Matt's Musings

  On January 23, the Academy Award Nominations were announced. A total of ten films will be competing for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, which take place on Sunday, March 10. From now until then, I will be looking at each of the Best Picture Nominees. The Zone of Interest Starring : Sandra Huller and Christian Friedel Director : Jonathan Glazer Total Nomination s: 5 Nominated For : Best Picture, Best Director (Glazer), Best Adapted Screenplay (Glazer), Best International Feature, Best Sound About : This is the second International Feature to make the Best Picture field, and the second starring Huller. She earned an individual nomination for Anatomy of a Fall , but she's quite good here, too. This film is about the Commander of Auschwitz and his family living a normal, pleasant life just outside the gates of the camp. You can hear the horror on the periphery. You can sometimes see the horror. But this is sort of a family drama. That's what makes it unique, striking, and pol...

Animated Films have come a long way over the years. It's a genre and format that presents a wide range of styles and stories. This year, I'll be taking a look at my 50 favorite Animated Films, offering a new one from No. 50 to No. 1 each Saturday in 2024. Join along and feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments! Young Ellie : [written note to Carl] Thank you for the adventure. Now find another adventure. Up (2009) Starring : Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, and Bob Peterson Director : Pete Doctor and Bob Peterson About : Pixar films are always something of a fun adventure. I remember when I saw Up the first time. I was torn, as there is a piece of it that I think is a masterpiece in storytelling. But the film as a whole remains somewhat uneven for me. The story of Carl and Ellie is a treasure. That opening sequence, were it an animated short, might be the greatest animated short of all time. But the rest of the movie that follows doesn't match the emot...

  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Lucky Day : In a way, all of us has an El Guapo to face. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous man who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be *the actual* El Guapo! Three Amigos! (1986) Starring: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, and Tony Plana Director: John Landis About: There are different kind of western films. This list is curated from films that speak to me, and by now you're probably sensing that while I appreciate a traditional western, I like different entries to the art form. That's certainly the case here, with what is most decidedly a comedy....

  The NFL Honors presentation will take place next week. Each year, the NFL hands out big regular season honors prior to the Super Bowl. Below is the list of finalists and my predictions about who will win the big awards. Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills  Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens  Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers  Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys  Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers Prediction : I think Lamar Jackson will win the award this year. Offensive Player of the Year Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins  Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens  CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys   Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers  Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys Prediction : A lot of possibilities here. Had Tyreek crossed 2,000, I think he would have won. Instead, I think this goes to McCaffrey. Defensive Player of the Year DaRon Bland, CB, Dallas Cowboys  Maxx Crosby, DE Las Vegas Raiders  Myl...

  As we come to the end of January, we hit a mini lull in the flood of new films. Don’t worry, February will be busy. Still, there are a couple new releases to review. Below is my take on this week’s new releases. If you want to keep up with everything I’m watching, follow me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Miller’s Girl (Theaters) Starring : Martin Freeman, Jenna Ortega, Bashir Salahuddin, Gideon Adlon, and Dagmara Dominiczyk Synopsis : The big theatrical release this week is Miller’s Girl, an original tale set in a small Tennessee Town. There, an 18-year-old high school student, Cairo Sweet (Ortega) has been left on her own at an estate by her absentee parents. She’s smart, well-read, and struggling with finishing her essay for Yale. She’s started a new English class with Jonathan Miller (Freeman). He’s a published author, but it’s been sometimes since he really wrote something original. His best friend is Boris (Salahuddin), a fellow teacher and the baseball coach. His wife (Domi...

We’ve come to the end of January, which has produced a number of high-profile releases. But which of these new shows are worth your time? 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: Wild Cards, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW (Premiered January 17) About: This new series for The CW focuses on a mismatched pair of partners. Cole Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti) is a veteran detective accused of something he didn’t do that caused him to lose his position. Max Mitchell (Vanessa Morgan) is a skilled thief who got caught but has a way out plying her skills for the police. Cole and Max are partnered in the pilot, and the series is about them bringing their unique set of skills together to solve crimes. It’s a simple set up that leads to a light and breezy series. This feels like the kind of classic series that we’ve seen from The CW over the years. There’s a good...

  On January 23, the Academy Award Nominations were announced. A total of ten films will be competing for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, which take place on Sunday, March 10. From now until then, I will be looking at each of the Best Picture Nominees. Anatomy of a Fall Starring: Sandra Huller, Antoine Reinartz, and Swann Arlaud Director: Justine Triet Total Nominations : 5 Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director (Triet), Best Actress (Huller), Best Original Screenplay (Triet and Arthur Harai), Best Editing About: This film wasn't eligible for Best International Feature because France put up The Taste of Things instead. But judging by how it was received, were it eligible it would have made that field. It's got an outside shot at Best Picture, though I'd consider it a Dark Horse option at this point. Same for Huller in the Best Actress Category and Triet in the Best Director category. I think the best shot this film has to win is in the screenplay race. We've ...