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 Eddy (2020) Starring : Andre Holland, Amandla Stenberg, and Joanna Kulig Director : Damien Chazelle (Episodes 1-2) About: I love Chazelle as a director. His first four feature films are all ones I love, and that was enough that I felt strongly about him being on this list. But he doesn't have a deep filmography. So, I flexed a little bit here. That means including this Netflix mini-series as his No. 5 entry. Chazelle is a producer of the series, from Jack Thorne, and directed the first two episodes. The style is strong, and the use of Jazz and the way the story is told feels very much of a piece with Chazelle's other films. I like Holland and Stenberg h...

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. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) Starring : Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, and J.K. Simmons Director: Jason Reitman About: I have long been a fan of Reitman. In fact, that started with his first three features, all of which will be on this list later. But after that, some of his films didn't work for me as well. I was curious to see what he would do with this re-boot of Ghostbusters , a franchise led by his father, Ivan. What we got was a delightful film that is funny, emotional, and beautifully shot. It's a great adventure that brings you back into this world and drives it forward. It also bring...

 As we turn the corner into March, we're leaving the 2024 Award Season behind. That means a combination of new releases, including some anticipated tent poles to help launch the Spring. Let's dive in. Thursday, March 6: Picture This (Prime Video): This is a smaller romance film, but it stars Simone Ashley and Hero Fiennes Tiffin. It will appeal to those looking for a light streaming film. Friday, March 7: Mickey 17 (Theaters): This film has been oft delayed, but it's the anticipated follow up from Bong Joon Ho, starring Robert Pattinson. I'm curious to see it but not sure what to expect. Rule Breakers (Theaters): This is a smaller film about your women seeking to rise above obstacles to realize their potential. This looks like a feel-good theater option. Night of the Zoopocalypse (Theaters): We haven't had much in the way of animated films this year, so far. But this one presents a big screen outing for the family set! Thursday, March 13: Parenting (Max): This ...

We’re coming to the end of February, and that’s provided us with a trio of interesting new releases. Below are my takes on the new films that hit theaters on February 28. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Last Breath (Theaters) Starring : Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole Synopsis: The ocean is a cold and vast place. It’s also a dangerous place, especially for those that need to venture deep below the surface. That’s part of the challenge facing the team in Last Breath, a new biopic that releases in theaters February 28. In 2012, Chris Lemons and his colleagues dove 300 feet deep in the North Sea. Things went wrong and Chris was cut off from his vessel and his supply of oxygen, leading to a harrowing hour as his team tried to rescue him. The event was captured by filmmaker Alex Parkinson in a 2019 documentary. This new film, which shares the same name, is a scripted recreation from Parkinson. In the film, we meet Chris (...

We’re into March, so the season is in the home stretch. But we’re still seeing some interesting new shows pop up. Which of these 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. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesdays: Good Cop/Bad Cop, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW (Premiered February 19) About: This CW series focuses on a pair of siblings (Leighton Meester and Luke Cook) who are thrown together after years of estrangement as partners in their hometown. I like the set up and I like the back-and-forth between Meester and Cook. The pilot was one of the most fun series I’ve seen in a while on The CW. I liked the flow of the second episode, too. This is an interesting and engaging show and should work well with the target demographic. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a CW pilot and but this one should be a lot of fun. Pilot Grade : B- Second Episode : C+ Thu...

 The 97th Oscars took place on Sunday night, bringing an end to award season and closing the book on the 2024 slate of movies. So, how did the year finish? Well, I was pleased when the field of 10 Best Picture nominees included my Top 3 films of the year. But it also included some films that didn't resonate with me. So, how would it go. When I did final picks, I guess I couldn't help go with my heart. The votes, instead, went with Anora . Of the 10 films nominated, that was my least favorite. And so, seeing it win five of six nominated categories was a blow. It won Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay, as well. That is quite the haul, making it really the king of 2024 films at the Academy Awards. I have seen all 97 Best Picture winners. This win drops Anora to bottom 10 for me.  There were a few awards that I enjoyed. Keiran Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor, while predictable, was nice. I also enjoyed seeing No Other Land win Best Documentary Feature...

It's hard to believe, but 2010 was 15 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2010 that are turning 15 in 2025. Today, it's the beginning of the end for a classic franchise. Dobby the House Elf : Dobby has no master. Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1 Starring : Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Maggie Smith Director : David Yates About : The beginning of the end of this incredible film franchise based on the popular books came 15 years ago. It's hard to believe it's been that long, or that we're getting a re-make of these stories in TV Series form next year. But it's true. For me, the sixth film was my favorite. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows with a death that rocked me. I didn't know how they would build on to that (as I wasn...

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. Collateral (2004) Starring : Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx Director: Michael Mann About : Mann has had a long and dedicated career. He's given us some great films over the years and narrowing it down to five was sometimes agonizing. This first entry is part of what has made him great over the years, the way he captures Los Angeles. On its surface, this is a simple story. A hit man (Cruise) hires a cab driver (Foxx) to take him around the city over night as he completes his work. Chaos ensues. All that works beautifully, with some great performances from Foxx and Cruise. I also enjoyed Mark Ruffalo and Jada Pinkett Smith in some cameos. But what helps stick out is t...