Matt's Musings

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Booksmart Starring:  Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Skyler Gisondo, Molly Gordon, Billie Lourd, Jessica Williams and Jason Sudeikis Synopsis : This comedy was released early in the summer, but it was re-released last Friday at the special event price of $5 per ticket. It earned rave reviews when it bowed, and acclaim for its stars Dever and Feldstein, and its first-time director Olivia Wilde. All three are quite good in this comedy, which has some incredible moments and is one of the better ones I've seen in an underwhelming summer. The visuals that Wilde creates are incredible at times, and it will be fun to watch her develop as a director. Dever has long been a star in smaller roles, but gets a chance to really shine here. But it's Feldstein who seems to be the real find. She was great in the lead role here and I think she's got great comedic timing. This is a film that earns its R-rating for a lot of its cont...

Summer is nearing an end. In fact, here where I live in Colorado Springs, some folks head back to school on Thursday. And yet we're still getting a few new summer series. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series (and the occasional unscripted series) released this summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Pandora, Tuesday at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered July 16) About: The CW has experimented with different original summer offerings the past few years. Some of have found an audience and been OK. Some have landed with a thud. As mentioned last week, "Pandora" falls into the latter category. That thud you hear is the show landing flat on the ground. The pilot was weird (in a bad way) and slow. The second episode was arguably worse. And worse yet, I'm still not totally sure what the show is about and what the point of the show is. The acting is flat, the storytelling is worse and i...

It's been 20 years since 1999, a year with a number of extraordinary and engaging films. During this summer, I'll be looking back at 10 of my favorites from 1999 for those looking to catch up with a few good films. Check back Mondays this summer for more from 1999. Varsity Blues (January 15, 1999) Starring: James Van Der Beek, Paul Walker, Scott Caan, Ron Lester, Amy Smart, Ali Larter, and Jon Voight About: Since the first official football game of the year is Thursday night with the Hall of Fame game, it makes sense that we talk about a football film. "Varsity Blues" was one of the first films to be released in 1999, coming out in early January. And it's been one of the most enduring, especially as a cult classic. At the time Van Der Beek was a TV star, and Walker was years away from "The Fast and the Furious." But there were all the elements for a classic story, including a tight sound track and some good work done by director Brian Robbins. This...

The NFL Draft is over, and free agency has slowed to a trickle. As we look toward Training Camp and a new season, I'll be looking at the position groups as they stand. Today, it's time to consider the Wide Receivers. Wide Receivers: On the Roster: Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick, River Cracraft, Juwann Winfree, Brendan Langley, Trinity Benson, Fred Brown, Steve Dunbar, Kelvin McKnight, Nick Williams, Jamarius Williams Roster Group: This is an interesting group with plenty of interesting players lower on the roster. That's going to make for some difficult decisions toward the end of the training camp, especially since the top of the roster seems set. The biggest question for Sanders is if he'll be healthy and a full go for Week 1. He's tracking that way, but we'll have to see if it ends up that way. Sutton and Hamilton, in year two, are locks for the roster and meaningful roles with the team. And Patrick is fairly well s...

We've reached August, the end of summer as people get back to school and reality sets in. At the movies, after a July that featured two blockbuster releases and few new movies, August has a blockbuster release at the outset and then a literal flood of new releases the rest of the month. You can't see it all, but let this be your guide to the ones you should prioritize. Friday, August 2: Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw —I'll take any excuse to see The Rock and Jason Statham paired in an action film. This one is a spin-off of "Fast and Furious," and it looks like it will be solid. I like Idris Elba, too, and I think this one looks like a lot of fun. It should be the final huge blockbuster of the season. Friday, August 9: The Art of Racing in the Rain —This one is mostly a romance drama about a racecar driver (Milo Ventimiglia) who falls in love with a woman (Amanda Seyfried) and starts a family. But, hey, it's narrated by his dog (the voice of...

During the 2015 draft the Miami Dolphins made a first round splash when they grabbed DeVante Parker with the 14th overall pick. Since then, fans and fantasy players have eagerly awaited his breakout season. As he prepares to enter year five, there are probably few true believers left. And that’s because in four years, Parker has produced just 163 receptions for 2,217 yards and nine TDs . That’s an average of about 550 yards and two TDs a season, a far cry from what fans had hoped to see. On the last year of his rookie deal, needing to prove something to get paid next off-season, the question is if this will finally be the year Parker produces for fans. Let’s weigh the evidence. The Case for DeVante Parker It’s hard for people to quit Parker because of his talent and opportunity, and we’ve seen flashes of it. In his rookie year, Parker caught 26 passes for 494 yards and three TDs, averaging 19 yards a reception. He followed that up with 56–744–4 as a second year pro ...

Last week The Lion King roared into Theaters and, as expected, dominated the top spot at the Box Office. But being in daily scoring, it didn’t totally dominate Fantasy Movie League, though you needed at least a piece of it to be atop the rankings. I thought the Saturday-Sunday combo would be good, along with a steady dose of Crawl , which seemed like good counter-programming. Instead, it was Yesterday (also counter-programming) that was the Best Value, and it was the Friday-Sunday option that worked best as an anchor. So I ended up about $20 million off the pace with bonuses factored in. Hopefully this week will be better. There are two new entries to the game this week, plus The Lion King remains in Daily Scoring. That means it’s critical to find the right anchor to win the week. 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 . On to this week’s competition. New at the...

Do you like scary stories? When I was in College (at the Biblical Institute of Los Angeles, no less) and it came time to pick a senior thesis, I landed on what I thought was a novel approach. I wanted to explore the genesis of slasher films. While I was quite excited, my professor was less enthusiastic. But I ended doing it anyway, and passed the class, so I think it all worked out. A thesis on horror films might sound like a stretch for someone at Christian College, but I was fascinated by the fact that, at the outset, this slasher genre played out like a morality tale. Those who engaged in untoward behavior (usually teens drinking, using drugs and fooling around) couldn’t survive the seemingly supernatural evil coming for them. But the hero was the one who remained chaste, and was thus able to prevail. This remained largely the underlying formula until the 1990s, with Scream . The point is, even these stories that are well away from our theological worldview contain elem...

We're nearing the end of July and we'll see the flood of new shows pull back a bit. August is a slower month, and then we have a void until the Fall Season kicks off in late September. But for those new shows that do exist, I'm here taking a look. In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows (and occasional unscripted shows) this summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Pandora, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered July 16) About: This new sci-fi show is set in the year 2199 and has a plot both too complex and too disappointing to really get into describing. Suffice to say I watched the pilot, which was a mess, and I wasn't totally sure what the point is or what they're trying to accomplish. The acting, such as it was, didn't impress and neither did the story. This felt like kind of a mess, and one that's not likely to hook and retain an audience on The CW during the m...

It's been 20 years since 1999, a year with a number of extraordinary and engaging films. During this summer, I'll be looking back at 10 of my favorites from 1999 for those looking to catch up with a few good films. Check back Mondays this summer for more from 1999. Office Space (February 19, 1999) Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, David Heyman, Diedrich Bader, and Ajay Naidu About: This might not have seemed like an obvious choice for most influential of 1999, but "Office Space" is a film that has stuck. There isn't a week that goes by that I don't make a reference to the film, which hilariously captures the foibles of the work place. (Just an important note, my boss is MUCH better than the one played by Cole.) The scenes and characters are iconic, and the lines are incredibly quoteable. This was a movie that slid a bit under the radar at the time, but it's become a cult classic for a reason. Livingston is pitch per...

The NFL Draft is over, and free agency has slowed to a trickle. As we look toward Training Camp and a new season, I'll be looking at the position groups as they stand. Today, it's time to consider the running backs. Running Backs: On the Roster : Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman, Devontae Booker, David Williams, Khalfani Muhammad, Devontae Jackson, Andy Janovich (FB), George Aston (FB) Roster Group : This might be one of the easiest roster group positions to predict in 2019. Lindsay was a Rookie of the Year candidate and a 1,000 yard rusher. Freeman was a third round pick that showed some good promise. And Booker is a back the Broncos have invested in for a while. So it's likely those three are roster locks, and last year the Broncos kept just three running backs and a full back in 2018. If they do the same, it's likely we'll see the same backs on the roster. Janovich is there at full back. This year he has some competition in Aston, but it still seems lik...

The Emmys this year will be September 22 on FOX, a little more than two months away, but the nominations were announced this week giving us a chance to reflect on those competing for the big prizes. Below are some of my initial thoughts. Remember when five shows and five performers competed in each category? I know it's expanded in recent years, but having eight shows in the drama field and seven in the comedy field really feels like a lot. But it also adds to the idea that, for some shows and performers, the nomination is the win. That being said, a total of 32 nominations for "Game of Thrones" suggests it will go out with a bang. It was an uneven season at times, but it also featured some high heights. I could easily see it winning best Drama for its final season. The bigger question is if it gets any acting awards. Emilia Clarke and Kit Harrington in the lead competitions feel like a stretch, but the sheer volume in support actor and actress feel like there'...

At the end of the 2018 season, those who wanted to score big flocked to Damien Williams in droves. And it made sense given that he suddenly became The Man in the backfield for the high-powered Chiefs offense. There were probably many that got a late season boost thanks to rostering Williams and throwing him into their lineups. Now that the 2019 season approaches, Williams is again in a great position to be the lead back in what figures to still be a good Chiefs’ offense. And his ADP is soaring. He’s currently going as RB 13, No. 22 overall in Standard and RB14, No. 30 overall in PPR . At those draft prices, Williams will be expected to provide a big return, but should you trust the hype? Let’s weigh the evidence. Right Man, Right Time Williams was in the right place at the right time in 2018. He was an under-the-radar off-season pick up for the Chiefs, who had Spencer Ware returning to health and a backfield held down by stud Kareem Hunt. And in the first 11 games of t...

Last weekend went primarily as expected in terms of new releases in that neither did much. In fact, Stuber radically underperformed. Meanwhile Spider-Man continued to hold the top spot. This weekend that will change as a new king enters the race, but more on that in a minute. Last week I thought Toy Story 4 at its price point would make a better anchor, playing it across three screens. I also thought Annabelle Home Coming would hold some value. Turned out the best value was Avengers: End Game , and Spider-Man paired with Toy Story 4 was the right anchor combination. So I was about $12 million off the pace.  This week is more straight forward —  The Lion King figures to dominate, but what will help get the best value for your Cineplex? That’s a question we’re here to answer.  New at the Box Office: The biggest new opening is The Lion King , a “live-action” re-make of the animated classic. It’s had some mixed reviews, with critics praising the visuals w...

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week. Stuber Starring: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, and Betty Gilpin Synopsis: We've reached the middle of July, a time when you search for diamonds at the cinema but often find more rough than anything else. Once you're past the Fourth of July, the biggest of the summer blockbusters are in your rearview mirror. What you're left with is interesting films, and sometimes ones that are quite good. "Stuber" has plenty of potential. Bautista is a talented action star with good comedic timing, as his work on "Guardians of the Galaxy" has shown. And Nanjiani is a great comedic talent as well. So their pairing in this fish-out-of-water buddy comedy seemed somewhat promising. And there are moments where the comedy works. But the story is a little too predictable, and despite the talent involved, the film drags a bit. In the end, it's a fine diversion but hardly memorable or...

We're in the middle of July. The temperatures are sweltering and the flow of blockbusters at the Cineplex is winding down. We're about two months from the Fall onslaught of the networks (and, of course, the return of the NFL). But that doesn't mean we're devoid of new options. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series (and the occasional unscripted one). Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: The Disappearance, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on WGN (Premiered July 9) About: WGN has re-made its original programming slate by bringing in original shows from foreign markets. "The Disappearance" is new to WGN, and America, but it was originally released in Canada in 2017. It centers on a family going through a trauma when a child disappears. It threatens to uncover all kinds of issues. I thought the pilot moved at a decent pace in introducing the characters and the world. The pilot was a slo...

It's been 20 years since 1999, a year with a number of extraordinary and engaging films. During this summer, I'll be looking back at 10 of my favorites from 1999 for those looking to catch up with a few good films. Check back Mondays this summer for more from 1999. 10 Things I Hate About You (March 31, 1999) Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholz, Larry Miller, and Alison Janney About: This comedy, released in March, was one of the true gems of 1999. Even 20 years later it remains a beloved classic. It was loosely based on a Shakespeare play, but the characters and story were morphed into the modern era. The sound track is great, the scenes are often iconic and the performances are probably better than what this story on the page deserved. And all of it adds up to a fun and memorable film, a movie made moreso by the death of Ledger, who was incredible in this leading role. And he has some iconic moments in this. So, too,...

The NFL Draft is over, and free agency has slowed to a trickle. As we look toward Training Camp and a new season, I'll be looking at the position groups as they stand. Today, it's time to consider the quarterbacks. Quarterbacks: On the Roster: Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Brett Rypien, and Kevin Hogan Roster Group: The Journey from 90 to 53 is marked by a million cuts. OK, not really a million, just 37, but it feels like a lot. And camp begins this week, so we're moving closer to seeing these guys play and potentially falling in love with them before they're on the bubble. In the quarterback group, there are a lot of new faces. Flacco came in via trade, and Lock was a celebrated second round draft pick. Then came Rypien, who signed as an undrafted free agent. The lone holdover from last season is Hogan, who re-signed on a cap friendly, team friendly deal. But is Hogan destined to play a second year in Denver? Last year the Broncos kept three quarterbacks on the rost...

This summer has been a time when a number of shows have taken their final season bows. And that includes some superhero stories. One of those was "Jessica Jones," whose final 13 episodes, like the rest of the series, were solid at times and engrossing. And it wrote a finish to the Marvel universe on Netflix. It feels like too soon an end for a series of shows that had potential even if they weren't always even in their execution. But the broader Marvel world isn't just ending on Netflix. In late June, "Legion" began its third and final season. Though it's never exactly captured on the name brand Marvel heroes, the journey of David Haller (Dan Stevens) has been fascinating to follow. I loved the first season, but there were arguments that it at times chose style over substance. Long before Daenerys turned out to be the heel on "Game of Thrones," we saw the hero of "Legion" come to the dawning realization he was really the bad g...

It would be hard to find a rookie that busted harder in 2018 than Ronald Jones. Taken in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and facing no real competition, most expected Jones to run wild in 2018. But he didn’t. Jones appeared in just nine games, rushing 23 times for 44 yards and a TD, catching seven passes for 33 yards . That would be a poor output for one game, let alone an entire season. And yet, hope springs eternal for Jones once again, but should you buy into the hype? Let’s weight the evidence. A College Star The reason Jones went in the second round of the 2018 draft is because of his production at USC. Jones played three years for the Trojans and posted 3,619 career yards . He never had a season with fewer than 150 carries, and his 987 yards on 153 carries as a Freshmen was his lowest output. As a sophomore he ran for 1,082 yards and went for 1,550 yards on 261 carries as a junior before coming out in the draft. In addition, he produced 39 rushing TDs...