20 Best Prospects Available on Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft

While a majority of the draft's most intriguing players have been selected over the first three rounds, there are still plenty of promising prospects and potential starters on the board going into the final four rounds of the draft. Here are my picks for the 20 best players still available going into day three of the 2016 NFL Draft.

1.Devonate Booker, running back (Utah)
2.Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor)
3.Jeremy Cash, safety (Duke)
4.Alex Collins, running back (Arkansas)
5.Kenneth Dixon, running back (Louisiana Tech)
6.Pharaoh Cooper, wide receiver (South Carolina)
7.Christian Westerman, guard (Arizona State)
8.Jerrell Adams, tight end (South Carolina)
9.Jack Allen, center (Michigan State)
10.Kentrell Brothers, inside linebacker (Missouri)
11.Hassan Ridgeway, defensive tackle (Texas)
12.Connor McGovern, guard (Missouri)
13.K.J. Dillon, safety (West Virginia)
14.Rashard Higgins, wide receiver (Colorado State)
15.Brandon Allen, quarterback (Arkansas)
16.Sheldon Day, defensive tackle (Notre Dame)
17.Jerald Hawkins, tackle (LSU)
18.Dak Prescott, quarterback (Mississippi State)
19.Charles Tapper, defensive end/outside linebacker (Oklahoma)
20.Scooby Wright III, inside linebacker (Arizona)

2016 NFL Draft: Top 50 Prospects + Top 5 Players By Position

Draft day has finally arrived! After spending an unholy amount of time breaking down game tape and reading scouting reports over the past two and a half months, here are my picks for the 50 best prospects and five best players at each position in the 2016 NFL Draft.
(Updated 5/1 with prospects NFL teams)

Top 50 Overall Prospects
1.Joey Bosa, defensive end/outside linebacker (Ohio State) Selected 3rd overall by the San Diego Chargers
2.Jalen Ramsey, cornerback/safety (Florida State) Selected 5th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars
3.Ezekiel Elliot, running back (Ohio State) Selected 4th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
4.Myles Jack, inside/outside linebacker (UCLA) Selected 36th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars
5.Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback (Florida) Selected 11th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6.Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame) Selected 6th overall by the Baltimore Ravens
7.Jared Goff, quarterback (California) Selected 1st overall by the Los Angeles Rams
8.Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State) Selected 2nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles
9.Karl Joseph, safety (West Virginia) Selected 14th overall by the Oakland Raiders
10.Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi) Selected 13th overall by the Miami Dolphins
11.Noah Spence,defensive end/outside linebacker (Eastern Kentucky) Selected 39th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12.Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State) Selected 8th overall by the Tennessee Titans
13.Shaq Lawson, defensive end/outside linebacker (Clemson) Selected 19th overall by the Buffalo Bills
14.DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle/end (Oregon) Selected 7th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
15.Ryan Kelly, center (Alabama) Selected 18th overall by the Indianapolis Colts
16.Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Alabama) Selected 41st overall by the Buffalo Bills
17.Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor) Selected 15th overall by the Cleveland Browns
18.Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver (Mississippi) Selected 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings
19.Cody Whitehair, guard (Kansas State) Selected 56th overall by the Chicago Bears
20.William Jackson III, cornerback (Houston) Selected 24th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
21.Artie Burns, cornerback (Miami) Selected 25th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers
22.Derrick Henry, running back (Alabama) Selected 45th overall by the Tennessee Titans
23.Vonn Bell, safety (Ohio State) Selected 61st overall by the New Orleans Saints
24.Sterling Shepard, wide receiver (Oklahoma) Selected 40th overall by the New York Giants
25.Darron Lee, inside/outside linebacker (Ohio State) Selected 20th overall by the New York Jets
26.Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson) Selected 54th overall by the Minnesota Vikings
27.Jaylon Smith, inside/outside linebacker (Notre Dame) Selected 34th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
28.Devonate Booker, running back (Utah) Selected 136th overall by the Denver Broncos
29.Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor) Selected 122nd overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
30.Jarran Reed, defensive tackle (Alabama) Selected 49th overall by the Seattle Seahawks
31.Kevin Dodd, defensive end/outside linebacker (Clemson) Selected 33rd overall by the Tennessee Titans
32.Tyler Boyd, wide receiver (Pittsburgh) Selected 55th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals
33.Chris Jones, defensive tackle/end (Mississippi State) Selected 37th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs
34.Vernon Butler, defensive tackle (Louisiana Tech) Selected 30th overall by the Carolina Panthers
35.Alex Collins, running back (Arkansas)Selected 171st overall by the Seattle Seahawks
36.Michael Thomas, wide receiver (Ohio State) Selected 47th overall by the New Orleans Saints
37.Leonard Floyd, defensive end/outside linebacker (Georgia) Selected 9th overall by the Chicago Bears
38.Taylor Decker, tackle (Ohio State) Selected 16th overall by the Detroit Lions
39.Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (Louisville) Selected 12th overall by the New Orleans Saints
40.Kenneth Dixon, running back (Louisiana Tech) Selected 134th overall by the Baltimore Ravens
41.Hunter Henry, tight end (Arkansas) Selected 34th overall by the San Diego Chargers
42.Alex Garnett, guard (Stanford) Selected 28th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
43.Paxton Lynch, quarterback (Memphis) Selected 26th overall by the Denver Broncos
44.Su'a Cravens, linebacker/safety (USC) Selected 53rd overall by the Washington Redskins 
45.Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive end/outside linebacker (Oklahoma State) Selected 32nd overall by the Cleveland Browns
46.Kendall Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech) Selected 84th overall by the Washington Redskins
47.Darian Thompson, safety (Boise State) Selected 71st overall by the New York Giants
48.Pharaoh Cooper, wide receiver (South Carolina) Selected 117th overall by the Los Angeles Rams
49.Cyrus Jones, cornerback (Alabama) Selected 62nd overall by the New England Patriots
50.Justin Simmons, safety (Boston College) Selected 98th overall by the Denver Broncos

Top 5 Players by Position:
Quarterback
1.Jared Goff (California) NFL team: Los Angeles Rams
2.Carson Wentz (North Dakota State) NFL team: Philadelphia Eagles
3.Paxton Lynch (Memphis) NFL team: Denver Broncos
4.Brandon Allen (Arkansas) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars
5.Jacoby Brissett (NC State) NFL team: New England Patriots

Running Back
1.Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State) NFL team: Dallas Cowboys
2.Derrick Henry (Alabama) NFL team: Tennessee Titans
3.Devonate Booker (Utah) NFL team: Denver Broncos
4.Alex Collins (Arkansas) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
5.Kenneth Dixon (Louisiana Tech) NFL team: Baltimore Ravens

Wide Receiver
1.Corey Coleman (Baylor) NFL team: Cleveland Browns
2.Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings
3.Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma) NFL team: New York Giants
4.Tyler Boyd (Pittsburgh) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
5.Michael Thomas (Ohio State) NFL team: New Orleans Saints

Tight End
1.Hunter Henry (Arkansas) NFL team: San Diego Chargers
2.Jerrell Adams (South Carolina) NFL team: New York Giants
3.Austin Hooper (Stanford) NFL team: Atlanta Falcons
4.Nick Vannett (Ohio State) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
5.Ben Braunecker (Harvard) NFL team: Chicago Bears

Tackle

1.Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame) NFL team: Baltimore Ravens

2.Laremy Tunsil (Mississippi) NFL team: Miami Dolphins

3.Jack Conklin (Michigan State) NFL team: Tennessee Titans

4.Taylor Decker (Ohio State) NFL team: Detroit Lions

5.Jason Spriggs (Indiana) NFL team: Green Bay Packers

Guard
1.Cody Whitehair (Kansas State) NFL team: Chicago Bears
2.Alex Garnett (Stanford) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
3.Christian Westerman (Arizona State) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
4.Connor McGovern (Missouri) NFL team: Denver Broncos
5.Vadal Alexander (LSU) NFL team: Oakland Raiders

Center
1.Ryan Kelly (Alabama) NFL team: Indianapolis Colts
2.Nick Martin (Notre Dame) NFL team: Houston Texans
3.Jack Allen (Michigan State) NFL team: New Orleans Saints
4.Evan Boehm (Missouri) NFL team: Arizona Cardinals
5.Max Turek (USC) NFL team: San Diego Chargers

Defensive Tackle
1.DeForest Buckner (Oregon) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
2.Andrew Billings (Baylor) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
3.Jarran Reed (Alabama) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
4.Chris Jones (Mississippi State) NFL team: Kansas City Chiefs
5.Vernon Butler (Louisiana Tech) NFL team: Carolina Panthers

Edge Defenders (Defensive End/Outside Linebacker)
1.Joey Bosa (Ohio State) NFL team: San Diego Chargers
2.Noah Spence (Eastern Kentucky) NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3.Shaq Lawson (Clemson) NFL team: Buffalo Bills
4.Kevin Dodd (Clemson) NFL team: Tennessee Titans
5.Leonard Floyd (Georgia) NFL team: Chicago Bears

Inside Linebacker:
1.Myles Jack (UCLA) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars
2.Reggie Ragland (Alabama) NFL team: Buffalo Bills
3.Darron Lee (Ohio State) NFL team: New York Jets
4.Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame) NFL team: Dallas Cowboys
5.Su'a Cravens (USC) NFL team: Washington Redskins

Cornerback:

1.Jalen Ramsey (Florida State) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars

2.Vernon Hargreaves (Florida) NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3.William Jackson III (Houston) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals

4.Artie Burns (Miami) NFL team: Pittsburgh Steelers

5.Mackensie Alexander (Clemson) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings

Safety:

1.Karl Joseph (West Virginia) NFL team: Oakland Raiders

2.Vonn Bell (Ohio State) NFL team: New Orleans Saints

3.Darian Thompson (Boise State) NFL team: New York Giants

4.Justin Simmons (Boston College) NFL team: Denver Broncos
5.T.J. Green (Clemson) NFL team: Indianapolis Colts

2016 NFL Mock Draft (Draft Day 4/28)

1.Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, quarterback (California)
The Rams went out and made one of the splashiest deals in recent NFL Draft history dealing six picks include the number 15 overall pick in this year's and a first round pick in next year's draft to the Tennessee Titans for the number one overall pick. This high stakes trade is a risk the Rams pretty much had to take at this point in time since their lack of a viable starting quarterback has been a vast majority of the reason they've failed to make the playoffs since Jeff Fisher took over as head coach in 2012. They are in a very unique position with this pick because this draft has a pair of QB's in Goff and Carson Wentz that have equal upside as pro's. Since the Rams are entering their first season in the biggest media market in the United States, what this pick is going to ultimately come down to is marketability. While Wentz is arguably the more pro-ready prospect of the two, his soft-spoken demeanor and humble North Dakota roots are highly unlikely to woo fans in Southern California who've been without a football team since 1994. Goff is a Northern California boy with the big-school pedigree and unwavering aura of confidence needed to win over a Hollywood crowd.

2.Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State)
Despite committing $56 million to quarterbacks this offseason with the re-signing of 2015 starter Sam Bradford and acquisition of ex-Chiefs backup Chase Daniel in free agency, the Eagles decided they weren't in good enough shape at the position and made a drastic deal with the Cleveland Browns to move up to the second pick. Head coach Doug Pederson was talking up Wentz like crazy in the media before they even made the trade with the Browns, so barring the Rams going against the odds and picking him over Goff, the North Dakota State product will be headed to Philly. 

3.San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey, cornerback/safety (Florida State)
This pick is going to play a pivotal role in how the rest of the first round plays out. The Chargers are in a very interesting position as they get first crack at the draft's top non-quarterback prospects and have a number of pressing needs (offensive line, secondary, defensive line) on both sides of the ball. Out of all the widely coveted prospects they could select here, Ramsey makes the most sense for them. Ramsey is a perfect complementary piece to put alongside rising star corner Jason Verrett and his freakish athleticism and versatility gives the Chargers the flexibility to plug him in anywhere they need him to play in the secondary. 

4.Dallas Cowboys: DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle/end (Oregon)
It's going to be hard for an old-school football guy like Jerry Jones to pass on Ezekiel Elliot with this pick, but with Tony Romo just turning 36 and potentially on the cusp of retiring in the near future, the team is in win-now mode and adding a potential differencemaker on defense gives them the best chance of making a deep playoff run within the next two or three seasons. Buckner hasn't garnered as much fanfare as guys like Joey Bosa and Myles Jack, but his ability to play all four spots on the line paired with his equal proficiency in stopping the run and rushing the passer makes him an intelligent pick for a Cowboys squad that desperately needs to revamp their defensive line.

5.Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, inside/outside linebacker (UCLA):
A report that came out on Sunday night from NFL Network's Albert Breer revealing that Jack has a chondral defect in his knee has lead many league reporters and front offices to believe that Jack is going to slip in the draft. I'm not buying that notion in the slightest. There's been all sorts of conflicting reports on the status of Jack's knee throughout the draft process yet the Jaguars have continued to show heavy interest in him. The status of his knee definitely raises some red flags for his ability to stay healthy, but given that the Jaguars are only a few defensive pieces away from being a playoff team and Jack is a potential blue-chip talent at a position that they're desperate for help at, I believe they'll be willing to take the risk on him.
 
6.Baltimore Ravens: Joey Bosa, defensive end/outside linebacker (Ohio State):
The Ravens very well could end up be the biggest beneficiaries of the Rams and Eagles trading up for the top two picks. This is a team that only ended up with a pick this high due to an onslaught of season-ending injuries to their best players in 2015 and they've seemingly been repaid for their season of suffering by getting an opportunity to add a top-flight prospect to an already talent-filled roster. While I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they decided to find an eventual replacement for oft-injured left tackle Eugene Monroe or draft a second corner to put opposite Jimmy Smith with this pick, Joey Bosa seems like the player they'll gravitate to here. Getting Bosa, whose considered by many scouts and personnel guys to be the best player in the draft, at this spot would be a great value pick and with current top pass-rushers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil set to turn 34 and 32 respectively before the end of the 2016 season, he would serve as a much-needed injection of youth at the position.
  
7.San Francisco 49ers: Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi):
Any analyst that claims they have the 49ers pick locked down is lying through their teeth. The team is honestly in such bad shape on both sides of the ball that it's incredibly hard to predict what direction they'll go in with this pick. Based on value and the fact that no move general manager Trent Baalke is going to be salvage their 2016 campaign, Ole Miss tackle and one-time favorite to be the number one overall pick Laremy Tunsil would represent the "safest" possible choice at this juncture. The 49ers offensive line is desperate for new blood after a disastrous 2015 campaign and if Tunsil pans out as the once-in-a-generation prospect he's largely been pegged to be, he could be the eventual successor to perennial Pro Bowler (and one of the few good players left on this roster) Joe Staley at left tackle. 

8.Cleveland Browns: Ezekiel Elliott, running back (Ohio State):
The new Browns front office continued to distance themselves from the mistake-filled past regimes  by making the extremely unBrowns-like decision to trade down get more picks in this and next year's draft. Like the 49ers, the Browns lack of overall talent gives them the freedom to truly draft the best overall player here. The options are once again plentiful, but I'd be very surprised if they passed on Elliott if he was available. New head coach/offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is one of the few guys in the league that still highly values running the football and drafting a complete, three-down back like Elliott to pair with pass-catching specialist Duke Johnson would give the Browns a potentially dangerous running back combo to build their revamped offense around.

9.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback (Florida):
The Buccaneers defensive woes in 2015 squashed any chance the team had at making a surprise playoff berth and played a large part in the firing of head coach Love Smith this offseason. Their secondary was easily their biggest weakness and despite the fact they brought in productive veteran corner Brent Grimes in free agency, they still need to make additional moves if they want to turn the tide in 2016. Hargreaves is arguably the best pure cover corner in the draft and has a very good chance of coming in and developing into a long-term shutdown corner for this suddenly promising young team.

10.New York Giants: Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame):
The choice may seem puzzling since the Giants just selected Ereck Flowers in the first round last year, but Flowers' overwhelmingly physical, often ugly style of play make him much better suited to play right tackle at the professional level. Stanley has the fluid footwork and well-rounded game needed to excel at left tackle in the NFL and he could possibly serve as the missing piece the Giants offensive line needs to build off the promise they showed in 2015 and become one of the league's premier units.

11.Chicago Bears: Shaq Lawson, defensive end/outside linebacker (Clemson):
The Bears are definitely in the market for a cornerback and left tackle in this draft, but there's no prospect at either of those positions that would be a natural fit here, which means edge-rusher is the default pick for them. Lawson's combination of pass-rushing prowess with the run-stopping efficiency that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio covets in members of his defensive front makes him by far the best fit of the remaining available edge defenders.

12.New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (Louisville)
The Saints seems like prime candidates to trade down. Their defense is a disaster from the top-down and since they are in win-now mode as Drew Brees enters the twilight of his career, obtaining more picks could help them clog up some of the many holes they have on that side of the ball. However if they end up staying put, Rankins seems like the type of player that would fit in beautifully on this defense. Rankins-whose stock has benefited significantly from the character concerns and dedication issues that have respectively plagued fellow defensive tackles Robert Nkemdiche and A'Shawn Robinson throughout the pre-draft process-is an athletic and crafty interior pass-rusher with a high ceiling that could finally give them another disruptive presence upfront to pair alongside their criminally underrated defensive end Cameron Jordan.

13.Miami Dolphins: Leonard Floyd, defensive end/outside linebacker (Georgia)
The depth of the Dolphins once-feared pass-rush basically went out the window this offseason when Oliver Vernon and Derrick Shelby left the team in free agency. Given the potential effect of the free agent departures and the fact that they're current top pass rushing duo (Cameron Wake and Mario Williams) are well into their 30's, the addition of Floyd could be a potential godsend for this defense. Floyd lacks ideal size and strength for the position, but he's an instinctive and often explosive player that could come in and make a major impact from the jump.

14.Oakland Raiders: Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Alabama):
The Raiders patched up a lot of their needs on defense in free agency, but they still have a major hole at inside linebacker. Ragland is easily the best natural inside linebacker in this draft class and his elite instincts and cover skills could make him the piece that pushes this up-and-coming Raiders defense into dominant territory.
 
15.Tennessee Titans: Eli Apple, cornerback (Ohio State):
Just about every major draft analyst is mocking a tackle to the Titans, but I don't believe that's the direction they'll decide to go in. Cornerback is a much more pressing need for the Titans and Apple is the type of long, physical corner that new defensive coordinator Dick LaBeau salivates over.
 
16.Detroit Lions: Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State):
With Calvin Johnson out of the equation and a highly conservative offensive coordinator in Jim Bob Cooter calling the shots, the Lions are going to need to beef up their offensive line in order to stay afloat in the ultra competitive NFC North this season. The highly underrated Conklin is a mauler with a nasty mean streak that excels in both run-blocking and pass-protection who has the potential to come in instantly change the attitude and playing style of the entire Lions O-line.
 
17.Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Dodd, defensive end/outside linebacker (Clemson)
The Falcons spent their first round pick in 2015 on edge rusher Vic Beasley and while Beasley had a respectable rookie campaign, the Falcons were still dead last in the league in sacks with a paltry 19 sacks on the year. Dodd's relentlessness and burst off the edge has caused him to soar up draft boards despite the fact that he was only a one-year starter at Clemson. With the proper coaching and usage, Dodd has the potential to be a stud at the next level and alongside fellow Clemson Tiger Beasley, form one of the most exciting, athletic young pass-rushing tandems in the league.

18.Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly, center (Alabama):
Anyone that watched the Colts play for more than five minutes last season knows that Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck and every other random D-list schmuck they were forced to trot out at quarterback due to injuries got absolutely pummeled due to their horrid offensive line play. Center might not be the sexy pick at this juncture of the draft, but a polished, scrappy force like Kelly on the interior of the line gives the Colts the best chance of fixing their offensive line woes and avoid spending another season watching Luck get lit up every time he drops back to pass.

19.Buffalo Bills: Darron Lee, inside/outside linebacker (Ohio State)
While talking heads and football fans across the country have spent no shortage of time ripping Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman's coaching for the Bills defensive problems last season, the real reason the Bills defense fell way short of expectations was the horrendous play of their linebackers. Ryan and Thurman's scheme needs versatile, athletic linebackers that can drop back into coverage and aid the defensive line in stopping the run in order to thrive and the Bills simply didn't have that last season. While Lee needs to become a more consistent tackler at the next level, his has jaw-dropping sideline-to-sideline speed and solid coverage skills make him a perfect fit for this defense.
  
20.New York Jets: Taylor Decker, tackle (Ohio State):
There's a lot of buzz surrounding the Jets taking Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch here, but I don't see them actually pulling the trigger on him. The Jets are basically married to Ryan Fitzpatrick at this point in time and given the advanced age of a majority of their key offensive players, they're not likely to have the patience to wait for the very raw Lynch to develop into a viable starting quarterback. The Jets may have brought in ex-Bronco Ryan Clady to replace the recently retired D'Brickshaw Ferguson at left tackle, but given Clady's recent injury history, he's a longshot to be a long-term solution at the position. Decker is far from the most pro-ready tackle in this draft class, but he has the raw physical tools needed to evolve into a productive starting left tackle in the NFL two or three years from now.

21.Washington Redskins: Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor):
The Redskins defense took a huge blow this offseason when their run-stuffing monster nose tackle Terrence Knighton signed with the Patriots in free agency. At 6'1, 303 lbs with a background in competitive weightlifting, Billings is the Redskins best chance of replicating the powerful, pile-moving presence Knighton brought to their defensive interior.

22.Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor):
This pick marks the start of what I believe will be a massive run on wide receivers at the tail end of the first round. Gauging who is going to come off the board first is extremely difficult as there are currently four or five receiver in this class generating equal amounts of buzz in the days leading up to the draft. For this pick, I have to give Coleman the slight edge over guys like Laquon Treadwell, Josh Doctson and Will Fuller. Coleman's mix of speed, after-the-catch ability and the versatility to line up in the slot or outside gives him a terrific opportunity to emerge as a highly productive complement to their big, physical superstar wideout DeAndre Hopkins.
 
23.Minnesota Vikings: Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver (Mississippi):
For much of the past month, I thought Treadwell's "slow" 40 time (4.65) was going to force him to slip into the second round. But once I re-watched some of his tape and further contemplated how NFL team will view his skill set, I realized that he'd be a perfect fit for a team like the Vikings that features an offense that is far more concerned with constantly moving the chains than making splash plays. Treadwell's size, physicality and tremendous vertical jump makes him an ideal redzone target for a conservative Vikings passing attack that is in dire need of a receiver that has a nose for the endzone.

24.Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Doctson, wide receiver (TCU):
The Bengals taking a receiver here is one of the biggest no-brainer picks in the first round since they lost both Marvin Jones and Mommahed Sanu in free agency and currently have Brandon "I catch 1 in every 10 passes thrown to me " LaFell penciled in as their number two wideout. Doctson is a sure-handed, sharp route-running wideout who could very well flourish in the Bengals wide-open passing attack.

25.Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson III, cornerback (Houston):
I have strong feeling that 2016 will be the year that the Steelers finally address their lingering secondary issues and use a first-round pick to take a cornerback. Jackson III's plethora of starting experience (three years) in college combined with his excellent ball and route recognition skills make him a dark horse contender to be the most pro-ready corner in this draft.

26.Seattle Seahawks: Jason Spriggs, tackle (Indiana):
With the departure of starting left tackle Russell Okung and guard J.R. Sweezy in free agency making this talent-barren offensive line even weaker, the Seahawks pretty much have to select an offensive lineman with this pick. Spriggs is a quick, freakishly athletic tackle that would be an ideal fit for the Seahawks uptempo offense.

27.Green Bay Packers: Jarran Reed, defensive tackle (Alabama):
Another season, another potential steal for the perennially draft-savvy Packers. Reed's inability to consistently get to the quarterback (4 sacks during his four-year tenure at Alabama) has forced his stock to slip recently, but he's quite possibly the best pure run-stopping defensive lineman in this year's draft. For a Packers squad that has finished in the bottom half of the league in run defense for four consecutive seasons, Reed's specialty skill set would be a gift from the football gods. 

28.Kansas City Chiefs: Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson):
Alexander was a highly productive college player that possesses the ability to be a potential lockdown corner at the professional level, but character concerns might keep him out of the first round of the draft. Sound familiar? That was the exact same narrative that followed Chiefs 2015 first-round pick and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters coming into the draft. Alexander has the skill set to come in and compete for the vacant starting job alongside Peters and immediately succeed in the NFL.

29.Arizona Cardinals: Noah Spence, defensive end/outside linebacker (Eastern Kentucky)
There's been plenty of speculation that Spence won't be picked in the first round because of his dismissal from Ohio State and subsequent banning from the Big Ten in 2014 after he tested positive for MDMA twice. While there may be validity to these rumors, I don't think the Cardinals will be one of the teams scared off by Spence. Spence has taken a number of steps since his dismissal from Ohio State to get clean including voluntarily checking into rehab and requesting random once-a-month drug tests while he was at Eastern Kentucky in 2015 and his immense potential as a pass-rusher makes him far too attractive for an edge-rusher needy squad like the Cardinals to pass up. The Cardinals were willing to take a chance on Tyrann Mathieu when no one else would and like Mathieu, drafting Spence could end up paying major dividends for the team.
 
30.Carolina Panthers: Artie Burns, cornerback (Miami):
This was a pick that I really struggled with throughout the duration of the mock draft process as the Panthers had a number of areas where they could improve (tackle, safety, pass-rush, wide receiver), but no real glaring holes that needed to be addressed with a first round pick. That all changed when they unexpectedly rescinded the franchise tag from star cornerback Josh Norman last Wednesday and he signed with the Redskins 48 hours later. While Burns clearly won't be able to match the lockdown presence of Norman this season, his combination of physicality and excellent ball skills should allow him to step in and contribute immediately.  

31.Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch, quarterback (Memphis):
Given that Goff and Wentz are locks to be the top two overall picks and a handful of teams outside of the Rams and Eagles are desperate enough to overdraft a quarterback with the hopes that he turns into a viable long-term starter, I highly doubt that Lynch will make it to this pick. However, I do think the Broncos will be the team that ends up selecting him once their aggressive general manager John Elway finds a trade partner in the late teens/early 20's (my money would be on the Bills or Redskins). Lynch is an extremely raw prospect with questionable mechanics and zero experience in a pro-style offense, but his superb athleticism and quality decisionmaking gives the Broncos a better chance of making another deep playoff run than current de facto starter Mark Sanchez does.

Round 2:
32.Cleveland Browns: Connor Cook, quarterback (Michigan State)
33.Tennessee Titans: Germain Ifedi, tackle/guard (Texas A&M)
34.Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott, quarterback (Mississippi State)
35.San Diego Chargers: Le'Raven Clark, tackle (Texas Tech)
36.Baltimore Ravens: Kendall Fuller, cornerback (Virginia Tech)
37.San Francisco 49ers: Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive end/outside linebacker (Oklahoma State)
38.Jacksonville Jaguars: Karl Joseph, safety (West Virginia)
39.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle (Alabama)
40.New York Giants: Michael Thomas, wide receiver (Ohio State)
41.Chicago Bears: Derrick Henry, running back (Alabama)
42.Miami Dolphins: Xavien Howard, cornerback (Baylor)
43.Tennessee Titans: T.J. Green, safety (Clemson)
44.Oakland Raiders: Vonn Bell, safety (Ohio State)
45.Tennessee Titans: Robert Nkemdiche, defensive tackle (Mississippi)
46.Detroit Lions: Vernon Butler, defensive tackle (Louisiana Tech)
47.New Orleans Saints: Will Fuller, wide receiver (Notre Dame)
48.Indianapolis Colts: Kamalei Correa, defensive end/outside linebacker (Boise State)
49.Buffalo Bills: Chris Jones, defensive tackle/end (Mississippi State)
50.Atlanta Falcons: Keanu Neal, safety (Florida)
51.New York Jets: Jordan Jenkins, defensive end/outside linebacker (Georgia)
52.Houston Texans: Cody Whitehair, guard (Kansas State)
53.Washington Redskins: Su'a Cravens, safety/outside linebacker (USC)
54.Minnesota Vikings: Christian Westerman, guard (Arizona State)
55.Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Clark, defensive tackle (UCLA)
56.Seattle Seahawks: Austin Johnson, defensive tackle (Penn State)
57.Green Bay Packers: Hunter Henry, tight end (Arkansas)
58.Pittsburgh Steelers: Jeremy Cash, safety (Duke)
59.Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Boyd, wide receiver (Pittsburgh)
60.New England Patriots: Tyler Matakevich, inside linebacker (Temple)
61.New England Patriots: Sean Davis, cornerback/safety (Maryland)
62.Carolina Panthers: Justin Simmons, safety (Boston College)
63.Denver Broncos: Alex Garnett, guard (Stanford)

The Best and Worst of Jennifer Aniston

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Mother's Day" star Jennifer Aniston.

Film starring Jennifer Aniston that I've seen:
The Iron Giant
Office Space 
Rock Star
Bruce Almighty
Along Came Polly
The Bounty Hunter
Just Go with It
Horrible Bosses
Wanderlust
We're the Millers
Life of Crime
Horrible Bosses 2
Cake 

Best Performance: Horrible Bosses (2011)
Aniston is at her best when she's playing loopy comedic characters and there is no better display of her talent than her role as sex-addicted dentist Dr. Julia Harris in Horrible Bosses. In a movie loaded with premier comic talent including Jason Bateman, Jason Sudekis and Charlie Day, Aniston's flawless timing and unwavering commitment to every over-the-top vulgar gag makes her the standout performer.

Worst Performance: Rock Star (2001)
Aniston is mostly known as a comedic actress, but she's proved multiple times over the years (Cake, Life of Crime) that her dramatic acting chops shouldn't be slept on. However, that dramatic acting ability was nowhere to be found in Rock Star. As the sweet, caring girlfriend of a small-time cover band frontman (Mark Wahlberg) who suddenly becomes the lead singer of his favorite band, Aniston's only real purpose here is to serve as perpetually neglected eye candy that stares blankly into the camera while her asshole boyfriend indulges in the various excesses of his newly-minted rock star lifestyle.  

Best Film: Office Space (1999)
On paper, Office Space shouldn't work that well. It's simply a dark comedy about a group of IT guys who hate their jobs and plot to screw their company over. While the concept is really basic and doesn't seem like it's full of strong comic material, writer/director Mike Judge made it an unlikely comedy classic by filling the film with colorful, eccentric characters, excellent dialogue and a message (working for people that don't respect you and/or treat you fairly is awful) that resonates with a vast majority of people on the planet right now.

Worst Film: The Bounty Hunter (2010)
Every single year Hollywood pumps out at least half a dozen safe, schmaltzy PG-13 romantic comedies to make a quick buck before permanently disappearing from the minds of 99% of the filmgoing public. These films were a basically rite of passage for now-highly regarded actors such as Amy Adams (The Wedding Date), Bradley Cooper (Failure to Launch) and Matthew McConaguhey (most of his career before The Lincoln Lawyer) when they were coming up in the industry and barring some kind of unforeseen miracle, they won't ever stop being made. There are far worse entries in this unofficial genre than The Bounty Hunter, but its predictable story, weak jokes and the lack of chemistry between Gerard Butler and Aniston still make it pretty painful to sit through.  

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Captain America: Civil War" star Anthony Mackie .

Upcoming Posts for the Week of April 25th

Dear loyal readers,
Due to the extensive work required to complete my annual NFL Mock Draft, I won't be posting regularly for most of this week. This week's installment of "The Best and Worst of" focusing on Mother's Day star Jennifer Aniston will be up sometime tomorrow, but unless some kind of unforeseen miracle happens, I won't be posting anything else until my final mock goes live Thursday morning. I will return to posting with a vengeance as soon as this piece is finished and I thank you for your patience and continued readership.

Chris Maitland

The Best and Worst of Jessica Chastain

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "The Huntsman: Winter's War" star Jessica Chastain.

Films starring Jessica Chastain that I've seen:
The Tree of Life
The Help
The Debt
Lawless
Zero Dark Thirty
Interstellar
A Most Violent Year
The Martian
Crimson Peak

Best Performance: Crimson Peak (2015)
Chastain became one of the most well-respected actresses in Hollywood courtesy of her Oscar-nominated performances in 2011's The Help and 2012's Zero Dark Thirty and heavily-acclaimed turns in indie films such as 2011's Take Shelter and 2014's A Most Violent Year, but it was her turn in Guillermo Del Toro's Gothic horror/romance film Crimson Peak that left the biggest lasting impression on me. As the mysterious sister of a young entrepreneur (Tom Hiddleston) who falls in love with a wealthy young American writer (Mia Wasikowska), Chastain is an eerie and imposing presence that perfectly fits the film's consistently unsettling tone.     

Worst Performance: The Tree of Life (2011)
The poor quality of this performance really isn't on Chastain. Writer/director Terrence Malick handed her a thankless role that consists of nothing but crying, getting screamed at for no reason by short-tempered husband (Brad Pitt) and looking confused for two and a half hours and there was nothing she could do to salvage it.

Best Film: Lawless (2012)
The tale of the Virginia-based bootlegging bandits The Bondurants is one of the most underrated crime drams of this decade so far. The story is remarkably engrossing, the ensemble cast anchored by Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Guy Pearce is superb and the action sequences are appropriately brutal and satisfying. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this was hailed as a seminal film in the genre five or 10 years from now.  

Worst Film: The Tree of Life (2011)
I've spent so much time ripping this film on this blog since I saw it in early 2012 that I've pretty much run out of original ways to criticize it. All that I'll say now is that The Tree of Life is a pretentious, hollow pile of shit that fills me with an immeasurable amount of rage every time I hear it mentioned. 

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Mother's Day" star Jennifer Aniston. 

10 Most Anticipated Films of Summer 2016

After a long and mostly uneventful winter and spring, the magic of summer movie season is finally upon us. The 2016 summer movie slate-which officially starts on May 6th with the release of Captain America: Civil War-doesn't feature an abundance of intriguing titles, but there's still a fair amount of titles on the docket that I'm highly anticipating. Regardless of the relatively low quantity of titles I'm looking forward to, I'm just hoping that this summer won't offer up as many monumental letdowns as 2015 did. Without further ado, here are the 10 films I'm most excited to see this summer.

10.Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (7/8): The trailer that came out in February wasn't that funny, but the comedic talent of its four leads (Adam DeVine, Zac Efron, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick) paired with the overwhelmingly positive reception from its screening at last month's South by Southwest Festival in Austin gives me faith that this could be a rock solid R-rated comedy.

9.The Nice Guys (5/20): Shane Black's first original film since 2005's Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is one of only a dozen or so non-blockbusters set for wide release over the next four months. The pairing of two vastly different yet well-matched leads in Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling is very appealing and the film appears to have the zany, darkly comic vibe that has made Black's previous projects a ton of fun.
  
8.Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (5/20): The first Neighbors was one of the funniest movies of 2014 and the sequel is in prime position to duplicate that success. All of the key players from the original are back and Chloe Grace Moretz looks to have crushed her role as the leader of the sorority that's terrorizing the Radner's (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) and their small children this time around.

7.Ghostbusters (7/15): Based on the overwhelmingly negative reception to the first trailer, I seem to be one of the very few people that's excited for this. Ghostbusters is a film that needed to be remade and given the presence of four comedy superstars (Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon Leslie Jones) in the leading roles and a top-flight director in Paul Feig (Spy, Bridesmaids), I'd be surprised if this wasn't one of the better remakes to come out in quite some time.

6.Star Trek Beyond (7/22): This would be much higher on the list if J.J. Abrams was still attached to it. While Justin Lin (Fast and Furious 3-6) is a gifted filmmaker who excels at directing massive action sequences, he doesn't have the magic touch that Abrams has with sci-fi films. That being said, I loved the first two Star Trek films too much to not be excited about spending another two hours with the crew of USS Enterprise (once again led by Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock and Zoe Saldana as Uhra.)

5.War Dogs (8/19): Veteran comedy director Todd Philips (The Hangover trilogy, Old School) has taken a page out of the Adam McKay (Anchorman, The Big Short) playbook by making an unexpected departure from the world of lowbrow comedies to dark, fact-based satire. With a fascinating premise (a pair of 20-something dudes wind up getting a $300 million Pentagon contract to supply weapons to American allies in Afghanistan), a pair of tremendous actors in Jonah Hill and Miles Teller in the lead roles and an excellent trailer, War Dogs has the potential to be a game-changer for Phillips' career.

4.Sausage Party (8/12): Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's R-rated animated passion project about a group of food items who live in a grocery store discovering the true nature of their existence is quite possibly the most bizarre release on the entire summer schedule. Early reports are that its one of the most deranged, strange and over-the top vulgar movies to ever hit theaters in the United States. If that's not an effective sales pitch, I don't know what is.

3.Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (6/3): It may taken nine long years for a studio to greenlit another project for them after the financial failure of Hot Rod, but Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island are finally bringing their brand of brilliant, absurd humor back to the big screen with Popstar. With a mockumentary style and an absurd premise documenting the rise, fall and rise of an excess-obsessed popstar (Samberg), they appear to have the perfect backdrop to create another unpredictable, oddball comic masterpiece.
   
2.X-Men: Apocalypse (5/27):The X-Men franchise has made a massive turnaround since it was rebooted in 2011. The franchise is completely independent from Marvel Studios, which means the filmmakers can focus on telling satisfying, standalone narratives instead of consistently churning out films that merely exist to set up the next Avengers film. With the latest installment bringing back  writer Simon Kinberg, director Bryan Singer and all of the pivotal members of the cast (Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, etc.) and adding the always fantastic Oscar Issac to the fold as the titular villain, X-Men: Apocalypse seems poised to be another stellar entry in this consistent and highly underrated series.

1.Suicide Squad (8/5): The rumors of reshoots to add more humor almost forced me to remove this from the top spot of this list. Then the third trailer came out and I realized that nothing could possibly spoil my excitement for this. The consistently astonishing quality of the trailers combined with the presence of a phenomenal ensemble cast led by Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto and top-notch writer/director in David Ayer (End of Watch, Fury) are responsible for making this my most hotly-anticipated blockbuster since 2010's Inception. If this ends up sucking, I might have a mental breakdown.

Also Interested In:
Captain America: Civil War (5/6)
High-Rise (5/13)
The Lobster (5/13)
Money Monster (5/13)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (6/3)
The Conjuring 2 (6/10)
Now You See Me 2 (6/10)
Central Intelligence (6/17)
Clown (6/17)
Finding Dory (6/17)
Swiss Army Man (6/17)
Free State of Jones (6/24)
Independence Day: Resurgence (6/24)
The Purge: Election Year (7/1)
Captain Fantastic (7/8)
The Infiltrator (7/15)
Bad Moms (7/29)
Jason Bourne (7/29)
The Founder (8/5)
Cafe Society (8/12) 
Hell or High Water (8/12)
Spectral (8/12)
Ben-Hur (8/19)
Southside with You (8/19)
Don't Breathe (8/26)
Hands of Stone (8/26) 
The Hollars (8/26)
Mechanic: Resurrection (8/26)

2016 NFL Mock Draft 6.0 (Updated 4/19)

1.Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, quarterback (California)
2.Cleveland Browns: Jalen Ramsey, cornerback/safety (Florida State)
3.San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi)
4.Dallas Cowboys: DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle/end (Oregon)
5.Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, inside linebacker (UCLA)
6.Baltimore Ravens: Joey Bosa, outside linebacker/defensive end (Ohio State)
7.San Fransisco 49ers: Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State)
8.Philadelphia Eagles: Ezekiel Elliot, running back (Ohio State)
9.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback (Florida)
10.New York Giants: Leonard Floyd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Georgia)
11.Chicago Bears: Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame)
12.New Orleans Saints: Shaq Lawson, outside linebacker/defensive end (Clemson)
13.Miami Dolphins: Darron Lee, inside linebacker (Ohio State)
14.Oakland Raiders: Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Alabama)
15.Tennessee Titans: Eli Apple, cornerback (Ohio State)
16.Detroit Lions: A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle (Alabama)
17.Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Dodd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Clemson)
18.Indianapolis Colts: Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State)
19.Buffalo Bills: Jarran Reed, defensive tackle (Alabama)
20.New York Jets: Emmanuel Ogbah, outside linebacker/defensive end (Oklahoma State)
21.Washington Redskins: Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor)
22.Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor)
23.Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, wide receiver (TCU)
24.Cincinnati Bengals: Robert Nkemdiche, defensive tackle (Mississippi)
25.Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson III, cornerback (Houston)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Taylor Decker, tackle (Ohio State)
27.Green Bay Packers: Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (Louisville)
28.Kansas City Chiefs: Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson)
29.Arizona Cardinals: Noah Spence, outside linebacker/defensive end (Eastern Kentucky)
30.Carolina Panthers: Germain Ifedi, tackle (Texas A&M)
31.Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch, quarterback (Memphis)

As We Proceed Episode #2

On the second episode of "As We Proceed", we discuss the new singles from Drake, ScHoolboy Q and Riff Raff, Waka Flocka Flame's April 7th performance in Boston and review the new Flatbush Zombies album, 3001: A Laced Odyssey. The episode can be streamed here: https://soundcloud.com/feliciano-segundo/as-we-proceed-2-zombies-at-the-odyssey

Concert Review: Kvelertak-- Cambridge, MA-- April 17th, 2016

Lineup: Kvelertak/Torche/Wild Throne
Venue: The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
Date: April 17th, 2016

Wild Throne: Wild Throne is a band that I'd been meaning to check out since I first heard about them in late 2014, but for whatever reason, I just never got around to it. I'd heard a number of people compare them to early Mastodon, which really intrigued me as Leviathan and Blood Mountain are two of my favorite albums of all-time. While I found the Mastodon comparisons to be completely inaccurate, Wild Throne still put on a really good show. The blend of sludge instrumentation and high-pitched prog metal vocals worked surprisingly well and just about every song they played was filled with quality riffing and impressive, varied drumming. I'll definitely be giving both of their releases a spin in the very near future.

Torche: Torche has picked up a cult following since they arrived on the scene in 2005 thanks to their unusual blend of stoner/sludge metal and alternative rock. However, the stuff I've heard from them hasn't left much of an impression on me and their live show didn't do anything to change my mind. They certainly have talent and about half of the songs they played had some really dope riffs, but the vocals are really mediocre and a majority of their songs were repetitive to the point where I became almost completely disengaged from their set. Torche is an efficient live act whose appeal I can completely understand, I just can't get into their stuff for the life of me.

Kvelertak: This marked the third time I've had the pleasure of seeing these crazy Norwegian bastards and it was quite possibly the best performance I've seen from them to-date. No matter how times time you've seen Kvelertak live, nothing will prepare you for the tornado of destruction that ensues when they hit they stage. Their live show is a unique combination of punk energy, death metal intensity and arena rock goofiness. I know that sounds like a bizarre combination that would never work on paper, but it makes for a special and extremely fun atmosphere that's unlike any other extreme metal band on the planet right.

Vocalist Erlend Hjelvik serves as the facilitator for Kvelertak's special brand of chaos. He's an absolute psycho on stage that only stands still when he's addressing the crowd in between songs. Whether it be stage diving, sprinting around the stage like the The Flash or simply amping the crowd up during an instrumental portion of a song, Hjelvik is a commanding, incendiary presence that was practically born to be the frontman of a metal band.

Further adding to the quality of Kvelertak's performance was the damn near perfect setlist selection. They played a vast majority of the standout tracks from both their 2010 self-titled debut record and 2013's Meir. While their was a plethora of standout songs sprinkled throughout the set, the crushing "Offernatt" and rousing "Evig Vandrar" stood out as the clear highlights due to the particularly electric audience reception they generated and how hard-hitting the instrumentation were in a live setting.

The lone downside to their set is that based on the songs they played, I'm pretty worried about the quality of their new record Nattesferd. The five songs they played from it weren't terrible by any means, they just largely lacked the live wire energy and onslaught of quality riffs that has made their previous two records so memorable. Kvelertak puts on one of the most intense and straight-up fun shows on the planet and if you haven't gotten the chance to experience them live, I strongly urge to you rectify that as soon as humanly possible.

Scores:
Wild Throne 7.5/10
Torche 6/10
Kvelertak 9.5/10

Setlist:
Kvelertak:
Dendrofil For Yggdrasil
1985
Mjød
Nekroskop
Bruane Brenn
Månelyst
Berserkr
Evig Vandrar
Ulvetid
Offernatt
Ondskapens Galakse
Ordsmedar av rang
Spring fra livet
Fossegrim
Blodtørst

Encore:
Heksebrann
Kvelertak

Movie Review: Hardcore Henry

After receiving glowing reviews abroad and at last year's Toronto Film Festival, Russian-produced action film Hardcore Henry has been met with almost-universal scorn by American critics and audiences. The film has been criticized to no end for its lack of a plot and use of first-person perspective. While I completely understand why this movie is getting such a bad reception from the mainstream American moviegoing audience, I can't help but wonder if the people trashing this movie had any idea what they were getting into before they watched it. Is Hardcore Henry driven by a gimmick? No doubt. Is the plot paper-thin and absolutely nonsensical? Hell yes. Did either of these things do anything to bring down the quality of the movie in my eyes? Not in the slightest.

Despite the fact that it received a wide release in over 3,000 theaters opening weekend, Hardcore Henry is very much a niche movie. The film's frantic, first-person camerawork, absurdly over-the-top tone and non-stop graphic violence that pushes the limits of the R rating will alienate an overwhelming majority of audiences. However, if you're a fan of unapologetically insane, self-aware B-action movies like Crank or Shoot Em' Up, odds are that Hardcore Henry will put a big, shit-eating grin on your face. Over the film's 90-minute runtime, writer/director Illya Naishuller manages to redefine the terms "relentless" and "non-stop action". If you exclude the first 10 minutes where the opening credits roll and the premise is being to set into motion, there's hardly a minute of the film where the titular character is not engaging in some sort of combat. Despite the film essentially just being a series of action scenes connected by a very loose plot, Hardcore Henry remarkably never becomes dull. I fully expected the first-person style to grow stale after 20-30 minutes, but the film's wide variety of action scenes and constantly-changing settings kept things exciting throughout. 

The film's chaotic nature and innovative approach to shooting and choreographing action scenes may serve as the film's backbone, but Sharlto Copley (District 9, Chappie) is the film's heart and soul. Copley plays a constantly-respawning avatar with multiple personalities that has to guide the mute Henry in his mission to rescue his kidnapped wife (Hayley Bennett) from the clutches of a telekinetic mercenary(Danila Kozlovsky, who looks like a young, blonde-haired Tommy Wiseau). I won't spoil what these various personas are, but I will say that Copley gets ample time to showcase his knack for unhinged, tongue-in-cheek comedy that he hasn't gotten a chance to display since 2010's The A-Team. Hardcore Henry is an ultraviolent, gleefully deranged gift from the B-action movie gods and I can say with absolute certainty that it will become an instant genre classic.

4/5 Stars

Top 10 Modern Rappers (2016 Edition)

Back in September 2013, I decided to weigh in on the ongoing debate of who is the best rapper alive right now with my picks for the 10 best modern rappers. Recently, I looked back at the list and let's just say that it needed to be updated. A lot has changed in the hip-hop world in the past two and a half years and it's about time that I made a list that reflected those changes.

Before I get into my updated list of the 10 best modern rappers, I need to lay down the stipulations and ground rules for the list:
-All of these artists are currently alive, making music and are 35 years old or younger.
-All of these artists have had a record deal and/or professionally recorded music (basically anything that wasn't self-released) for 10 years or less.
-If the previous items on this list didn't make it clear, people like Nas, Kanye West, Killer Mike, El-P, Eminem, Jay- Z, every living member of the Wu-Tang Clan and any other iconic veteran rapper that's still alive and putting out music aren't eligible for this list. I apologize for the repetition, but I guarantee If I didn't explicitly write this out, some jabroni would comment on this post or tweet at me complaining about the absence of one or more of these artists from the list.

With all of the introductory garbage out of the way, I proudly present to you my updated picks for the 10 best rappers in the game right now.

10.J.Cole:
Genre: Conscious Hip-Hop/Pop Rap
Best Release: 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
Best Song: "G.O.M.D" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHU6ZRQJ50Q
This was a pick that I mulled over for a really long time. I had ScHoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky, Joey Bada$$ and Freddie Gibbs penciled into the 10 spot at various points of the list compilation process. However, I ultimately had to give J. Cole the nod due to his more impressive overall body of work. The inconsistency and sometimes disingenuous attitude he's demonstrated from his inception continues to frustrate me, but his exceptional storytelling ability and dedication to continuously improving his songwriting was still more than enough for him to land a spot on this list.

9.Meechy Darko (Flatbush Zombies):
Genre: Experimental Hip-Hop/Cloud Rap
Best Release: 3001: A Laced Odyssey (2016)
Best Verse: "R.I.P.C.D."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDIbHBefyrM
The success of drug-fueled experimental hip-hop group Flatbush Zombies lies almost squarely on the shoulders of Meechy Darko. Darko's twisted humor and psychotic flow makes him an incredibly entertaining and attention-grabbing presence every single time he gets on the mic.

8.Chance the Rapper:
Genre: Abstract Hip-Hop/Pop Rap/R&B
Best Release: Acid Rap (2013)
Best Song: "NaNa" (feat. Action Bronson) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLWv91Tljhw
Chance hasn't put out a straight-up solo hip-hop release since his excellent 2013 mixtape Acid Rap, but his show-stopping guest verses on Kanye West's "Ultralight Beam" and Action Bronson's "Baby Blue" proves he hasn't lost any of the quirk and razor-sharp wit that made him an instant hip-hop nerd sensation following Acid Rap's release. His long-awaited follow-up to Acid Rap is allegedly being released sometime this month and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that caused his red-hot stock to rise even further. 


7.Mac Miller:
Genre:Abstract Hip-Hop/Cloud Rap
Best Release: GO:OD AM(2015)
Best Song: "Brand Name" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjgEtCuqGM0
If you had told me when Blue Slide Park was released in 2010 that Mac Miller would become one of the best rappers in the game five years later, I would've assumed you had just broken out of an insane asylum. Ever since Miller transitioned from making god awful, fratboy-friendly pop rap to atmospheric abstract/cloud rap, he's released some of the most forward-thinking and introspective hip-hop to come out in a long-ass time. If Miller continues to put out material that's as impressive as 2014's Faces and last year's GO:OD AM, he'll be in the top five or higher in no time at all. 

6.Quavo (Migos):
Genre: Trap Rap 
Best Release: No Label II (2014)
Best Verse: "Add It Up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nwAGo7XVZ0
For my money, no rapper is more unfairly slept on because of the content of their music than Quavo, the unofficial leader of Atlanta-based trap rap trio Migos. While the legions of Migos haters out there would beg to differ, Quavo is a sneaky clever lyricist with immense technical proficiency and a level of charisma so high that it makes Jay-Z look droll by comparison. 

5.Big K.R.I.T.: 
Genre: Southern/Conscious Hip-Hop
Best Release: K.R.I.T. Wuz Here (2010)
Best Song: "Mt. Olympus" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s-w-zSbTu8
At a time where it seems like every rapper from the Georgia/Florida/Alabama/Mississippi area is pumping out trap rap, Big K.R.I.T. remains the torchbearer for traditional southern hip-hop. His last project It's Better This Way was pretty underwhelming, but the strength of the rest of his discography paired with his highly unheralded lyricism and mic skills is enough to keep him firmly in the upper echelon of modern rappers.

 4.Action Bronson:
Genre: Abstract/Experimental Hip-Hop
Best Release: Blue Chips 2 (2013)
Best Song: "Silverado" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JWr5fLQTFQ
His bizarre style has earned him a fair share of pointed criticism over the past several years, but I strongly believe that the world needs more rappers like Action Bronson. His lyrics are hilarious, he doesn't take himself remotely seriously, his production choices are consistently diverse and excellent and above all, he has a completely original sound that simply can't be copied.

3.Vince Staples: 
Genre: Hardcore/Conscious Hip-Hop
Best Release: Summertime '06 (2015)
Best Song: "Blue Suede" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv8j6pvyvcQ
I've been praising the hell out of Vince Staples since his breakout guest verse on Earl Sweatshirt's Hive back in the summer of 2013 and he's only managed to get significantly better since then. It's remarkable that a 22-year old kid with just three mixtapes, an EP and an studio album under his belt is creating music that's so dense, intelligent and powerful. Given his youth and tremendous talent, Staples has the potential to become the best rapper on the planet within the next five years or so if he remains on his current path.

2.Danny Brown:
Genre: Hardcore/Abstract/Conscious Hip-Hop/Trap Rap
Best Release: Old (2013)
Best Song: "XXX" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYG0t2oIfC4
The current heir to Detroit's hip-hop throne has been relatively quiet since he released his second LP old in October 2013, but that doesn't mean Brown still isn't one of the brightest talents in the modern hip-hap landscape. Brown has a versatility, uniqueness and larger-than-life personality that no rapper on the planet right now can come anywhere close to matching.   

1.Kendrick Lamar:
Genre: Conscious Hip-Hop
Best Release: good kid m.A.A.d city (2012)
Best Song: "Wesley's Theory" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0QtdISwioc
Shocker right? It may seem like a safe, boring choice in the eyes of many due to the overwhelming amount of praise that's been heaped upon since good kid m.A.A.d city was released in October 2012, I just happen to feel like Lamar has a stranglehold on the hip-hop community right now. The artistic vision, ambition and lyrical depth Lamar displays in his music not only places him at the top of the current hip-hop hierarchy, but firmly places him in the greatest rapper of all-time conversation.

Honorable Mentions:
ScHoolboy Q
Freddie Gibbs
Joey Bada$$
A$AP Rocky
Takeoff (Migos) 

Album Review: Deftones-Gore

The creative rebirth Deftones has undergone during this decade has been nothing short of astounding. After following-up their widely-lauded 2000 album White Pony with a pair of meandering, uninspired records (2003's Deftones and 2006's Saturday Night Wrist), Deftones regained their focus with 2010's sufficiently crushing yet strikingly beautiful Diamond Eyes and haven't looked back since. The cause for their resurgence is up for debate (popular theories include vocalist Chino Moreno finally kicking the drug habit that plagued him for nearly a decade and obtaining a grief-inspired creative reawakening from the November 2008 car crash that put their founding bassist Chi Cheng in a coma and eventually took his life in April 2013), but it's undeniable that the two records they've put out in the 2010's (Diamond Eyes and 2012's Koi No Yokan) have been amongst the most polished and well-received releases of their lengthy career. Deftones recent run of brilliance has come to an end with the incredibly frustrating Gore, a record that is all but guaranteed to create a massive divide within the band's fanbase.

The primary reason Deftones has become one of the most well-respected metal acts of the past two decades is their deep dedication to having a sound that frequently veers between being ridiculously heavy and strikingly serene. On Gore, that balance is nowhere to be found. About 75% of the album consists of plodding slow songs with instrumentation that's so lifeless and repetitive that you often forget that it's even there. The Deftones may have released an abundance of dazzling melodic songs in the past, but the mellow material here is sorely lacking the emotional power and stunning atmosphere that has defined their most memorable melodic tracks ("Knife Prty", "Digital Bath", "Sextape") in the past. Tracks such as "Acid Hologram", "Hearts/Wires" and "(L)MIRL" drone along with none of the passion or gorgeous soundscapes listeners have come to expect from them over the years.

I fully expected this record's much more deliberate, laid-back material to grow on me like the similarly melodic Koi No Yokan did back in 2012, but Gore has actually managed to become more tedious to sit through upon subsequent listens. It's honestly kind of astonishing that a band whose reputation has largely been built upon their ability to craft songs with overwhelming emotion and stirring melodies has managed to a make record that has both of those things in such short supply.

While it pains me to admit it, the heavily-scrutinized comments guitarist Stephen Carpenter made in a February interview with ultimateguitar.com about how the lack of heaviness on Gore made it difficult for him to be excited to play on the record are painfully accurate. The moments where the band allows some heaviness to enter the fold ("Doomed User", "Prayers/Triangles", the title track) are far and away the most captivating moments of the entire record. The entire mid-portion of the record where the band enters full-blown shoegaze/indie rock territory desperately needed the special spark of energy that the hard-hitting side of Deftones' sound consistently provides. When Moreno's frantic, incendiary screams and Carpenter's signature headbang-worthy chunk riffs are used so sparingly over the course of an album, it feels like the heart and soul of this band has been removed. Gore is the first time since Saturday Night Wrist where Deftones have strayed from their metal roots for a majority of the record and it shows in the album's near-constant mediocrity.  

Gore will most likely appease fans of Saturday Night Wrist-era material and/or people that prefer the shoegaze-influnced side of Deftones sound, but fans of the rest of their discography are bound to be disappointed by the lack of variety and heavier elements here. This is hardly a death sentence for a band that has the level of prestige and multi-genre reach that Deftones have, it just happens to be an incredibly disappointing release for a band that had been in a seemingly unbreakable groove for the past five years. Gore is a colossal letdown and when the dust settles on 2016, it will more than likely prove to be one of the year's most disheartening disappointments.

2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Doomed User
2.Phantom Bride
3.Prayers/Triangles

2016 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (Updated 4/12)

1.Tennessee Titans: Jalen Ramsey, cornerback/safety (Florida State)
2.Cleveland Browns: Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State)
3.San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi)
4.Dallas Cowboys: DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle/end (Oregon)
5.Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, inside linebacker (UCLA)
6.Baltimore Ravens: Joey Bosa, outside linebacker/defensive end (Ohio State)
7.San Fransisco 49ers: Shaq Lawson, outside linebacker/defensive end (Clemson)
8.Philadelphia Eagles: Ezekiel Elliot, running back (Ohio State)
9.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback (Florida)
10.New York Giants: Darron Lee, inside/outside linebacker (Ohio State)
11.Chicago Bears: Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame)
12.New Orleans Saints: Eli Apple, cornerback (Ohio State)
13.Miami Dolphins: Leonard Floyd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Georgia)
14.Oakland Raiders: Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Alabama)
15.Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, quarterback (California)
16.Detroit Lions: A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle (Alabama)
17.Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Dodd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Clemson)
18.Indianapolis Colts: Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State)
19.Buffalo Bills: Jarran Reed, defensive tackle (Alabama)
20.New York Jets: Emmanuel Ogbah, outside linebacker/defensive end (Oklahoma State)
21.Washington Redskins: Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor)
22.Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor)
23.Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, wide receiver (TCU)
24.Cincinnati Bengals: Robert Nkemdiche, defensive tackle (Mississippi)
25.Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson III, cornerback (Houston)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Taylor Decker, tackle (Ohio State)
27.Green Bay Packers: Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (Louisville)
28.Kansas City Chiefs: Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson)
29.Arizona Cardinals: Noah Spence, outside linebacker/defensive end (Eastern Kentucky)
30.Carolina Panthers: Germain Ifedi, tackle (Texas A&M)
31.Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch, quarterback (Memphis)

The Best and Worst of Bill Murray

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "The Jungle Book" star Bill Murray.

Film starring Bill Murray that I've seen:
Caddyshack
Ghostbusters
Little Shop of Horrors
Ghostbusters II
Kingpin
Larger Than Life
Space Jam
Rushmore 
Charlie's Angels
Osmosis Jones
The Royal Tennenbaums
Moonrise Kingdom
The Monuments Men
The Grand Budapest Hotel
St. Vincent
Aloha

Best Performance: Caddyshack (1980)
Murray has become one of the most iconic comedians of the past 50 years in large part due to his ability to play zany, manic characters that steal every scene they're in. Caddyshack may not have marked the moment where that persona was born, but it was the project where he perfected it. Despite the fact he was sharing the screen with a who's who of comedy juggernauts (Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight), Murray managed to run away with the movie as Carl Spackler, a dim-witted greenskeeper at an upscale golf course tasked with stopping a gopher infestation during a major tournament.

Worst Performance: Aloha (2015)
One of the many reasons Murray has become one of the most universally beloved fixtures in Hollywood is due to his remarkable consistency. While most of the biggest comics from his generation have tailed off (Chase, Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd), Murray has remained a reliable powerhouse in the industry that can inject life into even the most cringe-inducing projects (Larger Than Life, Charlie's Angels). This reputation of perpetual reliability made his god awful turn in Cameron Crowe's Aloha that much more surprising. Like basically every other actor in the film, Murray completely phoned in it as the film's "antagonist" and appeared to be visibly embarrassed to be involved with this project.    

Best Film: Space Jam (1996)
When you consider all of the comedy classics and beloved indie films Murray has starred in over the years, this pick might seem really strange and borderline insane. That being said, I have no shame for my immense love of Space Jam.This movie basically defined my childhood and I highly doubt there will be ever be a point in my life where I don't love this film with every fiber of my being. Even as I've grown older and more cynical in my attitude towards life, this film still manages to put a huge smile on my face every single I watch it.

Worst Film: Aloha (2015)
It's been said countless times before and it'll be said countless more times until the end of time: How in the sweet fuck did a film written and directed by Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) with an ensemble cast led by Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Murray, Rachel McAdams and Alec Baldwin end up being this bad? What should've been a heartwarming and beautiful romantic comedy/drama ended up being a cliched pile of manure full of lifeless characters, terrible acting and a plot that makes little-to-no sense. If this isn't the biggest waste of an abundance of top-end talent in recent cinematic history, I don't know what is. 

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "The Huntsman: Winter's War" star Jessica Chastain.

Concert Review: Waka Flocka Flame-- Boston, MA-- April 7th, 2016

Lineup: Waka Flocka Flame/Oxymorrons
Venue: Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA

Oxymorrons: I would've strongly questioned your sanity if you had told me when I bought a ticket to this show that a rap rock band would be opening for Waka Flocka Flame, but that's exactly what ended up happening. They came out on stage and opened with a borderline indie rock song, which set a very odd tone out of the gate and left a majority of the audience in a state of bewilderment. Thankfully, things improved from there as they widely picked up their energy and tempo. Their other original songs were largely uptempo and had a surprising amount of amusing lines and their medley of rock versions of Migos' "Look at My Dab",Young Thug's "Best Friend", A$AP Ferg's "Work" and Drake and Future's "Jumpman" was surprisingly badass. I doubt Oxymorrons will enter my regular listening rotation, but they put on a pretty entertaining show.

Waka Flocka Flame: Anyone that's in-tune with the modern hip-hop scene knows that Waka Flocka Flame's live shows are among the most lauded in the entire scene. His off-the-walls energy, tendency to stage dive/go into the crowd and flawlessly perform all of his material have turned his live performances into the stuff of legend. After being a fan of his for the past few years, I was extremely excited to finally get the opportunity to see him. I don't know if it was due to the relatively tame crowd or Flocka's admitted drunkenness, but his performance last night largely didn't live up to the hype.

The biggest gripe I had with his set was the infrequency in which he rapped. I do respect that he didn't sit there and lip sync for the whole set like some rappers do and that he sounded pretty good when was he was actually rapping, but it was annoying to watch him rap a handful of lines then pause for a few seconds before starting again

The amount of time he dedicated to playing electronic/dubstep tracks was similarly obnoxious. I get that Waka Flocka has carved out a niche in the electronic music community recently, but watching him play covers of "Turn Down for What" and other stupid dubstep staples while he all but completely ignoring material from his spectacular 2015 mixtape Flockaveli 1.5 left a bad taste in my mouth.

On a more positive note, Waka Flocka's stage presence and ferocity was still enough to forgive a lot of the shortcomings with his performance. His energy may have not quite as overwhelming as I heard it was, but it was still pretty damn impressive. There was hardly ever a time where hasn't jumping up and down, running around the stage or trying to elicit some type of chant or gesture from the crowd. Flocka is a pretty great showman and I can imagine him being an unstoppable tornado of destruction when he's on the top of his game. I'm willing to give Flocka another chance live, but I'll definitely be tempering my expectations so I don't experience another letdown like this.

Scores:
Oxymorrons 7/10
Waka Flocka Flame 7/10

Setlist included:
Wildboy (MGK cover)
Hard in Da Paint
No Hands
Rooster in My Rari
50K
All I Know
Stay Hood
Turn Down for What (DJ Snake cover)
Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell cover)
Grove St. Party
Murda Something (A$AP Ferg cover)
O Let's Do It
Workin'

Album Review: Entheos-The Infinite Nothing

When deathcore titans Animosity broke up following the release of their 2007 masterpiece Animal, it seemed liked they would never create music together in any capacity ever again. So when it was announced in January 2015 that the 3/5 of the Animal-era lineup (drummer Navene Koperwies, bassist Evan Brewer, guitarist Frank Costa) were teaming up with Systems vocalist Chaney Crabb for a new progressive-tinged technical death metal band named Entheos, Animosity fans everywhere were overcome with shock and delight. Entheos' debut EP Primal, which was released last March, was a tad bit underwhelming considering the level of talent involved, but it showed some bursts of serious potential and proved that every member of the band was still at the top of their game musically. Thanks to the several months they took between finishing Primal and starting the recording process for their first full-length to tighten up their musical vision, Entheos has firmly found their footing on The Infinite Nothing, which is one of the most stunning and crushing debut extreme metal albums in recent history.

The songwriting approach employed on The Infinite Nothing is a pretty radical departure from the norm for tech death. While there's certainly a healthy amount of noodling leads and blast beats, Entheos is far more concerned with keeping the listeners on their toes with near-constant tempo shifts and bizarre experimentation than simply bowling them over with their immense technical ability. Perhaps the best indicator of Entheos' bold, no-holds-barred approach to the genre comes on the insane opening track "Perpetual Miscalculations". Within the first two minutes of the five-plus minute song, the listener is treated to an onslaught of sweet groove riffs from Costa, an eerie-synth interlude that sounds like it came out of an '80s horror movie and most notably, an entire section where one of Brewer's signature slap bass lines serves as the main riff. The best part about all of these constantly moving parts is that each one of them flows organically together and nothing ever sounds like its been shoehorned in just for the hell of it.

"Perpetual Miscalculations" is merely the start of the unrelenting chaos this album offers up in droves. Standout tracks "Mind Alone" and "New Light" regularly tow the line between tornado-esque mathcore, Perturbator-inspired electronica and prog-death metal opus while the blistering "An Ever-Expanding Human" is punctuated by a beautiful, sprawling outro solo sounds like it was an outtake from The Faceless' Planetary Duality sessions. That feeling of never knowing what's coming next makes the entire album a relentless and enthralling adventure that never comes anywhere close to sounding stale or derivative. 

The music may serve as the backbone for the bedlam of The Infinite Nothing, but Entheos' deadliest weapon is Crabb. For those who are unfamiliar with Crabb's previous work, she came up in the mathcore genre and her well-established comfort with constantly changing musical styles and tempos on a whim makes her the perfect choice to lead Entheos' frenzied attack. Her arsenal of screams that range from guttural lows to full-on shrieks allow her to effortlessly match whatever tempo the band is playing at any given moment without ever sounding uncomfortable or over-matched. It takes a vocalist with an exception amount of talent and versatility to not get overshadowed by the musicians in this absurdly technical style of music and Crabb is just that.

After a pretty disappointing start to 2016, The Infinite Nothing is the swift kick in the ass the metal scene needed right now. This is exactly the type of unpredictable and unrelenting assault on the senses I had hoped for from a band featuring three former members of Animosity and the vocalist of a highly underrated mathcore band. It'll be interesting to see if the band can continue to plug along at this level with new guitarist Malcolm Pugh (Costa was kicked out of the band shortly after The Infinite Nothing was recorded) in the fold, but for now I'll just sit back with a huge grin and appreciate how much joy listening to The Infinite Nothing brought me.

4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Mind Alone
2.Perpetual Miscalculations
3.An Ever-Expanding Human

The Best and Worst of Melissa McCarthy

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "The Boss" star Melissa McCarthy.

Films starring Melissa McCarthy that I've seen:
Bridesmaids
This is 40
Identity Thief
The Hangover Part III
The Heat
Tammy
St. Vincent
Spy 

Best Performance: Spy (2015)
McCarthy gets a lot of heat from her detractors for playing characters that are almost exclusively loud and over-the top vulgar. In Spy, McCarthy balances out that shtick with a sensitivity and likability that proves she's more than a one-trick pony.    

Worst Performance: Identity Thief (2013)
McCarthy's tendency to play these insane, over-the top characters has never bothered me. To be completely honest, the relentless energy and obscene wit she displays in these parts is large part of why I think she's one of the best comedic actresses on the planet right now. The one time where this well-oiled routine backfired was in the god awful Identity Thief. While the weak material she was given put her in a rough spot, it doesn't excuse how incredibly obnoxious and off-putting McCarthy was every time she appeared on screen.

Best Film: Bridesmaids (2011)
Bridesmaids was the first comedy of this decade to become a bona fide cultural phenomenon. It made McCarthy and Rebel Wilson breakout stars, it proved Kristen Wiig had the chops to transition from Saturday Night Live to the big screen and perhaps most importantly, it confirmed that both members of Wilson Phillips were still breathing. The film's popularity and role in launching the careers of several current comedy juggernauts is undeniable, but above all, this movie serves as really hilarious and insightful look at how women view romantic relationships and friendships as they approach middle age.   

Worst Film: Identity Thief (2013)
Writer Craig Mazin and director Seth Gordon should be punished for their sins against the world of comedy. They somehow managed to waste the collective talents of McCarthy, Jason Bateman, Amanda Peet and Jon Faverau on a film filled with lazy humor, an idiotic premise and a group of  characters that you wouldn't mind see fall down a mine shaft at any given moment. Identity Thief is the weakest comedy I've seen in the past five years and I'd be surprised if anything that's not from the dreaded direct-to-video circuit will be able to top it anytime soon.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "The Jungle Book" star Bill Murray. 

2016 NFL Mock Draft 4.0 (Updated 4/5)

1.Tennessee Titans: Jalen Ramsey, cornerback/safety (Florida State)
2.Cleveland Browns: Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State)
3.San Diego Chargers: Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi)
4.Dallas Cowboys: DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle/end (Oregon)
5.Jacksonville Jaguars: Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback (Florida)
6.Baltimore Ravens: Joey Bosa, outside linebacker/defensive end (Ohio State)
7.San Fransisco 49ers: Myles Jack, inside linebacker (UCLA)
8.Philadelphia Eagles: Ezekiel Elliot, running back (Ohio State)
9.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shaq Lawson, outside linebacker/defensive end (Clemson)
10.New York Giants: Darron Lee, inside/outside linebacker (Ohio State)
11.Chicago Bears: Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame)
12.New Orleans Saints: Eli Apple, cornerback (Ohio State)
13.Miami Dolphins: Leonard Floyd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Georgia)
14.Oakland Raiders: Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker (Alabama)
15.Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff, quarterback (California)
16.Detroit Lions: Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State)
17.Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Dodd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Clemson)
18.Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Billings, defensive tackle (Baylor)
19.Buffalo Bills: Jarran Reed, defensive tackle (Alabama)
20.New York Jets: Emmanuel Ogbah, outside linebacker/defensive end (Oklahoma State)
21.Washington Redskins: A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle (Alabama)
22.Houston Texans: Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor)
23.Minnesota Vikings: Josh Doctson, wide receiver (TCU)
24.Cincinnati Bengals: Robert Nkemdiche, defensive tackle (Mississippi)
25.Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson III, cornerback (Houston)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Taylor Decker, tackle (Ohio State)
27.Green Bay Packers: Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (Louisville)
28.Kansas City Chiefs: Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson)
29.Arizona Cardinals: Noah Spence, outside linebacker/defensive end (Eastern Kentucky)
30.Carolina Panthers: Karl Joseph, safety (West Virginia)
31.Denver Broncos: Paxton Lynch, quarterback (Memphis)

Movie Review: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

The film branch of DC comics has been lagging well behind their rivals at Marvel ever since comic book movies became a steady fixture at multiplexes in the early 2000's. Outside of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, DC has not put out a film that has come anywhere close to matching the quality or financial success of Marvel heavyweights like Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy or The Avengers. After years of playing second fiddle in the comic book film universe, DC has launched their first attempt to match their rival's deep world building with Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Unfortunately for DC, the film is a major mixed bag filled with an equal amount of awe-inspiring highs and embarrassing lows.

Batman v. Superman marks the first time in my writing career that I've truly been thankful for the existence of a film studio frowning upon reviewers giving out specific details about a film's story. Trying to describe the plot to this movie without going on a free-form rant that was at least 2,000 words in length would be damn near impossible. The film breezes through plot points at a rapid clip with little to no development and a lot of the resolutions make absolutely zero sense. The scattered, nonsensical nature of the story can largely be attributed to the fact that screenwriters Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer and the genius executives at Warner Brothers thought it would be a good idea to create a film that combines narrative elements from three separate Batman and Superman comics while also laying down the ground work for the inaugural Justice League film that is set for release next fall. The sheer amount of subplots that exist in this film leads to a level of narrative overstuffing that is so insane that it makes Age of Ultron look like the posterchild for cohesive storytelling. If DC continues to put out film with scripts that are this inept and muddled, their dream of creating a sprawling, engaging universe will never materialize.

What saves from Batman v. Superman from being a colossal failure is the film's superb cast and top-notch action sequences. Ironically, the film's two most controversial casting choices (Ben Affleck as Batman and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor) ended up being the film's strongest assets. Affleck's portrayal of a cynical, beaten-down Bruce Wayne could very well be the strongest big-screen rendition of the Caped Crusader to-date while Eisenberg's fresh, over-the-top take on Luthor allows the character to reach levels of deranged lunacy that no other actor who's played the part previously displayed.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the entire film was how much Henry Cavill-who was abysmal in Man of Steel-manages to improve in his second go-round as Superman. The solo Superman narrative in this film allows Cavill to provide a surprising level of emotional depth that had previously been foreign to this traditionally even-keeled character and make you empathize with this outsider whose powers are completely misunderstood by the people of Earth. Kudos to Cavill for expanding his range and making me get invested for a character that I haven't given two shits about in the past.

As for the action sequences, this is a much-needed return to form for director Zach Snyder after he completely butchered them in Man of Steel. Snyder made the intelligent decision to return to his cleanly-edited, slo-mo driven wheelhouse for Batman v. Superman after deciding to go with the choppy, quick-cut approach on Man of Steel. The heavily-hyped Batman vs. Superman fight and the Batman warehouse brawl are without question some of the expertly-staged and shot fight scenes to ever appear in a superhero film. Honestly, the only issue with the action scenes in this film is that there isn't enough of them. Given how sloppy the storytelling is here, the film could've seriously benefited from putting Snyder and his virtuoso action-directing at the forefront of the proceedings. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is a far from perfect start for the revamped DC cinematic universe, but there's just enough potential on display here to give me hope for their future projects.

3/5 Stars  

Top 25 Prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft

With the 2016 NFL Draft being just under four weeks away, I figured it would be the perfect time to take an early look at which of this year's prospects have impressed me the most. It should be noted that this list is far from final as I still have to watch tape on around two dozen top prospects. Stay tuned to this page for weekly mock drafts and other fun pre-draft shenanigans!

Notable players I haven't seen tape on yet: Jaylon Smith, Jarran Reed, Kevin Dodd, Shaq Lawson, Reggie Ragland, Sheldon Rankins, Chris Jones, Hunter Henry, Vonn Bell, Scooby Wright III, Su'a Cravens, Tyler Boyd, Vernon Butler, Germain Ifedi, Jordan Jenkins, Braxton Miller, Carl Nassib

1.Joey Bosa, outside linebacker/defensive end (Ohio State)
2.Myles Jack, inside/outside linebacker (UCLA)
3.Jalen Ramsey, safety/cornerback (Florida State)
4.Vernon Hargreaves, cornerback (Florida)
5.Ezekiel Elliot, running back (Ohio State)
6.Ronnie Stanley, tackle (Notre Dame)
7.Jared Goff, quarterback (California)
8.Carson Wentz, quarterback (North Dakota State)
9.Darron Lee, inside/outside linebacker (Ohio State)
10.Laremy Tunsil, tackle (Mississippi)
11.Noah Spence, outside linebacker/defensive end (Eastern Kentucky)
12.Karl Joseph, safety (West Virginia)
13.Jack Conklin, tackle (Michigan State)
14.Corey Coleman, wide receiver (Baylor)
15.Artie Burns, cornerback (Miami)
16.William Jackson III, cornerback (Houston)
17.DeForest Buckner, defensive end/tackle (Oregon)
18.Emmanuel Ogbah, outside linebacker/defensive end (Oklahoma State)
19.Mackensie Alexander, cornerback (Clemson)
20.Laquon Treadwell, wide receiver (Mississippi)
21.Derrick Henry, running back (Alabama)
22.Leonard Floyd, outside linebacker/defensive end (Georgia)
23.Ryan Kelly, center (Alabama)
24.Cody Whitehair, guard (Kansas State)
25.Cyrus Jones, cornerback (Alabama)