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. Today, before diving into the first of my selections, I'm looking at directors who just missed the cut. Below are a few of the directors I like and considered who didn't make the final list of filmmakers. Each has a body of work that's worth checking out and, in some cases, have directed some of my all time favorite films. Wes Anderson : Anderson has a completely unique style for his films. I dearly love several, with my favorites being Moonrise Kingdom , The French Dispatch , and The Grand Budapest Hotel . He's a unique director whose films create fascinating and unique worlds. Tim Burton : Burton also has a very unique style. I've been a fan si...

  Over the past few years I've explored different lists of films that move me throughout the year. This year, on Fridays and Saturdays, I'm exploring something a little different. Rather than categories of films, I'm looking at some directors I enjoy. I picked 18 directors whose work I enjoy and admire. For each of them, I will be sharing my five favorite films from No. 5 to No. 1. It's a lengthy exploration that I hope will introduce you to some new films and new filmmakers, and will showcase my diverse style and interest. But I also wanted to celebrate female filmmakers. We've seen a lot of different female voices making impactful films the past few years. So, in addition, I'm sprinkling in 10 different films that I have enjoyed that were delivered by different female filmmakers. Sometimes crafting this list was hard. Narrowing it to five from some of these directors required difficult choices. Just settling on the 18 directors also involved difficult choices....

 I had another strong week in Week 17, but struggled against the Spread. Let's see if I can finish strong! NFL Picks, Week 18: Ravens Over Browns Steelers Over Bengals Falcons Over Panthers Commanders Over Cowboys Packers Over Bears Texans Over Titans Colts Over Jaguars Bills Over Patriots Eagles Over Giants Buccaneers Over Saints Broncos Over Chiefs Chargers Over Raiders Seahawks Over Rams Dolphins Over Jets 49ers Over Cardinals Lions Over Vikings Last Week : 12-4 Season : 179-77 NFL Picks Spread, Week 18 : Ravens -17.5 Over Browns Steelers +2.5 Over Bengals Panthers +7.5 Over Falcons Commanders -3.5 Over Cowboys Packers -9.5 Over Bears Texans +4.5 Over Titans Colts -5.5 Over Jaguars Bills -2.5 Over Patriots Eagles -3.5 Over Giants Buccaneers -13.5 Over Saints Chiefs +8.5 Over Broncos Chargers -5.5 Over Raiders Seahawks -.5 Over Rams Dolphins -2.5 Over Jets 49ers -.5 Over Cardinals Lions -2.5 Over Vikings Last Week : 7-9 Season : 138-118

We’re cruising to the end of 2024 and as we do, I’m looking back at some of my favorite films and performances from the year. As well as a few of my least favorite. Each day between now and January 9 look for another installment in a different category. Let’s ring out 2024 by looking back on some of the best and worst of the year! Today, it’s time to talk my favorite movies of 2024. Below is my Top 10 in ascending order. But, before we start, I’ll give 10 others that I liked a lot. No. 20: The Wild Robot No. 19: A Quiet Place: Day one No. 18: Transformer One No. 17: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever No. 16: Nickel Boys No. 15: A Complete Unknown No. 14: A Real Pain No. 13: Inside Out 2 No. 12: Challengers No. 11: Small Things Like These No. 10: Longlegs About: One of my all-time favorite films is The Silence of the Lambs. This film from Osgood Perkins reminded me of that in the best ways. I liked Nicolas Cage as the creepy Longlegs, and Maika Monroe as the agent on his tail. This was a ...

Today, I’m looking at my favorite TV Series of the year. Below is the Top 10 in ascending order. But first, let’s look at a few more that just missed the cut! No. 20: Abbott Elementary, Season 3 No. 19: Mistletoe Murders, Season 1 No. 18: Fallout, Season 1 No. 17: Only Murders in the Building, Season 4 No. 16: Lioness, Season 2 No. 15: The Day of the Jackal No. 14: The Diplomat, Season 2 No. 13: Fargo, Season 5 No. 12: Ripley No. 11: House of the Dragon, Season 2 No. 10: Mr & Mrs Smith, Season 1 (Prime Video) About: This featured Donald Glover and Maya Erskine in a small-screen story based on the film. This had a completely different take and ended up being a great exploration of these two people, their relationship, and their spy life. It had some ups-and-downs, but I loved it. No. 9: Black Doves, Season 1 (Netflix) About: There are a few spy tales on my list, including this six-episode Netflix series that dropped in December. It features Keira Knightly and Ben Whishaw in a grea...

  Week 17 : Cincinnati Bengals 30, Denver Broncos 24 Season Record : 9-7 (5-2 Home) Key Play : In Overtime, Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins on his third touchdown catch of the day, sealing the win. Recap : No guts, no glory. We've heard the adage before. We saw it in action Saturday as the Broncos elected to tie the game in regulation, losing in overtime. I thought the team should have gone for two and the win. Sean Peyton didn't, and the Broncos remain in post-season limbo. If they do win, it's likely a Wild Card game in Buffalo. But, still, you'd like to make it.  The Broncos have had win and your in as their scenario the past two weeks, dropping both. They get a third shot, but if they miss it could be the Bengals coming from 4-8 to make the playoffs. The Broncos are young but it's time for them to start stepping up. Will we see it in Week 18? I sure hope so! Game Balls: * Marvin Mims . The young receiver had a pair of huge touchdown grabs to help the Bronc...

 We've reached January. We're in a new year, but sometimes it will be hard to tell at theaters. This is a month about a few new releases--mostly evergreen horror--and some films from the tail end of 2024 finally getting a wide release. There's something for everyone! Let's dive in. Friday, January 3: The Damned (Theaters): I mentioned horror is evergreen, well here's a prime example. This horror movie is the first wide release of the year. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix): This is a 2024 release for awards, but it's getting a wide distribution on Netflix. It's a cute one that's great for the whole family. Friday, January 10: Better Man (Theaters): This biopic of Robbie Williams got a limited release on Christmas Day. Now, it's going wide for the masses! Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (Theaters): This is a bigger action film, a sequel to the film starring Gerard Butler from a few years ago. Expect plenty of shooting. Hard Truths (Thea...