Matt's Musings

  Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. The Verdict (1982) Starring: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, and Jack Warden Director: Sidney Lumet About: Lumet is one of the directors on this list that has made some classics, though many of them are from a different era, so you might not have seen them. That's the case with The Verdict, which was a Best Picture nominee more than 40 years ago. It features Newman in a great turn in the lead role as an alcoholic lawyer who is fading in his skill but finds a sense of purpose in a new lawsuit. The script comes from David Mamet based on the novel of the same name. I love the way Lumet brings this to life, and it's one of those films from his body-of-work...

  The 97th Academy Awards take place on Sunday, March 2. The nominations were announced on January 23. In the run up to this year's awards, I'm looking at different races. Today, it's the Best Documentary Feature. Nominees: Porcelain War Black Box Diaries No Other Land Soundtrack to a coup d'etat Sugarcane About : This is an interesting field full of some deeply emotional stories. That makes it a bit tougher to handicap the field. You have stories of a rape victim documenting her fight for justice, artists toiling in a war zone, the history of Indian Schools and their abuses, the story of artists using their voice to fight for Social Justice issues, and a story of persecution in the West Bank. All of them feel relevant and timely. All of them would make for worthy winners. It's hard to even narrow down on one that is or should be the favorite right now. But, for me, No Other Land was the most impactful documentary I saw. It tells the story of a major ongoing conflic...

  We’re rapidly making our way through January, getting a mix of new releases. But have any of them been good? Below I give my thoughts on a pair of new films released this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Flight Risk (Theaters) Starring : Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace Synopsis: This film was delayed from the late Fall to January, where it becomes the biggest theatrical release of the weekend. But is it worth checking out? The film is directed by Mel Gibson and is a breezy 91 minutes, mostly contained with three people in the confined space of a small plane flying across Alaska. Winston (Grace) is a witness against an infamous mobster, while Madolyn (Dockery) is the U.S. Marshal bringing him back to testify. Daryl (Wahlberg) is their pilot on a private flight for about 75 minutes to Juneau. Except, Daryl isn’t really Daryl, and is instead an assassin hired to stop Winston. That leads to a confront...

We’re making our way through January and the tide of new shows has slowed some. But we’ve still got some options out there. How do you know what’s worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this winter. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Mondays: The Hunting Party, Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC (Premiered January 19) About: NBC had The Blacklist running as a big hit for the network for much of the last decade. While that show has wrapped up its run, the Network has seemingly found something similar to fill that void. This new series, The Hunting Party, got a pilot launch following football last Sunday. It’s now streaming on Peacock. The series was supposed to kick off February 3, but new episodes will move back to its regular Monday timeslot beginning February 10. The series focuses on a secret prison where the CIA is conducting experiments on dangerous prisoners the world believes have alre...

  The 97th Academy Awards take place on Sunday, March 2. The nominations were announced on January 23. In the run up to this year's awards, I'm looking at different races. Today, it's the Best Animated Feature. Nominees: Inside Out 2 The Wild Robot Flow Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Memoir of a Snail About : There are some interesting choices here. We didn't get some of the more mainstream, popular films. But we did get a few. And we got some very creative films. Both Wallace & Gromit and Memoir of a Snail uses a claymation style. Flow, meanwhile, is a dialogue free film from Latvia that tells a heart-warming story through the eyes of a cat. Inside Out 2 is the Pixar entry, while The Wild Robot is a film that keeps growing on me. But what will win the award? Certainly Flow, being a double nominee, could have a great shot. It might even be a front-runner at this point. It's hard to count out Pixar, and I loved Inside Out 2, but it feels like more of a...

It's hard to believe, but 2015 was 10 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2015 that are turning 10 in 2025. Today, it's a Best Picture winner. Marty Baron : Sometimes it's easy to forget that we spend most of our time stumbling around the dark. Suddenly, a light gets turned on and there's a fair share of blame to go around. I can't speak to what happened before I arrived, but all of you have done some very good reporting here. Reporting that I believe is going to have an immediate and considerable impact on our readers. For me, this kind of story is why we do this. Spotlight Starring : Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Stanley Tucci, Liev Schreiber, and John Slattery Director: Tom McCarthy About : Usually if I love a film, it's the kiss of death for its award chances. As soon as I saw Spotlight , I knew I had doomed its chances. A funny thing happened, as the film won Best Picture anyway. It re...

  Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. Hard Eight (1996) Starring : Phillip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson, and Gwyneth Paltrow Director: Paul Thomas Anderson About : I love to see a director's early films. It often tells you quite a bit about them as you see the bones of where they will go. That's certainly the case here, with this film from Anderson that is a feature-film adaptation of his short film. It returns Hall in the lead role and he is magnificent. It's an interesting slice-of-life film that features some great moments. We also get an all-time Phillip Seymour-Hoffman cameo, which is fun. I prefer this film to some of his later films that are more popular among fans...

  Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. Nebraska (2013) Starring : Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, and Stacey Keach Director : Alexander Payne About: I have long enjoyed Payne as a storyteller. He has a beautiful way of telling simple stories with pathos and humor. His films often take place in the mid-west, which is the case here. This is the story of a father and son driving from Montana to Nebraska on a fool's errand. But it's really about a father and son spending time together. Dern is great in the lead role, while Forte is tremendous opposite him. Squibb steals the show for me with her humor in a couple key sequences. I also love the choice to shoot in black-and-white h...

  I thought there would be one upset in the Divisional Round last week. I predicted it would be the Eagles falling to the Rams. Instead, it was the Lions that proved vulnerable to the Commanders. That sets up a Championship Weekend that features a couple of games where the teams know each other well. Let’s dive in. NFC Championship Game Washington Commanders (12-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) About: These teams are division rivals who played twice already this season. They split those games. The Eagles, behind a monster performance from Saquon Barkley, beat the Commanders on a Thursday night in the first meeting. In the second, Jalen Hurts was knocked out early and Kenny Pickett suffered broken ribs as the Commanders came from behind to get a win at home. The point is, both games were close. These teams match up well and both have some good weapons. The key is going to be the health of the weapons, and whether each team can keep the stars in check. For the Commanders, that star ...

A long holiday weekend is in the books. For most of the country, it was accompanied by some frigid temperatures that probably had you feeling indoorsy. Maybe you’re still in the deep freeze and in need of a film recommendation? Below are all the movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Back in Action (Netflix) Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, Kyle Chandler, Andrew Scott, and Glenn Close Synopsis: It’s been a while since we’ve seen Diaz lead a film. A decade ago, she launched three films in the same year—Sex Tape, The Other Woman, and Annie. That was back in 2014. Since then, we haven’t seen her. But with the new Netflix action comedy Back in Action, Diaz is again back in front of audiences. The film finds her paired with Foxx as spies forced out of retirement to save themselves and their family. It feels like a fitting return to the screen for Diaz and makes for a fun weekend stream. The film picks up with ...

We’re rapidly making our way through January and most of the country has been plunged into cold and snowy temperatures. That might make you a bit more indoorsy and give you some time to watch new shows. But what 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. Tuesdays: Doc, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 7) About : This one features Molly Parker as a talented—but prickly—doctor who is involved in a car accident that leads to her losing the last eight years of her life. During that time, she lost a son, alienated a daughter, got divorced, and became the chief of a big department at the hospital. As she’s embracing all these losses and changes again, without the benefit of understanding her role in them, she’s also searching for a path forward. That means recovering and, hopefully, getting back to work as a doctor. The episod...

  With February, we get some of our first blockbusters of the year in addition to a variety of offerings that provide something for all audiences. Let's dive in. Wednesday, February 5: Kinda Pregnant (Netflix): This new comedy features Amy Schumer as a woman in the midst of faking a pregnancy when she meets the potential man of her dreams. Here's the start of Valentine's rom-com season! Friday, February 7: Heart Eyes (Theaters): This is a horror movie about a terrifying and brutal killer to attacks couples on Valentine's Day. He also had a mask that has glowing red hearts as eyes. It looks unsettling but it's one kind of date movie. Love Hurts (Theaters): Ke Huy Quan stars as a former hit man who has started a new, quiet life. When his old life catches up with him, he's forced back into action. This one features Marshawn Lynch and Ariana DeBose. This looks like a lot of fun. Armand (Theaters, Limited) : This foreign language feature is about parents brought in...

It's hard to believe, but 2015 was 10 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2015 that are turning 10 in 2025. Today, it's a classic franchise entry that bids farewell to a star. Dominic Toretto : [remembering the time he had with Brian] I used to say I live my life a quarter mile at a time and I think that's why we were brothers - because you did too. No matter where you are, whether it's a quarter mile away or half way across the world, you'll always be with me. And you'll always be my brother. Furious 7 Starring : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, and Nathalie Emmanuel Director : James Wan About : Walker was a great guy and an integral part of this franchise. We'll see maybe the final installment of the franchise this year, but it hasn't been the same since Walker's death. This film was his final appearance, and...

Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. Ran (1985) Starring : Tatsuya Nakadai, Jinpachi Nezu, and Daisuke Ryû Director : Akira Kurosawa About : This is a fun transition from yesterday's look at Michael Bay. Kurosawa is one of the greatest filmmakers and a master storyteller. This was my first introduction to him as a filmmaker, and a film I saw as a teen that has stuck with me. It's a big, sweeping epic based on a play from William Shakespeare. It's also in color, which is something different for Kurosawa. In this case, I really loved his use of color, which is especially visually interesting during the big battle sequences. This film stuck out to me when I first saw it and it still stands out...

  Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. Bad Boys II (2003) Starring : Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Joe Pantoliano, Gabrielle Union, and Jordi Molla Director: Michael Bay About: I know it's probably a mild shock to see Bay on this list, but sometimes I just want to kick back and be entertained. When I'm feeling that way, Bay has long-been one of my go-to directors. I like his style and I enjoy the blend of action and humor. That's true of this second Bad Boys film, which is a bigger spectacle than the first. It's a great buddy comedy and action film. I enjoy Smith and Lawrence here, and I enjoy the action set pieces in this film. Is it wild? Yes, it is, but that's not such a bad th...

After six games over three days, the NFL’s post-season field has narrowed to eight teams. It will narrow again as we get four games over two days. The results of this week’s Divisional Round will set the table for the Conference Championship Games. But who makes it? Let’s dive in. Saturday Games: Houston Texans (10-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) About: The Texans outlasted the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 to advance last Saturday. Their prize is a matchup in frosty Kansas City just as an artic blast is heading to the state. It’s also a re-match of the team’s battle on the Saturday before Christmas. In that game, the Chiefs won 27-19. The Texans were battling, but a gruesome injury to receiver Tank Dell ended his season and seemed to rattle the Texans. Still, there is reason for hope on Saturday. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Kansas City Chiefs’ starters like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on the field. In fact, we haven’t seen them all year! I kid, but they last played in th...

We’re making our way through January with our first big wide release of the new year along with some other films from late 2024 getting a chance to be seen by a wider audience. Below is my take on the new films out this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Better Man (Theaters) Starring : Robbie Williams, Damon Herriman, and Raechelle Banno Synopsis : This new film comes from director Michael Gracey, who previous gave us the musical The Greatest Showman. It’s a biopic on singer Williams, who serves as the narrator and voice of the film. The visuals, well that’s where it gets interesting. In place of an actor, we have a CGI ape as the physical manifestation of Williams throughout the film. The rest of the cast are played by actors. It’s a unique choice that feels odd at first, but I ended up really enjoying the film and the way they made that choice work out. It’s an engaging and emotional film with some incredible musical seq...

  We’re into January with most of the country experiencing some winter weather and cold temperatures. That might leave you wanting to spend some extra time on the couch with a new show. But what of the new options 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. Tuesdays: Doc, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 7) About : This one finds Molly Parker as a woman who wakes up with a significant memory gap following an accident. When she wakes up, eight years are missing. She doesn’t remember her divorce, the death of her child, or her advancements in her career. She’s left trying to re-build, while those around her try to adjust to a woman who doesn’t seem quite familiar. It’s an interesting premise and Parker does a nice job in the lead role. I liked the pilot for the way it laid out this story—giving a snapshot of who she is pre-ac...

  Wild Card Weekend : Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7 Season Record : 10-8 (6-2 Home) Key Play : With time winding down in the first half and the team trailing 10-7, the Broncos lined up a 50-yard field goal. It missed, leaving the Broncos down three at the half. They wouldn't score again. Recap : If you would have told me prior to the season that the Broncos would make the AFC playoffs, I wouldn't have believed it. But the Broncos did make the playoffs. And Bo Nix connected with Troy Franklin on that first drive to give the Broncos' fanbase hope. But beating the Bills was always going to be a tall order, and the Broncos didn't have the guns on either side of the ball to make it work. Still, it's fair to call 2024 a stepping stone. The team ended a protracted playoff drought, played well, and found a starting quarterback. That's plenty to build on heading into this off-season, where the team's cap position and draft capital is looking up. That should make...

  It's hard to believe, but 2015 was 10 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2015 that are turning 10 in 2025. Today, it's the re-boot that launched a new franchise. Owen: [to Claire] You might have made them in a test tube, but they don't know that. These animals are thinking, "I gotta eat. I gotta hunt. I gotta..." You can relate to at least one of those things. Right? Jurassic World Starring : Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Judy Greer, Jack Johnson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Irrfan Khan, Nick Robinson, Ty Simpkins, and BD Wong Director : Colin Trevorrow About: It's fitting we're talking about the 10th anniversary of this film as we're about to get another re-boot, this time featuring Scarlett Johansson this summer. This was the first time Jurassic Park got a re-boot. We get a new set up and new characters. I love the original film, and I love its depth of story. So, I was nervous to see it brou...

  Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. Zero Dark Thirty (2012) Starring : Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Kyle Chandler, and Mark Strong Director: Kathryn Bigelow About: I begin with the first of my 10 female directors, Bigelow. Some have gravitated toward The Hurt Locker as her best film. For me, it's Zero Dark Thirty . I think this is a fascinating film that is very well put together. I think it might be her most ambitious film, too. Chastain is great here in a story that's both important but also doesn't pull any punches when it asks us to think about our methods, our results, and who we want to be. Some have called it pro torture, but I think it more sought to depict wh...

  Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey. Today, before we dive into the first selection, it's a few of the films that just missed the cut. This will give you an idea of a few of the directors on this list, but keep you guessing about what of their work is included. Dune: Part One (2021): All of Denis Villenueve's films have a unique cinematic style. This is no exception. But I haven't resonated with the story and characters in all of them. That's certainly the case here, a film that was close but doesn't make my Top 5 for him. The Fabelmans (2022): Of all of Steven Spielberg's films, this one might have been the most polarizing. Some hated it. I loved it, but he has such a great ...

The NFL Playoffs are upon us. This week, we’ll narrow the field from 14 teams down to eight through six big games over three days. It’s one of the most exciting and fun times of the year as we watch these teams battle to secure a shot at the Super Bowl. As always, I’ll be previewing and picking each of the playoff games in a quest to get a perfect post-season. Let’s see how it goes! Saturday Games: Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7) About: This is an interesting matchup. Last year, the Texans were the surprise upstart with a new Head Coach that went from bottom of the heap to the playoffs. This year, no one was surprised to see the Texans win the AFC South, we just thought they’d be better. The team sputtered a bit down the stretch thanks in part to a brutal schedule and injuries. The Chargers, meanwhile, are the hot team that went from last in the AFC West to the Wild Card thanks to a turnaround under new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. The team played the Chiefs and Raven...

  We’re into January, getting the first new films of the year. But are any worth checking out? I offer my thoughts on two new releases below. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. The Damned (Theaters) Starring : Odessa Young, Joe Cole, Rory McCann, and Siobhan Finneran Synopsis: This first wide release of the year is a horror movie, which comes as little surprise. We often get horror films to kickstart the year, and 2025 is no different. This is a ghost story, of sorts, set in an Icelandic fishing village during a brutal winter in the 19th Century. A young widow (Young) is running a crew on the boat she owns after her husband perished in an accident a year earlier. When they come across a ship in distress, some want to help. Others are weary after their previous accident. The widow decides they’ll not help. But when the crew begins to be haunted by something mysterious, they begin to worry they’ve made a mistake. The film is d...

We’ve made it to 2025. We survived the holidays and now our prize is the first new releases of a new year. But as you’re back to the grind with free time at a premium, what of these new shows is worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this winter! Thursdays: Going Dutch, Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 2) About : Denis Leary fronts this new comedy about a by-the-book Colonel who is assigned to a very loose base in the Netherlands as punishment for comments made about the commanding general. He’s also stationed there with his estranged daughter (Taylor Misaik), who is a Captain at the base. Can he adjust his style and make a family connection? This series also boasts Danny Pudi among the cast and had an engaging enough pilot. Leary is fun in this role and his back-and-forth with Misaik worked in the pilot. Will it all keep working? That remains to be seen. But it feels well paired w...

  Week 18 : Denver Broncos 38, Kansas City Chiefs 0 Season Record : 10-7 (6-2 Home) Key Play : On the Broncos' second drive, Bo Nix connected with Courtland Sutton on a long strike. He connected with Sutton on a touchdown two plays later to give the Broncos a 14-0 lead. They didn't look back. Recap: The mission was simple, win and you're in. The Broncos had that mission the past three weeks but it didn't happen in Week 16 or Week 17. It happened today. Bo Nix looked great, as did the defense. The Chiefs rested starters, which made it easier, but the Broncos came out and looked fierce. It was a great way to end the regular season and a great way for the Broncos to build confidence as they head to Buffalo for a playoff game! Man, it feels good to say that! Game Balls: * Bo Nix. Nix was near perfect, going 26-for-29 with four touchdowns. * Courtland Sutton . It was a 1,000-yard season for Courtland, who has been great for the Broncos. * Nik Bonitto. The Broncos' lin...

 It's hard to believe, but 2015 was 10 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2015 that are turning 10 in 2025.  The year 2015 was a strong year for films that featured a lot of interesting films. The list of films that stand out to me recognize that, the Blockbusters and the award contenders that are near and dear to my year. Some of those films are even pictured on the year-end montage above. For each of the films that I'll highlight from the year, I'll be including a quote from the film, an image, and a bit of the reason it makes the list. It's always fun to look at these cinematic time capsules to remember the films we've gotten and to remember favorites we might not have seen for a while. So, check back each Sunday through February 9 for a film from 2015. Then keep coming back as I continue to look at anniversary films, dropping back five years at a time until we get to 1990 to end the year!