Matt's Musings

We’re rapidly closing in on March, which often brings the last torrent of new shows as part of the network season. But that’s what’s to come, first up is what’s already come. What of the new shows are worth checking out? Let this weekly post 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. Thursdays: Animal Control, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered February 16) About: This latest FOX sitcom is a workplace comedy that takes place at an animal control precinct. Joel McHale leads the cast and seems perfect in the role. I also enjoyed the ensemble and the wacky cases they get dealt. I was particularly amused by Michael Rowland, who plays McHale’s partner in the series. The first two episodes moved at a good pace with some good jokes. It’s been a solid couple of years with new comedies and this feels like a strong addition to the landscape and one of the better new FOX sitcoms in year...

  The Academy Award nominations were announced on January 24. Between now and the awards, I'll be looking at all 10 Best Picture nominees, their nominations and their chances of winning awards. The Fabelmans Starring: Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle, Judd Hirsch, and Seth Rogen Director: Steven Spielberg Total Nominations: 7 Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actress (Williams), Best Supporting Actor (Hirsch), Best Director (Spielberg), Best Original Screenplay (Spielberg and Tony Kushner), Best Original Score, and Best Production Design About: Few films in 2022 were more polarizing than The Fabelmans . Spielberg's film is very much autobiographical. It's also very much a celebration of cinema, families and embracing your passion. For those that enjoyed it, like myself, we fell in love. I was moved as the film captured my heart. It ended up my No. 4 film of the year. But others thought it fell flat and missed the mark. That makes it an interesting competitor...

  The Academy Award nominations were announced on January 24. Between now and the awards, I'll be looking at all 10 Best Picture nominees, their nominations and their chances of winning awards. Top Gun: Maverick Starring: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, and Val Kilmer Director: Joseph Kosinski Total Nominations : 6 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie, Peter Craig, Justin Marks), Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing and Best Original Song About: I remember when I first saw Top Gun . It was in the early 1990s and I was taken with the jets and the trappings of a film that was so quintessentially 1980s. I never thought it was a film that needed a sequel. And yet, more than 30 years later, that's what we got. This sequel seemed to be delayed indefinitely as the world grappled with COVID, so it was fair to wonder what kind of film we'd get. What we got was something incredible. It w...

  Throughout 2023 I'll be sharing my favorite Superhero Films each Saturday, counting down from 50 to 1. Check back each week throughout the year for the next installment. Agree? Disagree? What to share a favorite? Post it in the comments. Wanda Maximoff : I don't relish hurting anyone, Stephen. But she's not a child. She's a supernatural being. Such power could reap havoc on this and other worlds. Her sacrifice would be for the greater good. Dr. Stephen Strange : Well then you can kiss the lunchbox goodbye, because that's the kind of excuse our enemies use. Wanda Maximoff : Is it the one you use? When you gave Thanos the Time Stone? Dr. Stephen Strange : That was war and I did what I had to do . Wanda Maximoff: You break the rules and you become the hero. I do it and I become the enemy. That doesn't seem fair. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2022) Starring : Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, and Xochitl Gomez D...

  Throughout 2023 I'm looking at my favorite films from the decade of the 1970s. I'll be counting down from 50 to 1 throughout the year, posting a new installment each Friday. Agree? Disagree? Want to share a story? Post it in the comments below! Greg Marmalard : But Delta's already on probation. Dean Vernon Wormer : They are? Well, as of this moment, they're on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION! National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) Starring: John Belushi, Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, Tim Matheson, Bruce McGill, and Donald Sutherland Director: John Landis About : Today, the brand National Lampoon is well established and conjures a certain expectation. A lot of that began with this film. It was also a kick start for a number of the talented people involved. Landis gave audiences the wild Kentucky Fried Movie , and went on to helm Blues Brothers , Trading Places , and Coming to America , among others. The script came from a team than included Harold Ramis, who made comedy films ...

  We're racing toward the 95th Academy Awards. As we do, I'm looking at the key races. Today, I'm looking at the competition for Best Animated Feature and both Screenplay battles. Best Animated Feature: Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio Marcel the Shell With Shoes On Puss in Boots: The Last Wish The Sea Beast Turning Red About: This is an interesting race with a diverse set of nominees. I saw all five of these films and three of them were among my favorites in the genre. The clear leader here, to me, feels like Pinocchio . It's a fantastic achievement from Del Toro and I think it's the film that takes the win in this race. Best Original Screenplay: Everything Everywhere All At Once The Fabelmans The Banshees of Inisherin Triangle of Sadness Tar About: Another loaded and fascinating category, with all five of these films being nominated for Best Picture, among other categories. There are some fantastic and creative scripts here, too. With this category, it might co...

  We’ve made it through President’s Day Weekend and got one of the biggest releases of the year so far. But that wasn’t the only new film this weekend. Which were worth your time? Check out my reviews on this weekend’s latest offerings. If you’d like to see more of my scores for films and thoughts, feel free to follow me on Letterboxd here . Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Theaters) Starring : Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Jonathan Majors, and Kathryn Newton Synopsis: Back in 2021, we got our first glimpse of where the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going. In the finale of the first season of Loki, our titular guide came across a multiversal traveler named Kang. It was a fateful meeting. Now, more than a year later, the MCU as a whole is finally ready to dive into the era of Kang. The newest offering, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania launches a new phase and brings Majors as Kang into focus. It also reunites us with Scott Lang (Rudd) and his fa...

We’re making our way through February and seeing a number of new series drop just in time for President’s Day Weekend. But what of these new shows is worth your time? Let this weekly post 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. Thursdays: Animal Control, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered February 16) About : The latest comedy from FOX focuses on Animal Control officers, hence the title. Joel McHale leads the cast, and this is a workplace comedy with a bit of a twist. It’s paired with Call Me Kat to give FOX a comedy block on Thursdays. The pilot introduced us to the characters and the world, including a wild and fun opening sequence. I like McHale and this type of comedy. The first episode moved at a good pace and provided a solid template for the series and where it’s going. It’s been a strong year for network sitcoms with several now showing well on networks after a coup...

  The Academy Award nominations were announced on January 24. Between now and the awards, I'll be looking at all 10 Best Picture nominees, their nominations and their chances of winning awards. Tar Starring: Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noemie Berlant, and Mark Strong Director: Todd Field Total Nominations: 6 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Actress (Blanchett), Best Director (Field), Best Original Screenplay (Field), Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing About: As we continue the countdown, this is another film that ended up in My Top 20. This isn't a happy watch or an easy watch. But it's a well-crafted story, one of Field's specialties as a director. He's no stranger to being an Academy Award nominee, and it makes sense that we'd see this film honored. It features an engaging script and a fierce lead performance. Earlier in the year it seemed to be a front-runner for many but it has seemingly slipped a bit. Still, with six nominations it's a film...

  The Academy Award nominations were announced on January 24. Between now and the awards, I'll be looking at all 10 Best Picture nominees, their nominations and their chances of winning awards. Avatar: The Way of Water Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, and Kate Winslet Director: James Cameron Total Nominations: 4 Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design, and Best Sound About : As I continue my countdown of Best Picture nominees, we come to the group that finished inside my personal Top 20. I was as surprised as anyone that Avatar: The Way of Water made the list for me. I wasn't a big fan of the original and I didn't see a reason why we needed a sequel. That was how I went into this film. When I came out, I was a fan. Cameron builds the world and the characters, giving them time to breathe. This doesn't invite comparisons to other films but stands on its own as a brilliant and beautifu...

   Throughout 2023 I'll be sharing my favorite Superhero Films each Saturday, counting down from 50 to 1. Check back each week throughout the year for the next installment. Agree? Disagree? What to share a favorite? Post it in the comments. Lex Luthor : Just look at him. So sleek. So powerful. So... beautiful, like some great golden god made flesh. Of course, any sensible god would demand absolute obedience in return for his favor. But, no, our Man of Steel protects us, with no strings attached. The people? Hmph. They practically worship him anyway. Enjoy your reign while you may, Superman. For surely as night follows day, there comes a time when even gods must die. Superman: Doomsday (2007) Starring: Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters, and Ray Wise Director: Lauren Montgomery, Bruce Timm, and Brandon Vietti About: Another animated superhero movie. As I noted a few weeks back, animated films in this genre are a big part of the storytelling technique, and many are quit...

  Throughout 2023 I'm looking at my favorite films from the decade of the 1970s. I'll be counting down from 50 to 1 throughout the year, posting a new installment each Friday. Agree? Disagree? Want to share a story? Post it in the comments below! Margaret White : You must renounce this power. You must give it up. You must never use it. Carrie : I'm goin', Mama. You can't stop me. And I don't wanna talk about it anymore. Carrie (1976) Starring: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Nancy Allen, William Katt, Amy Irving, and John Travolta Director : Brian DePalma About : This film is a classic, based on one of Stephen King's classic novels. While adaptations of King's work have become commonplace over the years, this was one of the first to make the leap. It's an interesting take on the adaptation from DePalma, which starts with a somewhat sultry opening sequence before diving into the darker aspects of this story about a sheltered teenage girl, bullied by clas...

  The Academy Awards is just under a month away. In the run up I'm looking at the races in the competition. Today I'm looking at the field for International Features and Documentary Features. International Feature: * All Quiet on the Western Front * Argentina, 1985 * Close * EO * The Quiet Girl About: This is an interesting field. I've seen all five of the nominees and they all have their moments. If I was going on personal choice, I'd take Close, which is a screen story that hit hard emotionally. It's a beautifully told story as well, but sadly many of these films haven't gotten major wide releases in the United States. If you're looking at probability, All Quiet on the Western Front is a film that got a total of eight Academy Award nominations. That tally dwarfs the other films. All Quiet even got a Best Picture nomination. I think that gives it a huge edge. The Prediction : All Quiet on the Western Front Documentary Feature: * A House Made of Splinters *...

  The middle of February brought a slew of romance films to streaming, as you’d expect. Below is my take on the new films that are streaming. If you’d like to see more of my scores for films and thoughts, feel free to follow me on Letterboxd here . At Midnight (Paramount+) Starring : Monica Barbaro, Diego Boneta, and Anders Holm Synopsis : This latest Paramount+ original is a romance film. It centers on Sophie (Barbaro) and Adam (Holm), the stars of a huge superhero film franchise. They’re on location shooting in Mexico and, in addition to being co-stars, they’re also a couple. Or they were until Sophie caught Adam cheating. He wants her back but Sophie just wants to get through the film and get on toward the next phase of her life. While at the resort in Mexico, she encounters the assistant manager, Alejandro (Boneta). He’s used to making fast friends with female guests during their stay and moving on when they go back home. But with Sophie, it’s different. As real sparks star...

  We’re making our way through February and we hit something of a lull with new shows this week. We only have two shows on the roundup, but I’m sure it will pick up shortly. For now, the question is whether either show is worth checking out. Let this weekly post 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. Wednesdays: Not Dead Yet, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC (Premiered February 8) About: This new ABC Sitcom got a two-episode premier on opening night, including dropping an episode behind Abbot Elementary. The series focuses on Gina Rodriguez, who plays Nell, a woman that needs a reboot for her life. She was a promising reporter who went to Europe for a man. When her relationship fell apart, she came back home to her old newspaper but found the only job available writing obituaries. That’s when a funny thing happened—the people she’s assigned to eulogize return to her as ghosts, challe...

  The Academy Award nominations were announced on January 24. Between now and the awards, I'll be looking at all 10 Best Picture nominees, their nominations and their chances of winning awards. The Banshees of Inisherin Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan, and Kerry Condon Director: Martin McDonagh Total Nominations : 9 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Actor (Farrell), Best Supporting Actor (Gleeson), Best Supporting Actor (Keoghan), Best Supporting Actress (Condon), Best Director (McDonagh), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Editing About : Yesterday I looked at a film that had a wealth of technical nominations but wasn't a player in the bigger profile categories. Today, I'm looking at a film that's the opposite. Banshees earned four acting nominations, including two in the Supporting Actor category, and nods for directing and screenplay. It has only a couple technical awards in score and editing, and I don't see it as ...

  The Academy Award nominations were announced on January 24. Between now and the awards, I'll be looking at all 10 Best Picture nominees, their nominations and their chances of winning awards. All Quiet on the Western Front Starring: Felix Kammerer, Daniel Bruhl, and Albrecht Schuch Director : Edward Berger Total Nominations : 9 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best International Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Hairstyle and Makeup About : As I make my way through the Best Picture nominees, I come to a fascinating film that could be a big winner for Netflix. This is a German-language adaptation of the classic novel that was a previous Best Picture winner. It's fair to say we haven't seen an adaptation quite like this one. Berger does a nice job bringing it to life, having worked on the screenplay in addition to serving as director. However, aside from Picture and scr...

 Throughout 2023 I'll be sharing my favorite Superhero Films each Saturday, counting down from 50 to 1. Check back each week throughout the year for the next installment. Agree? Disagree? What to share a favorite? Post it in the comments. Tony Stark: [Tony is wounded, Steve and Bucky are leaving] That shield doesn't belong to you. You don't deserve it! My father made that shield! Captain America: Civil War (2016) Starring : Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, Scarlett Johansson, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Renner, and Sebastian Stan Director : Joe and Anthony Russo About : This might as well be the third Avengers film, it's all about the Avengers and features nearly the entire ensemble. It's also one of the hardest films for me to rate because of the conflict I feel about it. I was thrilled when it was announced and deeply moved by the trailer. And for the first two thirds, I felt like thi...

  Throughout 2023 I'm looking at my favorite films from the decade of the 1970s. I'll be counting down from 50 to 1 throughout the year, posting a new installment each Friday. Agree? Disagree? Want to share a story? Post it in the comments below! Colonel Blake : Captain Hawkeye Pierce? I got a twix about you. It seems that you stole a jeep up at Headquarters. Hawkeye Pierce : No, no, no sir, No I didn't steal a Jeep. No, it's right outside. Right there. Colonel Blake : So it is. M.A.S.H. (1970) Starring : Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, Sally Kellerman, and Robert Duvall Director : Robert Altman About: As a director, Altman has a certain style that pervades all his films. While most people think of the long-running television series, M.A.S.H. actually began as a feature film, one of the earliest releases on this list, dropping in 1970. Sutherland and Gould are great in this film. I enjoy the style of the comedy and storytelling here and the breezy chemi...

 

  It was a strong week of new releases, including a football-centric comedy and the latest from M. Night Shymalan. Below are my takes on this week’s new releases. If you’d like to see more of my scores for films and thoughts, feel free to follow me on Letterboxd here . 80 For Brady (Theaters) Starring: Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, and Tom Brady Synopsis: This anticipated comedy is based on a true story. It focuses on a group of women who are best friends and have bonded through their shared love of Tom Brady and the Patriots. Now, on the cusp of the Super Bowl, the quartet are headed to Houston to seize the moment before it’s too late. There, the ladies confront the issues in their lives, share an adventure and, ultimately, meet their hero, Tom Brady. The trailer for this film gives you a decent idea of what to expect. What makes this special isn’t the surprises in the narrative but the chemistry of the cast and the way the whole thing comes together. To...

  We’re making our way through February and in the first few days of the year’s second month we got new shows, but were any of them worth adding to your weekly watch list? Let this post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this winter. Wednesdays: The Ark, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on SyFy (Premiered February 1) About : The latest on SyFy comes from Dean Devlin and is set in the future. The series focuses on a crew set aboard a ship aiming to build a new colony for residents of Earth since their home planet is failing. The journey takes years but the crew is awoken early as things go haywire. The ship is damaged and the command staff of the ship are killed before they are even awakened. That leaves those who remain to right the ship, continue the mission and find a way to survive. It’s a solid premise, albeit similar to many different stories we’ve seen before. What you need to make this work is a compelling set up and a compelling set of ch...

  The Academy Award nominations were announced on January 24. Between now and the awards, I'll be looking at all 10 Best Picture nominees, their nominations and their chances of winning awards. Elvis Starring : Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, and Olivia DeJonge Director: Baz Luhrmann Total Nominations : 8 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Actor (Butler), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Costume Design About: Elvis was an icon and it's fitting the film about his life was one of the most honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It was a stylish look at his life but one that didn't resonate universally. I thought it was a masterful technical achievement, but Butler is a star, but it wasn't an incredible screen story. That seems to be reflective of the nominations, which recognized Butler and the production of the film. It's larger-than-life, which befits its subject, but it is s...

  More than a month after the Broncos fired Nathaniel Hackett, the team finally has a new Head Coach. Sean Payton, who coached the New Orleans Saints for year and won a Super Bowl with quarterback Drew Brees, signed a five-year deal on Friday to become the Broncos' new head coach. It ends a protracted search and is the first major piece for a team looking to improve heading into the 2023 NFL Season. The price to acquire Payton, who was still under contract with the Saints, was steep. The Broncos sent a First Round pick this year and a Second Round Pick in 2024 for Payton and a '24 Third Round Pick. In all, that means the Broncos have dealt three First Round and three Second Round picks over three drafts the past two off-seasons to get a new coach and quarterback. Will it prove worth the cost? Only time will tell. What we do know, is the Broncos have a coach and a quarterback. Now, Payton has plenty to tackle this off-season to prepare to turn it around and finally get this team...

  Throughout 2023 I'll be sharing my favorite Superhero Films each Saturday, counting down from 50 to 1. Check back each week throughout the year for the next installment. Agree? Disagree? What to share a favorite? Post it in the comments. Catwoman : You're catnip to a girl like me. Handsome, dazed, and to die for. Batman : Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it. Catwoman : But a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it. You're the second man who killed me this week, but I've got seven lives left. Batman: I tried to save you. Catwoman : Seems like every woman you try to save ends up dead... or deeply resentful. Maybe you should retire. Batman Returns (1992) Starring : Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Danny DeVito, Christopher Walken, and Alfred Gough Director : Tim Burton About : Batman is and always has been my favorite superhero. We've also been blessed to see a number of films featuring Batman over the years, and many of them will be on this list. This is the f...

  Throughout 2023 I'm looking at my favorite films from the decade of the 1970s. I'll be counting down from 50 to 1 throughout the year, posting a new installment each Friday. Agree? Disagree? Want to share a story? Post it in the comments below! Warden: If you disobey the rules of society, they send you to prison; if you disobey the rules of the prison, they send you to US. Alcatraz is not like any other prison in the United States. Here, every inmate is confined ALONE... to an individual cell. Unlike my predecessors, Wardens Johnson and Blackwell, I don't have good conduct programs, I do not have inmate counsels. Inmates here have no say in what they do; they do as they're told. You're not permitted to have newspapers or magazines carrying news; knowledge of the outside world is, ah, what we tell you. From this day on, your world will be everything that happens in this building. Escape From Alcatraz (1979) Starring : Clint Eastwood, Fred Ward, and Patrick McGooha...

  After a quiet January, things really get rolling in February, a month whose releases include the first big blockbuster of the year. Friday, February 3: * Knock At the Cabin (Theaters): Hailing from M. Night Shymalan, this is another mysterious thriller. It boasts a high-profile cast and after an ominous teaser trailer, it's clear this one will force its characters to make a terrible choice. It looks potentially engaging. * 80 For Brady (Theaters): Tom Brady won't be in the Super Bowl this year, but he's still got a presence in February in this comedy, based on a true story, about four friends (Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Rita Moreno and Lily Tomlin), who head to the Super Bowl to see their favorite quarterback, Brady, and the Patriots. It looks like a lot of fun. * True Spirit (Netflix): This one is based on a true story about Jessica Watson, the youngest person to ever sail around the world. The cast features Cliff Curtis and Anna Paquin. It looks engaging. Friday, Febru...

  It was a rich week of films with several new streaming movies and a couple films I saw at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Catch my thoughts on a six-pack of new films below! If you’d like to see more of my scores for films and thoughts, feel free to follow me on Letterboxd here . Magazine Dreams (Sundance) Starring: Jonathan Majors, Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige, and Michael O’Hearn Synopsis: This film was one of two I screened from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. It was an Audience Award winner, the second feature film from writer/director Elijah Bynum. It centers on a young man who is obsessed with becoming a bodybuilding icon that graces the cover of magazines. He devotes himself to the pursuit while working a part-time job at a market and caring for his grandfather. He also has a rough background and an issue with connecting with people and suppressing his own rage, for which he’s in counseling. When he finally gets to meet his idol, things don’t go as planned. After a...