2019 NFL Draft: Top 25 Prospects Available

I've been making draft predictions for the past month, so it's about time that I let the world know how I feel about these NFL prospects. Below you'll find my early picks for the 25 best players available in the 2019 draft class. For the sake of transparency, I'll note that I'm only about halfway through my evaluation process, which means this list will potentially undergo significant change by the time the draft kicks off on April 25th. Hope you enjoy and be sure to stay tuned for more 2019 NFL Draft content in the coming weeks!

Notable Prospects that I Still Need to Evaluate (in alphabetical order by last name): Jonathan Abram, Zach Allen, Garrett Bradbury, Hakeem Butler, Parris Campbell, L.J. Collier, Jamel Dean, Jaylon Ferguson, Cody Ford, Will Grier, Elgton Jenkins, Dre'mont Jones, Dexter Lawrence, Chris Lindstrom, Greg Little, Kaleb McGary, David Montgomery, D.K. Metcalf, Trayvon Mullen, Jachai Polite, Taylor Rapp, Dalton Risner, Deebo Samuel, Rock Ya-Sin, Devin Singletary, Jace Sternberger, Deionte Thompson, Jerry Tillery, D'Andre Walker, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Mack Wilson

1.Quinnen Williams, defensive tackle (Alabama)
2.Nick Bosa, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.Josh Allen, edge rusher (Kentucky)
4.Ed Oliver, defensive tackle (Houston)
5.Jeffrey Simmons, defensive tackle (Mississippi State)
6.Christian Wilkins, defensive tackle (Clemson)
7.Brian Burns, edge rusher (Florida State)
8.Clelin Ferrell, edge rusher (Clemson)
9.T.J. Hockensen, tight end (Iowa)
10.Jawaan Taylor, tackle (Florida)
11.Andre Dillard, tackle (Washington State)
12.Devin White, inside linebacker (LSU)
13.Deandre Baker, cornerback (Georgia)
14.Josh Jacobs, running back (Alabama)
15.A.J. Brown, wide receiver (Mississippi)
16.Jonah Williams, guard/tackle (Alabama)
17.Noah Fant, tight end (Iowa)
18.Montez Sweat, edge rusher (Mississippi State)
19.Byron Murphy, cornerback (Washington)
20.Andy Isabella, wide receiver (Massachusetts)
21.Dwayne Haskins, quarterback (Ohio State)
22.Irv Smith Jr., tight end (Alabama)
23.Greedy Williams, cornerback (LSU)
24.Nasir Adderly, safety (Delaware)
25.N'Keal Harry, wide receiver (Arizona State)

Movie Review: Us

Two years ago, comedian/actor Jordan Peele transitioned to the world of directing with a little movie called Get Out. That satirical psychological horror film about the dark history of race relations in America went onto become a renowned cultural phenomenon that grossed $255 million worldwide on just a $4.5 mil budget and secured four Academy Award nominations including a win for Best Original Screenplay. Following up something that was nearly universally beloved inevitably puts a ton of pressure on that individual to repeat that success, especially when you consider that this intimidating hurdle is coming at the start of his filmmaking career. Well Peele proved he was up to this daunting challenge with his sophomore effort Us-a well-crafted exercise in suspense that would surely make the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and John Carpenter smile.

Us centers around the Wilsons (Lupita Ny'ongo, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex-all excellent in their dual roles). Upon arriving at their summer home in Santa Cruz, California expecting to enjoy a nice, relaxing week in the sun, Matriarch Adelaide (Ny'ongo), who endured a traumatic temporary separation from her parents on the Santa Cruz boardwalk as a child, starts to feel like something is off. Her fears are confirmed later that night when jumpsuit-clad, scissor-carrying doppelgangers of all four members of the family break into their house. Forced on the run, the Wilsons must use their wits to fight off an enemy that knows their every move.

By utilizing a premise that is simple yet cloaked in mystery, Us wastes very little time getting to the good shit. With some help from Michael Abels' intense synthesizer score and eerie cinematography from Mike Gioulakis, Peele establishes a level of palpable unease that lingers through every scene. The viability and savviness of their enemy makes a confrontation or death possible at any moment. Some beautifully deployed one-liners that offer up a moment of emotional release is honestly the closest Us comes to delivering relief from the pulse-pounding mania. Having such a prominent level of tension established so early and not waver as the story progresses makes the movie a whole lot of fun to watch.            

Peele is such a student of horror that it was only a matter of time before his work fell into some of the negative trappings that seems to always plague the genre. Here, he gets initiated into the dreaded unsatisfying ending club with a wobbly final act that undermines some of the stellar craftsmanship on display in the rest of the film. As the revelations surrounding the origins/motives of the doppelgangers start to be revealed, gaps in logic to start to pile up and some key parts of the narrative start to collapse upon themselves. The answers Peele delivers left me questioning whether or not there even was a true villain in this movie and when the conflict in a story like this suddenly becomes muddy, it takes a bit of the excitement and purpose out of the proceedings.

As aggravated as I was with the climatic storytelling decisions,I still really enjoyed Us. While Peele might've broken the illusion that he was infallible here, he proved that he wasn't just a one-hit wonder behind the camera. He's a confident, smart and highly skilled filmmaker that understands the inner workings of the genre as well as anyone working in the industry today. Horror is lucky to have someone like Peele in a position of influence and given the box office success he's enjoyed on his first two projects, I'm thrilled that he'll continue to get funding to make whatever the hell he wants for the foreseeable future.           

Grade: B+

The Best and Worst of Eva Green

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Dumbo” star Eva Green.

Films starring Eva Green that I've seen:
Kingdom of Heaven
Casino Royale
300: Rise of an Empire
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
White Bird in a Blizzard
The Salvation
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 

Best Performance: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
I say this without even a semblance of irony: If I was in charge of the Oscar nominations, I would've nominated Green for Best Supporting Actress in 2014. Her flawless turn as criminal mastermind Ava Lord embodied the lust, deception and sleaziness that drives this lawless little world Frank Miller created better than anybody else who appeared in either film.  

Worst Performance: Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Green's ability to put an absolute stranglehold on the screen every time she's on it has always impressed me. That signature commanding presence she's established over the course of her career made watching Kingdom of Heaven recently such a shock. It could've been the incoherent writing or simply the fact that she still was relatively new to the industry at the time this was made, but Green was completely bland and forgettable in a flat movie that desperately needed an injection of personality.

Best Film: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
The fan club for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is very small, but I'll proudly belong it for the rest of my days. Between its slew of outstanding performances from returning (Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Powers Boothe) and new cast members (Green, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) alike immersive noir atmosphere, badass action scenes and striking black-and-white visual palette, this long-delayed sequel to the 2005 cult classic was a more than worthy successor that captured everything that made the original special while also serving as a terrific standalone project.

Worst Film: Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Countless people have said that the director's cut significantly improves upon the theatrical version- which Ridley Scott has publicly disowned on several occasions. Despite all of the praise Scott's unimpeded 3+ hour version has received since it was released on home video in December 2005, I don't really feel compelled to seek it out after sitting through the original product. This sorry attempt at creating another Gladiator-esque epic historical drama fails to establish any sort of storytelling rhythm, features some of the most choppily-edited massive battle scenes I've ever seen and above all, has egregious pacing issues that make the film a taxing chore to sit through.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Pet Sematary” star Jason Clarke.

2019 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (March 25th)

1.Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, quarterback (Oklahoma)
2.San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, defensive tackle (Alabama)
4.Oakland Raiders: Josh Allen, edge rusher (Kentucky)
5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, inside linebacker (LSU)
6.New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, quarterback (Ohio State)
7.Jacksonville Jaguars: Jawaan Taylor, tackle (Florida)
8.Detroit Lions: Clellin Ferrell, edge rusher (Clemson)
9.Buffalo Bills: Andre Dillard, tackle (Washington State)
10.Denver Broncos: T.J. Hockensen, tight end (Iowa)
11.Cincinnati Bengals: Jonah Williams, tackle/guard (Alabama)
12.Green Bay Packers: Montez Sweat, edge rusher (Mississippi State)
13.Miami Dolphins: Jeffrey Simmons, defensive tackle (Mississippi State)
14.Atlanta Falcons: Greedy Williams, cornerback (LSU)
15.Washington Redskins: Deandre Baker, cornerback (Georgia)
16.Carolina Panthers: D.K. Metcalf, wide receiver (Mississippi)
17.New York Giants: Brian Burns, edge rusher (Florida State)
18.Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, tackle (Oklahoma)
19.Tennessee Titans: Ed Oliver, defensive tackle (Houston)
20.Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, inside linebacker (Michigan)
21.Seattle Seahawks: Noah Fant, tight end (Iowa)
22.Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
23.Houston Texans: Greg Little, tackle (Mississippi)
24.Oakland Raiders: Byron Murphy, cornerback (Washington)
25.Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Jacobs, running back (Alabama)
26.Indianapolis Colts: Christian Wilkins, defensive tackle (Clemson)
27.Oakland Raiders: N'Keal Harry, wide receiver (Arizona State)
28.Los Angeles Chargers: Mack Wilson, inside linebacker (Alabama)
29.Kansas City Chiefs: Rock Ya-Sin, cornerback (Temple)
30.Green Bay Packers: Kelvin Harmon, wide receiver (NC State)
31.Los Angeles Rams: Rashan Gary, edge rusher (Michigan)
32.New England Patriots: Irv Smith Jr., tight end (Alabama)

Quick Album Reviews: 2 Chainz-Rap or Go to The League, Children of Bodom-Hexed, Offset-Father of 4

2 Chainz-Rap or Go to the League: The artist formerly known as Titty Boi continues to mature as he enters middle age. His fourth solo LP Rap or Go to the League features forays into serious subject matters like losing loved ones to gang violence ("Forgiven"), love ("Rule the World") and being fortunate enough to still be alive after selling drugs for a prolonged period of time ("Threat 2 Society") sandwiched in between his typical hard-nosed trap bangers ("Whip", "NCAA", "Momma I Hit a Lick")-which are as good as ever. While this newfound introspection isn't without its clunky moments ("Sam", "I'm Not Crazy, Life Is") the sincerity and confidence behind the sentiments paired with the variety they help establish are enough to keep Rap or Go to the League very engaging throughout.  
Grade: B+
Standout Tracks: 1.Rule the World (feat. Ariana Grande) 2.Momma I Hit a Lick (feat. Kendrick Lamar) 3.Whip (feat. Travis Scott)

Children of Bodom-Hexed: Stumbling upon an unexpected pleasure is one of the more beautiful and rewarding experiences that can come from being exposed to something as fiercely subjective as a piece of art. "Unexpected pleasure" isn't strong enough to describe the feeling of glee-induced shock that swept over me while I was listening to Children of Bodom's Hexed. These Finnish melodeath vets had been putting out interchangeable collections of mediocre-to-decent material for roughly 15 straight years, so there's no way they'd suddenly return to the over-the-top energy and guitar/synth theatrics they displayed in their early days right? After realizing this wasn't some kind of cruel mirage upon subsequent listens, I couldn't help but marvel at all of the blistering riffs, raw aggression and vintage metal fun that drive this relentless little record. Never thought I'd see the day where Bodom returned to their delightfully cheesy wheelhouse and since we don't how long this surprise visit from an old friend will last, I plan on basking in Hexed's warm, nostalgic glow for as long as possible.
Grade: A-
Standout Tracks: 1.Kick in a Spleen 2.Glass Houses 3.Hexed

Offset-Father of 4: Offset performed the ultimate act of artistic courtesy by closing out the Migos solo album trilogy on a perfectly competent albeit unexciting note. His decision to open up about fatherhood and his widely-publicized infidelity gives Father of 4 a nice little personal touch that was relatively unexpected from an artist whose prior output had almost exclusively been boisterous trap anthems. Once that initial surprise over the subject matter wore off, it becomes a relatively monotonous listen as Offset raps somberly for nearly an hour over some of the most forgettable atmospheric production Metro Boomin and Southside have ever released to the public. Now that the Migos have gotten the solo album bug out of their system, they can turn their attention to what really matters: Reconvening as a group to finish Culture III.    
Grade: B-
Standout Tracks: 1.Clout (feat. Cardi B) 2.North Star (feat. CeeLo Green) 3.Legacy (feat. Travis Scott and 21 Savage)

2019 NFL Free Agency Recap: Winners and Losers

The 2019 NFL league year started a week ago today, which means that the bulk of the big names on the open market have been snatched up and the time to throw out takes on these dozens of transactions is officially upon us. Below you'll find the teams and individuals that I believe won and lost this always fun period of the offseason as well as my pick for the best player still out there. Make sure you bookmark this page so you can pull it up 10 months from now and laugh manically at the plethora of bad takes that were pedaled.

Biggest Winners: Browns 
Coming off their best season in nearly 15 years, the Browns could've easily stayed pat and seen how their young talent developed under a largely overhauled coaching staff headed by the newly-promoted Freddie Kitchens. The always aggressive John Dorsey spat in the face of complacency by making a series of big splashes in pretty much no time at all. Dorsey brought in a star receiver (Odell Beckham Jr.), quietly great edge rusher (Oliver Vernon), versatile defensive lineman (Sheldon Richardson) and backup tight end who has flashed legit playmaking ability when called upon (Demeterius Harris) all in a matter of 72 hours. Of course there's the very real possibility that this franchise that has arguably suffered more than any other organization in the NFL since returning to the league in 1999 ends up tragically squandering all this talent, but for now this flurry of transactions only adds to the rapidly growing sense of optimism surrounding the Browns future prospects right now.
Honorable Mentions: Colts, Broncos, Titans

Biggest Losers: Giants
This actually doesn't have a lot to do with the Odell Beckham Jr trade. While I disagree with the decision to deal the 2x All-Pro 7 months after making him the highest paid wideout in the league, they netted multiple draft picks and a raw yet intriguing young talent in safety Jabril Peppers from the Browns-which is a respectable return for such a high-profile talent. My issue with the Giants offseason moves is that Dave Gettleman doesn't seems like he knows what the hell he wants this team to be. The subtraction of several cornerstone players (OBJ, Oliver Vernon, Landon Collins) that made it look like a rebuild attempt was imminent were quickly canceled out by the baffling addition of quality veteran starters including guard Kevin Zeitler, safety Antonie Bethea and wide receiver Golden Tate. This unnecessarily reckless game of gridiron limbo could get even messier if Gettleman's seemingly unwavering commitment to having the glorified mannequin formerly known as Eli Manning line up under center in 2019 proves to be something other than just a pre-draft smoke screen to put their longtime starting QB's mind at ease. By having a team that's too flawed to compete for a playoff spot yet too talented to be in contention for a very high draft pick, you're setting up your current coaching staff (as well as any quarterback you potentially bring in the draft) to fail, which in turn could result in heightening the toxic environment that has consumed East Rutherford since the infamous Boat Trip ahead of their last playoff game in 2016.
Dishonorable Mentions: Raiders, Packers, Ravens

Best Individual Acquisition: Browns acquire wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from the Giants for a 1st and 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft and safety Jabril Peppers 
Declaring a trade the best acquisition of free agency may be a little unfair, but when a move has potential ramifications this massive, I have to go against my standard operating procedure for these pieces. Adding a dynamic playmaking receiver that's on the cusp of entering his prime (he'll be 27 in November) to a young, upstart offense could prove to be the X-factor that elevates the Browns from a promising team on the rise to legit contenders in the AFC.  
Honorable Mentions: Panthers sign center Matt Paradis, Packers sign safety Adrian Amos, Broncos sign cornerback Bryce Callahan

Worst Individual Acquisition: Raiders sign tackle Trent Brown to a 4 year/ $66 mil deal ($36.2 mil guaranteed)
How do you help fix an offense with a jittery quarterback that sees ghosts every time someone from the opposing team breathes on him? Well, part of the brilliant Gruden braintrust's attempted solution to this problem was grossly overpaying a notoriously erratic player to come in and play left tackle. Forking over a ton of cash for a guy that only managed to be above average under the tutelage of virtuoso offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia in New England and has an extensive history of conditioning/weight/work ethic issues to play the most important position on the offensive line is the type of lapse in judgement that can make a bad team even worse while also planting the seeds for a lovely descent into cap hell.
Dishonorable Mentions: Packers sign outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, Jaguars sign quarterback Nick Foles, Bears sign cornerback Buster Skrine

Best Player Still on the Market: Stephen Gostkowski, kicker
Gostkowski's availability at this juncture is an alarming reminder of how little value teams place on special teams. The 35-year old has consistently been among the best kickers in the league over the past decade and his reliability at a position (87.4 FG% for his career) where that precious intangible is becoming harder and harder to find would provide some much needed relief for any of the dozen or so kicking-challenged teams around the league.  
Honorable Mentions: Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle, Justin Houston, outside linebacker, Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end

2019 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (March 19th)

1.Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, quarterback (Oklahoma)
2.San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, defensive tackle (Alabama)
4.Oakland Raiders: Josh Allen, edge rusher (Kentucky)
5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Clellin Ferrell, edge rusher (Clemson)
6.New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, quarterback (Ohio State)
7.Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeffrey Simmons, defensive tackle (Mississippi State)
8.Detroit Lions: Jawaan Taylor, tackle (Florida)
9.Buffalo Bills: T.J. Hockensen, tight end (Iowa)
10.Denver Broncos: Devin White, inside linebacker (LSU)
11.Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Dillard, tackle (Washington State)
12.Green Bay Packers: Rashan Gary, edge rusher (Michigan)
13.Miami Dolphins: Josh Jacobs, running back (Alabama)
14.Atlanta Falcons: Greedy Williams, cornerback (LSU)
15.Washington Redskins: Montez Sweat, edge rusher (Mississippi State)
16.Carolina Panthers: D.K. Metcalf, wide receiver (Mississippi)
17.New York Giants: Brian Burns, edge rusher (Florida State)
18.Minnesota Vikings: Jonah Williams, tackle/guard (Alabama)
19.Tennessee Titans: Kelvin Harmon, wide receiver (NC State)
20.Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, inside linebacker (Michigan)
21.Seattle Seahawks: Noah Fant, tight end (Iowa)
22.Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
23.Houston Texans: Cody Ford, tackle (Oklahoma)
24.Oakland Raiders: Byron Murphy, cornerback (Washington)
25.Philadelphia Eagles: Christian Wilkins, defensive tackle (Clemson)
26.Indianapolis Colts: Ed Oliver, defensive tackle (Houston)
27.Oakland Raiders: Mack Wilson, inside linebacker (Alabama)
28.Los Angeles Chargers: Greg Little, tackle (Mississippi)
29.Kansas City Chiefs: Deandre Baker, cornerback (Georgia)
30.Green Bay Packers: N'Keal Harry, wide receiver (Arizona State)
31.Los Angeles Rams: Dexter Lawrence, defensive tackle (Clemson)
32.New England Patriots: Irv Smith, tight end (Alabama)

The Best and Worst of Vince Vaughn

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Dragged Across Concrete” star Vince Vaughn.

Films starring Vince Vaughn that I've seen:
Swingers
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Clay Pigeons 
Old School
Starsky & Hutch
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Be Cool
Mr & Mrs. Smith
Wedding Crashers
The Dilemma 
The Watch
The Internship
Delivery Man
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Unfinished Business 
Hacksaw Ridge
Fighting with My Family

Best Performance: Wedding Crashers (2005)
Vaughn is a likable, gifted comic actor that has had the misfortune of being frequently overshadowed by his co-stars (Will Ferrell in Old School, Ben Stiller in DodgeBall, just about everyone in Anchorman). Wedding Crashers marks one of the rare instances where he's managed to outshine his similarly talented counterparts. As terrific as the oddball supporting cast including Rachel McAdams, Bradley Cooper and Isla Fisher is, Vaughn's quick wit, terrific chemistry with Owen Wilson and underrated ability to make arrogant douchebag characters that should be irredeemable easy to root for anchors this hilarious cult classic.

Worst Performance: Be Cool (2005)
I consider Be Cool to be a horrific career lowpoint for everyone that was involved with it. Upon reflecting on the massive collective stink that this production gave off, I'd argue that no one embarrassed themselves here more than Vaughn. His white wannabe gangsta routine is a lazy, cringeworthy piece of acting that someone of his caliber should never have to rely on for attempted laughs.

Best Film: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Long before he became a two-time Oscar nominee for satirical biopics The Big Short and Vice, writer/director Adam McKay had mastered the art of absurdist comedies. Out of this batch of beautifully dumb, infinitely rewatchable movies (Step Brothers, The Other Guys, Talladega Nights),  Anchorman remains my favorite. Its perfectly-assembled cast that puts everything they've got into their respective roles (Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Kathryn Hahn, Vaughn) paired with its frenzied, wildly effective bizzaro humor helped make this one of my all time favorite comedies.

Worst Film: Be Cool (2005) 
How a director with as strong of a resume as F. Gary Gray (Friday, Straight Outta Compton) and an ensemble cast featuring so many strong performers (John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Dwayne Johnson, Vaughn, Harvey Keitel, Cedric the Entertainer) could churn out something that is so staggeringly inept from top to bottom is mystifying, infuriating and just plain sad. This flaming pile of dog shit is about as ugly, unfunny and creatively bankrupt as a comedy can possibly be, and while I forget roughly 99.9% of what occurred in Be Cool, I'll always remember the sheer disgust that coursed through my veins the entire time I was watching it.  

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Dumbo” star Eva Green. 

Movie Review: Climax

Don't you just hate when you're trying to unwind with some sangria after a rigorous night of rehearsal with your renowned dance troupe and somebody spikes it with a shitload of LSD? Well, that's the unforeseen pickle this group of young adults living in mid-90's France have to try to navigate out of in Gaspar Noe's Climax. By framing it as a lively party full of dancing, laughs and general merriment that slowly descends into pure primal madness as the night goes on, Noe engineers the film to play out like a dual-pronged acid trip where euphoria and nightmares are heightened to the highest possible degree. While you could definitely make a sound argument that this is just another gimmick movie from a director who has an affinity for shocking audiences, the manic pace, use of unorthodox camera angles (aerial, upside down, sideways, etc.) and thumping soundtrack featuring music from several iconic European electronic acts (Daft Punk, Aphex Twin, CoH) made Climax an immersive visceral experience that left me thoroughly unnerved. There's almost no chance I'd voluntarily sit through such a disturbing piece of mood-driven filmmaking again, but I respect Noe for confidently and effectively bringing his warped vision to life.     

Grade: B

The Best and Worst of Keenan Thompson

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Wonder Park” star Keenan Thompson.

Films starring Keenan Thompson that I've seen:
D2: The Mighty Ducks
Heavyweights
D3: The Mighty Ducks
Good Burger
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
Big Fat Liar
The Master of Disguise
My Boss's Daughter
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
Snakes on a Plane
The Smurfs
They Came Together
Going in Style 
The Grinch

Best Performance: Good Burger (1997)
There was plenty of indication that Thompson was going to be a successful comedic performer when he was just starting out in the industry, but Good Burger served as the finest early display of his talent. In this big screen portrayal of Dexter Reed-his most popular character from his time on All That, Thompson displays infectious energy, slick timing and strong commitment to selling absurd material that has carried over to his current longtime gig on Saturday Night Live.

Worst Performance: N/A
This is an instance where being a television sketch comedy veteran that only dabbles with Hollywood acting really benefits Thompson. While he's appeared in plenty of duds (The Master of Disguise, My Boss's Daughter, every animated movie listed above not named The Grinch), all of those roles were either extended cameos or voice parts that can't really be regarded as awful. He's fared pretty well in the handful of instances (Barbershop 2, Snakes on a Plane, every 90's movie listed above) where he's had a notable amount of screen time in a movie and given that sample size of significant live action roles, I can't really single out a performance from the bunch that was truly underwhelming.

Best Film: Good Burger (1997)
Good Burger is right below Space Jam and Jingle All the Way on my list of childhood classics that likely wouldn't appeal to anyone outside of my general age range (mid-20's to early-30's). This dumb little gem of a movie is an A++ example of why Keenan and Kel were the kings of children's absurdist comedy in the 90's. 

Worst Film: The Master of Disguise (2002)
Speaking of my childhood, I have often said that some of the worst movies I've ever seen were things I hated as a kid. The Master of Disguise is one of the frontrunners in that camp. Even 10-year old me couldn't find any joy in the endless stream of bad jokes and disguises Dana Carvey threw together for this obnoxious, staggeringly unfunny comedy.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Dragged Across Concrete” star Vince Vaughn. 

Movie Review: Captain Marvel

The big "finale" for The Avengers is right around the corner and after a decade of buildup, we pretty much know all the major players. At this point, the only real mystery is who is Captain Marvel, whose introduction was first teased during the mid-credits scene of Infinity War, and how can she aid the team in their mission of undoing the catastrophic damage inflicted by Thanos' snap. Since she potentially holds the key for restoring order to the galaxy, it's only fitting we get to know her before Endgame right? Well, the last hero to be introduced in this wave of the MCU makes a hell of a first impression with a highly entertaining origin story that serves as a great introduction to the character as well as a nice little appetizer for next month's hotly anticipated event film.

It's been a little bit since Marvel has had to handle a true origin story (believe it or not, 2016's Doctor Strange was the last time), so it unsurprisingly takes a little bit of time to adjust to sitting through another obligatory birth of a superhero narrative after dealing with nothing but established characters and the varying degrees of emotional stakes that comes with that familiarity over the past few years. Once Captain Marvel gets through that unavoidable "getting to know you" rough patch, the film settles into a nice groove that only becomes tighter as it goes along.

I can't help but view Captain Marvel as the less manic cousin of Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Rangarok. Outside of a handful of splashy superhero fight scenes and the larger MCU implications, it's essentially an intergalactic buddy movie with some quality laughs, charming performances and even a few legitimately poignant moments. Having such a lowkey aesthetic shine through in a blockbuster like this can be attributed to having a writer/director team in Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck who exclusively made minimalist indie comedies/dramas (Mississippi Grind, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Half Nelson) prior to this massive gig. While they did a fine job with the action (a quick third act fight scene set to No Doubt's "Just a Girl" is the only real standout sequence), they excelled with all of the more grounded storytelling/character elements that are often glazed over in this genre. Each key figure in the story (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Nick Fury, Talos, Maria Rambeau) is given a solid amount of depth and the relationships between them progress in a very natural way. This emphasis on the smaller details helps establish a connection to these characters pretty quickly and subsequently adds some weight to an otherwise pretty basic origin narrative.

Of course, Boden and Fleck's human-centric approach wouldn't have been nearly as effective if there weren't so many great actors driving this sweet little ship. A surprisingly not creepy digitally de-aged Samuel L. Jackson is hilarious as a young, naïve version of S.H.I.E.L.D. figurehead Fury and Ben Mendelsohn finally gets past his awful habit of blockbuster villain overacting with a sympathetic, surprisingly funny turn as shapeshifting alien Talos.

As for the leader of the show, Brie Larson once again proves why she's one of the most gifted young actors working today with an engaging, multi-faceted performance that immediately establishes Captain Marvel as yet another winning hero for this mega franchise. By bringing a combination of snark, confidence and vulnerability to the role, she deftly handles the balance of being a fearless aspiring Air Force pilot who battled authority at every turn and an ultrapowerful superhuman asskicker trying to remember where she came from. Whatever the future ends up holding for the MCU, they're lucky to have a radiant star like Larson at the forefront of it.
 
Captain Marvel really couldn't have worked out any better. Sure it's not exactly revolutionary or among the absolute best things the Marvel machine has ever churned out, but it's a really fun, sharply-constructed movie that gives birth to another vibrant superhero and further ratchets up the anticipation for the single biggest blockbuster in recent memory-which as far as I'm concerned is all it needed to do to be successful. Now that we know what Captain Marvel is all about, let's move on to Endgame so we can finally get some god damn closure (or at least something that resembles it) in the MCU.    

Grade: B+

2019 NFL Free Agency: 10 Best Players Available

After weeks of prognosticating from fans and media alike, the start of NFL free agency is finally within reach. Even in a class that doesn't have as much as star power as usual, there's still a lot of intriguing, potential high-impact talent available at vital positions on both sides of the ball. Here are the 10 players hitting the open market on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 PM EST that I believe are the best.

10.Bryce Callahan, cornerback (2018 team: Chicago Bears)
Slot corners are more important than ever in today's NFL and there are few guys that have excelled at that spot in recent years more than Callahan. He's a tough defender with terrific discipline and coverage skills that was a crucial cog in the Bears terrific pass defense over the past few seasons.
Possible Destinations: Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals

9.K.J. Wright, outside linebacker (2018 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Outside linebackers whose main job is dropping back in coverage and providing support in the run game aren't always viewed in a particularly glamorous light, but they can impact the game just as much as a dominant edge rusher. Wright has been in the upper echelon of this niche market for quite some time and while his production has dipped a bit over the past couple years, he should still be able to provide an immediate boost to a linebacking corps that struggles with defending underneath receivers and outside runs.
Possible Destinations: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens

8.Landon Collins, safety (2018 team: New York Giants)
Injuries and stretches of inconsistency over the past couple of seasons have understandably raised some concerns about the long-term viability of Collins, but his range, tenacity and flashes of dominant play (most notably during his All-Pro year in 2016) makes me believe the 25-year old could thrive if placed in the right situation.
Possible Destinations: Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans

7.Golden Tate, wide receiver (2018 teams: Detroit Lions/Philadelphia Eagles)
In a receiver class so thin that there's whispers that mediocre slot guys such as Adam Humphries, Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder could get $9-12 mil per year, Tate is the undeniable top option. He's been a reliable possession receiver for nearly a decade and even as he enters his age 31 season, any team that values versatile, sure-handed wideouts that can run a wide array of routes well would be silly to not consider bringing Tate in.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers

6.Le'Veon Bell, running back (2018 team: N/A)
After a year away from football, I'm not convinced Bell is dedicated enough to the game to return to the dominant form he displayed in the past. His extensive injury history and past conditioning issues only further add to the murkiness that surrounds him as he finally hits free agency after being franchised by the Steelers 2 years in a row. However, his prowess as a dual-threat back along with the potential healing benefits a hiatus from the field could have for a player that had been tasked with an absurd workload (300+ touches in each of his last 5 seasons where he appeared in double digit games) dating back to his days at Michigan State makes it hard to completely dismiss his chances of returning to form when he returns to the field.
Possible Destinations: Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles

5.Earl Thomas, safety (2018 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Prior to tearing his ACL in late September, Thomas was flying around the field making plays as well as ever. Despite being a freak athlete coming off a major injury, the 30-year old future Hall-of-Famer more than likely has a couple years left of being a lethal ballhawk-which makes him an ideal candidate for a lucrative short-term deal from a contending team.
Possible Destinations: Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers 

4.Matt Paradis, center (2018 team: Denver Broncos)
Ryan Jensen's reign as the highest paid center in the league is about to come to an end. The toughness and consistency as a run-blocker that made Paradis a standout on a thoroughly average Broncos offensive line over the past 3 seasons should help him command a nice chunk of change (at least $12 mil+ per year) from any of the dozen or so teams that need an upgrade on the interior of their o-line.
Possible Destinations: Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals

3.Adrian Amos, safety (2018 team: Chicago Bears)
Amos doesn't have the explosive athleticism of Landon Collins or the pedigree of Earl Thomas, but I firmly believe that the nearly 26-year old free safety is the best long-term option in this unusually deep safety class. Although he's not great against the run, his instincts, football IQ and coverage skills have made him a very steady performer that has quietly been among the league's best strong safeties since he entered the league in 2015.
Possible Destinations: Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, New York Giants 

2.Trey Flowers, outside linebacker (2018 team: New England Patriots)
A potentially massive market for edge rushers dried up real quick when DeMarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford and Frank Clark were all given the franchise tag. Even if Flowers wasn't the only elite option available, he'd still be in line to receive a massive payday. While he's received some scrutiny for his middling sack numbers (he's gotten between 6 and 7.5 in each of the past 3 seasons), Flowers is an excellent run defender with the ability to put the pressure on the quarterback at a very respectable level that has improved every year since he's been in the league. Plus at 25 going on 26, there's plenty of reason to believe he still hasn't unlocked his full potential. Regardless of where he lands, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up being the best signing of this class.
Possible Destinations: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

1.C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker (2018 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Inside linebacker is a vital position that is alarmingly light on top-end talent at the moment, so when a 4x All-Pro hits the market, any and every team that has a need at that spot is likely to make an inquiry. While he's not on the level of the Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuchely's of the world, Mosley is a still sharp, well-rounded player that could come in and make a huge impact on the middle of a defense right away.
Possible Destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Other Notable Free Agents:
Adam Humphries, wide receiver (2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Adrian Peterson, running back (2018 team: Washington Redskins)
Alex Okafor, defensive end (2018 team: New Orleans Saints)
Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (2018 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Antonie Bethea, safety (2018 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, tight end (2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Billy Turner, tackle (2018 team: Denver Broncos)
Bradley Roby, cornerback (2018 team: Denver Broncos)
Brandon Marshall, inside linebacker (2018 team: Denver Broncos)
Brock Osweiler, quarterback (2018 team: Miami Dolphins)
C.J. Anderson, running back (2018 teams: Carolina Panthers/Los Angeles Rams)
Cameron Wake, defensive end (2018 team: Miami Dolphins)
Chris Conley, wide receiver (2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Chris Hogan, wide receiver (2018 team: New England Patriots)
Clay Matthews, outside linebacker (2018 team: Green Bay Packers)
Cole Beasley, wide receiver (2018 team: Dallas Cowboys)
Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver (2018 team: New England Patriots)
Daryl Williams, tackle (2018 team: Carolina Panthers)
Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver (2018 teams: Denver Broncos/Houston Texans)
Devin Funchess, wide receiver (2018 team: Carolina Panthers)
Donte Moncreif, wide receiver (2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Doug Martin, running back (2018 team: Oakland Raiders)
E.J. Gaines, cornerback (2018 team: Cleveland Browns)
Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end (2018 team: Detroit Lions)
Frank Gore, running back (2018 team: Miami Dolphins)
George Iloka, safety (2018 teams: Cincinnati Bengals/Minnesota Vikings)
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, safety (2018 teams: Green Bay Packers/Washington Redskins)
Henry Anderson, defensive end (2018 team: New York Jets)
Jake Ryan, inside linebacker (2018 team: Green Bay Packers)
Jamie Collins, outside linebacker (2018 team: Cleveland Browns)
Jamison Crowder, wide receiver (2018 team: Washington Redskins)
Jared Cook, tight end (2018 team: Oakland Raiders)
Jason McCourty, cornerback (2018 team: New England Patriots)
Jay Ajayi, running back (2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Jeremy Parnell, tackle (2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jermaine Kearse, wide receiver (2018 team: New York Jets)
John Brown, wide receiver (2018 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Jordan Hicks, inside linebacker (2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Justin Coleman, cornerback (2018 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Justin Houston, outside linebacker (2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Kareem Jackson, cornerback (2018 team: Houston Texans)
Kelvin Benjamin, wide receiver (2018 teams: Buffalo Bills/Kansas City Chiefs)
Lamarcus Joyner, safety (2018 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Mark Barron, inside linebacker (2018 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Mark Ingram, running back (2018 team: New Orleans Saints)
Markus Golden, defensive end (2018 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Marshawn Lynch, running back (2018 team: Oakland Raiders)
Michael Crabtree, wide receiver (2018 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Mitch Morse, center (2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Muhammad Wilkerson, defensive end (2018 team: Green Bay Packers)
Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle (2018 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Nick Foles, quarterback (2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Pierre Desir, cornerback (2018 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Preston Brown, inside linebacker (2018 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Preston Smith, outside linebacker (2018 team: Washington Redskins)
Randall Cobb, wide receiver (2018 team: Green Bay Packers)
Rodger Saffold, guard (2018 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Ronald Darby, cornerback (2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback (2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Shane Ray, outside linebacker (2018 team: Denver Broncos)
Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle (2018 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Stephen Gostkowski, kicker (2018 team: New England Patriots)
Steven Nelson, cornerback (2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
T.J. Lang, guard (2018 team: Detroit Lions)
T.J. Yeldon, running back (2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Tashaun Gibson, safety (2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (2018 team: New York Jets/New Orleans Saints)
Terrell Suggs, outside linebacker (2018 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Tevin Coleman, running back (2018 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Tyler Eifert, tight end (2018 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Tyrann Mathieau, safety (2018 team: Houston Texans)
Tyrell Williams, wide receiver (2018 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Tyrod Taylor, quarterback (2018 team: Cleveland Browns)
Za'Darius Smith, outside linebacker (2018 team: Baltimore Ravens)

2019 NFL Mock Draft (Post-Combine)

1.Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, quarterback (Oklahoma)
2.San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, defensive tackle (Alabama)
4.Oakland Raiders: Josh Allen, edge rusher (Kentucky)
5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rashan Gary, edge rusher (Michigan)
6.New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, quarterback (Ohio State)
7.Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeffrey Simmons, defensive tackle (Mississippi State)
8.Detroit Lions: Clellin Farrell, edge rusher (Clemson)
9.Buffalo Bills: D.K. Metcalf, wide receiver (Mississippi)
10.Denver Broncos: T.J. Hockensen, tight end (Iowa)
11.Cincinnati Bengals: Jawaan Taylor, tackle (Florida)
12.Green Bay Packers: Montez Sweat, edge rusher (Mississippi State)
13.Miami Dolphins: Drew Lock, quarterback (Missouri)
14.Atlanta Falcons: Greedy Williams, cornerback (LSU)
15.Washington Redskins: Cody Ford, tackle (Oklahoma)
16.Carolina Panthers: Andre Dillard, tackle (Washington State)
17.Cleveland Browns: Christian Wilkins, defensive tackle (Clemson)
18.Minnesota Vikings: Jonah Williams, tackle (Alabama)
19.Tennessee Titans: Kelvin Harmon, wide receiver (NC State)
20.Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin White, inside linebacker (LSU)
21.Seattle Seahawks: Noah Fant, tight end (Iowa)
22.Baltimore Ravens: Josh Jacobs, running back (Alabama)
23.Houston Texans: Greg Little, tackle (Mississippi)
24.Oakland Raiders: Devin Bush, inside linebacker (Michigan)
25.Philadelphia Eagles: Ed Oliver, defensive tackle (Houston)
26.Indianapolis Colts: Byron Murphy, cornerback (Washington)
27.Oakland Raiders: Marquise Brown, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
28.Los Angeles Chargers: Dalton Risner, tackle (Kansas State)
29.Kansas City Chiefs: Deandre Baker, cornerback (Georgia)
30.Green Bay Packers: N'Keal Harry, wide receiver (Arizona State)
31.Los Angeles Rams: Dexter Lawrence, defensive tackle (Clemson)
32.New England Patriots: Irv Smith, tight end (Alabama)

Programming Notice

Dear readers,
We're currently in the midst of a rare slow period in the world of movies, music and sports. I'm going to take advantage of this lull in the action to kickstart my evaluation process for next month's NFL Draft and will be refraining from writing for the rest of the week (with the exception of a post-Combine Mock Draft-which will be up on Friday). I'll resume a normal posting schedule next week with a look at the 10 best players available in NFL Free Agency, a Best and Worst of piece highlighting the big screen work of Saturday Night Live vet Keenan Thompson and multiple TBD reviews (most likely headlined by Captain Marvel).

Thanks,
Chris Maitland

The Best and Worst of Djimon Hounsou

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Captain Marvel” star Djimon Hounsou.

Films starring Djimon Hounsou that I've seen:
Gladiator
The Island
Blood Diamond 
Never Back Down
Push
Guardians of the Galaxy
Furious 7
The Legend of Tarzan
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Aquaman
Serenity

Best Performance: Blood Diamond (2006)
This was a complete no-brainer. Hounsou's powerful Oscar-nominated turn as a fisherman forced into the diamond mining industry after being captured by a ruthless militia hammers home the unflinching grimness that made Blood Diamond such an effective look at the often overlooked atrocities that occur in many poor countries with weak or corrupt governments that are overrun by insurgency, civil war, etc.

Worst Performance: The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
Hounsou returned to the world of colossal popcorn movies after a relatively long hiatus with a solid pair of bit parts in Guardians of the Galaxy and Furious 7. That promising back-to-back came to an end before it could turn into a true success streak thanks to The Legend of Tarzan. As a tribe leader seeking revenge on Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) for the murder of his son-who killed Tarzan's adoptive ape mother, Hounsou falls just short of primary villain Christoph Waltz in the shameless overacting department.

Best Film: Gladiator (2000)
If you look past the differences in setting and time period, Gladiator is eerily reminiscent to Braveheart. It's a proudly silly melodrama that distorts the hell out of its historical backdrop, but that doesn't stop it from be a wildly entertaining ride with some strong performances and enough fist pump-worthy moments of heroic triumph to fill 2,000 additional movies.

Worst Film: The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
The Legend of Tarzan is easily near the top of the list of worst blockbusters I've seen over the past five years. While it deserves some credit for attempting to diversify itself from past iterations by having a fair amount of the action take place outside of the jungle and further fleshing out Tarzan as a character, that originality is ultimately overshadowed by how dull, convoluted and horrifically-acted the final product is.  

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Wonder Park” star Keenan Thompson. 

Album Review: Lil Pump-Harverd Dropout

Confusion and concern ran rampant last summer when South Florida rapper Lil Pump posted a video to his Instagram account asking his fans to help him locate his Harverd Dropout LP, which he claimed he lost right before its scheduled release on his 18th birthday (August 17th). A relatively swift resolution to this missing album case appeared to be in play when a September 14th launch date started to make the rounds on the hip-hop news wires, but that tidbit ultimately proved to be false. In late January, this 5-month search reached a joyous conclusion when Pump revealed the cover art, track listing and a February 22nd release date for his long-missing musical child. Now that its tumultuous origin story is finally over, I'm happy to report that Harverd Dropout is a roaring set of flashy trap anthems that sees Mr. Pump properly utilizing the party-starting magnetism that only shined through in spots on his mostly average self-titled debut.

Off-the-charts natural charisma and a strong sense of self-awareness are what stood out to me about Pump after hearing his debut. On Harverd Dropout, he wisely weaponizes these traits and it makes this record a fun little journey through his gleefully immature mind. The wobbly bass and frantic keys that are at the center of nearly every beat are a divine match for Pump's abundant energy on the mic and just about every one of these 16 odes to codeine, sports cars and banging the female relatives of his haters features at least a couple of punchlines that made me smirk-if not legitimately laugh-out-loud. While Harverd Dropout's refusal to stray from its noisy path for even a second results in it becoming a bit monotonous at times, it remains a slick, cohesive and very efficient record that serves as a more than welcome departure from the glut  of downtempo trap releases (Offset's FATHER OF 4, Future's THE WIZRD, Gunna's Drip or Drown 2) that have headlined the early portion of the 2019 hip-hop calendar.
      

Grade: B

Standout Tracks

1.Nu Uh

2.Racks on Racks

3.Stripper Name (feat. YG and 2 Chainz)