable, and it makes sense that "House of Cards" would cut ties for its final season. It also makes sense that the show would end (something that was supposedly going to happen whether Spacey left of not). Earlier this month we got that final season — eight episodes that are meant to continue the narratives and provide closure. Of course, they also have to do that without Spacey's Frank Underwood, who has been the focal character of the series since the beginnin...

We're in Week 11 and the gap remains large. Can Lindsay close it? Her picks are in brackets. NFL Picks, Week 11: Seahawks Over Packers (Packers) Falcons Over Cowboys (Falcons) Ravens Over Bengals (Ravens) Panthers Over Lions (Panthers) Titans Over Colts (Titans) Buccaneers Over Giants (Buccaneers) Steelers Over Jaguars (Steelers) Texans Over Redskins (Redskins) Chargers Over Broncos (Chargers) Cardinals Over Raiders (Cardinals) Saints Over Eagles (Eagles) Bears Over Vikings (Bears) Rams Over Chiefs (Rams) Last Week : 8–6 Lindsay: 11-3 Season: 93–55 Lindsay: 79-69 NFL Picks Spread, Week 11: Packers +2.5 Over Seahawks Cowboys +3.5 Over Falcons Ravens -3.5 Over Bengals Panthers -3.5 Over Lions Colts -2.5 Over Titans Buccaneers +.5 Over Giants Steelers -5.5 Over Jaguars Texans -2.5 Over Redskins Chargers -7.5 Over Broncos Cardinals -3.5 Over Raiders Saints -8.5 Over Eagles Bears -2.5 Over Vikings Rams -2.5 Over Chiefs Last Week : 8-6 Season : 77-71

There are times when you’re so close to achieving a goal that it hurts. That was me last week in my quest for a Perfect Cineplex. I correctly surmised that Bohemian Rhapsody was the best anchor. I also correctly surmised that Overlord was the Best Value, and that Venom was also a good bet on the lower end. In fact, through my first seven screens, I was perfect. But, you see, it was that eighth screen that cost me. I went with Smallfoot on the bottom. It seemed like a solid and reasonable choice, on based on the appeal of family viewing. But, you see, The Hate U Give finished about $500,000 higher. That was the difference between my choice, and perfection. But there’s no time to cry over missed opportunities. As Bill Belichick would say, we’re on to the next week. This week there are another four new movies in the game, including the return of the Wizarding World. Time to figure out where the value lies. And as always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I en...

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week. Overlord Starring:  Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Pilou Asbæk, John Magaro, and Mathilde Ollivier Synopsis: Sometimes movies just don't get a good advertising campaign. And there's a variety of reasons for this. Sometimes they lack a focal star, or it's hard to really give a picture of what the plot is going to be. I think that's the case with "Overlord," which opened last Friday. The film had a frenetic advertising campaign that made it look, in part, like a horror film. In fact, when I went with a friend, we both thought part of the plot revolved around vampires. In fact, I wasn't super excited to see the film based on its marketing campaign, and there were even rumors it was a secret "Cloverfield" film. It isn't, and the ads are misleading. I started to wonder if that was the case looking at the Rotten Tomatoes score. It was at 90 percent last Thursday in a critical score (now at 80 p...

"Around all this darkness, there are flashes of life. Tiny beacons that shine out, calling to us." - Michonne, "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. Time is a funny thing. Last week, we bid farewell to Rick Grimes. For nine seasons, he's been the anchor and the focal point into this world. Trying to imagine how to move on from that is difficult. But the time jump allows the show to re-set the board a bit. And on Sunday, we got a glimpse at the new normal. Some things are the same. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is still in prison, though he seems to have acclimated to his new normal and even seems to be rounding into more of a person. Carol (Melissa McBride) and Ezekiel (Khary Payton) got married and are still happy together. Carol is still a calm and reserved person on the outside,...

We're in middle November, and the wave of new shows has slowed to a trickle. Nonetheless, it persists. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesday Nights: Clique, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on POP (Premiered November 7) About: This new series on POP is actually an import from England. In fact, both new series this week are imports from England, something that's becoming more common and popular here in the United States, especially for smaller cable channels and streaming services. This one is centered on some college girls, a pair of life-long friends that get connected with a group of older girls that work for a company tied to their economics professor. They have a high profile, but plenty of secrets. And the premier (which encompassed the first two episodes) is about building the world, introducing the mystery, and drawing you in. The series debuted in Mar...

The Broncos had a bye this week, meaning they didn't take the field and couldn't suffer another loss. Though I'd argue they lost the bye week when they opted to "stay the course" with the current coaching staff. So, well, that's not that exciting. The Broncos are 3-6, and though some are still talking about how they could make the playoffs, that feels like a comment on the AFC this season and not really based on what we've seen from the Broncos. Sure, they've been competitive against the Chiefs, Rams and others, but they still came up short. And at 3-6, it might be time to focus on the future rather than the present, which I believe is what fueled the Demaryius Thomas Trade. (Of course, the aftermath of his comments was another black eye for the organization.) The Broncos don't have an easy remaining schedule. The Broncos play the Chargers in Los Angeles on Sunday, and again to close the season. They still have home games with the red hot St...

One of the biggest stories of this NFL Season has been Le'Veon Bell. The star running back for the Steelers was one of those who was given the Franchise Tag in the off-season. He hoped for a long-term contract, but it didn't come. Then speculation began about when, or if, he'd report to play. He gave Social Media posts that seemed like he would be there for Week 1. But he wasn't. Instead, second-year back James Connor came in and took the role of lead back. This created an interesting situation in real football, and in fantasy football. Bell had been taken at the top of most fantasy drafts, so his absence was a blow to many. Unless you had Connor. In 10 weeks, he's rushed for 771 yards and 10 TDs, and has caught 39 passes for 387 yards and another TD. In fact, he now has more rushing touchdowns in half a season than Bell ever has in a whole season. And yet, that's not the end of the story. The Steelers expect Bell to report Monday. He has to report by N...

In late September, prior to the start of the Network's Fall Preview Schedule, I did a pre-premier ranking of all 18 rookie series premiering across the five networks. Well, now I've seen the first two episodes of each, and I'm ready to see how my pre-premier impressions stack up against what we've seen. Here they are in ascending order. 18. A Million Little Things, ABC Pre-Premier Ranking: 8 Why: I had a lofty hopes for this. I liked the cast, and this was one of my most anticipated premiers when Upfronts ended in May. As the summer wore on, I became weary. It turns out it was for good reason. This show was terrible, as were the characters it introduced and tried to get you to invest in. I hated every minute of the two episodes I watched, and its faux emotional manipulation. 17. The Cool Kids, FOX Pre-Premier Ranking: 17 Why: This one ended up about where I thought. I'm sure it's fine for what it is, but I thought the first  two episodes were dull. I...

November is going to be a huge month. There are nearly 20 new releases that will flood theaters in the first 21 days of the month. That’s a lot, and it doesn’t leave much room for error. Last week the first two big releases rolled out in Bohemian Rhapsody and Nutcracker and the Four Realms , and neither lit the world on fire with their reviews. Still, the Queen biopic seemed on track to do well at the Box Office. I thought Bohemian Rhapsody was the best anchor, and it was. It was also the Best Value. But where I thought A Star is Born would be a good compliment, Venom continues to defy the odds. I was better than the Most Popular Cineplex, but not the best. Well the November onslaught continues as we have five new films joining the game this week and another three major wide releases. Time to figure out where the value lies. 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 ...