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. Women Talking (2022) Starring: Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jesse Buckley, and Ben Whishaw Director: Sarah Polley About: Polley is a gifted filmmaker. This came out during a particularly strong year for women's films. I wish it had done better during the awards season. The script is brilliant. The performances are incredibly powerful. The story is haunting. I thought her use of color, with things in a muted palette, really adds to the experience of watching it, too. This was a film that left me deeply moved and stunned when it was released. There is great depth of emotion in this piece. I love the performances and the way you feel the tension building despite i...

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. Schindler's List (1993) Starring: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes Director: Steven Spielberg About : Here we come to the end of the fourth round of director's, ending with Spielberg. His body of work is diverse. It's incredible. And it's memorable. The films above this for me are personal choices. This film was a personal choice for Spielberg, and it objectively might be his finest work. The craft here is brilliant. The choice to shoot in black-and-white makes the pops of color, like the one pictured above, stand out. This is a brilliantly crafted film and an emotional journey you won't forget. I remember seeing it in theaters. I...

  We've made it to June, which is getting to the heart of the summer. There are a number of high-profile releases coming in June. Let's dive in and see what's coming! Friday, June 6: From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (Theaters): This is a spin-off of John Wick. It features Ana de Armas as a new contract killer, but it's clear there will be plenty of Keanu Reeves' John Wick, too. This is made for the action fans. The Phoenician Scheme (Theaters): This is the latest from Wes Anderson. The film has received mixed reviews from early screenings, but it looks to have his signature look and style. I'm intrigued. Dangerous Animals (Theaters): This is what summer movies are about, a low-budget shark film. I don't know a lot about it, but I don't need to know much. If you like sharks, you should be in. Predator: Killer of Killers (Hulu): This is a three-part anthology set in the world of Predator. It's also an animated film. I have mixed feelings. Stra...

It was a packed Memorial Day weekend with big theatrical releases and fun streaming options. Below are my thoughts on this week’s movies. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Fear Street: Prom Queen (Netflix) Starring: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, Katherine Waterston, Chris Klein, and Lily Taylor Synopsis: The latest in the Fear Street anthology series based on the books from R.L. Stine takes the action to 1988. We’re still in Shadyside, this time at a high school prom. But, as you might imagine, things take a disturbing turn, as befits this cursed town. We’re focused on Lori Granger (Fowler), a shy girl who is hoping to earn the prize of Prom Queen, and Tiffany (Strazza), the popular girl determined to cement her social status by being named queen herself. As they do battle on the dance floor, and among voters, a masked killer begins hunting students. Soon, it’s an all-out race for survival. This is a pretty standard...

We’re coming to the end of the Spring season and the end of May. This is the final roundup of Spring because next week we begin the summer TV season. So, what of these new shows—almost all of them dropped as a binge—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 Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Mondays: Librarians: The Next Chapter, Mondays at 10 p.m. on TNT (Premiered May 25) About: The Librarians franchise is a relic of a different time. I mean that both in terms of the way TV is created, scheduled, and programmed, and in the style of the series. The original series jumped off in 2014, and now we’re getting a new spin-off that launched just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. This one comes from Dean Devlin, a producer on the original series and the movies in between. The pilot dropped Sunday, with a second episode dropping in its regular timeslot Monday. The serie...

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and it’s officially rookie draft and start up season. Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be sharing my updated dynasty rankings. Below are my top 40 Tight Ends, broken into six tiers. Tier 1: 1 Brock Bowers 2 Trey McBride 3 Sam Laporta About: In the first tier, I have just the top three for me. Bowers, McBride, and LaPorta are the best tight ends, and the best for dynasty. There is a gap for me between these three and the next step down. Tier 2: 4 George Kittle 5 Tyler Warren 6 David Njoku 7 Colston Loveland About: Another smallish tier. This one includes two veterans that I like a lot that I expect to produce and two rookies who could quickly vault toward the Top 5 overall. It’s a small group, but this tier combined with the top tier are what I feel are the best tight ends in the game. Tier 3: 8 TJ Hockenson 9 Tucker Kraft 10 Pat Freiermuth 11 Kyle Pitts 12 Dalton Kincaid 13 Mark Andrews 14 Cade Otton 15 Mason Taylor 16 Travis Kelce 17 Evan Engram Abo...

It's hard to believe, but 2000 was 25 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2000 that are turning 25 in 2025. Today, it's the Best Picture winner. Maximus : [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next. Gladiator (2000) Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, and Richard Harris Director: Ridley Scott About : It's hard for me to believe this film is turning 25 years old. In fact, it's already passed that anniversary. I remember seeing the film on my birthday weekend in my first year of college. Maybe I can't believe it's 25 because I feel old. Anyway, the film still holds up. Crowe is great here and Scott does a great jo...

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. Oppenheimer (2023) Starring: Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Robert Downey, Jr., and Emily Blunt Director : Christopher Nolan About : This was the Oscar winner from 2023, and one of the finest films Nolan has made. The visuals and the craft are stunning. This was a labor of love for Nolan, and that comes through in every frame of the film. It's a difficult story to tell, and the way it moves back-and-forth through the perspectives of the different players is fascinating. This has an exceptional cast, too. All of Nolan's films are technically sound but this one has one of the best looks and feels of his films. It's an incredible cinematic achievement. That f...

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. Barton Fink (1991) Starring : John Turturro, John Goodman, and Judy Davis Director: Joel and Ethan Coen About: There are some films that stick with you. Barton Fink is one of those films for me. I was first introduced to it during Film Theory in college. My professor loved the visual language of the film. After seeing a few clips, I decided to rent it and check it out. I loved what I saw. It's strange. It's quirky. It's wild. And it's incredible. This film was a gateway for me into the world of The Coen Brothers. I still love it, though it isn't my favorite of their films. But I love the way it's crafted and I love the story. But it's sti...

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and it’s officially rookie draft and start up season. Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be sharing my updated dynasty rankings. Below are my top 75 wide receivers, broken into six tiers. Tier 1: 1 Ja'Marr Chase 2 Justin Jefferson 3 Malik Nabers 4 CeeDee Lamb 5 Amon-Ra St. Brown About: Like with running backs, I have a smaller first tier. These are the five best receivers for me, and I think they separate themselves from those in Tier 2. Tier 2: 6 Brian Thomas Jr. 7 AJ Brown 8 Drake London 9 Puka Nacua 10 Jaxon Smith-Njigba 11 Ladd McConkey 12 Nico Collins 13 Garrett Wilson 14 Tee Higgins 15 Tet McMillan About: These are the rest of the guys I think fight for WR1 status. There are some young studs on here, and some veterans who are still in their prime even if they’re not the No. 1 receiver for their own team. If you have one of those group or the top group, you’re feeling good. If you have two, even better. If you don’t have any, you’re overcomin...

 Below is a look at the new movie I saw this week, the sixth entry in a popular horror franchise. You can keep up with everything I'm watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Final Destination: Bloodlines (Theaters) Starring : Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, and Brec Bassinger Synopsis : It’s been 25 years since Death first decided to hunt those that escaped him. In that first Final Destination film it was about a group of high school students who stepped off a plane after a classmate got a premonition. But Death has continued to stalk people in the years since. Now the sixth installment—but first since 2011—is making its way to theaters for the summer movie crowd. In this one, it’s all about a specific family who was never supposed to exist. Can they outrun death? We first meet Stefani (Santa Juana) who is a college student just trying to get through classes. But she’s plagued by a violent and elaborate dream that has haunted her for the past two months. In it she...

We’re making our way toward Memorial Day and the start of summer. But, before we get there, we’ve still got some new shows making the rounds. 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 Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Thursdays: Duster, Streaming Thursdays at 10 p.m. on HBO Max (Premiered May 15) About : First it was HBO Go, then HBO Max, then Max, and now HBO Max again. Either way, the streamer has continued to produce interesting new series. This one from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan takes the action back to the 1970s. It’s set in Arizona, following a top wheel man named Jim (Josh Holloway). The series takes its name from his car—a 1970 Duster—which he uses to run jobs for the head honcho in the area, Saxton (Keith David). Jim has a complicated life and a complicated past, which makes him a target for a hotshot new FBI agent, Nina Hays...

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and it’s officially rookie draft and start up season. Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be sharing my updated dynasty rankings. Below are my top 75 running backs, broken into six tiers. Tier 1: 1 Bijan Robinson 2 Jahmyr Gibbs 3 Saquon Barkley 4 Ashton Jeanty 5 Jonathan Taylor 6 Josh Jacobs About: I went with a smaller top tier because these six players separate themselves. I’m taking a chance with Jeanty, but I think he’ll be a three-down force for the Raiders. Barkley, Taylor, and Jacobs are the veterans, but they are producing at an elite level. If you’re rostering one of these guys, you feel pretty good. Tier 2: 7 De'Von Achane 8 James Cook 9 Omarion Hampton 10 Breece Hall 11 Christian McCaffrey 12 Derrick Henry 13 Chase Brown 14 Bucky Irving About: This is an interesting tier. It’s some young guys who I think are still poised to be great, and in contention for an RB1 finish. In addition, I have some older guys in McCaffrey and Henry who are s...

We've made it to 2025, which means that films released in 2000 are now turning 25 years old. It's hard to believe how time flies, and it's even harder to believe some of the films on the list are now 25 years old.  In 2000 we saw a lot of interesting films, including a pair of releases from Stephen Soderberg, a new sword and sandals classic, and the worst Mission Impossible Film. There were a lot of films that stuck out, including a lot of apocalyptic films as we crossed into the new century. I will be looking at six films (really seven) that stood out to me from the year 2000. 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 June 29 for a film from 2000. Then keep coming ...

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. First Man (2018) Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, and Jason Clarke Director: Damien Chazelle About: This was the third feature film for Chazelle, and it's a doozy. You don't make a film like this unless you have a great love and reverence for the space race. This film has that. It's an exceptional cast, but it's a great look at the years of training, effort, joys, and loss of these men, and their families, as they fought to get to the moon. We're following Neil Armstrong (Gosling), but it's really about all these early pioneers in space. The production here looks incredible and the power of the narrative really comes through the product...

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. Juno (2007) Starring : Elliott Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, and J.K. Simmons Director: Jason Reitman About: Reitman was on quite a roll when it came to his early films. This was his second feature, and it was nominated for Best Picture. It's a credit to Reitman and also to the script from Diablo Cody. The dialogue here crackles, as do the performances. I love the soundtrack and the way that this film is put together. There's a strong, emotional core to the story that really works for me. I remember being moved when I first saw it, and it holds up today. Surprisingly, there are three of Reitman's films I like even better. He might...

  The 2025 NFL Schedule is out, and it's time to dive in and start analyzing what we're about to see! The Broncos got a Week 12 bye, meaning it's late again, but otherwise have an interesting schedule. Below are the five games on the slate I'm most excited to see. Monday, September 29 vs. Cincinnati Bengals About : This is probably the most interesting game to me in the first month. It's a Prime Time game against the Bengals. That late-season matchup with the Bengals in 2024 was one of the best games of the year. But this being a fun Monday night game on ABC should be a blast. Sunday, October 5 at the Philadelphia Eagles About : The very next week, in fact just six days later, the Broncos have a date with the defending Super Bowl champions. That's always interesting and this should be an incredible test of this Broncos team to see how close they are to contending. Sunday, October 12 at New York Jets About : At the end of a brutal stretch of three weeks, the Bron...

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and it’s officially rookie draft and start up season. Over the next couple weeks I’ll be sharing my updated dynasty rankings. Below are my top 50 quarterbacks, broken into four tiers. Tier 1: 1 Josh Allen 2 Lamar Jackson 3 Joe Burrow 4 Jayden Daniels 5 Patrick Mahomes 6 Jalen Hurts 7 Justin Herbert 8 Bo Nix 9 C.J. Stroud 10 Jared Goff 11 Jordan Love 12 Baker Mayfield About : In Dynasty, this would be the traditional QB1 tier. If you have one of these guys, you’re in good shape. If you have two, you’re ahead of the curve. This group is comprised of a few things. After the Top 6, which are probably the elite stars, we have a group of strong, young guns. I have really come up on Nix, so I have him higher than some. But I like his potential. I end this tier with some veterans who have been solid and are in great offensive situations and long-term contracts. Tier 2:  13 Drake Maye 14 Caleb Williams 15 Brock Purdy 16 Dak Prescott 17 Kyler Murray 18 Trev...

It was a grab bag of options this week at the movies. Below is my take on all the new releases. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Clown in a Cornfield (Theaters) Starring: Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Vincent Muller, and Will Sasso Synopsis: When we see clowns, it likely conjures a certain reaction. Some might feel a shiver of fear or panic, seeing them as something sinister. Others might feel a wave of happiness, thinking of good times with party or circus clowns. But either way, the image provokes a reaction. In the new horror film Clown in a Cornfield, which opens on Friday, you might be tempted to see it both ways. The titular clown is the symbol of the town’s biggest business and factory. (Though why you’d choose a clown as a mascot escapes me.) But someone has also used that symbol as their emblem of evil as they reign terror on the youths of the town. The film is based on the novel from Adam Cesare and...

We’re making our way through May and, as we do, the Broadcast season is winding down. We’re also approaching the Emmy consideration window. All that means the flow of new shows is slowing down. 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 Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Sundays: Miss Austen, Sundays at 10 p.m. on PBS (Premiered May 4) About : This new series for Masterpiece is a limited series based on the novel of the same name from Gil Hornby. It follows an adult Cassandra Austen (Keeley Hawes), sister of author Jane Austen, as she discovers a trove of letters after an old friend dies. The letters let her into the past as she relives some key moments between herself and her more famous sister, much of which plays out like the plot to one of Jane Austen’s novels. The second episode is more of the same. I like the cast. I like the potential and pre...

  It's hard to believe, but 2005 was 20 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2005 that are turning 20 in 2025. Today, it's the start of a superhero franchise. Henri Ducard : Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share. Bruce Wayne : That's why it's so important. It separates us from them. Batman Begins (2005) Starring : Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, and Katie Holmes Director : Christopher Nolan About : If you've followed me for a while, you know that Nolan is one of my favorite filmmakers and Batman is my favorite superhero. So, it isn't hard to imagine this film landing on the list on the year it turns 20. It is a Nolan film I love, falling just short of my Top 5 for him. (For my Top 5 Nolan Films, be sure to follow my Director's Series on Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025). But this film had a lot of heavy lifting to do in bui...

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. Ferrari (2023) Starring: Adam Driver, Shailene Woodley, and Penelope Cruz Director : Michael Mann About : This is one of the newer films on this list. It came out at Christmas two years ago, telling the story of Enzo Ferrari at a crucial point in his life. I enjoyed Driver in the lead role and I liked the way this one was put together. The driving sequences really work well. The harrowing crash sequence has a tremendous impact on the viewer and is visually stunning at times. I have enjoyed a lot of Mann's work, but the heart and creativity of the craft helped this one stand out, along with the performances and the engaging story.

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 Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011) Starring : Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, and Christopher Plummer Director: David Fincher About: Fincher knows his way around a gritty crime drama. That's certainly the case with this film, which is a re-make of a foreign film based on the popular novel. We knew how the story was going to go, and still there's power in this adaptation. From the opening credit sequence and song, we are plunged into this world. I liked the performances and the way Fincher put it all together. Some of the content is quite dark, especially Mara's early storylines. But the way the film lays it out works. The look here is strong and it was ...

 The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books and the Broncos made a total of seven picks over three days. Below is a look at the Broncos' draft as we move into the next phase of the off-season. The first pick, in the First Round, saw the Broncos take a cornerback, Jahdae Baron. It was a surprising pick as cornerback didn't seem a top need. But it gives the Broncos a defensive weapon and solidifies some great depth in the secondary opposite Pat Surtain. One of the biggest areas of need for the Broncos was running back. The team answered that need in the Second Round, snagging former UCF back R.J. Harvey. He rushed for nearly 3,000 yards and 38 touchdowns the past two seasons. He could have a big role in a backfield that is very much in flux. The Broncos have Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin, but Harvey is likely to take on the primary role. The Broncos also added receiver Pat Bryant, out of Illinois, in the Third Round. Where does he fit in the overall scheme of things? That's unc...