Matt's Musings

"Everyone here says I'm sane. What if they're wrong?" - David, "Legion" A man suffering from schizophrenia in a mental hospital. An aging, broken down past-their-prime heroes on one last mission. A mentally battered hero with a breaking down body dragged into conflict with a superhuman marvel that can't get past the guilt and raging self doubt cast upon him by society. If you didn't know any better, you'd think the above description was part of the plot to "Watchmen," the classic graphic novel that offered a dark, dystopic take on superheroes. But, no, this is simply reflective of a new era. I couldn't help but reflect on this while watching "Logan" this weekend. It soared to the top of the Box Office, churning up more than $80 million. But it was decidedly different. We've seen Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and Patrick Stewart's Professor X in many movies the last 17 years. But it's fair to say we've never ...

NFL Free Agency begins on Thursday, and there's a lot happening between now and then. The legal tampering period begins on Tuesday, and we'll know even more then. But it seems the biggest prize out there right now might be Tony Romo, and the Broncos seem to be the top suitor. But is it a good idea? Can it work. Let's look at the pros and cons. Pros: * Tony Romo is better than what the Broncos have now. Sure, Trevor Siemian had a decent season, but he's not a seasoned pro. The Broncos feel like they have all the pieces to win a Super Bowl now, and the key parts are there from a Super Bowl 50 win. The biggest difference last year was no Peyton Manning, a veteran quarterback who could give the offense the little edge it was missing. * It's worked before. John Elway was the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl... until Peyton Manning did it in Super Bowl 50. The connection? Both were Broncos. And Elway is the one that recruited Manning and saw what it could mean, and ...

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:31-32 There are a lot of parts of my job that are really cool. One of them this winter has been preparing for a Lenten art exhibition, "The Father & His Two Sons: The Art of Forgiveness," we got on loan from Calvin College. The exhibition, which opens today at First Pres, features more than 40 pieces from more than a dozen different artists. All the work is inspired by the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I have never been an "art" person. Sure, I love visual and performing arts, but when it comes to paintings and sculptures, little has ever moved the needle. But in working on this project, seeing these pieces, reading the stories and hearing the passion of those involved, it's been exciting. I'll admit to not understanding everything, but I...

Our long winter nightmare is finally over. While the quality films are few and far between in January and February, there's no such issue when it comes to March. Beginning with the first weekend, and stretching to the end, this month is packed with fascinating films to choose from. Here's a look at what's coming. Friday, March 3: Logan — This is the third solo film for Hugh Jackman as "Wolverine," and by all accounts it's not only the best but possibly one of the best films of the year. It's the final outing for Jackman as Wolverine, a character he's played for 17 years on film. The trailer looks incredible and I can't wait to see this play out. The Shack — This film, based on the popular book, is likely one of many religious-themed movies coming out this Lenten season. It has a great cast and looks like it will elicit plenty of tears. Table 19 — For anyone who has a soft spot for Anna Kendrick, this will be a must see comedy about a jilted forme...

"Most TV shows don't reward you for paying attention." — Matt Groening If you are a fan of TV, the past 25 years have been a magical time. First we had the Golden Age of TV in terms of programming, much of which was considered revolutionary and ground breaking. And now we're in a second golden age that has to do with the volume and choice of content. Many shows are good, yes, but there's also so many content producers that everyone has a show to fill their niche. It's projected that in 2017 we'll crest over 500 scripted shows airing. Think about that, 500 shows. Not 500 hours of shows, which would be a lot, but 500 series, each with seasons ranging from six to 25 episodes. That's a lot of TV. That's a lot of options. And it's created a fractured viewing audience. No longer do we have these national prestige shows where everyone is watching. Now, you try to find the 4-5 people who are watching your show if you want an outlet. Or, you turn to the...

March begins tomorrow, but many of us are still in the throws of winter. And the TV is still there to keep us company. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows from winter. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Monday Nights:  Taken, Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC (Premiered February 27) About: NBC has taken a new stance this winter, seemingly just launching new series that are brand extensions of existing properties of shows like "Taken," that are brand extensions of movie franchises. That usually doesn't work, and it certainly doesn't work with "Taken." What is the real pull of the "Taken" franchise? Is it the stories, or is it the charisma of Liam Neeson broken down in easy to swallow 90 minute bites? I think its the latter, and the pilot for this series did little to change my feeling. In the series, Clive Standen takes on the role of Bryan Mills, who in this series is younger and san...

I have a long track record of falling in love with a film that I think is the best in the year and seeing it lose on Oscar night. That streak snapped last year when "Spotlight" claimed Best Picture. Moments after Faye Dunaway announced "La La Land," I thought it had happened again. Five minutes after that, I didn't know what to think. For the first time I can remember, there was an error when reading Best Picture. While "La La Land" was announced, and the team came to the stage and made speeches, that wasn't the winner. Then, amidst confusion, "Moonlight" got the call. The teams shuffled, like seeing a turnover reversed on replay in an NFL game, and they tried to make their speeches. Doubtless this will be remembered for a long time. I'm bummed "La La Land" lost, though it's not totally surprising "Moonlight" won. What's heart-breaking is the disservice done to those who worked on both films. It should have...