Matt's Musings

  The 2022 NFL Season is barreling toward us. Training Camps begin this month and then the race to opening day is really under way. Over the next few weeks I'll be looking at my re-draft rankings by position. That means how I'm evaluating players for this season. Today I'm starting with quarterbacks, going to QB40. Re-Draft QBs: 1. Josh Allen, Bills 2. Justin Herbert, Chargers 3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens 4. Joe Burrow, Bengals 5. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs 6. Dak Prescott, Cowboys 7. Russell Wilson, Broncos 8. Jalen Hurts, Eagles 9. Matthew Stafford, Rams 10. Tom Brady, Buccaneers 11. Kyler Murray, Cardinals 12. Derek Carr, Raiders 13. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins 14. Kirk Cousins, Vikings 15. Matt Ryan, Colts 16. Aaron Rodgers, Packers 17. Jared Goff, Lions 18. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars 19. Carson Wentz, Commanders 20. Jameis Winston, Saints 21. Justin Fields, Bears 22. Mac Jones, Patriots 23. Ryan Tannehill, Titans 24. Davis Mills, Texans 25. Baker Mayfield, Panthers 26. Trey Lance,...

  “Forgiveness is a long, hard road Danny, but at the end there is grace.”—Ed Baldwin   When last we left, things weren’t going well. The Russian ship failed and the American ship had to come to the rescue. In the process, lives were lost on both sides. That didn’t sit well with Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman), who was effectively sidelined by Dev (Edi Gathegi). Dev took control of Phoenix, and as we open, Ed is in the process of taking back control. But more on that in a minute. First, it seemed when the American team committed to getting the Russians, it was a one-way ticket back home. But upon further review, it seems the American and Soviet technology is compatible. So, with an infusion of fuel—and finding a new way to work together, the two combined crews can continue on to Mars. Some take to it a little better than others. Love in a Hopeless Place Last week Kelly Baldwin (Cynthy Wu) got a transmission from the Russian team that their mission was in trouble. This wee...

  Welcome to this year's exploration of TV, the Best of the Small Screen. Throughout the year I'll be looking at my favorite shows in four categories: Network Sitcoms, Network Dramas, Cable Series and Streaming Series. We'll cap the exploration with my Top 10 shows of all time regardless of format. Check back each Saturday for another installment in the countdown! Jonathan: "Nobody Normal Ever Accomplished Anything Meaningful In This World." Stranger Things (2016-) Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Gaten Matarazo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalie Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, and Maya Hawke Favorite Episodes : "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers," Episode 1.01; "Episode Three: Holly Jolly," Episode 1.03; "Chapter Seven: The Bathtub," Episode 1.07; "Chapter Eight: The Upside Down," Episode 1.08; "Chapter Six: The Spy," Episode 2.06; "Chapter ...

  In 2022 I'm revisiting my favorite films of all time, doing a countdown of the Top 50 throughout the year. Check back each Friday for the latest installment in the countdown of films, which include releases through 2019. Agree? Disagree? Have a thought on the choice? Be sure to share in the comments below! Groot : I am Groot. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) Starring: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, and Michael Rooker Director: James Gunn About: Finally, we come to my favorite Marvel film. The Marvel Cinematic Universe now spans more than 25 films over nearly 15 years. That's a lot of films and a lot of stories. Since I first saw Guardians , it has stood out as my favorite. I love the story and the characters, the way Gunn infuses the story with humor and pathos. The action sequences work and the story is a lot of fun. I loved Pratt as Star Lord, but it's really the whole cast in this story and the way the narrative come...

  We're in the midst of summer now. July is a month that usually features a number of exciting and interesting blockbuster features, and this July is no different. Let's check out what's coming. Friday, July 1: Minions: The Rise of Gru (Theaters): Set in the 1970s, this Minions feature focuses on a young Gru (Steve Carrell) and his rise to power. It looks to be a slice of fun, family entertainment. The Princess (Hulu): This one hasn't had much of a marketing campaign, but features Joey King is the lead role as a princess who is more of a warrior and must save her kingdom.  Wednesday, July 6: Hello, Goodbye and Everything In Between (Netflix): This is a romance of sorts, following a couple who agreed to break up as college is ending. On the day they're to part, the gather to re-live and celebrate the key moments and locations of their relationship. This sounds like an interesting concept that could be a fun summer watch. Friday, July 8: Thor: Love and Thunder (The...

  Independence Day typically marks the half-way point in the year, but it also tends to be a slower time for new releases. And yet, there were some gems released this week, while I also caught up on what I missed when I was homebound last week! Below are my take on this week’s new movies. If you’d like to see more of my scores for films and thoughts, feel free to follow me on Letterboxd here . Beauty (Netflix) Starring : Gracie Marie Bradley, Giancarlo Esposito, and Niecy Nash Synopsis : This new drama comes from writer Lena Waithe. It centers on a young woman with a gift for singing, Beauty (Bradley), whose life is controlled by her parents. Her mother (Nash) and father (Esposito) are ultra-conservative and religious. That clashes with Beauty’s identity and her love, Jasmine (Aleyse Shannon). Beauty is also talented, and while her father wants to control her career for a cut, Beauty resists. She also has to deal with a shady producer (Sharon Stone) and try to make her way in t...

  Happy Fourth of July! Hope you’re basking in the glow of the fireworks which, if your neighborhood is like mine, went into the wee hours of the morning. It might have given you time to catch up on some TV, but what new treasures should fill the void? This last week was calmer, likely due to the holiday, but it’s good to examine the options anyway. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Streaming Series: Baymax!, Now Streaming on Disney+ (Premiered June 29) About: I am a big fan of Big Hero 6 , the animated feature that introduced the world to Baymax. He’s a delightful robot that seeks to help all those around him. Now, Baymax is back. This time in a set of animated shorts where he plies his skill in helping people in quick, 10-to-15-minute bite-sized episodes. Scott Adsit provides the voice here again in a series that was a bit of light-hearted fun. I enjoyed th...