Matt's Musings

We’re into March, so the season is in the home stretch. But we’re still seeing some interesting new shows pop up. Which of these 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 Winter. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesdays: Good Cop/Bad Cop, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW (Premiered February 19) About: This CW series focuses on a pair of siblings (Leighton Meester and Luke Cook) who are thrown together after years of estrangement as partners in their hometown. I like the set up and I like the back-and-forth between Meester and Cook. The pilot was one of the most fun series I’ve seen in a while on The CW. I liked the flow of the second episode, too. This is an interesting and engaging show and should work well with the target demographic. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a CW pilot and but this one should be a lot of fun. Pilot Grade : B- Second Episode : C+ Thu...

 The 97th Oscars took place on Sunday night, bringing an end to award season and closing the book on the 2024 slate of movies. So, how did the year finish? Well, I was pleased when the field of 10 Best Picture nominees included my Top 3 films of the year. But it also included some films that didn't resonate with me. So, how would it go. When I did final picks, I guess I couldn't help go with my heart. The votes, instead, went with Anora . Of the 10 films nominated, that was my least favorite. And so, seeing it win five of six nominated categories was a blow. It won Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay, as well. That is quite the haul, making it really the king of 2024 films at the Academy Awards. I have seen all 97 Best Picture winners. This win drops Anora to bottom 10 for me.  There were a few awards that I enjoyed. Keiran Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor, while predictable, was nice. I also enjoyed seeing No Other Land win Best Documentary Feature...

It's hard to believe, but 2010 was 15 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2010 that are turning 15 in 2025. Today, it's the beginning of the end for a classic franchise. Dobby the House Elf : Dobby has no master. Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 1 Starring : Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Maggie Smith Director : David Yates About : The beginning of the end of this incredible film franchise based on the popular books came 15 years ago. It's hard to believe it's been that long, or that we're getting a re-make of these stories in TV Series form next year. But it's true. For me, the sixth film was my favorite. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows with a death that rocked me. I didn't know how they would build on to that (as I wasn...

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. Collateral (2004) Starring : Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx Director: Michael Mann About : Mann has had a long and dedicated career. He's given us some great films over the years and narrowing it down to five was sometimes agonizing. This first entry is part of what has made him great over the years, the way he captures Los Angeles. On its surface, this is a simple story. A hit man (Cruise) hires a cab driver (Foxx) to take him around the city over night as he completes his work. Chaos ensues. All that works beautifully, with some great performances from Foxx and Cruise. I also enjoyed Mark Ruffalo and Jada Pinkett Smith in some cameos. But what helps stick out is t...

  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. The Killer (2023) Starring: Michael Fassbender Director: David Fincher About: This is one of the newest films on this list and one of my favorites from 2023. It was an excellent thriller from Netflix and features an incredible lead performance from Fassbender. Fincher is an interesting director. He's made some films that I love and some films that I didn't care for. But, above all, his films are never boring. That's the case here. I don't really understand why this flew under-the-radar as much as it did, but the way it's shot and put together is brilliant. The use of Fassbender's internal monologue to fill out the world is also brilliant...

  The 97th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday. Below are my picks for who will take home each of the awards! Best Picture: Conclave Best Director: Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez Best Actor: Ralph Fiennes, Conclave Best Actress: Demi Moore, The Substance Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande, Wicked Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughn, Conclave Best Original Screenplay: Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain Best Animated Feature: The Wild Robot Best International Feature: Emilia Perez Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land Best Documentary Short Film: Incident Best Live Action Short Film: A Lien Best Animated Short Film: Magic Candies Best Original Score: Conclave Best Original Song: "El Mal," Emilia Perez Best Sound: Dune: Part Two Best Production Design: Wicked Best Cinematography: Nosferatu Best Makeup and Hairstyle: Wicked Best Costume Design: Wicked Best Editing: Emilia Perez Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two Enjoy the...

  As we swing toward the end of February, we’re getting some interesting films from interesting filmmakers. Below is my take on this week’s new movies. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. Cleaner (Theaters) Starring : Daisy Ridley, Clive Owen, and Taz Skylar Synopsis: When you see a movie starring Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen, directed by Martin Campbell (Goldeneye, Casino Royale), you don’t expect it to go under-the-radar. Yet, that’s the case with Cleaner, which opened in theaters this weekend. The film is set in London and is a solid action film with a good production team. We meet Joey (Ridley) as she’s running late and running into a bad day. The facility that houses her brother, Michael (Matthew Tuck), has kicked him out. She must take him along with her as she heads in late to work. She’s a window cleaner for an energy company in the heart of the city, and it’s the night of their shareholder gala. Unfortunately, Joey en...