Matt's Musings

 We've made it to August, the final month of the summer movie season. As always, there is a mixed bag of offerings, some of which look quite intriguing. Let's dive in. Friday, August 1: The Naked Gun (Theaters): Liam Neeson takes over the lead in this reboot of the classic franchise. The trailer is funny, and I think this could be some late summer fun. The Bad Guys 2 (Theaters): This is a sequel to the modest animated hit. I enjoyed the first film and it has a solid voice cast. It hasn't been a great summer for animated films, so maybe this will be a modest hit. Together (Theaters): Alison Brie and Dave Franco lead this body horror film from Michael Shanks. It was a hit at Sundance and it should add some pop to August. She Rides Shotgun (Theaters ): An interesting drama about an ex-convict father (Taron Egerton) on the run with his daughter. This had some pop and was surprisingly emotional. It's worth checking out. My Oxford Year (Netflix) : This is a new romance film ...

We had an interesting and diverse week at the movies for the last weekend in July. Below is a look at my take on the new films out this week. Keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Theaters) Starring : Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, and Ralph Ineson Synopsis : Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen a few swings at bringing Marvel’s iconic Fantastic Four to the screen. It started when the rights were held by FOX, who launched a film in 2005. It received middling reviews, though it did earn a sequel. Then, in 2015, we got a new version. It had a strong cast, but it didn’t all come together. It seems every 10 years we get a new swing at bringing the heroes to life. So, it’s fitting, in 2025, the Fantastic Four have returned. This time as part of a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But will it be the shot in the arm needed before the Avengers return? The film is...

We’re nearing the end of July, which means the summer season is coming in for a landing before things pick up for the Fall. But we still have a few new series, so what of the 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 summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Streaming Series: Red Eye, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered July 22) About: This is an international series—from the U.K.—that is making its domestic debut. It’s a six-episode mystery that takes place mostly on a plane flying from London to China. It centers on Dr. Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage), a British citizen who is in China for a conference. Upon his return, he’s detained—accused of murdering a Chinese woman while on his trip. With the U.K. amid a sensitive negotiation with the Chinese, they quickly acquiesce to the request to bring Dr. Nolan back. A London officer, D.C. Hana Li (Jing Lusi), is ta...

 We're quickly approaching the 2025 NFL Season. As such, I'll be previewing each of the divisions over the next few weeks. We'll look at teams in order of finish, then I'll make a prediction for the new season. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 Record: 10-7 About : The Buccaneers came through with a win again in the NFC South. They ran into a buzz saw in the Wild Card round against the Commanders, who made it to the NFC Championship Game. This off-season they changed offensive coordinators, again, but still have plenty of weapons. With Baker Mayfield at quarterback and a skill group that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton, Bucky Irving, and Rachaad White, they Buccaneers will be a tough team to stop. Atlanta Falcons 2024 Record: 8-9 About: The Falcons entered last season with promise. But the experiment with Kirk Cousins didn't pan out, and that left the team on the outside looking in when it came to the playoffs. Michael Penix, Jr...

It's hard to believe, but 1995 was 30 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 1995 that are turning 30 in 2025. Today, it's a great film from Tony Scott. Capt. Ramsey : God help you if you're wrong. Hunter : If I'm wrong, then we're at war; God help us all. Crimson Tide Starring : Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Viggo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, George Dzundza, and Matt Craven Director: Tony Scott About: Ridley Scott has built a reputation an a great director, which is earned, but I think his brother was under-rated. Tony Scott didn't make the biggest awards bait, but he made some classic bangers. Crimson Tide , which pits Hackman and Washington against each other aboard a Nuclear Submarine while the clock is ticking is one of those films. It's tense, beautifully constructed, and incredibly gripping. It's held up for me since I first saw it 30 years ago. The performances are magnificent here. I love ...

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. Babylon (2022) Starring : Brad Pitt, Margo Robbie, and Diego Calva Director : Damien Chazelle About : Chazelle is a talented filmmaker that has made very different kinds of films. But all of them have a quality of comedy, drama, and music in some way. This ambitious film drew some mixed reviews when it was released three years ago, but it might be his most ambitious. It's a celebration of a certain madcap era in Hollywood. It looks at the town in the late 1920s as the Silent Film era was king, but was about to be replaced by talking films. It looks at a wild era in our country, too. We see it all through the eyes of different players in the world. It features so...

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. Saturday Night (2024) Starring : Gabriel LaBelle, Cooper Hoffman, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, and Willem Dafoe Director: Jason Reitman About : This is the newest film on the list, having released just last Fall. It is also one of Reitman's best. For me, his first three films were an incredible run. Some of the ones in between didn't hit as hard, but his last two films, including this one, have been near perfect. This takes place in the 90 minutes leading up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live . It's about the chaos in the production, but really it's a love letter to Loren Michaels and the series. The performances are great, but it...

 We're quickly approaching the 2025 NFL Season. As such, I'll be previewing each of the divisions over the next few weeks. We'll look at teams in order of finish, then I'll make a prediction for the new season. Kansas City Chiefs 2024 Record: 15-2 About: The Chiefs were, again, a good team in 2024. They were nearly flawless in the regular season, falling just short of a Super Bowl title. The Chiefs look to be a good team again in 2025. They have a solid set of weapons and still have Patrick Mahomes driving things. I like their potential to compete for another AFC West crown and a playoff berth. Los Angeles Chargers 2024 Record: 11-6 About: The Chargers exceeded expectations in the first season under Jim Harbaugh. But there were flaws, and they underwent a lot of changes. Najee Harris and rookie Omarion Hampton are leading the backfield, while the Chargers added rookie receiver Tre Harris and veteran tight end Tyler Conklin to the passing game. Still, this is about goo...

We had a pair of smaller anticipated films in theaters last weekend, but were they worth checking out? I give my take below. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me @knighthawk7734 on Letterboxd. Eddington (Theaters) Starring : Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler Synopsis: For those of us who lived through May of 2020, it’s probably not a time we want to revisit eagerly. We were living in the midst of a pandemic. There was great Civil unrest. And people were at odds all over the country. In the new film Eddington, from director Ari Aster, we are transported back to that tense and fractured time. The film, from A24, opened in theaters on Friday. It’s set in a small New Mexico town where, though the town is dying, things have reached a fevered pitch. We follow Sheriff Joe Cross (Phoenix), who has been part of the law enforcement community for years, succeeding to his position after the death of his father-in-law. He’s not an impressive man, ...

We’re seeing the number of new shows slow a bit as we’re hitting the late stages of summer. But still, there are some interesting streaming options. What of them are worth the binge? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Streaming Series: Untamed, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 17) About : This new series focuses on a body that turns up in Yosemite. There, a special investigator (Eric Bana) is in charge of the case. He’s got a complicated past and has been pouring himself into work these last few years, much to the dismay of his ex-wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) and the chief Park Ranger (Sam Neill). This new case presents an interesting challenge, and the lead investigator is paired with a rookie park ranger (Lily Santiago) to get to the bottom of things. This six-episode limited series moves at a good pace and has an interesting set up. There are a lot...

 We're quickly approaching the 2025 NFL Season. As such, I'll be previewing each of the divisions over the next few weeks. We'll look at teams in order of finish, then I'll make a prediction for the new season. Los Angeles Rams 2024 Record : 10-7 About : The Rams narrowly won the NFC West, then beat the Vikings in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. The team bid farewell to Cooper Kupp this off-season but brought in Davante Adams as the No. 2 receiver. I like Matthew Stafford as the QB, with Puka Nacua as the No. 1 receiver and Kyren Williams as the top RB. I think all three, along with Adams, will have a good role in fantasy. Seattle Seahawks 2024 Record : 10-7 About : The Seahawks fell just short of a playoff berth. You'd think they would rally to take another shot. But, instead, the team went another way. The Seahawks traded D.K. Metcalf to the Steelers. Then they traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, and they let Tyler Lockett walk. They broug...

It's hard to believe, but 1995 was 30 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 1995 that are turning 30 in 2025. Today, the Best Picture winner. William Wallace : Every man dies, not every man really lives. Braveheart Starring : Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus MacFayden, and Brendan Gleeson Director : Mel Gibson About : This was the Best Picture winner 30 years ago. Some will quibble about whether it was THE best film of the year it was released, but those things are always a bit subjective. What's inarguable is that it is an epic and it's still a film that's remembered with great fanfare 30 years later. Gibson does a great job in front of and behind the camera. The battle sequences are memorable and epic. But it's the characters and the journey that works beautifully. The characters are memorable, as is the dialogue. The film does a great job of telling this story in a compelling way. It's a...

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. Miami Vice (2006) Starring : Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Naomie Harris, Gong Li, and John Ortiz Director : Michael Mann About : Mann was a producer of the original Miami Vice TV series. I was a little young for that to have been a formative part of my TV life, though I had seen it. Still, from the moment I saw the trailer, I knew this would be for me. Mann has a great style and a great knack with action sequences. All of that comes into play with this film. I know some didn't love it, but I was captivated by the storytelling style and the craft. And when those action sequences come, they hit hard. I realize that Foxx and Farrell had off-screen issues, but their ...

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. Se7en (1995) Starring : Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey Director : David Fincher About : Man, Fincher delivers some stunning cinematic moments. This film hits as hard now as it did when I first saw it in a theater. I was a teen then, and I've been captivated by the craft for the past 30 years. Pitt is good here, but it's Freeman that's exceptional. This was also during an incredible stretch of work for Spacey, who is captivating as John Doe. This film is put together beautifully and the way this story is told really shakes you up. Fincher does an incredible job of setting a mood all the way through. The closing sequence is ic...

 We've reached the mid-point in the year, meaning it's a good time to stop and take stock. Today, it's the best of film. Usually the first half of the year is slower for film, though there are often a few that stick all the way through to the end. How many of the films on this list will be there in December? Let's find out. No. 20 through 6, in ascending order, appear in list form. For No. 5 to No. 1, also in ascending order, I'll provide a few thoughts. 20. Pee-Wee As Himself 19. Number One on the Call Sheet 18. Companion 17. Fountain of Youth 16. The Monkey 15. Drop 13. Elio 13. Thunderbolts* 12. My Dead Friend Zoe 11. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning 10. Materialists 9. Lilo & Stitch 8. Karate Kid: Legends 7. The Phoenician Scheme 6. The Life of Chuck No. 5: The Accountant 2 About : I have only given four stars or higher five times in 2025 so far, so all five of them are in this range. The Accountant 2, which debuted in late April, is a sturdy action f...

We had a variety of options at the movies this weekend, and below is my take on all this week’s new films. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Daniela Forever (Limited) Starring : Henry Golding and Beatrice Granno Synopsis : This is the latest from writer/director Nacho Vigalondo. It’s an interesting sci-fi drama about a man, Nicolas (Golding), who is mired in grief. His girlfriend Daniela (Granno) died six months prior, and he can’t let it go. A friend offers to get him into a program that uses lucid dreaming to help people move on. It’s meant to help him make peace with the past. Instead, he uses the process to bring Daniela back to life and continue their journey. But soon the line between reality and fiction blurs completely. This is an interesting concept. It reminds me of other films, like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception, that are about exploring the realities we create. And in the process, we get a few n...

As we slide into July, we’re getting a wave of new series. Some of them offer us some intriguing possibilities. But which are worth the investment of your time? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted—and select unscripted—series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Sundays: Dexter: Resurrection, Streaming Fridays on Paramount+ airing Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered July 11) About : We last saw Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), then going by Jim Lindsay, in Dexter: New Blood, which ran in 2021. There, he was reunited with his son Harrison (Jack Alcot), who he began sharing his life and code. Things turned ugly and we ended on quite the cliffhanger. Now, the series is reborn again. Dexter is back using his regular name. We pick up 10 weeks later, with Dexter recovering from the gunshot wound that ended the last series. He’s managed to avoid any trouble for his actions in the last go-around, but ...

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and free agency is mostly done. We're moving toward the season. I'm going to take a look at each of the position groups, including my early prediction for who makes the final roster. Today, it's the Quarterbacks. On the Roster : Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Sam Ehlinger About : Over the past few years, quarterback was a huge question for the Broncos. This year, there are no questions. Nix, who was in the Rookie of the Year conversation in 2024, is back as the Broncos' starter. They made the playoffs in 2024 and are looking for more. Stidham is back for his third season, giving the Broncos an experienced backup at the position. This year Zack Wilson is gone to the Dolphins and Ehlinger is in as the development guy. I believe the Broncos will keep two on the roster and put one on the Practice Squad. Roster Predictions : Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham

  It's hard to believe, but 1995 was 30 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 1995 that are turning 30 in 2025. Today, it's a classic summer action film. Zeus : Are you aiming for these people? John McClane: No. Well, maybe that mime. Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) Starring : Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jeremy Irons Director : John McTiernan About : I kick off my look at films from this year with a banger of a summer action film, the third in the Die Hard franchise. The original film is a personal favorite, an iconic action film, and a great Christmas movie. (Yes, accept it, the film takes place at a Christmas Party on Christmas Eve. It's a Christmas movie.) Nothing will ever top or equal that, but this is the one in the franchise that comes the closest. It brings back the original director and tells an interesting original story that ties back to the first. Unlike the immediate sequel, it changes the settin...

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. Rear Window (1954) Starring : Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Raymond Burr Director : Alfred Hitchcock About : At a certain period in the height of his career, Hitchcock was the master of setting a scene that helped drive the tension in the story. This film is great in that respect. We have a tight courtyard and a sweltering stretch of summer. You can feel the heat in the air and the semi-claustrophobic way these people are living their lives on top of one another. Into that comes Stewart, a photographer who is bored with a broken leg that prevents him from moving. And we get plunged into a mystery. The tension and the shot composition is beautiful. That's one o...

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. Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) Starring : Kazunari Ninomiya and Ken Watanabe Director : Clint Eastwood About : Many directors have their war film, more specifically their World War II film. It's almost a rite of passage. Eastwood is no different, but perhaps more ambitious. In 2006, he released a pair of films about Iwo Jima. The first, Flags of Our Fathers , looks at the American soldiers who engaged in the attack. It's a well-crafted and powerful film. The second is this film, Letters From Iwo Jima , which tells the story from the point-of-view of the Japanese who defended the island. I wasn't sure what to expect. I liked the first film, but I was quite ...

 We've reached the mid-point in the year. This is a good time to pause, reflect, and consider what's come so far in the year. Today, I'll be looking at my favorite TV Seasons of 2025 so far. TV is usually strongest the first half of the year, prior to the Emmy window. So, many of my top selections might still be there in December. First, I'll list my No. 20-No. 6 in ascending order. For the final five, also in ascending order, I'll be giving a little more information. 20. Landman, Season 1, Paramount+ 19. Reacher, Season 3, Prime Video 18. MobLand, Season 1, Paramount+ 17. Etoile, Season 1, Prime Video 16. Abbott Elementary, Season 4, ABC 15. The Righteous Gemstones, Season 4, HBO 14. Daredevil: Born Again, Season 1, Disney+ 13. 1923, Season 2, Paramount+ 12. The Four Seasons, Season 1, Netflix 11. Paradise, Season 1, Hulu 10. On Call, Season 1, Prime Video 9. The Studio, Season 1, Apple TV+ 8. Bosch: Legacy, Season 3, Prime Video 7. Dept. Q, Season 1, Netflix 6. An...

It was a busy holiday weekend with a major theatrical release and a trio of streaming options. Below is my take on the holiday weekend releases. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado (Paramount+) Starring : Samantha Lorraine, Daniella Pineda, Jacob Rodriguez, and Gabriel Iglesias Synopsis : This is the second time in the last few years Dora has made her way to a live-action film that was available to streaming audiences. The first was in 2019, a film that featured Isabela Merced in the lead role. That movie had a quest, had a solid cast, and was a bit of fun. This time we have Lorraine in the lead role, with Rodriguez as her cousin and questing partner Diego. She’s also accompanied by her monkey Boots, voiced this time by Iglesias. She’s on another quest that has some Indiana Jones/National Treasure vibes. It’s a decently produced film that clocks in around 90 minutes, thereby not wearing out its w...

We always see a massive slowdown around the Fourth of July, as new shows take a break and even ongoing shows sometimes take the week off. This year was no exception. We got just two new shows, both unscripted series on Netflix. But was either worth checking out? Let this post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Streaming Series: Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers, Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 1) About : This new series is a docuseries about the terrorist bombings in London that took place on July 7, 2005. It’s been 20 years, and this four-part documentary series looks back at the event, the aftermath, and the hunt for those who committed the crimes. While many Americans may have heard about the bombings, this isn’t a subject we know much about. Yet this was a terror attack with a lasting impact that is similar to big events that have rocked America. This series looks at...

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and free agency is mostly done. We're moving toward the season. I'm going to take a look at each of the position groups, including my early prediction for who makes the final roster. Today, it's the Receiver group. On the Roster : Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, Michael Bandy, Trent Sherfield, Pat Bryant, A.T. Perry, Joaquin Davis, Courtney Jackson, Jerjuan Newton, and Kyrese White About : This is an interesting group. The Broncos made a mid-round draft pick and snagged some undrafted free agents, but otherwise this group is unchanged. That means Sutton remains the best of the receivers and the unquestioned No. 1. It also means the Broncos' young receivers will need to step up. The team kept five receivers last year, and I could see that remaining fairly consistent in 2025. They might step up to six, with Sherfield really a Special Teams ace. That means there are a lot of young players likely competing for...

  We've made it to 2025, which means that films released in 1995 are now turning 30 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 30 years old.  In 1995 we saw a lot of interesting films, including an iconic film from Mel Gibson that won Best Picture. We got some great comedies, some incredible dramas, and iconic classics that have long stood out to me. That includes some powerful films from some great filmmakers and some films that have become a part of iconic franchises. 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 September 28 for a film from 1995. Then keep coming back as I continue to look at ...