Thursday, November 30, 2017

The Best and Worst of Kate Winslet

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 "Wonder Wheel" star Kate Winslet.

Films starring Kate Winslet that I've seen:
Hamlet
Titanic
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Little Children
The Reader
Contagion
Movie 43
Divergent
Insurgent
Steve Jobs
Triple 9

Best Performance: Little Children (2006)
Out of the handful of Winslet's Oscar-nominated performances that I've seen, this was the one I was most impressed with by a substantial margin. Winslet is a nice mix of vulnerable, delusional, unlikable and empathetic as a lonely housewife who strikes up an affair with a stay-at-home dad (Patrick Wilson) whose similarly bored by his marriage and the monotony of suburban life.

Worst Performance: Triple 9 (2016)
Overacting is an underappreciated skill in the world of acting and cases like Winslet's miscalculated turn as a powerful mob boss in Triple 9 prove that even the most esteemed actors in the world don't always have this showy technique in their repertoire. Her underwhelming scenery-chewing behind a terrible Russian accent and wild hairstyle that screams stereotypical villain proved to be the weak link in an otherwise well-acted grimy crime drama.

Best Film: Steve Jobs (2015)
Plain and simple, the world needs more biopics like Steve Jobs. Thanks to the sharp writing of Aaron Sorkin and energetic direction of Danny Boyle, the life of Steve Jobs is turned into an intense, endearing and non-linear 3-act play that accentuates the late Apple CEO's ego, condescending nature and brilliant business mind.

Worst Film: Titanic (1997)
Fuck Jack and Rose's forbidden love. Fuck Cal and his steel fortune. Fuck that necklace. Fuck the iceberg for not sinking this ship full of insufferable assholes sooner. Fuck that stupid Celine Dion Song. Fuck the $2+ billion this grossed worldwide. And double fuck James Cameron for following up this hilariously over-the-top piece of Kleenex porn with the equally shitty Avatar.  

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 "Just Getting Started" star Tommy Lee Jones .

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Quick Movie Reviews: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lady Bird, Mudbound, Justice League

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: What a letdown from the typically brilliant Martin McDonaugh. The Irish writer/director's trademark dark humor and vivid characters are suffocated by a wave of melodramatic plot devices, constant shaky tonal shifts and a frustratingly ambiguous ending. A handful of potent scenes and excellent acting from its gifted veteran cast (Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson) and budding star Lucas Hedges make it a decent watch, but I just can't get behind the wave of awards buzz its currently receiving.
3/5 Stars

Lady Bird: Greta Gerwig's solo directorial debut is a very solid yet undeniably familiar coming-of-age comedy. Saiorse Ronan further proves why she's one of the best young actors in the business with her authentic-feeling performance as the titular character and Gerwig's script does a good job of   exploring the complicated relationship that exists between a child and an overbearing parents and the extensive soul-searching teens go through when they're about to take the plunge into adulthood. Even though it's a pretty straightforward film, I wouldn't be shocked if it ended up making some noise in this year's weak awards field.
3.5/5 Stars

Mudbound: 2017's Sundance slate has further solidified itself as one of the finest in the festival's 39-year history with the endearing historical drama Mudbound. Dee Rees' nuanced character study offers up an unflinching look at the little-explored period of post-World War II in the South by detailing the struggles a pair of men from different racial backgrounds (Jason Mitchell and Garrett Hedlund, both phenomenal) undergo while trying to readjust to civilian life in Mississippi. It's fascinating watching these pair of emotionally-conflicted men that had experienced similar hells overseas develop a deep, cathartic bond against a backdrop of palatable discrimination and poverty. The not overly compelling first half that predominantly focuses on the families of these men who live and work on the same farm and a few heavy-handed plot developments undercut the immense power Mudbound offers up at times, but this well-acted and sharp-edged film is a pretty impressive step in the right direction in Netflix's quest to be taken seriously as an original content provider.
3.5/5 Stars

Justice League: I'm starting to believe that there's some kind of secret smear campaign being aimed at the DC brand. Justice League might not be full of exciting new ideas or magnetic performances, but it's a rousing, fast-paced and action-packed crowdpleaser that plays the genre hits as well as many of the projects Marvel has received universal acclaim for at least two dozen times since the superhero genre became Hollywood's biggest blockbuster craze in the mid-2000's. With the "overly dark tone" that supposedly sparked the waves of backlash towards Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad completely absent from Justice League, it now seems like the large contingent of professional critics and social media take-hurlers that make sport of spitting venom at DC while gushing over every project Marvel churns out are simply penalizing the former for entering the shared cinematic universe game at a later date than the latter. Conspiracies aside, I had a lot of fun with Justice League and hopefully it's somewhat underwhelming box office performance won't prevent this series from moving forward.
4/5 Stars 

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 13

()=last week's ranking

1.(1) Philadelphia Eagles (10-1) Week 13 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
2.(2) New England Patriots (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Buffalo Bills
3.(5) Minnesota Vikings (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
4.(4) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
5.(6) Los Angeles Rams (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
6.(3) New Orleans Saints (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Carolina Panthers
7.(8) Carolina Panthers (8-3) Week 13 opponent: New Orleans Saints
8.(9) Atlanta Falcons (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
9.(7) Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
10.(11) Seattle Seahawks (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
11.(15) Los Angeles Chargers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Cleveland Browns
12.(10) Detroit Lions (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
13.(13) Tennessee Titans (7-4) Week 13 opponent: Houston Texans
14.(14) Baltimore Ravens (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Detroit Lions
15.(12) Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) Week 13 opponent: New York Jets
16.(17) Washington Redskins (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
17.(18) Oakland Raiders (5-6) Week 13 opponent: New York Giants
18.(23) Buffalo Bills (6-5) Week 13 opponent: New England Patriots
19.(20) Cincinnati Bengals (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
20.(25) Arizona Cardinals (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
21.(19) New York Jets (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
22.(16) Dallas Cowboys (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Washington Redskins
23.(22) Green Bay Packers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
24.(21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Green Bay Packers
25.(24) Houston Texans (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Tennessee Titans
26.(26) Miami Dolphins (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Denver Broncos
27.(27) Chicago Bears (3-8) Week 13 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
28.(28) Indianapolis Colts (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
29.(29) New York Giants (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Oakland Raiders
30.(30) Denver Broncos (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Miami Dolphins
31.(31) San Francisco 49ers (1-10) Week 13 opponent: Chicago Bears
32.(32) Cleveland Browns (0-11) Week 13 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers

Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
This was the quintessential Ben Roethlisberger performance that fantasy owners have experienced dozens of times over the past 13 years. Roethlisberger flashed poor decisionmaking that resulted in costly mistakes (2 INT's) for his team, but ultimately he made enough big-time plays to put together a masterful fantasy line (351 YDS, 4 TD's, 1 2-PT conversion and a surprising 25 YDS on the ground) to lead the Steelers to a narrow win over the Packers on Sunday night. After a thoroughly underwhelming 1st half of the season where he only cleared 20+ fantasy points twice, Big Ben has been outstanding over the past 3 weeks and will look to keep his hot streak alive against a tough Bengals secondary in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: Philip Rivers (Chargers), Case Keenum (Vikings), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Marcus Mariota (Titans)
The Titans pulled off an improbable late rally to beat the lowly Colts this week and if you're wondering why they had to battle back in a game that was a presumed easy victory, look no further than their franchise QB. Marcus Mariota threw a pair of INT's and mustered just 184 yards through the air against the league's worst passing defense on an afternoon where bundles of good fortune and even sloppier play from their opponents helped the Titans improve to 7-4 on the year. Mariota hasn't even come close to delivering on his 5th-6th round ADP this season and will likely remain frustratingly erratic despite a very favorable slate of matchups over the next few weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Eli Manning (Giants), Alex Smith (Chiefs)


Running Back
MVP: Alvin Kamara (Saints)
With Kareem Hunt and Leonard Forunette crashing back down to earth in a major way after their historically strong starts, Alvin Kamara is starting to make a case for himself as the best back in 2017's stacked rookie class. Kamara brought electricity to the field on an afternoon where the Saints high-powered offense were slowed down significantly by the Rams physical, blitz-happy defense, notching 188 total YDS (87 rushing, 101 receiving) and a pair of TD's on just 11 touches. The dual-threat rookie sensation will look to extend his double-digit scoring streak to 7 games against the Panthers elite defense in Wee 13.
Honorable Mentions: Jamaal Williams (Packers), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Tevin Coleman (Falcons)

LVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
While his running mate was busy breathing life into the offense, Mark Ingram was getting stuffed seemingly every time he touched the ball. A combination of ineffectiveness and relatively limited opportunities due to the Saints playing from behind for a vast majority of the game led to Ingram posting a rare dud (36 YDS from scrimmage on 13 touches) during his spectacular 2017 campaign. Bouncing back in Week 13 versus Carolina's stout run D that has only surrendered 2 TD's to RB's in their last 6 games will be a very tough task. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Kareem Hunt (Chiefs), Jordan Howard (Bears), Leonard Forunette (Jaguars)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
Julio Jones finally delivered the inhuman performance his fantasy owners had ben waiting for all season in Week 12. The Buccaneers secondary looked like an army of aimless mannequins as Jones eviscerated them for 253 YDS and 2 TD's on 12 receptions. Jones is unlikely to replicate this level of productivity during his hotly-anticipated faceoff with Vikings shutdown corner Xavier Rhodes this week.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Robby Anderson (Jets), Keenan Allen (Chargers)

LVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Even the ever-consistent Doug Baldwin will stumble in terrific matchups from time-to-time. Baldwin made very little impact on his 3 touches (2 receptions for 25 YDS and a carry for -5 YDS) against an inexperienced 49ers secondary that has gotten routinely torched by their opponents throughout 2017. Angry Doug will look to redeem himself against a tough but beatable Eagles secondary in Week 13. 
Dishonorable Mentions: T.Y. Hilton (Colts), Golden Tate (Lions), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos)

Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski was due for a monster game after a respectable yet not overly productive 4-game stretch following his last multi-TD eruption against the Jets in Week 6 and he delivered just that against the Dolphins suddenly horrific defense on Sunday afternoon. Gronkowski picked up 82 YDS and a pair of effortless-looking scores on 5 receptions in yet another easy victory for the defending Super Bowl Champs. I'd be stunned if he didn't match or exceed these numbers against a lackluster Bills defense in Week 13. 
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Hunter Henry (Chargers)

LVP: Vernon Davis (Redskins)
Outside of the a-holes that had the gall and lack of awareness to bring up the politics at the dinner table, no one ruined more Thanksgiving's than Redskins tight end Vernon Davis. Davis failed to haul in his only target against the Giants coverage-challenged defense on a sorry-ass evening of football where every 'Skins pass-catcher not named Jamison Crowder struggled mightily. Even after back-to-back duds, Davis will be a low-end TE1 option as long as Jordan Reed remains on the shelf.
Dishonorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Jared Cook (Raiders), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

Defense
MVP: Los Angeles Chargers
While the return of Tyron Smith slightly improved things, the Chargers still managed to manhandle the Zeke-less Cowboys offense on Thanksgiving Day. 2 sacks and a pair of INT's including a game-clinching pick-6 by rookie corner Desmond King helped the Bolts roll to a lopsided 28-6 victory. This unit has been very impressive over the past month and with the winless Browns rolling into the StubHub Center this week, that streak is unlikely to come to a halt.
Honorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles

LVP: Pittsburgh Steelers 
Despite a healthy sack total (4), the Steelers defense failed to take advantage of an excellent matchup against a Brett Hundley-led Packers offense that was coming off an ugly 5-turnover performance in their narrow 31-28 victory on Sunday Night Football. 2017's most improved defense will be a decent play against the Bengals below-average offense in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons

Monday, November 27, 2017

As We Proceed Episode #14

On this month's episode, Feliciano and I discuss Lil Peep's unexpected death and the legacy he left behind, Eminem's upcoming album Revival and review Kanye West's landmark album My Dark Twisted Fantasy in honor of its seventh anniversary. Check it out at either of the links below: 

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/asweproceedpodcast/hold-up-sit-down-be-thankful
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/as-we-proceed/id1122163104?mt=2

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

()=last week's ranking

1.(1) Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) Week 12 opponent: Chicago Bears
2.(2) New England Patriots (8-2) Week 12 opponent: Miami Dolphins
3.(3) New Orleans Saints (8-2) Week 12 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
4.(4) Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2) Week 12 opponent: Green Bay Packers
5.(6) Minnesota Vikings (8-2) Week 12 opponent: Detroit Lions
6.(5) Los Angeles Rams (7-3) Week 12 opponent: New Orleans Saints
7.(10) Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3) Week 12 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
8.(9) Carolina Panthers (7-3) Week 12 opponent: New York Jets
9.(13) Atlanta Falcons (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10.(11) Detroit Lions (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
11.(8) Seattle Seahawks (6-4) Week 12 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
12.(7) Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Buffalo Bills
13.(12) Tennessee Titans (6-4) Week 12 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
14.(18) Baltimore Ravens (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Houston Texans
15.(21) Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
16.(14) Dallas Cowboys (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
17.(16) Washington Redskins (4-6) Week 12 opponent: New York Giants
18.(15) Oakland Raiders (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Denver Broncos
19.(20) New York Jets (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Carolina Panthers
20.(23) Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Cleveland Browns
21.(24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
22.(19) Green Bay Packers (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
23.(17) Buffalo Bills (5-5) Week 12 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
24.(28) Houston Texans (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
25.(22) Arizona Cardinals (4-6) Week 12 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
26.(25) Miami Dolphins (4-6) Week 12 opponent: New England Patriots
27.(26) Chicago Bears (3-7) Week 12 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
28.(27) Indianapolis Colts (3-7) Week 12 opponent: Tennessee Titans
29.(31) New York Giants (2-8) Week 12 opponent: Washington Redskins
30.(29) Denver Broncos (3-7) Week 12 opponent: Oakland Raiders
31.(30) San Francisco 49ers (1-9) Week 12 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
32.(32) Cleveland Browns (0-10) Week 12 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

Week 11 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks) 
After a quiet (by his standards) Week 10, Russell Wilson returned to his fantasy MVP status in Week 11. Despite a pair of back-breaking turnovers that helped put the Seahawks in a deep hole in the 1st half, Wilson ended up putting together a spectacular performance (334 total YDS, 3 TD, 1 2-PT Conversion) in a narrow loss against the Falcons on Monday night. Wilson will have redemption on the brain in Week 12 when he squares off against a weak 49ers secondary that he struggled against back in Week 2.
Honorable Mentions: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Tom Brady (Patriots)

LVP: Dak Prescott (Cowboys) 
Thoughts and prayers if you put Dak Prescott in your lineup this week. The Cowboys quarterback put together an all-time stinker on Sunday night against the Eagles, turning the ball over 4 times (3 INT's and a lost fumble) while amassing just 155 total YDS and failing to reach the endzone for only the 2nd time this season. Prescott has been awful since Ezekiel Elliott started serving his suspension and if star left tackle Tyron Smith is out of the lineup for the Cowboys Thanksgiving Showdown with the Chargers, don't hesitate to bench him.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Alex Smith (Chiefs), Jared Goff (Rams), Eli Manning (Giants)

Running Back
MVP: LeSean McCoy (Bills)
LeSean McCoy proved to be the lone bright spot on a hellish afternoon for the Bills. Shady accounted for 126 YDS (114 rushing, 12 receiving) and a pair of scores in a turnover-plagued 54-24 loss to the Chargers. Even with the Bills currently imploding in spectacular fashion after their excellent 5-2 start, McCoy should remain a mid-tier RB1.
Honorable Mentions: Latavaius Murray (Vikings), Mark Ingram (Saints), Alvin Kamara (Saints)

LVP: Doug Martin (Buccaneers)
I think that it's safe to say that the days of Doug Martin being a viable NFL running back are over. Martin was wildly ineffective (38 YDS on 19 carries) against a Dolphins run D that had gotten blown up by the likes of Jonathan Stewart, Alex Collins and 31-year old Marshawn Lynch in the last 3 weeks. Even with the heavy volume of touches he's been receiving with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center the past 2 weeks, the back formerly known as The Muscle Hamster won't be worth playing in any non-emergency situation for the Bucs week 12 tilt versus the Falcons middling rush defense.  
Dishonorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Adrian Peterson (Cardinals), Kenyan Drake (Dolphins)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
In a turn of events that surprised absolutely no one, Antonio Brown followed up a lackluster game with an absolutely monstrous one. Brown sliced and diced his way through the Titans below-average secondary all night long (144 YDS and 3 TD's on 10 receptions) as the Steelers rolled to a 40-17 win. The league's best WR has another plus matchup in Week 12 against a weak Packers secondary that has allowed the 6th most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.   
Honorable Mentions: Keenan Allen (Chargers), Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Adam Thielen (Vikings)

LVP: DeVante Parker (Dolphins) 
Unlike his peers on the Dolphins anemic offense, DeVante Parker had miraculously managed to avoid putting up a true fantasy dud in any of the 6 games he'd appeared in this season. That solid run of competency came to an end in Week 11. Parker fell bellow his high floor (60+ YDS and/or a TD), securing just 4 receptions for 26 YDS against the Buccaneers suspect secondary. With Jay Cutler's status up in the air as of today, Parker will be a risky WR3 play against an improving Patriots secondary in Week 12. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Golden Tate (Lions), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Stefon Diggs (Vikings)

Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Jimmy Graham the Touchdown God strikes again!!! Graham reeled in his 7th TD of the season and put together another solid all-around performance (7 REC/58 YDS/1 2-Point Conversion) in the 'Hawks tough loss to the suddenly rejuvenated Falcons. Graham will look to score for the 8th time in 7 games this week against a 49ers D that has surrendered a TD to TE's in 4 straight games. 
Honorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Delanie Walker (Titans), Tyler Kroft (Bengals)

LVP: Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Even the most stable guys are bound to put up duds every once in a while. After posting at least 8.1 fantasy points in his previous 7 games, Zach Ertz was a complete non-factor (2 REC, 8 YDS) on a night where the Eagles didn't really need their passing attack to beat the brakes off of the Zeke-and-Tyron Smith-less Cowboys. Ertz, whose appears to still be battling the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Eagles pre-Bye Week showdown with the Broncos on November 6th, should be a decent play against a solid yet beatable Bears secondary in Week 12.    
Dishonorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Jason Witten (Cowboys)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Baltimore Ravens
For the 3rd time this season, the Ravens D flat-out dominated their opponents in a shutout. Baltimore swarmed and suffocated the Brett Hundley-led Packers offense for 4 quarters, picking up 6 sacks and 5 takeaways (3 INT, 2 FUM REC) in an impressive victory for the de facto AFC Wild Card contenders. With their relatively favorable schedule throughout the fantasy playoffs, the Ravens could very well end up unseating the Jaguars as the top fantasy defense by season's end. 
Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers

LVP: New Orleans Saints
After racking up a string of impressive performances, the Saints D finally displayed some flaws for the first time since their Week 6 shootout with the Lions. Despite their key stops in the 4th quarter and overtime, Dennis Allen's troops mustered just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways in their remarkable 34-31 comeback win over the Redskins. Even if top corner Marshon Lattimore ends up being good to go following the ankle injury he suffered on Sunday afternoon, the Saints are unlikely to return to their form against the Rams explosive and mistake-averse offense in Week 12.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

Monday, November 20, 2017

The Best and Worst of Ben Mendelsohn

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 "Darkest Hour" star Ben Mendelsohn.

Films starring Ben Mendelsohn that I've seen:
Killer Elite
The Dark Knight Rises
Killing Them Softly
The Place Beyond the Pines
Starred Up
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Slow West
Mississippi Grind
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Best Performance: Mississippi Grind (2015)
Atmospheric indie drama Mississippi Grind marks the only time I've ever been really impressed with Mendlesohn, who I find to be one of the most overrated actors in Hollywood right now, as an actor. His performance as a degenerate gambler who decides to embarks on a road trip with a down-on-his-luck poker player (Ryan Reynolds) he meets at an Iowa casino accurately captures the soaring highs, devastating rock bottoms and endless desperation of a person that's dealing with addiction.    

Worst Performance: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Mendlesohn's work in Rogue One is a classic case of when overacting goes horribly wrong. His cartoonish turn as primary villain Orson Krennic seem like it came out of a completely different film than the overwhelmingly grim one everyone else in the cast (with the exception of the equally over-the-top Forest Whitaker and Donnie Yen) was in.  

Best Film: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
While Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy is arguably the most celebrated movie franchise in recent history, I think that the final chapter doesn't get the love it deserves. A compelling story, tremendous action sequences and an apporoatiely epic scope helped this influential series of superhero films end on a near-perfect note.

Worst Film: Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
Ridley Scott is a cinema icon whose career is still in hyperdrive as he approaches his 80th birthday. After being exposed to the bloated biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings when it hit home video in early 2015, I (briefly) wished the legendry director had already retired. Exodus is the type of film that works better as a torture mechanism than a piece of entertainment. This large and particularly rank pile of shit is painfully dull, hilariously overacted and completely devoid of anything worthwhile. Thankfully Scott followed-up this unholy disaster with an excellent film (The Martian) that demonstrated he's still capable of blessing the world with solid art in his twilight years.    

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 "Wonder Wheel" star Kate Winslet.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

2017-18 NBA Power Rankings: Early Season Edition

The first month of the NBA season has been one of the wilder ones in recent memory. If you had told anyone on opening night that in 30 days time the Cavs and Thunder would be outside the top eight in their respective conferences, the Gordon Hayward-less Celtics would rip off a double-digit win streak and the Pistons, who have missed the playoffs five of the last six seasons, would have the second best record in the East, they would've questioned your sanity and/or asked if you were on drugs. Using these questionable first impressions as a backdrop, I proudly present my first batch of power rankings for the 2017-18 season.

1.Golden State Warriors (11-3)
2.Boston Celtics (13-2)
3.Houston Rockets (11-4)
4.Washington Wizards (9-5)
5.Detroit Pistons (10-4)
6.Toronto Raptors (9-5)
7.San Antonio Spurs (9-6)
8.Minnesota Timberwolves (9-5)
9.Cleveland Cavaliers (8-7)
10.Milwaukee Bucks (8-6)
11.Denver Nuggets (8-6)
12.Philadelphia 76ers (8-6)
13.New Orleans Pelicans (8-6)
14.Portland Trail Blazers (8-6)
15.Memphis Grizzlies (7-7)
16.Oklahoma City Thunder (7-7)
17.Orlando Magic (8-7)
18.New York Knicks (8-6)
19.Miami Heat (6-8)
20.Los Angeles Clippers (5-8)
21.Indiana Pacers (7-8)
22.Utah Jazz (6-9)
23.Charlotte Hornets (5-8)
24.Los Angeles Lakers (6-9)
25.Brooklyn Nets (5-9)'
26.Phoenix Suns (5-10)
27.Atlanta Hawks (3-12)
28.Dallas Mavericks (2-13)
29.Sacramento Kings (3-11)
30.Chicago Bulls (2-10)

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The Best and Worst of Willem Dafoe

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 "Justice League" star Willem Dafoe

Films starring Willem Dafoe that I've seen:
The Boondock Saints
American Psycho
Spider-Man
Finding Nemo
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Spider-Man 2
The Aviator
xXx: State of the Union
Inside Man
Spider-Man 3
Daybreakers
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
John Carter
Out of the Furnace
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Fault in Our Stars
John Wick
Finding Dory
The Great Wall

Best Performance: The Boondock Saints (1999)
Name a more badass big-screen FBI agent than Paul Smecker. I'll wait. Dafoe is an insane, fiery- monologue-delivering tour-de-force whose presence played a major role in elevating Troy Duffy's brutal vigilante flick to classic status.  

Worst Performance: The Great Wall (2017)
Dafoe is the type of veteran character actor that shows up to play regardless of the genre or amount of time that he appears on screen. The only time I've seen him come close to stumbling came in this year's uneven yet somewhat entertaining B-movie The Great Wall. His brief appearance as a mysterious teacher from an unknown European country that's being held prisoner by a group of elite, dragon-fighting Chinese warriors felt kind of half-assed and straight-faced for a film with such an absurd concept. 

Best Film: The Boondock Saints (1999)
My name is Chris Maitland and I'm a stereotypical 25-year white dude from the Boston-area that thinks The Boondock Saints is one of the greatest movies ever made. The Citizen Kane of badass vigilante movies features a beautiful collection of charismatic characters, hilarious dialogue and over-the-top violence that I could spend hours gushing about. Now excuse me while I go write a letter to Mayor Walsh and Governor Baker demanding that this gets put in the Museum of Fine Arts ASAP.   

Worst Film: John Carter (2012)
Before Disney went out and acquired the rights to Star Wars in December 2012, they tried to launch their own epic space opera trilogy and let's just say that it didn't go too well. Not only did John Carter go down as a massive flop for Hollywood's most successful studio, it also happens to be one  of the biggest pieces of shit to grace the big screen in recent years. There's enough convoluted storytelling, wooden acting and general tedium in this 132-minute cinematic garbage disposal to fill all 89 Avatar sequels James Cameron's planning on making over the next two decades. Halting the development of the John Carter franchise is a rare win for mankind and hopefully we'll be able to unite as a species to stop another awful franchise from getting off the ground sometime in the near future.  

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 "Darkest Hour" star Ben Mendelsohn.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 11

()=last week's ranking

1.(1) Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) Week 11 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
2.(2) New England Patriots (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Oakland Raiders
3.(5) New Orleans Saints (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Washington Redskins
4.(3) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Tennessee Titans
5.(4) Los Angeles Rams (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
6.(7) Minnesota Vikings (7-2) Week 11 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
7.(6) Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) Week 11 opponent: New York Giants
8.(8) Seattle Seahawks (6-3) Week 11 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
9.(9) Carolina Panthers (7-3) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
10.(10) Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) Week 11 opponent: Cleveland Browns
11.(13) Detroit Lions (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Chicago Bears
12.(14) Tennessee Titans (6-3) Week 11 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
13.(16) Atlanta Falcons (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
14.(11) Dallas Cowboys (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
15.(17) Oakland Raiders (4-5) Week 11 opponent: New England Patriots
16.(15) Washington Redskins (4-5) Week 11 opponent: New Orleans Saints
17.(12) Buffalo Bills (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
18.(19) Baltimore Ravens (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Green Bay Packers
19.(25) Green Bay Packers (5-4) Week 11 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
20.(18) New York Jets (4-6) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
21.(21) Los Angeles Chargers (3-6) Week 11 opponent: Buffalo Bills
22.(22) Arizona Cardinals (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Houston Texans
23.(24) Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) Week 11 opponent: Denver Broncos
24.(28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6) Week 11 opponent: Miami Dolphins
25.(23) Miami Dolphins (4-5) Week 11 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
26.(26) Chicago Bears (3-6) Week 11 opponent: Detroit Lions
27.(27) Indianapolis Colts (3-7) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
28.(20) Houston Texans (3-6) Week 11 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
29.(29) Denver Broncos (3-6) Week 11 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
30.(31) San Francisco 49ers (1-9) Week 11 opponent: Bye Week
31.(30) New York Giants (1-8) Week 11 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
32.(32) Cleveland Browns (0-9) Week 11 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 10 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Cam Newton (Panthers)
Anyone that was courageous enough to throw Cam Newton into their lineups was rewarded with a vintage monster performance by the Panthers starting QB. Newton displayed a level of dual-threat dominance that has pretty much alluded him since he won MVP in 2015 by gouging the Dolphins sputtering defense for 349 total YDS (254 passing, 95 rushing) and 4 TD's through the air. 2017 has been a rollercoaster ride for Newton and there's nothing to suggest that's going to change when the Panthers return from bye in Week 12.
Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Jared Goff (Rams), Case Keenum (Vikings) 

LVP: Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
One of fantasy's most steady, reliable QB options imploded in a big way in Week 10. Tyrod Taylor couldn't get anything going against the Saints defense, picking up a laughable 83 total yards (56 passing, 27 rushing), 0 TD and throwing a rare INT (3rd on the year and 1st since Week 5). Taylor will be a so-so play for the Bills Week 11 matchup versus the Chargers underrated secondary. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Josh McCown (Jets), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Drew Brees (Saints)

Running Back
MVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
Despite being held without a catch for the 1st time this season, Mark Ingram managed to post his best fantasy line of the season in Week 10. The Saints lead back slashed through the Bills rapidly-crumbling defense with ease, picking up 131 YDS and 3 TD's on 21 carries. Ingram has been getting consistent work out of the backfield since Adrian Peterson got traded last month and should remain a solid RB1 as long as Sean Payton keeps rolling with a run-heavy attack. 
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Alvin Kamara (Saints), Christian McCaffery (Panthers)

LVP: Leonard Fournette (Jaguars)
Leonard Fournette returned to the field after a 2-week absence with a resounding thud. The highly-touted rookie running back struggled mightily (33 YDS on 17 CAR) against the Chargers lowly run defense on an afternoon where the Jags strong play on defense and special teams once again led them to victory. Guaranteed volume will keep Fournette on the RB1 radar for this week's matchup against the Browns 3rd-ranked rush defense.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Bilal Powell (Jets), Melvin Gordon (Chargers), Jordan Howard (Bears)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Robert Woods (Rams)
Robert Woods mania continues to take over Los Angeles. Woods followed up his strong 2 TD outing against the Giants in Week 9 with an absolutely exceptional performance (8 REC, 171 YDS, 2 TD) versus the Texans injury-depleted defense. While he won't continue to put up ridiculous lines like this on a weekly basis, Woods is easily the most reliable receiver on the upstart Rams offense and should be locked into fantasy lineups any time he isn't facing an elite pass defense.
Honorable Mentions: Adam Thielen (Vikings), Devin Funchess (Panthers), A.J. Green (Bengals)

LVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
Antonio Brown's consistent production over the past 5 seasons has elevated him to a higher standard in fantasy football than any other receiver in the league and he simply didn't live up to that this week. Despite being blessed with a prime matchup against the Colts league-worst pass defense, Brown managed just 3 receptions for 47 YDS in yet another ugly win for the Black and Yellow. AB has a prime chance to redeem himself this Thursday night against a vulnerable Titans secondary in the friendly confines of Heinz Field.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Marvin Jones Jr. (Lions), T.Y Hilton (Colts)

Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
This is a classic case of someone TD-vulturing their way to the top of the fantasy leaderboards. A pair of redzone scores salvaged Jimmy Graham's pedestrian statline (6 REC, 27 YDS) and helped the Seahawks secure a relatively easy win versus the geriatric Cardinals. Graham has put his early season struggles behind him by finding the endzone 6 times in his last 5 games and will remain an uncontested starting option at the paper-thin TE position as the fantasy playoff race intensifies. 
Honorable Mentions: Austin Hooper (Falcons), Eric Ebron (Lions), Evan Engram (Giants)

LVP: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers)
Like everybody else on the Bucs not named Chris Godwin and DeSean Jackson, Ryan Fitzpatrick's struggles destroyed Cameron Brate's chances of thriving this week. Brate failed to take advantage of Mike Evans' absence by hauling in just 1 catch for 10 YDS in a solid matchup versus the Jets on Sunday afternoon. Despite posting back-to-back duds and having to deal with the always erratic Fitzmagic under center, Brate will be worth starting in Week 11 against the Dolphins struggling defense. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Jack Doyle (Colts), Hunter Henry (Chargers), Tyler Kroft (Bengals)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Los Angeles Rams
Tom Savage is the gift that keeps on giving for opposing defenses. The Rams D scooped up 3 sacks and 4 takeaways (2 INT's, 2 fumble recoveries) in an easy 32-7 win over the Savage-led Texans. Wade Phillips' troops will face a much stiffer test in Week 11 when they hit the road to face a Vikings squad that has allowed the 4th least fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.
Honorable Mentions: Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks

LVP: Minnesota Vikings
I don't what the hell happened to the Vikings defense on Sunday. The Norsemen only managed 1 sack, an INT and surrendered 30 points to a Redskins offense that was missing 4 of their 5 starting offensive lineman for the 2nd consecutive week. This often underwhelming fantasy defense should be benched against the Rams turnover-and-sack averse offense this week.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears

Monday, November 13, 2017

Way Too Early 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year Candidates

After watching last year's group of young guns largely struggled to break free from the prison of anonymity, NBA fans have to be delighted with how quickly the rookie class of 2017-18 has managed to turn heads. Over the first month of this wild season, numerous rookies have flashed a level of playmaking potential that bodes very well for their future prospects in the league. Here are the five guys from this potentially special group of players that have emerged as early contenders for the NBA's top rookie honor.

Kyle Kuzma, forward (Lakers) (Stats through 13 games: 30.9 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 51.6 FG%, 81.3 FT%):  A rookie has come in and given the Lakers stagnant offense a much-needed scoring boost and his name isn't Lonzo Ball. Kyle Kuzma's efficient shooting from inside the 3-point line and relatively active presence on the glass have made him a vital member of this hard-nosed young Lakers squad. Barring a late-season surge from someone whose been quiet thus far, Kuzma, who was selected 29th overall, should end up going down as the steal of this year's draft.

Lauri Markannen, forward (Bulls) (Stats through 11 games: 30.5 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 43.3 FG%, 35.1 3P%, 0.6 BPG, 82.8 FT%): With Nikola Mirotic and Zach LaVine out of the lineup with injuries, someone needed to step up and deliver some offense for the rebuilding Bulls and until Bobby Portis returned from his well-documented suspension on November 7th, that man had been Lauri Markannen. The floor-stretching big has taken advantage of his early opportunity to pick up significant playing time in the pros by playing with a ton of confidence and displaying the deft shooting touch that made him a lottery pick this past June. While his playing time will likely be slashed once Mirotic gets back, Markannen has offered the Bulls a glimmer hope for the future in an otherwise bleak start to their 2017-18 campaign.

Ben Simmons, forward (76ers) (Stats through 12 games: 17.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 7.4 APG, 48.6 FG%, 1.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG)
For the 2nd consecutive season, a 76ers rookie has come back from a major injury and subsequently taken the league by storm. Ben Simmons' terrific passing, willingness to consistently attack the rim and solid defense has given this long-suffering franchise another reason to believe that they're about to enter the next stage of "The Process".

Dennis Smith Jr., guard (Mavericks) (Stats through 12 games: 14.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.9 APG, 40.5 FG%, 1.0 SPG)  Exciting young players can bring a morale boost to a terrible team and that's exactly what Dennis Smith Jr. has provided the 2-12 Mavericks through the 1st month of the season. Smith Jr. has shaken off a rough opening week to become a productive albeit not consistently efficient two-way guard that the Mavs could potentially focus their long-overdue rebuild around.

Jayson Tatum, forward (Celtics) (Stats through 14 games: 30.1 MPG, 13.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 48.9 FG%, 47.6 3P%, 0.8 BPG, 82.7 FT%): Jayson Tatum was touted as the most NBA-ready player by many scouts and analysts throughout this year's pre-draft process and through his first 14 games, he's proven them right. Tatum's strong basketball IQ, better-than-expected defense and strong shooting from inside and beyond-the arc has helped solidify him as a key contributor on the scorching-hot Celtics.


Also in the Mix: Donovan Mitchell, guard (Jazz), De'Aaron Fox, guard (Kings), John Collins, forward (Hawks)

Thursday, November 9, 2017

The Best and Worst of Mel Gibson

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 "Daddy's Home 2" star Mel Gibson.

Films starring Mel Gibson that I've seen:
Mad Max
Lethal Weapon
Hamlet
Braveheart
Pocahontas 
Chicken Run
Signs
Edge of Darkness
The Beaver
Get the Gringo
Machete Kills
The Expendables 3
Blood Father

Best Performance: Lethal Weapon (1987)
The 80's birthed a plethora of phenomenal action heroes and Martin Riggs is near the top of that hallowed list. Gibson's combination of wiseass charisma and livewire energy made Riggs a screen icon and helped turn Lethal Weapon into a highly successful franchise. 

Worst Performance: Hamlet (1990)
Enlisting an actor that's renowned for his action roles to play the title in a Shakespearian tragedy is one of the more hilarious miscastings I've ever come across in a film. Gibson lacks the theatrical flare and overwhelming seriousness that's required to convincingly perform Shakespeare's work.  

Best Film: Braveheart (1995)
I completely understand why Braveheart is widely viewed as an overrated film. It's relentless corny, boasts a nearly 3-hour runtime and the historical accuracy is questionable at best. That being said, I found Braveheart to be a near-perfect historical epic. This simple story of a man fighting makes for what he believes in is remarkably compelling and the battle scenes are some of the most impressive grand-scale action sequences ever put on film.     

Worst Film: Mad Max (1979)
If you've been reading my blog or know me personally, you're well aware that I LOVE action movies. Almost nothing on this earth delights me more than mainlining the biggest, loudest and dumbest pieces of violent entertainment that Hollywood has offered up over the years. Because of this intense fandom, I tend to get irrationally pissed off when I watch a movie that I feel betrays the spirit and purpose of the genre. The source of this unfortunate tendency can be attributed to lifeless piles of garbage like Mad Max. George Miller's carsploitation "classic" commits all the cardinal sins of action filmmaking by being painfully boring, taking itself way too seriously and delivering a string of repetitive chase scenes that are about as exciting as a trip to the grocery store. I'd be genuinely stunned if I ever stumbled upon another movie that I found to be more overrated than this cinematic sewage plant. 

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 "Justice League" star Wilem Dafoe.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 10

()=last week's ranking

1.(1) Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
2.(2) New England Patriots (6-2) Week 10 opponent: Denver Broncos
3.(4) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) Week 10 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
4.(5) Los Angeles Rams (6-2) Week 10 opponent: Houston Texans
5.(7) New Orleans Saints (6-2) Week 10 opponent: Buffalo Bills
6.(3) Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
7.(8) Minnesota Vikings (6-2) Week 10 opponent: Washington Redskins
8.(6) Seattle Seahawks (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
9.(10) Carolina Panthers (6-3) Week 10 opponent: Miami Dolphins
10.(11) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
11.(12) Dallas Cowboys (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
12.(9) Buffalo Bills (5-3) Week 10 opponent: New Orleans Saints
13.(15) Detroit Lions (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Cleveland Browns
14.(16) Tennessee Titans (5-3) Week 10 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
15.(17) Washington Redskins (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
16.(14) Atlanta Falcons (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
17.(19) Oakland Raiders (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
18.(25) New York Jets (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19.(18) Baltimore Ravens (4-5) Week 10 opponent: Bye Week
20.(13) Houston Texans (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Los Angeles Rams
21.(23) Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
22.(27) Arizona Cardinals (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
23.(22) Miami Dolphins (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Carolina Panthers
24.(20) Cincinnati Bengals (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Tennessee Titans
25.(21) Green Bay Packers (4-4) Week 10 opponent: Chicago Bears
26.(28) Chicago Bears (3-5) Week 10 opponent: Green Bay Packers
27.(30) Indianapolis Colts (3-6) Week 10 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
28.(26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-6) Week 10 opponent: New York Jets
29.(24) Denver Broncos (3-5) Week 10 opponent: New England Patriots
30.(29) New York Giants (1-7) Week 10 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
31.(31) San Francisco 49ers (0-9) Week 10 opponent: New York Giants
32.(32) Cleveland Browns (0-8) Week 10 opponent: Detroit Lions

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Week 9 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Jared Goff (Rams)
To say that the Week 8 bye rejuvenated Jared Goff would be a vast understatement. The Rams signalcaller returned to the dominant form he displayed in the first quarter of the season with a thorough torching (311 YDS, 4 TD) of the Giants despondent defense. Goff will look to keep rolling in Week 10 against a weak Texans secondary that has surrendered 760 passing YDS and 6 TD's in their past 2 games.
Honorable Mentions: Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Kirk Cousins (Redskins) 
The quarterbacks that were supposed to show up in Week 9 all managed to do so, so Kirk Cousins is pretty much winning this title by default. Cousins was better than expected against Seattle's hungry defense with 4 of his 5 starting offensive lineman out, but his relatively empty stat line didn't provide much help (247 TD, 0 TD, 0 INT, 1 lost fumble) to the owners that were brave enough to play him. Cousins' brutal stretch of matchups continues with a Week 10 tilt against the Vikings notoriously nasty defense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Andy Dalton (Bengals), Derek Carr (Raiders), Marcus Mariota (Titans)

Running Back
MVP: Alvin Kamara (Saints) 
While he hasn't commanded as much attention or had as many eye-popping performances as Kareem Hunt and Leonard Forunette, Alvin Kamara has been arguably the most consistent performer in this exceptional rookie running back class. The University of Tennessee product proved his value to the new-look Saints offense once again with a season-best performance in Week 9. Outside of a lost fumble in the 2nd quarter, Kamara was exceptional against the Buccaneers, finishing the afternoon with 152 total yards (84 receiving, 68 rushing) and a pair of TD's on 16 touches as the red-hot Saints picked up their 6th straight win. Kamara has been a top-tier RB2 since Week 3 and appears to be on track to go down as 2017's most valuable wavier wire pickup.
Honorable Mentions: Todd Gurley (Rams), Marshawn Lynch (Raiders), Christian McCaffery (Panthers)

LVP: LeSean McCoy (Bills)
Last Thursday was an absolute debacle for the Bills as the Jets absolutely embarrassed them on national television and brought the buzz that had surrounded the team going into that game to a screeching halt. While just every major contributor on the team failed to show up for this divisional bout, LeSean McCoy was easily the biggest stiff for the Bills. McCoy mustered just 25 yards on 12 carries against a defense that he had lit up for 159 yards from scrimmage in their previous meeting this season. Shady will look to return to his typical RB1 form in a rough Week 10 matchup versus the suddenly formidable Saints defense.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Aaron Jones (Packers), Doug Martin (Buccaneers), DeMarco Murray (Titans)

Wide Receiver
MVP: T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
After managing just 4 receptions for 61 yards in his previous 3 games, T.Y. Hilton made an unexpected return to the top of the fantasy football receiver hierarchy against the Texans. The Colts lethal downfield threat reminded the gridiron world why he led the league in receiving yards a year ago with an absurd 5 REC/175 YDS/2 TD performance. Hilton is highly unlikely to repeat this level of success against the Steelers elite secondary in Week 10.  
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Jones Jr. (Lions), Alshon Jeffrey (Eagles), Robert Woods (Rams)

LVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
Sunday's showdown with the Saints proved to be an absolutely hellish day for Mike Evans. Evans posted a career-low 13 yards on 1 reception and thanks to a late-game altercation with cornerback Marshon Lattimore, he got himself suspended for the Bucs week 10 contest against the Jets. Even with Ryan Fitzpatrick running the show for the next few weeks while Jameis Winston recovers from a lingering injury to his throwing shoulder, the Bucs top wideout will remain in the WR1 mix when he returns to the field to face the Dolphins middling secondary in Week 11.
Dishonorable Mentions: A.J. Green (Bengals), Jordy Nelson (Packers), DeSean Jackson (Buccaneers)

Tight End
MVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs) 
Travis Kelce maintained his featured role in the Chiefs offense by posting a solid 73 yards and TD grab on 7 receptions in a tough road loss against the Cowboys on Sunday. Kelce enters his bye week as the top overall fantasy tight end and given his heavy target share and newly-minted nose for the endzone (5 TD's in 9 games), it would be surprising if he ended up finishing outside of the top 3 at the end of year.   
Honorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Jared Cook (Raiders), Tyler Kroft (Bengals)

LVP: Jason Witten (Cowboys)
Jason Witten seems to only perform in extremes this season and Week 9 was another grade-A clunker for the future Hall-of-Famer. Witten reeled in his only target for 5 yards on a day where the Cowboys got huge contributions out of Terrence Williams and Cole Beasley for the 1st time in 2017. Fantasy owners will be in another high-risk, dice-roll scenario with Witten this week as the Cowboys square off against a respectable yet beatable Falcons defense. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Ed Dickson (Panthers), Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Jets)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: New Orleans Saints 
After watching them get pummeled on a weekly basis for a majority of the Sean Payton/Drew Brees-era, it feels really strange handing out this honor to the Saints D. New Orleans crushed the Bucs reeling offense/special teams, picking up 4 sacks, a fumble recovery and returning a blocked punt for a TD in a dominant 30-10 win for the NFC South leaders. The Saints have been a top 10 fantasy defense thus far and even with some tough matchups against turnover-averse teams (Bills, Redskins, Rams) coming up, they've proven they can be trusted as a weekly starter in 12+ team leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans

LVP: Buffalo Bills
The Jets resilient, stunningly functional offense proved once again that they aren't the creampuff fantasy matchup with an easy 34-21 victory against the Bills. A combination of a stunning 4 turnovers from their usually clean, risk-averse offense, an inability to create takeaways despite multiple INT-worthy throws by Josh McCown and uncharacteristically poor run defense resulted in a horrific night at the office for a Bills defense that had been playing pretty well leading up to this game. With 4 consecutive matchup against offenses (Saints, Chargers, Chiefs, Patriots) that are in the bottom-10 of fantasy points allowed to opposing defense, its definitely worth considering dropping the Bills D for a group that has a softer schedule (Bengals, Bears, Lions) down the stretch. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers

Monday, November 6, 2017

Movie Review: Thor: Ragnarok

When you're pumping out movies at the rate Marvel Studios has been for the past decade or so, its advantageous to shake things up every once in a while. With the gloriously strange, consistently hilarious and wildly entertaining Thor: Ragnarok, the superhero powerhouse did just that. Thanks to director Taika Waititi's (What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) commitment to establishing a uniquely goofy tone and a flawless ensemble cast that fully backed his vision, the third solo endeavor for the Norse God played by Chris Hemsworth ends up injecting the MCU with a welcome rush of vibrant colors, endearing characters, high-flying action sequences and wall-to-wall laughs. Ragnarok is the type of movie that was made for audiences to go out to theater with some friends and just forget about the bullshit that's happening in their personal lives, politics, etc. I don't know about you, but that's exactly what I want out of a blockbuster, especially in the superhero genre were pure entertainment value is often ignored in favor of mindless world-building and forced grit. If Marvel can continue to put out distinct, absurdly fun fare like this on a semi-regular basis, I'll have an easier time forgiving them when they release uneven projects like Age of Ultron, Captain America: The Winter Solider and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in the future.

4.5/5 Stars

Thursday, November 2, 2017

2017 NFL Midseason Awards+Updated Playoff Predictions

The 1st half of the 2017 NFL season has featured more plot twists than M. Night Shyamalan's filmography. Numerous preseason darlings are currently sitting at the bottom of their divisions (Raiders, Giants, Buccaneers), perennial laughing stocks (Bills, Rams, Jaguars) are in the thick of the playoff picture and perhaps strangest of all, the Eagles own the best record in the league (7-1) entering Week 9. As a result of all this madness, the top individual performers thus far are almost completely comprised of players that no one expected to be in the running for these honors prior to the start of the season. Here are my picks for the NFL's midseason awards and let's hope that the 2nd half of the season is just as beautifully chaotic as the 1st.

MVP: Russell Wilson, quarterback (Seahawks)
He might not have the eye-popping TD total of Carson Wentz or the efficiency of Tom Brady, but no player in the league has thrived under adversity more than Russell Wilson. Wilson has overcome  porous offensive line play and a non-existent running game to string together a series of gutsy, clutch performances that has resulted in a 5-2 start for the Seahawks.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady, quarterback (Patriots), Carson Wentz, quarterback (Eagles), Alex Smith, quarterback (Chiefs)

Top Offensive Player: Antonio Brown, wide receiver (Steelers)
With Julio Jones having a tame season by his lofty standards (37 REC, 540 YDS, 1 TD in 7 games) and Odell Beckham Jr. suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5, Antonio Brown has used the first 8 games to re-establish his claim for the title of best wide receiver in the league. The 29-year old currently leads the league in receptions (57) and yards (835) in a season where Ben Roethlisberger has been wildly erratic. If he can stay healthy and take advantage of the plethora of favorable matchups (Colts, Titans, Packers, Patriots, Browns) he has down the stretch, making a run at Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving record (1,964) isn't out of the question.
Honorable Mentions: Kareem Hunt, running back (Chiefs), Le'Veon Bell, running back (Steelers), Todd Gurley, running back (Rams)

Top Defensive Player: Calias Campbell, defensive end (Jaguars)
The signing of versatile, workhorse veteran defensive lineman Calias Campbell in free agency this past March seemed like a smart move that would help bolster Jacksonville's promising young defense, but I never expected him to help turn the Jaguars D into a sack-and-takeaway machine overnight. Campbell's dominance up front (32 tackles, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) has been crucial to the Jags defensive renaissance that has put them in the unlikely position of contending for a division title a year after finishing 3-13.
Honorable Mentions: Joey Bosa, defensive end (Chargers), DeMarcus Lawrence, defensive end (Cowboys), Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Saints)

Top Offensive Rookie: Kareem Hunt, running back (Chiefs)
As impressive as Deshaun Watson has been over the past month, Kareem Hunt is still the king of this draft class in my eyes. Hunt has taken full advantage of his opportunity to start following Spencer Ware's season-ending knee injury by ripping off a league-leading 763 rushing YDS, 6 TD's (4 rushing, 2 receiving) and 100+ yards from scrimmage in 7 straight games to start off his NFL career.
Honorable Mentions: Deshaun Watson, quarterback (Texans), Leonard Fournette, running back (Jaguars), JuJu Smith-Schuster, wide receiver (Steelers)

Top Defensive Rookie: Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Saints)
If there was any lingering doubt that Marshon Lattimore was a steal with the #11 overall pick in the draft, the first 7 games of his professional career have shattered it. Lattimore has yet to allow more than 38 YDS in a game and his status as a legit lockdown corner has been instrumental in helping the Saints defense look competent for the first time since 2013.
Honorable Mentions: Tre'Davious White, cornerback (Bills), Carl Lawson, outside linebacker (Bengals), Eddie Jackson, safety (Bears)

Top Coach: Sean McVay (Rams)
The speed in which Sean McVay has turned this seemingly helpless franchise around is absolutely remarkable. Within his first 2 months on the job, he's breathed into a long-stagnant offense with dynamic playcalling, restored quarterback Jared Goff's confidence after a miserable rookie campaign and reminded the football world how dominant Todd Gurley can be when he's utilized properly. I haven't been this impressed with a 1st-time NFL head coach since Bruce Arians and barring a monumental collapse down the stretch, he should win Coach of the Year by a landslide.
Honorable Mentions: Doug Pederson (Eagles), Sean McDermott (Bills), Doug Marrone (Jaguars)

Playoff Predictions:
AFC:
1.Steelers
2.Patriots
3.Chiefs
4.Jaguars
5.Texans
6.Bills

Wild Card:
Chiefs over Bills
Texans over Jaguars

Divisional Round:
Steelers over Texans
Patriots over Chiefs

Conference Championship:
Patriots over Steelers

NFC
1.Eagles
2.Seahawks
3.Saints
4.Vikings
5.Rams
6.Panthers

Wild Card:
Saints over Panthers
Rams over Vikings

Divisional Round:
Eagles over Rams
Saints over Seahawks

Conference Championship:
Saints over Eagles

Super Bowl:
Patriots over Saints

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

The Best and Worst of Laurence Fishburne

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 "Last Flag Flying" star Laurence Fishburne.

Films starring Laurence Fishburne that I've seen:
Boyz n the Hood
The Matrix
Osmosis Jones
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Assault on Precinct 13
Mission: Impossible III
TMNT
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
21
Predators 
Contagion 
Man of Steel
Ride Along
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Passengers
John Wick: Chapter 2

Best Performance: Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Fishburne's grounded, subtly powerful performance is the most slept-on element of Boyz n the Hood IMHO. Furious Styles epitomizes what it means to be a strong role model and ends up playing an essential role in his son Tre's (an equally excellent Cuba Gooding Jr.) fate at the end of the film.

Worst Performance: Ride Along (2014)
Just about everything in Ride Along that didn't involve Kevin Hart and Ice Cube's chemistry missed the mark. Fishburne, who was admittedly miscast, is among the most problematic elements of this mediocre buddy comedy. As main villain Omar, Fishburne's stern, stone-faced presence completely clashes with the film's slapstick-heavy sense of humor.

Best Film: The Matrix (1999)
Despite the fact that I've disliked pretty much everything else they've involved with, I'll always admire the Wachowskis for bringing The Matrix into the world. A collection of phenomenal action sequences, consistently striking visuals and an effective philosophical subtext helped make this one of the most badass spectacles in the history of the sci-fi genre. 

Worst Film: Man of Steel (2013)
As messy as Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was, I found Zach Snyder's solo Superman project Man of Steel to be significantly worse. This film is a colossal failure on just about every conceivable level. The acting ranges from comatose (Henry Cavil, Amy Adams) to WAY over-the-top (Michael Shannon), the pacing is excruciatingly slow and worst of all, virtuoso director Snyder inexplicably decided to abandon his trademark slo-mo action orgies for a bunch of incomprehensible, quick-cut garbage (every fight scene looks and sounds like two planes smashing into each other in mid-air). Hopefully Snyder will finally be able to deliver the great superhero film he's always been capable of making with this month's Justice League.   

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 "Daddy's Home 2" star Mel Gibson.