Matt's Musings

 Here's a look at everything new dropping during a busy, busy November at the movies. Tuesday, November 2: Son of Monarchs (HBO Max) : This one focuses on a Mexican biologist living in New York returns to his hometown nestled in the majestic monarch butterfly forests of Michoacán after many years. He's spurred by the death of his grandmother and has an awakening. This seems not uncoincidentally timed to Day of the Dead. Wednesday, November 3: The Harder They Fall (Netflix): This Netflix western boasts a strong cast that includes Jonathan Majors and Idris Elba. It's based on a true story and drew strong response from its limited theatrical release. Friday, November 5: Eternals (Theaters): The latest from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is from Best Director winner Chloe Zhao. It's an ambitious and different project that's drawn mixed critical reviews so far. But, it's Marvel, you know everyone is going to go and see it. Spencer (Limited): Yet another look at the ...

  2021 is the year I turn 40. As part of my celebration, I'm looking back at 40 years of movies, picking my favorite film from each year I've been around! To learn more about the criteria for this process, check this introduction. Each post will feature my pick, plus three runner's up. So check back over the next 40 weeks of this journey! 2017: Star Wars: Episode VIII--The Last Jedi About : When this middle piece of the new trilogy was released it became an instantly polarizing film. Rian Johnson created something new and original that had some incredible visuals and, to me, the best performances and story of the new wave of Star Wars . Some long-time fans hated the film. Some loved it. It's presence in this list probably tells you where I came down. I saw it many times in theaters and was deeply moved. It has become my favorite Star Wars film of all time and vaulted to the top of the list for 2017 releases. Other Considerations: Wind River About: This film from Taylo...

  Halloween is Sunday, perhaps you've heard? If not, now you know. It's a time when you might want to be looking for a spooky story or too. You could go the traditional slasher route, but if you're looking for a different kind of Supernatural, here's a few good ghost stories to keep you on your toes. The Shining (1980) About: This one is adapted from a Stephen King novel by Stanley Kubrick. King supposedly didn't care for it, but fans always have. Jack Nicholson is chilling as a husband and father gone mad in a haunted hotel. As a bonus, it's not that far from where I live in Colorado. Have I gone, you might ask? No, I have not... Poltergeist (1982) About: You don't think of Steven Spielberg when you think about ghost stories, but he was a writer for this one that was directed by Tobe Hooper, who gave us the Texas Chainsaw Massacre . This one features ghosts coming out of the TV and haunting a young girl and her family. It's an iconic classic for a reas...

  In Week 7 Lindsay was darn near perfect, going an impressive 12-1. I was less perfect, which gave her the chance to snatch the lead in picks again. Can I get it back? Let’s find out. Matt’s Picks: Packers Over Cardinals Falcons Over Panthers Bills Over Dolphins 49ers Over Bears Browns Over Steelers Lions Over Eagles Colts Over Titans Bengals Over Jets Rams Over Texans Chargers Over Patriots Seahawks Over Jaguars Broncos Over Washington Buccaneers Over Saints Cowboys Over Vikings Chiefs Over Giants Last Week : 8-5 Season : 71-36 Lindsay’s Picks: Cardinals Over Packers Falcons Over Panthers Bills Over Dolphins Bears Over 49ers Browns Over Steelers Eagles Over Lions Colts Over Titans Bengals Over Jets Rams Over Texans Chargers Over Patriots Seahawks Over Jaguars Buccaneers Over Saints Washington Over Broncos Cowboys Over Vikings Chiefs Over Giants Last Week : 12-1 Season : 72-35

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. As a note, Hallmark Christmas movie season has begun. Each week, I'll be chronicling the new ones I've seen. You're welcome. Dune (Theaters/HBO Max) Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, and Zendaya Synopsis : It's finally here, Denis Villeneuve's take on the epic Frank Herbert novel. This is really just part one, with part two being mercifully greenlit. (Could you imagine if it hadn't been?) This film has something of a concrete ending but it still leaves the world wide open. This follows the story about warring families being used by the Emperor. This is mostly about the Atreides family, the Duke Leto (Isaac), his son Paul (Chalamet), his partner Jessica (Ferguson) and the soldiers of his house, including right-hand man Gurney (Brolin) and warrior Duncan Idaho (Momoa). I'm not going to really attempt to explain the plot, which is dense and hard enough to...

  Where did October go? Sunday is Halloween in case you didn’t know. That leaves a couple days to grab a costume if you’re so inclined. Hallmark has begun its Christmas Movie campaign. In short, the holiday season is in full swing. This is a time when we’ve seen the content stream slow in years past, but it appears the train is gonna keep rolling through November and early December in 2021. With all the commitments on your plate, it can be hard to know where to spend your TV time. Let this weekly post be your guide as 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. Mondays: The 4400, Mondays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 25) About : The latest from The CW is one we’ve seen before… kind of. It was a series on USA years earlier, now it gets a network re-boot. It focuses on 4,400 people who were plucked out of their lives at different points in history and dropped in the middle of Detroit in...

  The best entertainment is the one that connects with you on a personal level. Mike Flanagan, who previously created a new version of House on Haunted Hill and the Haunting of Bly Manor returns in 2021 with another supernatural tale. But Midnight Mass was unlike those previous series, aiming for something different and more emotional. After viewing the seven episode limited series, it's clear those aims were achieved. We begin with Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford), a young man whose life has gone off course. His drinking problem led to an accident where a young girl was killed. It sent Riley to prison and shook his faith. Upon release, he returns to Crockett Island, his childhood home, to live with his parents (Kristen Lehman and Henry Thomas). Riley's return leads to reunions with the townsfolk and his former flame, Erin (Kate Siegel), now returned as a teacher on the island. It also coincides with the arrival of a new Priest, Father Paul (Hamish Linklater). Soon, strange things...

  It's Sunday, NFL day. The Broncos don't play today. Maybe this is a kindness to fans who had their expectations lifted after a 3-0 start gave us hope. Since, the Broncos have lost four straight, including a loss to former starting quarterback Case Keenum and the Browns' third-string running back on Thursday night. So, year, October hasn't been kind. Rumors have swirled for weeks about Head Coach Vic Fangio and Offensive Coordinate Pat Shurmur. An 0-4 stretch in year three for Fangio is certainly enough to give anyone pause. The Broncos went from undefeated to in last place in the AFC West. The team has talent but that hasn't translated into success on offense or defense. Sure, the injuries have piled up and that doesn't help anything. But it's fair to wonder if the Broncos need a change in the coaching ranks to get things fixed.  Woody Paige, a Denver reporter with a good connection to the Broncos, suggested that Fangio and Shurmur were going to resign on ...

  2021 is the year I turn 40. As part of my celebration, I'm looking back at 40 years of movies, picking my favorite film from each year I've been around! To learn more about the criteria for this process, check this introduction. Each post will feature my pick, plus three runner's up. So check back over the next 40 weeks of this journey! 2016: Arrival About: This was a fantastic year for films. It was also an incredibly tough choice for me between this and the runner up film. When I did my best of the year that year, Arrival was my No. 2 choice. Over the last five years, it has steadily risen. It is a powerful and emotional experience, and a film I love. Other Considerations: La La Land About : This is very good film. I love Damien Chazelle as a filmmaker. Whiplash is near-and-dear to my heart, as is La La Land, a gorgeous and moving musical. It's a powerful film and was a powerful experience. Rouge One: A Star Wars Story About: The new wave of Star Wars films has ...

  Week 7: Cleveland Browns 17, Denver Broncos 14 Season Record: 3-4 (1-2 Home) Key Play: Near the end of the third quarter, facing a fourth and three while leading 10-7, Browns quarterback Case Keenum was able to get the first down, leading to a Browns touchdown to maintain a 10-point lead, and the win. Recap: Coming off three straight losses, the Broncos needed a win as they traveled to Cleveland on Thursday night. They didn't get it. Instead, the Broncos lost their fourth straight game, with the defense getting gashed by backup quarterback Case Keenum and third-string running back D'Ernest Johnson. The offense was OK in the second half but didn't exist in the first half. The team looks flat and lost on both sides of the ball. Injuries and inefficiencies are piling up. This team's 3-0 start looks further away now as they're in last place in the AFC West and things don't get any easier. In short, the season is slipping away--it might already be gone. Game Ba...

Last week was one of my roughest as I only nailed eight of 14 picks. Lindsay did slightly better and is working on closing the gap. Let’s see how we each fare this week. Matt’s Picks: Broncos Over Browns Dolphins Over Falcons Packers Over Washington Chiefs Over Titans Patriots Over Jets Panthers Over Giants Ravens Over Bengals Raiders Over Eagles Rams Over Lions Cardinals Over Texans Buccaneers Over Bears Colts Over 49ers Saints Over Seahawks Last Week : 8-6 Season : 63-31 Lindsay’s Picks: Browns Over Broncos Falcons Over Dolphins Packers Over Washington Titans Over Chiefs Patriots Over Jets Panthers Over Giants Bengals Over Ravens Raiders Over Eagles Rams Over Lions Cardinals Over Texans Buccaneers Over Bears Colts Over 49ers Saints Over Seahawks Last Week : 10-4 Season : 60-34  

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Halloween Kills (Theaters/Peacock) Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, and Anthony Michael Hall Synopsis: This follow up to the 2018 film from David Gordon Green continues the story that started there, a sequel to the original film that took place 40 years prior. The film picks up in the immediate aftermath on Halloween night in 2018, with Laurie Strode (Lee Curtis) injured and headed to the hospital. In fact, much of the film sidelines Laurie and her family at the hospital, while a very much alive Michael is terrorizing Haddonfield, particularly those that survived his massacre in 1978. One of those is Tommy (Anthony Michael Hall), a survivor who continues to dwell on what happened that night and vows to change it. He starts a chant among the townsfolk, "Evil Dies Tonight," that galvanizes a mob with unintended consequences. I liked the 2018 film, which I thought introduced characters well and return...

  October is nearly gone, which feels hard to believe. We’re careening toward November and before you know it, Christmas will be here. This is the heart of the Fall TV season with seemingly hundreds of weekly options and more dropping by the day. But which of this mountain of options is worth your time? Let this weekly column be your guide as I review the pilot and second episodes of new scripted series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesdays: Chucky, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on SyFy and USA (Premiered October 12) About: Before we get to Thanksgiving and Christmas Halloween is in the way. This is a season when, typically, we’ve gotten some horror fare. That’s the case with Chucky, a Prime-Time series based on the long-running film franchise. In this one Chucky (once again voiced by Brad Dourif) is purchased at a yard sale. The recipient (Zackary Arthur) is an awkward teen who is an outsider at school and at home thanks to an abusive father. Chuc...

  Week 6: Las Vegas Raiders 34, Denver Broncos 24 Season Record : 3-3 (1-2 Home) Key Play: In the fourth quarter, after recovering an onside kick while down 10 points, Teddy Bridgewater dropped back to throw and was intercepted by Jonathan Abram, effectively ending the comeback. Recap : This was a crucial game. Both the Raiders and Broncos started 3-0 and both limped into Sunday's battle 3-2. The Raiders were coming off a chaotic week in which coach Jon Gruden was forced to resign. The Broncos, beaten up and exposed over two weeks playing the AFC North, needed to right the ship. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. The Broncos' 3-0 start is beginning to look more and more like a mirage that masked the fact this team hasn't improved in the most critical areas--coaching and quarterback play. Teddy Bridgewater's supposed strength was being careful with the ball. While he's on pace for career highs in touchdown passes and yardage, his three interceptions and one fumble...

  The streaming wars are alive and well. Once upon a time there was Netflix and Hulu, now there's more than a dozen options. Each of them tries to get subscribers with a content library and original content. But which is the best? That's a question that often fosters plenty of debate. For me, there is a clear leader in the clubhouse, and it's Apple TV+. The streamer isn't the highest profile but it has quietly become the best purveyor of content. And, it's also one of the most affordable. Apple TV+ is unique in that it doesn't offer a catalog of non-originals. That might dissuade some, who love the deep content benches for services like HBO Max, Paramount+, Hulu and Netflix. And there is something to be said for a solid content library, but if you don't have that you need to win with originals. And that's where Apple has the belt, and I don't think it's close. When Apple began its life, it pinned a lot of hopes on The Morning Show , which boasted...

  2021 is the year I turn 40. As part of my celebration, I'm looking back at 40 years of movies, picking my favorite film from each year I've been around! To learn more about the criteria for this process, check this introduction. Each post will feature my pick, plus three runner's up. So check back over the next 40 weeks of this journey! 2015: Spotlight About: Sometimes a movie comes along and just grabs you. That was Spotlight , for me. It shines a light on the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church. The performances are great and the way this story--which focuses on the journalists working to uncover the truth--is quite powerful. I remember sitting stunned in the theater contemplating it all when I finished my first screening. It remains a powerful film to me to this day. Other Considerations: Jurassic World About: This re-boot of the Jurassic Park franchise was interesting. I was skeptical about it at first but once I saw the film, I was taken with it. The...

  The latest film in the Halloween horror franchise, Halloween Kills , opens today in theaters and live on Peacock. I'm sure fans will be flocking to it no matter what, but with so many Halloween films out there, it might be fair to wonder whether we need another. (I've seen it, we don't.) Anyway, this marks the 12th film to carry the Halloween name that has been released with at least one more in the current series due to be released soon. Below are my Top 5 of the Halloween films that have been released. 5. Halloween II (1981) About: This was the first film to be titled Halloween II . It was the second of the films, this one carrying over the story we saw in the original. In his original idea, John Carpenter foresaw Halloween being an anthology series but the popularity of the first film led to a direct sequel, this one returning Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance and setting the action in and about a hospital. Is it great? It's not. But it's decent. 4. ...

  I had another solid week, going 12-4. Lindsay remains right on my heels at 11-5 as we’ve both started the season hot. Can we keep it up? Let’s find out. Matt’s Picks: Buccaneers Over Eagles Dolphins Over Jaguars Packers Over Bears Bengals Over Lions Colts Over Texans Rams Over Giants Chiefs Over Washington Panthers Over Vikings Chargers Over Ravens Browns Over Cardinals Broncos Over Raiders Cowboys Over Patriots Steelers Over Seahawks Bills Over Titans Last Week : 12-4 Season : 55-25 Lindsay’s Picks: Buccaneers Over Eagles Dolphins Over Jaguars Packers Over Bears Bengals Over Lions Colts Over Texans Rams Over Giants Washington Over Chiefs Carolina Over Vikings Ravens Over Chargers Cardinals Over Browns Broncos Over Raiders Cowboys Over Patriots Steelers Over Seahawks Titans Over Bills Last Week : 11-5 Season : 50-30

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales (Disney+) Starring: Christian Slater, Jake Green, and Tony Hale Synopsis: I have enjoyed the Lego Star Wars specials. The Christmas offering last year was pure delight. So, when a new Halloween special dropped I was all over it. And yet, this is just OK. It centers on Poe Dameron (Green) and BB-8 entering a new creepy hotel built in Lord Vader's old castle. There, they're led on a series of adventures by someone with ulterior motives. Through it all, we get classic horror stories involving our favorite Star Wars characters. It feels a lot like the Lego Star Wars version of Tree House of Horrors . And while some of it is cute, it doesn't feel as fun and engaging as previous specials. It's OK, not great. Rating : TV-G Verdict: Two stars out of four No Time to Die (Theaters) Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffery Wrig...

  The weather is changing and pretty soon it will be more fun to curl up on the couch than be outside. (Though, in fairness, that’s always the case for me.) While we’re on the couch we might be looking for something to watch and since we’re in the midst of the busy season of premiers, but which are worth diving into and which can be safely ignored? Let this weekly journey through the new series of the Fall be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesdays: La Brea, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC (Premiered September 28) About: Following in the proud tradition of shows like LOST, this one is a high concept sci-fi drama. It begins with a sink hole opening up in La Brea, swallowing a bunch of Southern California residents and depositing them in a strange new world. While those left behind try to figure out where their loved ones went, those in the hole are just trying to survive. And, natura...

  Week 5 : Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Denver Broncos 19 Season Record : 3-2 (1-1 Home) Key Play : In the fourth quarter with just seconds remaining and the Broncos trailing by eight, quarterback Teddy Bridewater looked to connect with Courtland Sutton in the end zone but was instead picked off by James Pierre to end the game. Recap : The Broncos started 3-0 but most of us expected them to be 3-0. The real question was what would come after the soft start. The Broncos looked so good early that it seemed like optimism built. I hoped for a great showing against a middling Ravens team in Week 4, but the Broncos couldn't get it going. Then I hoped that the team would take advantage of a struggling and 1-3 Steelers' team in Week 5. Instead, the Pittsburgh pass offense came alive and Ben helped the team jump out to a sizeable lead. The Broncos' offense looked stale, but finally came alive to some degree in the Fourth Quarter. It was too little, too late in this game. The Broncos have...

  The new Fall Season on networks began on Monday, September 20. Since then we've seen a crop of new shows debut and it's fair to say most of them have been middling at best. This might be the most uninspiring crop of new series I've seen aside from last year's pandemic impacted slate. So, what's worth checking out? There are really one new network series that I enjoyed enough to put in my regular rotation at this point. Then there are three more than have some potential. The Big Leap Mondays at 9 p.m. on FOX About : This new series focuses on a group of down-on-their-luck adults who find a chance at redemption when they're cast in a reality show where they put on a dance production of Swan Lake . I like the idea, the blend of humor and drama has been good. The characters have drawn me in and it has the best cast of one of the new shows. The ratings haven't been great, which gives me some concern that the show won't make it. But for now, this has been th...

  2021 is the year I turn 40. As part of my celebration, I'm looking back at 40 years of movies, picking my favorite film from each year I've been around! To learn more about the criteria for this process, check this introduction. Each post will feature my pick, plus three runner's up. So check back over the next 40 weeks of this journey! 2014: Guardians of the Galaxy About: I didn't know what to make of Guardians when it was coming out but once I saw it, I was taken with the blend of humor and drama. It quickly became my favorite film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and remains one of my favorite films. There were some great options in 2014, but this is the one that stands atop the rest for me. Other Considerations: Whiplash About: This is a powerful film but it's likely not a story for everyone. It's a very intense tale about two driven people, a student (Miles Teller) and a Teacher (J.K. Simmons). I love the direction from Damien Chazelle and the way this ...