Matt's Musings

It’s been a couple weeks since we had a meaningful game. Yes, I know the Pro Bowl was last weekend. No, it’s not what I’d consider meaningful. So far this playoffs, I’ve gone 8–2, so I’m hoping to keep the hot streak going with the Super Bowl. In the Championship Game Round, I went with the Chiefs and the 49ers. I thought the Chiefs would be too much for the Titans, and after a slow start that proved to be true. I also thought the 49ers were the better team in the matchup with Green Bay, and that one proved to be a little less competitive. It was really over at the half, as the 49ers cruised to the convincing win. So now the two teams clash. AFC West versus NFC West in a winner take all battle in Miami. So who’s going to win? Let’s consider the odds. San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs About: The Championship Round was my first perfect round, and I wondered if that would be the case because I wasn’t confident in either pick. If that’s what it takes, then this...

We’re at Super Bowl weekend, and it’s a time that’s often a little slower at the Box Office. With big December films still lingering, Academy Award winners going wider and a few appealing new options, it’s a hodgepodge at the Box Office and in the Cineplex. That means it’s all about hitting on value, but more on that in a minute. Last week I also tried to make the value play, as I thought Dolittle would rebound from a terrible opening to produce against its cost. Instead, Bad Boys For Life was hot again, serving as the Best Value and the anchor for the Perfect Cineplex. As a result, I was $30 million off the pace. I blame my vacation for giving me false hope. But I’m back now, and hoping to get back in the groove in this game. This week there are two new wide releases, neither of which figures to be atop the Box Office. So where does the value lie? That’s the question. As always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App...

February is coming, and that means we have a lot of new shows rolling out. Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows this winter. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Monday Nights: 9-1-1: Lone Star, Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 19) About: This spin-off of "9-1-1" takes the action to Austin, Texas, and follows a New York fire captain (Rob Lowe) who is tasked with re-building a firehouse decimated by an accident. The pilot I thought was too scattered, trying to introduce too many characters and plot threads in one episode. The second episode was similarly uneven, airing the next night. But I've now seen three, as the third aired Monday night, and I think it's finding its groove a bit. There is still seemingly too much cliche Texas and too many political points being made, but with more cases to work and more focus (the theme of episode three was clearly pride), I think ...

We're into the second month of the year, and some of the anticipated films are starting to roll out. That doesn't mean they're all winners, though. Here's a look at the new movies coming in February. Friday, February 7: Birds of Prey (and the Fabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn): Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn was just about the best thing in "Suicide Squad." She was good enough I thought she should be considered for the Academy Awards, and I also thought she would do well leading her own movie. Now she'll get the chance with "Birds of Prey," which returns us to the world of D.C. movies for the first time in a couple years. It looks like it could be a lot of fun. Horse Girl (Netflix): This new Netflix film stars Alison Brie as an awkward woman with an affinity for crafts and horses finds her dreams spilling out into her life. This is billed as something for a supernatural thriller. Wednesday, February 12: To All the Boys: P.S....

"It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly." — Kobe Bryant I was in Los Angeles, in LAX, when the news of Kobe Bryant's death broke. I had seen the fog and was preparing to fly into it myself when I heard that Kobe, along with others, were killed in a helicopter crash. And it seemed unbelievable. I spent most of my two and half hour flight back to Denver thinking about that, and on the ride home with my dad talking a bit about Kobe and the details. Still in shock. Bryant wasn't the only one lost. His daughter was on board. A mother, father and daughter were with them. Another mother-daughter duo. A coach, who had a husband and three children of her own was there. And a pilot. Nine souls were lost, and each one is a tragic loss. One that's been somewhat overshadowed by Bryant's fame. We should take a moment to think of them all. I've also been struck by some of the negati...

The Academy Awards take place Sunday, February 9. In the run up to that presentation, I'll be previewing each of the nine Best Picture Nominees. The Irishman Starring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, and Bobby Cannavale Directed By: Martin Scorsese Total Nominations : 10 Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Pacino), Best Supporting Actor (Pesci), Best Director (Scorsese), Best Adapted Screenplay (Steve Zallian), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects About: This was a big get for Netflix, which got Scorsese to deliver them a film that has been one of the year's most nominated. And it was exciting to see De Niro, Pesci and Pacino in a Scorsese film, even in 2019. This is a long commitment, running three and a half hours. But it's a fascinating story, one that reminds the audience of classic films like "Goodfellas" and "Casino." I don...

The Academy Awards take place Sunday, February 9. In the run up to that presentation, I'll be previewing each of the nine Best Picture Nominees. Marriage Story Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Laura Dern Directed by : Noah Baumbach Total Nominations: 6 Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actress (Johansson), Best Actor (Driver), Best Supporting Actress (Dern), Best Original Screenplay (Baumbach), Best Original Score About: Last year Netflix broke ground by landing a Best Picture nomination. This year they had three in the Golden Globes and recorded two Academy Award nominations for Best Picture. The first of the two I'll look at is "Marriage Story," a haunting film powered by beautiful performances. This is the one of the two I prefer, and I think in other years I would have had stronger hopes for it winning the award for Best Picture. But I think it's a long-shot here. It doesn't have the prestige of the other Netflix entry, "The Iri...

The Academy Awards take place Sunday, February 9. In the run up to that presentation, I'll be previewing each of the nine Best Picture Nominees. Little Women Starring : Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and Timothée Chalamet Director : Greta Gerwig Total Nominations : 6 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Actress (Ronan), Best Supporting Actress (Pugh), Best Adapted Screenplay (Gerwig), Best Costume Design, Best Original Score About : Tackling a story as familiar, and as oft covered at "Little Women" is no easy task. And making it feel new and fresh is even tougher. Yet that's the trick Gerwig pulled off with this adaptation, which was one of the best films of the year and now a Best Picture nominee. The film earned six total nominations, and is one of the most honored of the year. I think it's a long-shot to win Best Picture, but there are a few categories where it might end up on top. Ronan gives a strong per...

Last week we saw a group of new movies open as we headed into the long three-day weekend. The question was where the value would end up, and it’s a question I got partially right. But more on that in a minute. This week we have another two wide releases, but neither is projected to find the top of the Box Office. So where will the value lie? That’s the question. But first a recap. I liked the potential of Bad Boys For Life as an anchor, and it was the right anchor. It ended up as the Best Value and the best anchor across two screens. But the Perfect Cineplex ended up swinging for the fences and leaving a blank screen ( a $2 million deduction), while I filled mine with Parasite and Bombshell , and ended up $6.8 million off the pace. Close, but not close enough. This week we get a pair of new films, a horror movie and a star-studded Guy Ritchie affair. But where is the value? And what will do well? That’s the real question. As always, if you think you’re better at the game th...

We're nearing the end of January and the new shows are picking up. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this winter. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Monday Nights: 9-1-1: Lone Star, Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 19) About: This new spin-off of the popular "9-1-1," got under way following the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. I saw the first episode that night but haven't caught up with the second episode, which aired on Monday because I'm at Disneyland. So I'll get that in next week. I was really looking forward to this show as I love "9-1-1," and I thought Rob Lowe would be a good anchor. I like Liv Tyler as well. What I'll say is the pilot, which I've seen twice (once following the game and once with my wife here at Disney) was not as good as hoped. I think they simply tried to introduce too many characters and stories, and crammed too much plot in...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Bad Boys For Life Starring : Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Joe Pantoliano, and Kate del Castillo Synopsis: It's been 17 years since Smith and Lawrence rode as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, but seeing them together it was as if no time had passed at all. "Bad Boys," released in 1995 and one of Michael Bay's first big action films. It spawned a sequel in 2003, and there was long talk of a third installment. But it didn't happen. Until it finally did. This new film features an aging duo, as it's been 25 years since their first outing, contemplating the future. Marcus (Lawrence) becomes a grandfather and seriously considers retiring. Mike (Smith) faces a life-altering incident and considers his own mortality. This new film, while it features a fun cameo from Bay, is not directed by him. Instead the team of Adil and Bilal take the reigns, and they do a nice job. As always, this is a blend of comedy, drama ...

Well, I picked both games right this weekend, for a change. And that sets up a heck of a Super Bowl between Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and the red hot San Francisco 49ers. But before we get to picks, let's take a minute and look back on the championship games. Kansas City Chiefs 35, Tennessee Titans 24 About:  I thought if the Chiefs fell down early, they'd have trouble coming back against the Titans. They fell down 10-0, but the Chiefs were still able to stay patient and come back. They avenged a loss from earlier this season, and they looked pretty good doing it. He threw for 294 yards and three TDs, and ran for 53 yards and another TD. He looks like the real deal, and the Chiefs will need that to win the Super Bowl. The Titans, meanwhile, saw their great run end. They had a great season, doing some incredible things in the playoffs. And Ryan Tannehill looked good, throwing for 209 yards and two TDs, more than in his previous two games combined. But with Derrick Henry...

The Academy Awards take place Sunday, February 9. In the run up to that presentation, I'll be previewing each of the nine Best Picture Nominees. Ford v Ferrari Starring: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Jon Bernthal, and Caitriona Balfe Director: James Mangold Total Nominations : 4 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing About : Some were surprised this was a part of the Best Picture group. I was a little surprised, too, but not for the same reasons. There are other films I liked that didn't make the final cut, but I think "Ford v Ferrari" was an under-rated gem. It was one of my favorite films of the year, and a fun movie to watch. That's largely a credit to Damon and Bale, who are great in the lead roles. Mangold does a nice job putting it all together, too. That being said, this film is a long-shot for Best Picture. I would be surprised if it won the top award. It also wouldn't be a big surprise if the film went hom...

The Academy Awards take place Sunday, February 9. In the run up to that presentation, I'll be previewing each of the nine Best Picture Nominees. Joker Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, and Frances Conroy Director: Todd Phillips Total Nominations: 11 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Director (Phillips), Best Actor (Phoenix), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Makeup, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing About : This is a film that was controversial when it was released, and will remain so throughout this process. There were those that loved this film. There were those that really were put off by the film. For my part, I appreciate certain aspects of the craft, and I think Phoenix delivers a fantastic performance. But I found the content of this story to be disturbing, and troubling. The ideas presented here are also troubling and concerning. And I didn't think the film as a whole ...

On Wild Card weekend I went 3–1, with the pick I felt most secure in being the one that failed. That was the Saints, a team I picked to go to the Super Bowl, falling at home to the Minnesota Vikings. Wouldn’t you know it, but the Divisional Round went the same way. I went 3–1, but it was the pick I felt most safe in making — the Baltimore Ravens over the Tennessee Titans — that ended up being my lone miss. I thought the Ravens, and their high-powered offense, would move the ball and score points. I was only half right. Lamar Jackson threw for 365 yards and ran for 143 more, but he was plagued by turn overs and inefficiency. The team scored just 12 points at home. And the Titans, with another standout performance from Derrick Henry, were able to prevail. This week there’s only two games, as we’ve reached the Conference Championship Round. And both these games figure to be close and competitive, and both figure to be battles. There is no pick I feel safe about this weekend, ...

Last weekend four new movies opened wide, and that made a crowd at the Box Office. But it was a hold over, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker , that looked like a good value to me. It was priced well and had a chance, I thought, to be the Best Value. But I was a little off in my projections. I went with Star Wars on four screens, and while it was a value, the Best Value went to 1917, which exceeded expectations. As a result, I missed out on the Perfect Cineplex. I was better than the Most Popular Cineplex option, but a bit off the pace. Heading into the holiday weekend, I’ll try to do better. There are two new wide releases this week, and the film Parasite is back in play after the Academy Award nominations were announced Monday. This is an interesting weekend, because we get four days of play instead of three and with the award nominations announced, we’ll see many of those in the lower and middle group get a bump. And one of the biggest contenders, 1917 , is in its second ...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. 1917 Starring : Dean Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, Mark Strong, and Andrew Scott Synopsis: We have seen many, many war films over the years. Many classics have been told about World War II and the Viet Nam War. But since WWII, we haven't seen many tales set during World War I. Sam Mendes had a personal connection to that conflict, and he's a heck of a filmmaker. And those two things converge in "1917," which is a fantastically made film about two men (Chapman and MacKay) who are tasked with carrying an urgent message through hostile territory with no time to spare. Along the way we get small cameos from some other more famous actors, such as Firth, Cumberbatch, Scott, Strong and Madden, and we get a slice of what hell awaited those who traveled from muddy trench to muddy trench during that conflict. Chapman, best known for his role on "Game of Thrones,...

We're in the second week of January, and the flood of new content is getting pretty intense. A lot of networks, cable channels and streaming sites are starting 2020 with new shows. Let these weekly posts be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Winter. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: FBI: Most Wanted, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS (Premiered January 7) About: A tried and true method at CBS is finding a successful law enforcement procedural and cloning it. They did it with "CSI." They're doing it with "NCIS." And now we've got a second helping of "FBI," creating a two-hour block. And as with previous Dick Wolf spin-offs, they share a world and a cast member. The same Special Agent in Charge in "FBI" works with the group in "Most Wanted," which really got a kick start as an episode of "FBI" last season. This one focuses on Julia...

What a weekend. I again went 3-1 in my picks, and it was again the pick I felt most sure about that went against me. Here's a recap of what we saw on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday Games: 49ers 27, Vikings 10 About: I thought the 49ers would win, as they're the better team. But I thought it might be closer. Instead, the Vikings got a big play early, a 41-yard strike to Stefon Diggs for a touchdown, but couldn't find any offense after that. The 49ers, meanwhile, did what they do. They spread the ball around among running backs and receivers, and they used a fierce pass rush to create turnovers and wreak havoc. Kirk Cousins deserves a lot of credit for his work in New Orleans, but he looked more like what we've seen in big games on Saturday. It wasn't enough, and the 49ers are hosting the NFC Championship Game. Titans 28, Ravens 12 About: This was the surprise of the weekend. In fact, if you told me that Lamar Jackson would throw for 365 yards, rush for 143 and...

I opened 2019 optimistic. I thought the Broncos could be 9-7 and in playoff contention. But I also said any range from 7-9 to 10-6 wouldn't surprise me. Then this team started out 0-4, and it looked like all that optimism was mis-placed. A funny thing happened, though. In those first four games, the Broncos were agonizingly close twice, and probably should have gotten one or two. In the end, after that 0-4 start, the team finished 7-5, including a strong 4-1 in December with Drew Lock. They went 7-9 on the season, and it looked like the optimism was right, but the luck factor didn't pan out. That happened thanks to some blown calls, but also an offense that struggled mightily at times. Joe Flacco wasn't the answer. And after he went out in the middle of the season, the combination of Brandon Allen and Lock finished 5-3. That promising second half is a great prelude to 2020, and it was reasonable the Broncos were optimistic on the podium at the end of the season. It ...

Earlier this season, Tom Brady and Drew Brees were linked. They both passed Peyton Manning for the record in all time touchdown passes. Last weekend, they were linked again, as both fell short and lost in the Wild Card round despite being a three seed and a home favorite. Now the question is what happens to these two quarterbacks who both have an uncertain future heading into the off-season. Let's consider each. Tom Brady: Brady has been a fixture in New England, playing there for 20 years, leading a dynasty with the Patriots and winning six Super Bowls. But it has seemed in recent years that the relationships there had become stale, or perhaps even soured. Though neither Brady nor anyone for the team would ever say anything. Brady, now, for the first time in his career is an unrestricted free agent. He'll also be 43-years-old by the time the next season hits. And there are plenty of questions in New England, including whether Josh McDaniels leaves. It certainly seems li...

Well, last week started pretty well. The Texans rallied from a 16–0 hole, and the Titans pulled it off in New England. So I was feeling pretty good about my weekend, and starting off perfect. Then a funny thing happened in New Orleans, as the pick that was easiest for me to make started to go south in a hurry. When Kyle Rudolph grabbed the ball in the end zone, my dreams of a perfect week, and a perfect playoffs, went out the window. The Seahawks won, so that worked well, but I finished the week 3–1. This weekend there is another four games with some intriguing matchups. Can I stretch my record to 7–1? Let’s find out together. Saturday Games: Minnesota Vikings (11–6) at San Francisco 49ers (13–3) About : The Vikings shouldn’t be here. They were a six seed that was a tremendous under dog in New Orleans last week. And yet, they pulled it off. Kirk Cousins, dogged his whole career for his lack of stepping up when it counts, delivered a great drive in overtime to secure t...