Top 10 Bruce Willis Movies

I'd planned to do a traditional "Ranked" entry on Morbius star Tyrese Gibson today, but the news that broke yesterday of Bruce Willis' retirement from acting and the heartbreaking circumstances behind it led me to change things up. Without Willis' contributions to cinema for 3+ decades, I doubt I'd grow to love the artform as much as I do. Willis had a gruff, snarky charisma that made him one of the most iconic action stars of all time as well as an unheralded versatility that allowed him to thrive in a wide array of genres. To honor Willis' incredible body of work, I put together a list of my 10 favorite movies of his-which just happens to include my 2 all-time favorites. Thank you for everything Bruce and I hope you and your family are able to navigate this awful situation as gracefully as humanly possible.

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):

Alpha Dog

Die Hard with a Vengeance 

The Fifth Element

Red 

The Sixth Sense

10.Live Free or Die Hard (2007):

The concerns over a PG-13 Die Hard movie proved to be unwarranted. Appropriately frenetic direction from Len Wiseman (Underworld), an impeccable villain turn from Timothy Olyphant and some really nutty, over-the-top action allowed Live Free or Die Hard to be the clear standout among the Die Hard sequels. 

9.The Last Boy Scout (1991):

Willis' initial run of films following the breakout success of Die Hard put a lot of stains on his resume. Hudson Hawk, Striking Distance and Billy Bathgate are among the most infamous misfires of the 90's, and their failure was a big part of why people believed his career was headed for a significant downturn until Pulp Fiction sent his stock soaring upwards again. The Last Boy Scout is the only project from this period of Willis' career that I believe to be unfairly overlooked. It's commitment to being an exceptionally dumb, over-the-top action movie is impressive and despite the fact they reportedly hated working together, Willis and Damon Wayans made for a hilarious, electric buddy pairing that gleefully tackled every abundantly nonsensical development this story threw at them.   

8.Looper (2012):

Rian Johnson's take on the time travel genre is a smart, wildly entertaining thriller that possesses a surprising emotional core alongside some engaging action sequences and reliably strong performances from its gifted ensemble (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels, Paul Dano).    

7.Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014):

While A Dame to Kill For is guilty of not doing much to distinguish itself from its predecessor, its vivid collection of characters paired with the stunning visual flare and sleazy, dangerous vibe driving its noir aesthetic prove to be a winning combination that made the 9-year wait worthwhile.  

6.Lucky Number Slevin (2006):

It's been a very long time since I've actually watched Lucky Number Slevin, so this is a case of blind nostalgia driving the bus. This twisty, ultraviolent crime saga managed to confirm that I'll eat up any competent Tarantino riff that is occupied by slick editing, quirky characters and palpable energy.  

5.The Expendables 2 (2012):

When Sylvester Stallone launched The Expendables franchise in 2010, he was essentially setting up a big, loud celebration of action movies. So far, The Expendables 2 has done the best job of realizing that mission statement. From the gleefully over-the-top action sequences to the self-aware sense of humor to the beyond welcome additions of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins and Chuck Norris to the crew of heavy hitters Stallone had previously recruited to star alongside him (Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Randy Couture, Willis), the whole thing just feels like a purehearted love letter to the ridiculously massive action movies of multiple bygone eras (80's/90's/00's) and the magnetic meatheads that helped bring them to life. 

4.Planet Terror (2007):

This proudly schlocky B-zombie movie that kicked off the unique cinematic package that was Grindhouse represents Robert Rodriguez at his most playful, creative and gruesomely funny best. 

3.Die Hard (1988):

For action movie fans, Die Hard is something truly sacred. What John McTiernan cooked up here was something distinctly masterful and the simple yet special formula (charismatic characters, playful tone, rapid pacing, contained setting that organically creates tension and excitement) he employed here has been mimicked to death for the past 30 years or so and will continue to be replicated until mankind ceases to exist.  

2.Sin City (2005):

On the eve of its 17-year anniversary, I remain floored by what Sin City was able to accomplish. Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller created a richly rewarding, visually astounding crime saga that redefined what comic book adaptations could be by seamlessly transferring the striking black-and-white color palette, dense, anthology-based storytelling and viscerally lawless atmosphere from the pages of Miller's graphic novel to the moving canvas of the screen.     

1.Pulp Fiction (1994):

It's not exactly a secret that Pulp Fiction is my favorite movie. Every time I think about some kind of formative movie experience or a favorite scene or quote, my brain immediately turns to this. This served as my introduction to the unparalleled passion, wit and impeccable storytelling/casting instincts Quentin Tarantino brings to his projects and I remain thankful for how my exposure to this singular masterpiece shaped my film taste and led me down a path to discover the rest of his brilliant films along with some other wild movies (Fight Club, Memento, Snatch) that probably wouldn't have otherwise shown up on my radar at that time of my life.   

Movie Review: The Lost City

There's a certain comfort that comes with seeing a movie like The Lost City. For starters, when was the last time a silly, diverting completely original movie that's led by funny, likeable stars (Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum) and boasts a reasonably large, but not quite blockbuster-level budget (somewhere in the range of $63-74 mil) made its way to the big screen? This is the exact kind of project that was feared to become fodder for the streamers to fight over once COVID shook up the movie distribution landscape and seeing The Lost City not only be released in movie theaters, but already enjoy some success there is a great thing to witness. 

Then, of course there's the comfort that comes from the movie itself. The Lost City is one of those warm, fast-paced and lighthearted viewing experiences that makes for an ideal watch when you're looking to relax or simply want to watch something that doesn't require much brainpower to focus on. Bullock and Tatum are in sync with each other every step of the way, the action sequences have a playfulness behind them that allows them to become the purest embodiment of the goofy energy that sits at the heart of this movie and there's enough little splashes of weirdness (Daniel Radcliffe's antagonist attempting to win over Bullock's character during their first meeting with a massive assortment of cheese, Patti Harrison getting the green light to show off her darkly absurd sense of humor in a fully mainstream project, every scene involving Oscar Nunez's character ) present to provide a bit of an endearing oddball streak underneath its safe exterior. While The Lost City isn't something that will end up being listed among my favorites of 2022, its simple goals and the giddiness in which they're tackled with made it a refreshing, enjoyable trip to the movies, and that's a feat that's always worth celebrating. 

Grade: B

2022 NFL Free Agency Recap: Winners and Losers, Best and Worst Deals and Best Players Still Available

Biggest Winners: Los Angeles Chargers

Taking inspiration from their SoFi Stadium roommates, the Chargers have taken advantage of Justin Herbert's low cap hit and spent like crazy this offseason. New deal for vertical threat Mike Williams? Sure thing! Big ticket free agent signing (J.C. Jackson) to address a major need? Done deal. Swing a trade (Khalil Mack) to give Joey Bosa an elite running mate on the edge? Not a problem at all. Add some veteran depth pieces (Sebastian Joseph-Day, Gerald Everett, Austin Johnson) on both sides of the ball? Of course. The Chargers tendency to shoot themselves in the foot whenever it seems like they've got a really good thing going could once again rear its ugly head and lead to yet another bout of crushing disappointment for the Bolts, but for right now at least, it's impossible to not be bullish on what a team that fell 1 game shy of making the playoffs last year is capable of after loading up with the type of talent they need to take the next step as a franchise.

Honorable Mentions: Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers

Biggest Losers: New England Patriots

Unless Bill Belichick conjures up a massive move or two ahead of the draft, his approach to the 2022 free agency period should be viewed as incredibly worrisome. He's stacked the odds against Mac Jones making a jump in year 2 by trading star guard Shaq Mason to the Bucs for peanuts, failing to add any new pieces at receiver and perhaps most shockingly, displaying no real plan to replace the defensive starters that he either cut (Kyle Van Noy) or refused to re-sign (J.C. Jackson, Dont'a Hightower) this offseason. Throw in their ambiguous plans to replace Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator and you have a bizarrely complacent, unjustifiably arrogant team that appears to be willingly committing to regressing at a time where seemingly every other in the AFC team is doing whatever they can to load up for a potential title run.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars

Best Contract: D.J. Reed, cornerback (3 years/$33 mil/$21 mil guaranteed with the Jets)

Reed was a really solid outside corner for the past 2 seasons with the Seahawks and as a guy who had no starting experience prior to 2020 and is still only 25, boasts pretty highs odds of improving over the next few seasons. Bringing him in on such a team-friendly deal allows the Jets to immediately improve at their biggest problem area while also giving them the flexibility to draft a corner in the top 10 this year or chase a more high-profile free agent next season.

Honorable Mentions: Allen Robinson, wide receiver (3 years/$46.5 mil/$30.75 mil guaranteed with the Rams), Charvarius Ward, cornerback (3 years/$40.5 mil/$26.2 mil guaranteed with the 49ers), Marcus Maye, safety (3 years/$22.5 mil/$14.5 mil guaranteed with the Saints)

Worst Contract: Christian Kirk, wide receiver (4 years/$72 mil/$37 mil guaranteed with the Jaguars)

Fresh off an awful 2021 draft and the Urban Meyer debacle, the remarkably still employed Jaguars GM Trent Baalke handed out a deal that was so absurd and unexpected that it reset the entire WR market. Kirk has never finished a season with more than 972 YDS or 6 TD's and yet Baalke thought it was totally responsible to give him a deal that currently makes him the 10th highest paid receiver in the league in terms of AAV-which puts him ahead of guys like Tyler Lockett, Adam Thielen and reigning Super Bowl MVP/NFL receiving triple crown winner Cooper Kupp. Kirk's deal became even more ludicrous after center Brandon Linder unexpectedly announced his retirement over the weekend, dealing a huge blow to a Jags offensive line that was already quite shaky. If Kirk ends up playing out the duration of this contract in Jacksonville, it should be considered a huge success.

Dishonorable Mentions: Randy Gregory, edge rusher (5 years/$70 mil/$28 mil guaranteed with the Broncos), Harold Landry, edge rusher (5 years/$87.5 mil/$52.5 mil guaranteed with the Titans), Zay Jones, wide receiver (3 years/$24 mil/$14 mil guaranteed with the Jaguars)

Best Player Still Available: Tyrann Mathieau 

Once the safety market got cooking with the signings of Marcus Williams, Jordan Whitehead and Justin Reid-who just happens to be his expected replacement in Kansas City- on Days 3-5 of free agency, it seemed like Mathieau would sign a deal in short order. Nearly 2 weeks later and Mathieau is still without a home. Fortunately for the Honey Badger, there are still plenty of contending teams (Chargers, Bucs, 49ers, Broncos, Colts, Browns) that need safety help, so he should have no problem landing in a place that will give him an opportunity to land his 2nd Super Bowl ring.

Honorable Mentions: Bobby Wagner, J.C. Tretter, Calias Campbell

2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (3/28)

 1.Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, tackle (Alabama)

2.Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, edge rusher (Michigan)

3.Houston Texans: Ikem Ekonwu, tackle (NC State)

4.New York Jets: Sauce Gardner, cornerback (Cincinnati) 

5.New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, safety (Notre Dame)

6.Carolina Panthers: Malik Willis, quarterback (Liberty)

7.New York Giants: Charles Cross, tackle (Mississippi State)

8.Atlanta Falcons: Kenny Pickett, quarterback (Pittsburgh)

9.Seattle Seahawks: Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback (LSU)

10.New York Jets: Travon Walker, edge rusher (Georgia)

11.Washington Commanders: Drake London, wide receiver (USC)

12.Minnesota Vikings: Trent McDuffie, cornerback (Washington)

13.Houston Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge rusher (Oregon)

14.Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis, defensive tackle (Georgia)

15.Philadelphia Eagles: Garrett Wilson, wide receiver (Ohio State)

16.Philadelphia Eagles: Jermaine Johnson II, edge rusher (Florida State)

17.Los Angeles Chargers: Devin Lloyd, inside linebacker (Utah)

18.New Orleans Saints: Trevor Penning, tackle (Northern Iowa)

19.Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, inside linebacker (Georgia) 

20.Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyler Linderbaum, center/guard (Iowa)

21.New England Patriots: Dax Hill, safety (Michigan)

22.Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave, wide receiver (Ohio State)

23.Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Booth Jr., cornerback (Clemson)

24.Dallas Cowboys: David Ojabo, edge rusher (Michigan)

25.Buffalo Bills: Kaiir Elam, cornerback (Florida)

26.Tennesee Titans: Treylon Burks, wide receiver (Arkansas) 

27.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zion Johnson, guard (Boston College) 

28.Green Bay Packers: George Karlaftis, edge rusher (Purdue)

29.Kansas City Chiefs: Jameson Williams, wide receiver (Alabama)

30.Kansas City Chiefs: Devonte Wyatt, defensive tackle (Georgia)

31.Cincinnati Bengals: Rodger McCreary, cornerback (Auburn)

32.Detroit Lions: Skyy Moore, wide receiver (Western Michigan)

94th Academy Award Predictions

Best Picture:

Belfast

CODA

Don't Look Up

Drive My Car

Dune

King Richard

Licorice Pizza

Nightmare Alley

The Power of the Dog

West Side Story

Projected Winner: CODA

Longtime frontrunner The Power of the Dog losing to CODA would be the funniest possible ending to this year's awards season. Becoming the 1st streaming studio to secure a Best Picture win has been a top priority for Netflix over the past 5 years (just look at the absurd volume of prestige projects they release every fall) and Apple is in a prime position to beat them to the history books with their 1st ever nomination. If CODA does indeed win, it would prove the belief that the Academy wanted to honor a hopeful, crowd-pleasing film this year wasn't a meritless rumor and that streaming titles do indeed have a place in their swanky club after all. 

Best Director:

Kenneth Branaugh (Belfast)

Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)

Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)

Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza)

Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)

Projected Winner: Jane Campion 

Unless Campion's questionable comments about the Williams sisters during her Critic's Choice Award acceptance speech a few weeks back caused some Academy members to switch their votes, she's a shoo-in. Campion is one of the most respected auteurs working today that currently lacks a Best Director Oscar on their resume and her direction has widely been hailed as the standout element of The Power of the Dog.  

Best Actor:

Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos)

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)

Andrew Garfield (tick, tick.. Boom!)

Will Smith (King Richard)

Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth)

Projected Winner: Will Smith

Smith's ability to knock off Benedict Cumberbatch at the Brit-friendly confines of the BAFTA's killed any potential for an upset bid to develop, so the widely beloved star will finally get his hands on the Oscar that alluded him for the inaugural 30+ years of his career.

Best Actress:

Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye)

Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter)

Penelope Cruz (Parallel Mothers)

Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos)

Kristen Stewart (Spencer)

Projected Winner: Jessica Chastain

There's been some chatter in industry circles this week about how the vocal support Penelope Cruz has received from members of the Academy's international branches could result in her securing a shocking upset victory. While Cruz swooping in at the last minute would make for the perfect chaotic climax to a Best Actress race that has lacked a consistent frontrunner since the Kristen Stewart hypetrain abruptly petered out after the fall festival circuit came to a close in October, Chastain's SAG and Critic's Choice wins are still enough for her to maintain the slight favorite status she's recently earned.

Best Supporting Actor:

Ciaran Hinds (Belfast)

Troy Kotsur (CODA)

Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog)

J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos)

Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog)

Projected Winner: Troy Kotsur

Unlike Best Picture, this is a category where CODA will undoubtedly make history. Kotsur's Oscar win should make a huge impact on how deaf and other disabled actors are viewed in Hollywood moving forward as well as provide him with a steadier stream of high-end roles than he's had in the past.

Best Supporting Actress:

Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter)

Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)

Judi Dench (Belfast)

Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog)

Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard)

Projected Winner: Ariana DeBose

Along with Smith, DeBose is the only actor to have a 100%-win rate for the awards that they were eligible for this season, and it would be a monumental upset if anybody ended her perfect record on Sunday. Not only does DeBose serve as the most prolific scene-stealer in West Side Story, her winning an Oscar for playing the same role that her co-star Rita Moreno won for in the original 1961 West Side Story movie adaptation is the exact kind of sentimental narrative that the Academy will want to lean into in a year where they're desperately trying to boost the ratings.

Other Projected Winners:

Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Branagh, Belfast

Best Adapted Screenplay: Sian Heder, CODA

Best Animated Feature: Encanto

Best International Feature: Drive My Car

Best Documentary Feature: Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Best Cinematography: Greig Fraser, Dune

Best Score: Hans Zimmer, Dune

Best Song: "No Time to Die" by Billie Eilish (No Time to Die)

Best Costume Design: Jenny Bevan, Cruella

Best Film Editing: Joe Walker, Dune

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Best Production Design: Dune

Best Sound: Dune

Best Visual Effects: Dune

Best Animated Short: Robin Robin 

Best Documentary Short: The Queen of Basketball

Best Live Action Short: The Long Goodbye

Quick Movie Reviews: Turning Red, The Outfit, X, Deep Water

Turning Red: When it's at its best in the early portions of the film, Turning Red is a funny, sweet and vibrant tale that explores the plight of a young Chinese-Candian girl (Rosalie Chiang) trying to cope with the burden of her changing body and relationship with her strict mother (Sandra Oh) that controls every aspect of her life. During the second half when it leans heavier into exploring the supernatural mythology that provides its puberty metaphors with a fantastical edge, it becomes a jarring, directionless foray into a subgenre that just doesn't gel with the messaging it provides and tone it strikes during the rest of the film. There's enough good stuff present here to believe that Domee Shi-who is making her directional debut here- will eventually figure things out, her storytelling just isn't polished or focused enough to meet the high standard her longtime employers have established over the past 25 years quite yet.   

Grade: B-

The Outfit: Oscar-winning screenwriter Graham Moore (The Imitation Game) has finally reemerged from the long hiatus he took after winning said gold statue in 2015 with a pretty strong directorial debut that makes his return feel particularly welcome. The Outfit is a crime mystery thriller that makes effective use of a single setting by turning a Chicago tailor shop that is frequented by seemingly every mobster in the city into a claustrophobic den of horrors where people's darkest secrets and true identities are slowly revealed over the course of a single evening where the confirmation of a rat among one of the outfit's operations causes mass upheaval within the city's criminal underworld. The damn fine performances from its central cast (Mark Rylance in an all too rare lead role as the owner of the tailor shop, Zoey Deutch, Johnny Flynn, Dylan O'Brien) seamlessly sell all the deceptive mind games and potential power grabs that are on display alongside the finely crafted suits and Moore's script does a good job of creating suspicion and misdirection as he's slowly unmasking who these people really are. It gets a little too cute with the onslaught of twists it unleashes in the final half hour and the pacing takes a pretty long while to settle into a consistent rhythm, but Moore has made a solid, contained crime film that proves he has a future as a director if that's the career path he wants to take.

Grade: B

X: X manages to both meet and subvert what people expected to see from a 70's-set slasher film that revolves around an amateur porn shoot at a secluded Texas farmhouse. Alongside all of the screwing and gory butchering of the doomed souls (Mia Goth, Brittany Snow, Jenna Ortega, Scott Mescudi, Martin Henderson, Owen Campbell) that are setting out to make their own version of Debbie Does Dallas, X finds the space to create a collection of characters that cleverly transcend the archetypal genre roles (self-absorbed party girl, conservative religious girl, etc.) they appear to be filling on paper by turning them into smart, relatable individuals who all have their own motivations to get involved with the production of this film, compose some of the most uniquely breathtaking shot selections to appear in a film of late and uses a smart, unexpected allegory involving an area of aging that isn't discussed much to power the villain's (also played by Goth under heavy makeup/prosthetics) motivations that helps generate some sincere empathy for her before all hell breaks loose in the brutal, eerie and darkly hilarious final act. Writer/director/co-editor Ti West (The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers) displays a really assured touch in his cohesive, stylish packaging of this dynamic melting pot of influences, genres and themes and the cast (particularly Goth, Snow and Mescudi) displays the eagerness and emotional buy-in to go to the expected and unexpected places West needs them to go to bring his uniquely twisted vision to life. X might be not the most purely enjoyable slasher to come out of the revival movement that has emerged over the past half-decade, but it sure as hell is the boldest and most surprising.        

Grade: B+

Deep Water: Fresh out of the secluded depths of the adult section of the Disney vault that the Mouse Brigade has made for the Fox releases that they don't give a shit about (which seems to be nearly all of them), Deep Water -aka as the film that birthed the romance between Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas that got the paparazzi through the early days of the pandemic in 2020-has landed on streaming just a few months after its planned theatrical release was officially canceled and the distribution rights outside of the United States were sold off to Amazon. Now that it's out in the world, it's not exactly difficult to figure out why Disney banished this project to the streaming purgatory. 

Deep Water is a throwback to the erotic thrillers of the 80's and 90's that boasts a shockingly small amount of the over-the-top sex scenes, graphic violence and horny sleaziness that made the genre so appealing for fans of campy trash entertainment. There also appears to be some evidence that the version of the film that was released was given the good old fashioned studio meddling treatment in the editing room-which *surprise surprise* leads to some editing/storytelling gaps that almost certainly weren't present in the original version and likely led to the really shitty test screening scores that killed its planned theatrical release.

So, did the rough execution of its story and softening of the core erotic thriller elements completely sink Deep Water? Shockingly no and the efforts of the former paparazzi darling couple are solely to thank. Affleck and de Armas simply sell the shit out of their character's jealously-and-lust-fueled dynamic. Both characters are just so brazenly boastful about the evil things they're doing to hurt each other (de Armas' Melinda is openly cheating on Affleck's Vic with multiple men and Vic is proceeding to kill these men to get back at Melinda for being unfaithful) that it makes every scene in which they appear together endearing. The degree of hate, jealously and devilish playfulness present in these interactions creates the sheer confrontational electricity that exists between them that flat-out eviscerates the muddy writing, wonky editing and dull side characters that are actively trying to kneecap the tremendous work these titans of toxicity are engaging in to keep this janky ship on its intended course of mutually assured destruction. Now, who do I have to talk to help launch Affleck and de Armas' Oscar campaigns for next year?

Grade: B- 

Sandra Bullock Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted accolades and superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the work of Sandra Bullock-whose latest project "The Lost City" hits theaters on Thursday.  

Sandra Bullock's Filmography Ranked:

17.Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (D+)

16.While You Were Sleeping (C-)

15.Practical Magic (C-)

14.Miss Congeniality (C)

13.Murder by Numbers (C+)

12.Crash (C+)

11.Our Brand is Crisis (B-)

10.Two Weeks Notice (B-)

9.The Unforgiveable (B-)

8.The Proposal (B-)

7.The Blind Side (B)

6.Bird Box (B)

5.Ocean's 8 (B)

4.The Heat (B+)

3.Demolition Man (B+)

2.Gravity (B+)

1.Speed (B+)

Top Dog: Speed (1994)

Speed is a great example of how delivering a simple film with gusto and precision can be just as rewarding as something with higher ambitions. The only things sitting at this core of this project are narrative efficiency, charismatic characters and pure fucking adrenaline-which was all it needed to blast across the finish line in a blaze of glory and become one of the greatest action thrillers of the 90's.

Lowlight: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is one of the purest embodiments of shameless, manipulative misery porn that the film industry has provided the world in the last 10-15 years. There's not even a hint of a sincere plot beat or emotion present in this whole exploitative debacle that uses the real-world devastation of 9/11 as the cheese to get the audience into an emotional vice grip that unleashes all of the tragic movie cliches (dead parents, living parent reconciling with small child who lashes out at them because they lost a parent and don't how to cope with the pain, more death) in an attempt to force tears to exit from your eyes. If these events were completely removed from the context that they're presented in here, they'd be very sad, but the carefully curated manner in which they're framed in this completely fictionalized narrative makes the whole movie feel downright icky.  

Most Underrated: Demolition Man (1993)

Outside of the peaks of the Rocky and Rambo franchises, Demolition Man serves as one of Sylvester Stallone's best projects. With its almost prophetic view of the future, a hilarious villain turn from Wesley Snipes and well-balanced mix of intelligent satire and self-aware action movie stupidity, it manages to be a really fun, delightfully loopy movie that has aged exceptionally well.

Most Overrated: While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Outside of serving as the earliest piece of proof that Bullock had the juice to lead a movie, While You Were Sleeping doesn't bring many positive things to the table. The hilariously contrived romance and below average jokes that are sprinkled throughout the cheesy road map it follows to reach its inevitable happy final destination easily overshadow the power of Bullock's charm and Peter Boyle playing a slightly less miserable version of Frank from Everybody Loves Raymond.    

2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (3/21)

1.Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, tackle (Alabama)

2.Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, edge rusher (Michigan)

3.Houston Texans: Ikem Ekonwu, tackle (NC State)

4.New York Jets: Sauce Gardner, cornerback (Cincinnati) 

5.New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, safety (Notre Dame)

6.Carolina Panthers: Malik Willis, quarterback (Liberty)

7.New York Giants: Charles Cross, tackle (Mississippi State)

8.Atlanta Falcons: Kenny Pickett, quarterback (Pittsburgh)

9.Seattle Seahawks: Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback (LSU)

10.New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge rusher (Oregon)

11.Washington Commanders: Drake London, wide receiver (USC)

12.Minnesota Vikings: Trent McDuffie, cornerback (Washington)

13.Houston Texans: Travon Walker, edge rusher (Georgia)

14.Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis, defensive tackle (Georgia)

15.Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Lloyd, inside linebacker (Utah)

16.Philadelphia Eagles: Garrett Wilson, wide receiver (Ohio State)

17.Los Angeles Chargers: Kenyon Green, guard/tackle (Texas A&M)

18.New Orleans Saints: Sam Howell, quarterback (North Carolina)

19.Philadelphia Eagles: Jermaine Johnson II, edge rusher (Florida State)

20.Pittsburgh Steelers: Andrew Booth Jr., cornerback (Clemson)

21.New England Patriots: Tyler Linderbaum, center/guard (Iowa)

22.Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave, wide receiver (Ohio State)

23.Arizona Cardinals: Kaiir Elam, cornerback (Florida)

24.Dallas Cowboys: David Ojabo, edge rusher (Michigan)

25.Buffalo Bills: Treylon Burks, wide receiver (Arkansas)

26.Tennessee Titans: Zion Johnson, guard (Boston College)

27.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Breece Hall, running back (Iowa State)

28.Green Bay Packers: George Karlaftis, edge rusher (Purdue)

29.Miami Dolphins: Nakobe Dean, inside linebacker (Georgia)

30.Kansas City Chiefs: Devonte Wyatt, defensive tackle (Georgia)

31.Cincinnati Bengals: Rodger McCreary, cornerback (Auburn)

32.Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams, wide receiver (Alabama)

Ben Affleck Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted superlatives and accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of Ben Affleck-whose latest project "Deep Water" arrives on Hulu this Friday. 

(Note: I'm excluding Gone Baby Gone from this list since he didn't act in it)

Ben Affleck's Filmography Ranked:

28.Pearl Harbor (D-)

27.Surviving Christmas (D+)

26.Armageddon (C-)

25.Daredevil (C)

24.State of Play (C+)

23.Dazed and Confused (B-)

22.The Tender Bar (B-)

21.Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (B-)

20.The Accountant (B-)

19.Chasing Amy (B-)

18.Runner Runner (B)

17.Justice League (B)

16.Changing Lanes (B)

15.Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (B)

14.Zack Snyder's Justice League (B)

13.Boiler Room (B)

12.Live by Night (B+)

11.The Way Back (B+)

10.Mallrats (B+)

9.Triple Frontier (B+)

8.Extract (B+)

7.Argo (B+)

6.Dogma (A-)

5.The Last Duel (A-)

4.Smokin' Aces (A)

3.The Town (A)

2.Good Will Hunting (A)

1.Gone Girl (A)

Top Dog: Gone Girl (2014)

By combining brutally honest, multi-faceted social satire with the mind games of an over-the-top psychological thriller and populating this genre-bending cocktail with a collection of despicable yet fascinating characters that are brought to life in all their ugly glory by a cast (Rosamund Pike, Affleck, Carrie Coon, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Kim Dickens, Casey Wilson) that fearlessly leans into every twisted turn this story takes, Gillian Flynn and David Fincher were able to craft a hilarious, maddening and immensely compelling masterpiece that established a new high bar for modern thrillers.

Lowlight: Pearl Harbor (2001)

Affleck's initial years as a true movie star saw him take on his share of questionable gigs, but nothing from that shaky period in his career (that I've seen at least) comes anywhere near the baffling disaster that was Pearl Harbor. Basing an epic romantic melodrama around the attack on Pearl Harbor was just a misguided decision that left a stain on the resume of everyone that was involved with it that still hasn't washed away after 20+ years. 

Most Underrated: Triple Frontier (2019)

This seemingly forgotten gem from J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year, Margin Call) marked one of the first times that Netflix put together a blockbuster movie that truly rivaled the quality of a big screen product. Triple Frontier is a uniquely grounded twist on the heist genre that takes into account that the robbers (Affleck, Pedro Pascal, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund) haven't worked together in a very long time and the rust and reopening of the cracks in their relationships that drove them apart years earlier adds another layer of tension and emotion to the organically tense caper that takes up the final hour of the film.      

Most Overrated: Dazed and Confused (1993)

Dazed and Confused was so widely celebrated at my high school that you would've thought I graduated in the mid 90's when it first ascended to cult status. Naturally, hearing all this praise led me to seek it out and the end result was me not sharing the enthusiasm my classmates had for it. As gifted of a filmmaker as Richard Linklater is, a stoner comedy just really isn't in his wheelhouse. The characters here aren't overly likeable and his dry sense of humor isn't a great fit for a genre that traditionally relies on goofy, good-natured stupidity to get laughs.  

Biggest 2021 Awards Season Snub: The Last Duel (2021)

Now that I've seen basically everything from 2021 that's up for awards, I feel stronger than ever in my stance that The Last Duel got completely fucking hosed by the movie industry people from around the globe that vote for these honors. Jodie Comer turned in a better performance than any of the women that are actually up for Best Actress at the Oscars, the writing and directing are terrific and the blunt delivery of its messaging surrounding the societal treatment of women that have been sexually assaulted is chillingly effective.  

Affleck Directorial Effort That Only Me and a Dozen Other People Seem to Enjoy: Live by Night (2016)

While it definitely lags out of the gate and isn't as polished or focused as the previous films Affleck directed, Live by Night is a brutal, melancholic gangster saga that is anchored by a strong cast (Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Chris Cooper, Elle Fanning, Chris Messina, Remo Girone, Brendon Gleeson, Sienna Miller, Titus Welliver, Max Casella) gorgeous cinematography from Robert Richardson and a couple of really terrific action setpieces (a car chase and a climactic shootout).  

Movie Review: The Adam Project

If worshipping the 80's from afar can be considered groundbreaking, The Adam Project is god damn revolutionary. The closest this time travel action comedy from Shawn Levy (Free Guy, Real Steel) ever physically gets to Hollywood's longtime favorite decade to reference is a trip back to 2018, but that doesn't stop The Adam Project from attempting to shape itself in the image of the films from that era. There are nods to everything from Star Wars to Back to the Future to Field of Dreams within the framework of the plot, mega hit songs such as "Time After Time" and "Let My Love Open the Door" are cued up at pivotal moments and the cheese that's oozing out of this thing would be enough to end world hunger for the next several decades. As shameless and creatively stagnant as its whole bowing at the altar of 80's pop culture approach to storytelling is, The Adam Project has just enough sincerity and fun in it to overcome its glaring issues. 

Whether it was intentional or not, the pervasive corniness of The Adam Project is actually one of the better things to happen to Ryan Reynolds over the past few years. The melodrama-heavy plot provides the increasingly polarizing star with a chance to finally take a breather from the snark routine that he just can't quite seem to get away from post-Deadpool. While the sarcastic one-liners that have become the cornerstone of Reynolds' on-screen persona are still present-particularly in the opening third of the film, the central emotional hook of the story that forces his character (you'll never guess what his name is!) to reconcile with his estranged parents (Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner), long missing wife (Zoe Saldana) and younger self (newcomer Walker Scobell) bring out the dramatic acting ability that he doesn't show off often enough. By establishing an emotional connection with his scene partners (particularly Ruffalo and Garner-who bring ample warmth and charm to their crucial supporting roles) and grounding his line delivery with a wounded vulnerability that makes it feel like he's ashamed that this is the first time he's ever said these internalized thoughts aloud, Reynolds is able to bring as much sincere heart as a telegraphed, soapy family reconciliation scene allows for. As minor as this may seem, showcasing Reynolds' other acting gifts could end up expanding the type of roles he's offered down the road. And even if it doesn't, at least he got to temporarily sideline the one trick he's always asked to do when gets in front of a room full of people in favor of something more substantial that provided a pretty plain movie with the little streak of excitement it needed to be pushed onto the positive end of the quality spectrum.  

As for the rest of The Adam Project, it's another entry in the predictable mixed bag streaming flick universe. The action sequences are competent yet not particularly memorable, it seems completely disinterested in any of the specifics of its own time travel rules that don't involve pushing buttons to create more melodrama and Netflix follows up the memed into oblivion young Robert De Niro scenes from The Irishman with another strong argument for why de-aging technology should be banished from movies forever. What this ultimately adds up to is diverting, nostalgia-baiting cornball nonsense that is fine for a single viewing but doesn't have enough creative firepower to make a rewatch or the franchise Netflix will likely try to turn this into particularly appealing.     

Grade: B-

Movie Review: Fresh

If you have the luxury of not knowing anything of significance about the plot of Fresh before pressing play, take advantage of it. The turns Fresh takes both in terms of genre and actual subject matter are more rewarding if you haven't been exposed to any of the marketing material (with the exception of the mercifully vague trailer) or read the official synopsis that appears on Hulu's site/app. The people responsible for the ad campaign did a poor job of obscuring the surprising hook of the film that's revealed at the end of the first act and really should've taken advantage of its status as a streaming exclusive release that isn't going to net Disney any money and embraced a strategy that relied more on ambiguity.  

Regardless of your knowledge of its premise ahead of time, the primary appeal of Fresh comes from its ability to spin a pretty routine setup (Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan play two people who start dating shortly after having a flirty chance encounter-only to see their relationship quickly take a harrowing turn once a dark secret comes to light) into something that's pretty subversive and entertaining. Mimi Cave-who makes her directorial debut here-wastes little time showing off her confidence and fearlessness as an artist by delivering a film serves as a blunt allegory about the horrifying nature of dating (particularly for women) as well as an unnerving, sometimes deeply funny thriller that has a lot of fun toying with the viewer's expectations. While a couple of narrative dice rolls that don't quite pay off (a potentially fascinating subplot involving a minor character that doesn't get the attention it deserves and everything in the final 15 minutes outside of the perfect final shot) and its refusal to lean further into the more macabre elements of the plot that brought out the gallows humor that is at the center of most of the best scenes prevent Fresh from ascending to its fullest potential, Cave's ambition and wit along with the layered, charismatic performances from Edgar-Jones, Stan and Jonica T. Gibbs makes this a strong inaugural effort that should generate a lot of excitement for whatever she tackles next.      

Grade: B

2022 NFL Free Agency: Top 10 Players Available

Unlike the chaos that's emerged from the trades of Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz and Khalil Mack over the past 48 hours, the NFL's 2022 free agency period got off to an unassuming start that saw most of the biggest names get removed from the open market before they got a chance to officially hit it. The likes of Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Jessie Bates, Orlando Brown Jr. and pretty much every young tight end that was even semi-productive in 2021 (Mike Gesicki, Dalton Schultz, David Njoku) were given the franchise tags by their respective teams and a couple of guys (Mike Williams, Harold Landry) agreed to long-term deals with the teams that drafted them. So, who's entering the wining and dining pool that opens on Monday when the legal tampering period begins?  For starters, there's some veteran edge talent who will be looking to further expand their Super Bowl ring collections (Chandler Jones, Von Miller, Jason Pierre-Paul). Then, there's of course the standard offering of young quarterbacks that were drafted high back in the day (Mitch Trubisky, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota) that somebody will kick the tires on out of sheer desperation. Lastly (in terms of broad categories of players at least), there's a plethora of young secondary talent (J.C. Jackson, Carlton Davis, Marcus Williams) that will be looking to finally cash out. Here are the 10 players in this free agency class that I believe are the best available.

10.Bobby Wagner, inside linebacker (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Wagner became the 2nd causality of what seems like the start of a rebuild for the Seahawks when he was released mere hours after Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos. While the 8x All-Pro isn't the field-spanning menace he was as recently as a few years ago, his sure tackling, intelligence and durability would make him a welcome addition to any playoff hopeful that's looking to sure up the middle of their defense.  

Possible Destinations: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins 

9.Tyrann Mathieu, safety (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

The market for Mathieu is going to be interesting to watch as he's about to turn 30 and is a notoriously erratic player that can be a bit of a roller coaster ride on a play-to-play basis. His willingness to aid in run support and downright lethal ball skills when he's on his game could make him a nice value play for the Chiefs or another contending team.  

Possible Destinations: Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles

8.Brandon Scherff, guard (2021 team: Washington Commanders)

Commanders GM Martin Mayhew has all but confirmed that they're not going to re-sign Scherff in recent weeks, which is kind of dense-especially now that they're bringing in an injury-prone QB in Carson Wentz. The 30-year-old is just a year removed from an All-Pro bid and is an absolute rock in the middle of the line who has the athleticism and nastiness to kick over to right tackle if need be. Even if it's only on a 2 or 3-year deal, expect Scherff to be a top 5 highest-paid guard in the league come next week.

Possible Destinations: Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears 

7.Chandler Jones, edge rusher (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

Although his sack total dipped down to 10.5 in 2021-which is somehow his lowest total in a season where he appeared in more than 10 games since his rookie campaign in 2012, Jones can still be really disruptive when he's unleashed as a pure pass-rusher and could really excel if he chooses to leave a Cardinals team where he's the only real threat to get after the quarterback.

Possible Destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams

6.Carlton Davis, cornerback (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Davis might not have the same degree of ball productivity (52 passes defensed and 6 INT's in 51 games compared to Jackson's 53 passes defensed and 25 INT's in 62 games) or lockdown potential as this class's perceived top corner prize J.C. Jackson, but he's a smart, physical outside corner who rarely gets overmatched and is still young enough (25) to further solidify his game.     

Possible Destinations: New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens

5.Allen Robinson, wide receiver (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

A truly awful 2021 season may cut into the amount of money he gets on his next deal, but that shouldn't prevent Robinson from having a huge list of suitors-especially with Adams, Godwin and Mike Williams not hitting the open market. Robinson has a versatile game (great hands, good route runner at all levels of the field, has the physicality, focus and leaping ability required to excel in contested catch situations, can lineup outside or in the slot) that make him a natural fit for just about any offense in the league and his consistent track record of producing with poor-to-middling quarterback play makes him a prime bounceback candidate for 2022 and beyond. 

Possible Destinations: New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Detroit Lions 

4.Von Miller, edge rusher (2021 teams: Denver Broncos/Los Angeles Rams)

Miller proved he's got plenty of gas left in the tank with his dominant play during the Rams Super Bowl run (4 sacks, 6 TFL's, 6 QB hits, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery) and there's no reason to believe that he couldn't continue to play like that for the Rams or another contending team that would benefit from adding a monstrous edge rusher to their front 7 rotation.

Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts

3.J.C. Jackson, cornerback (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Everybody knows the risks that come with signing Jackson to a huge deal. His track record against elite receivers isn't exactly terrific (Stefon Diggs' beatdown of him in December 2020 was brutal to watch) and he undoubtedly benefited from playing in a Patriots secondary that's been among the best in the league since he got there in 2018. However, a guy that is not only the league leader in INT's from 2019-21, but has only allowed 51.8% of the passes thrown in his direction in 4 NFL seasons to be completed has earned the payday that's coming to him and should be viewed as a potential game-changing acquisition for whoever lands him.   

Possible Destinations: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings 

2.Marcus Williams, safety (2021 team: New Orleans Saints)

As the Saints enter a rebuilding phase, re-signing a 25 going on 26-year-old ballhawk safety should be at the top of their priority list. The problem is that they are stuck in cap hell and will likely have new ownership by the time the 2023 season rolls around, and that brutal combination of uncertainty could drive Williams to leave NOLA behind. If that proves to be the case, any and every team that lacks a dynamic safety should be all in on Williams.

Possible Destinations: New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars 

1.Terron Armstead, tackle (2021 team: New Orleans Saints)

A tendency to regularly miss time with injuries paired with the fact that he's entering his age 31 season should cause some hesitation for the many tackle-needy teams out there to go after Armstead. With that being said, Armstead is a top 3 left tackle in the league when he's healthy and the rarity in which a true o-line anchor hits the market makes the considerable risk that comes with signing him worth taking.  

Possible Destinations: New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots 

Other Notable Free Agents:

A.J. Cann, guard (2021 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)

A.J. Green, wide receiver (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

A.J. Johnson, inside linebacker (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

Ahkello Whiterspoon, cornerback (2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Akiem Hicks, defensive tackle (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Alec Ogletree, inside linebacker (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Alex Cappa, guard (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Andrew Norwell, guard (2021 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)

Andrew Wylie, guard (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

Andy Dalton, quarterback (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Andy Janovich, fullback (2021 team: Cleveland Browns)

Andy Lee, punter (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

Anthony Barr, outside linebacker (2021 team: Minnesota Vikings)

Anthony Harris, safety (2021 team: Philadelphia Eagles)

Anthony Walker Jr., inside linebacker (2021 team: Cleveland Browns)

Arden Key, edge rusher (2021 team: San Francisco 49ers)

Artie Burns, cornerback (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Austin Corbett, guard (2021 team: Los Angeles Rams)

B.J. Hill, defensive tackle (2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals)

Ben Jones, center (2021 team: Tennessee Titans)

Bilal Nichols, defensive tackle/end (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Blaine Gabbert, quarterback (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Bobby Massie, tackle (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

Bradley Bozeman, guard/center (2021 team: Baltimore Ravens)

Brandon Shell, tackle (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Brandon Williams, defensive tackle (2021 team: Baltimore Ravens)

Braxton Berrios, wide receiver (2021 team: New York Jets)

Brian Allen, center (2021 team: Los Angeles Rams)

Brian Hoyer, quarterback (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Bryan Anger, punter (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Bryce Callahan, cornerback (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

Byron Pringle, wide receiver (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

C.J. Uzomah, tight end (2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals)

Calias Campbell, defensive tackle/end (2021 team: Baltimore Ravens)

Cam Newton, quarterback (2021 team: Carolina Panthers)

Casey Hayward Jr., cornerback (2021 team: Las Vegas Raiders)

Cedrick Wilson, wide receiver (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Charles Harris, edge rusher (2021 team: Detroit Lions)

Charvarius Ward, cornerback (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

Chase Daniel, quarterback (2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers)

Chase Edmonds, running back (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

Chris Harris Jr., cornerback (2021 team: Los Angles Chargers)

Christian Kirk, wide receiver (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

Colt McCoy, quarterback (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

Connor Williams, guard (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver/running back/kick returner (2021 team: Atlanta Falcons)

Corey Bojorquez, punter (2021 team: Green Bay Packers)

Cornelius Lucas, tackle (2021 team: Washington Commanders)

D.J. Chark, wide receiver (2021 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)

D.J. Jones, defensive tackle (2021 team: San Francisco 49ers)

D.J. Reed, cornerback (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Daniel Sorensen, safety (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

Dante Fowler, edge rusher (2021 team: Atlanta Falcons)

Darious Williams, cornerback (2021 team: Los Angeles Rams)

Darrel Williams, running back (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

De'Vondre Campbell, inside linebacker (2021 team: Green Bay Packers)

DeShon Elliott, safety (2021 team: Baltimore Ravens)

Dennis Kelly, tackle (2021 team: Green Bay Packers)

Derek Barnett, edge rusher (2021 team: Philadelphia Eagles)

Desmond King, cornerback (2021 team: Houston Texans)

Devin McCourty, safety (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Dont'a Hightower, inside linebacker (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Donte Jackson, cornerback (2021 team: Carolina Panthers)

Duane Brown, tackle (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Duron Harmon, safety (2021 team: Atlanta Falcons)

Dustin Colquitt, punter (2021 team: Cleveland Browns)

Dustin Hopkins, kicker (2021 teams: Washington Commanders/Los Angeles Chargers)

Eli Apple, cornerback (2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals)

Emmanuel Ogbah, edge rusher (2021 team: Miami Dolphins)

Emmanuel Sanders, wide receiver (2021 team: Buffalo Bills)

Eric Ebron, tight end (2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Eric Fisher, tackle (2021 team: Indianapolis Colts)

Ethan Pocic, center/guard (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Evan Engram, tight end (2021 team: New York Giants)

Folorunso Fatusaki, defensive tackle (2021 team: New York Jets)

Foyesade Olokun, inside/outside linebacker (2021 team: Atlanta Falcons)

Gerald Everett, tight end (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Germain Ifedi, guard/tackle (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Hasson Reddick, edge rusher (2021 team: Carolina Panthers)

Hayden Hurst, tight end (2021 team: Atlanta Falcons)

Isaiah Oliver, cornerback (2021 team: Atlanta Falcons)

J.D. McKissic, running back (2021 team: Washington Commanders)

Jabrill Peppers, safety (2021 team: New York Giants)

Jacoby Brissett, quarterback (2021 team: Miami Dolphins)

Jadeveon Clowney, edge rusher (2021 team: Cleveland Browns)

Jakeem Grant, wide receiver/kick returner (2021 teams: Miami Dolphins/Chicago Bears)

Jameis Winston, quarterback (2021 team: New Orleans Saints)

James Conner, running back (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

James Daniels, guard (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

James White, running back (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Jamie Collins, outside linebacker (2021 teams: Detroit Lions/New England Patriots)

Jamison Crowder, wide receiver (2021 team: New York Jets)

Jaquiski Tartt, safety (2021 team: San Francisco 49ers)

Jared Cook, tight end (2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers)

Jason McCourty, safety/cornerback (2021 team: Miami Dolphins)

Jason Peters, tackle (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Jason Pierre-Paul, edge rusher (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Jason Verrett, cornerback (2021 team: San Francisco 49ers)

Jayon Brown, inside linebacker (2021 team: Tennessee Titans)

Jayron Kearse, safety (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Jerry Hughes, edge rusher (2021 team: Buffalo Bills)

Jimmy Graham, tight end (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Joe Flacco, quarterback (2021 team: New York Jets)

Joe Haden, cornerback (2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Joe Noteboom, tackle (2021 team: Los Angeles Rams)

John Miller, guard (2021 team: Carolina Panthers)

Jordan Berry, punter (2021 team: Minnesota Vikings)

Jordan Hicks, inside linebacker (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

Jordan Whitehead, safety (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Josey Jewell, inside linebacker (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

JuJu Smith-Schuster, wide receiver (2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Justin Britt, center (2021 team: Houston Texans)

Justin Coleman, cornerback (2021 team: Miami Dolphins)

Justin Houston, edge rusher (2021 team: Baltimore Ravens)

Justin Jackson, running back (2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers)

Justin Reid, safety (2021 team: Houston Texans)

K.J. Wright, outside linebacker (2021 team: Las Vegas Raiders)

K'Waun Williams, cornerback (2021 team: San Francisco 49ers)

Kareem Jackson, safety (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

Keanu Neal, inside linebacker/safety (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Keelan Cole, wide receiver (2021 team: New York Jets)

Kevin Huber, punter (2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals)

Kevin King, cornerback (2021 team: Green Bay Packers)

Kyle Fuller, cornerback (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

Kyle Van Noy, inside/outside linebacker (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Kyzir White, inside/outside linebacker (2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers)

Laken Tomlinson, guard (2021 team: San Francisco 49ers)

Landon Collins, safety (2021 team: Washington Commanders)

Larry Ogunjobi, defensive tackle (2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals)

Leighton Vander Esch, inside/outside linebacker (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Leonard Fournette, running back (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Levi Wallace, cornerback (2021 team: Buffalo Bills)

Linval Joseph, defensive tackle (2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers)

Lorenzo Carter, edge rusher (2021 team: New York Giants)

Maliek Collins, defensive tackle (2021 team: Houston Texans)

Malik Jackson, defensive tackle (2021 team: Cleveland Browns)

Marcus Mariota, quarterback (2021 team: Las Vegas Raiders)

Marcus Maye, safety (2021 team: New York Jets)

Mario Addison, defensive end (2021 team: Buffalo Bills)

Mark Glowinski, guard (2021 team: Indianapolis Colts)

Marquez Valdez-Scandling, wide receiver (2021 team: Green Bay Packers)

Mason Cole, center/guard (2021 team: Minnesota Vikings)

Matt Paradis, center (2021 team: Carolina Panthers)

Melvin Gordon, running back (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

Melvin Ingram, edge rusher (2021 teams: Pittsburgh Steelers/Kansas City Chiefs)

Michael Badgley, kicker (2021 teams: Tennessee Titans/Indianapolis Colts)

Michael Gallup, wide receiver (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Michael Parlardy, punter (2021 team: Miami Dolphins)

Mike Hughes, cornerback (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

Mike Remmers, tackle (2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs)

Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (2021 team: Buffalo Bills)

Mo Alie-Cox, tight end (2021 team: Indianapolis Colts)

Morgan Moses, tackle (2021 team: New York Jets)

Nate Solder, tackle (2021 team: New York Giants)

Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle/end (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Nick Folk, kicker (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Nick Mullens, quarterback (2021 team: Cleveland Browns)

O.J. Howard, tight end (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (2021 teams: Cleveland Browns/Los Angeles Rams)

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, edge rusher (2021 team: Los Angeles Rams)

P.J. Williams, safety/cornerback (2021 team: New Orleans Saints)

Pat O'Donnell, punter (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Patrick Peterson, cornerback (2021 team: Minnesota Vikings)

Patrick Ricard, fullback (2021 team: Baltimore Ravens)

Quandre Diggs, safety (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Quinton Jefferson, defensive tackle (2021 team: Las Vegas Raiders)

Quinton Spain, guard (2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals)

Randy Bullock, kicker (2021 team: Tennessee Titans)

Randy Gregory, edge rusher (2021 team: Dallas Cowboys)

Rashaad Penny, running back (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Rasul Douglas, cornerback (2021 team: Green Bay Packers)

Richard Sherman, cornerback (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Riley Reiff, tackle (2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals)

Rob Gronkowski, tight end (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Robert Alford, cornerback (2021 team: Arizona Cardinals)

Robert Tonyan, tight end (2021 team: Green Bay Packers)

Rodney McLeod, safety (2021 team: Philadelphia Eagles)

Ronnie Harrison, safety (2021 team: Cleveland Browns)

Russell Gage, wide receiver (2021 team: Atlanta Falcons)

Ryan Jensen, center (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (2021 team: Baltimore Ravens)

Sebastian Joseph-Day, defensive tackle (2021 team: Los Angeles Rams)

Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle (2021 team: Minnesota Vikings)

Sidney Jones, cornerback (2021 team: Seattle Seahawks)

Sony Michel, running back (2021 team: Los Angeles Rams)

Stephon Gilmore, cornerback (2021 teams: New England Patriots/Carolina Panthers)

Steven Nelson, cornerback (2021 team: Philadelphia Eagles)

T.Y Hilton, wide receiver (2021 team: Indianapolis Colts)

Tashaun Gibson, safety (2021 team: Chicago Bears)

Ted Karras, center/guard (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (2021 team: Denver Broncos)

Terrell Edmunds, safety (2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Thomas Morstead, punter (2021 teams: New York Jets/Atlanta Falcons)

Tracy Walker, safety (2021 team: Detroit Lions)

Trai Turner, guard (2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Trent Brown, tackle (2021 team: New England Patriots)

Trevor Siemian, quarterback (2021 team: New Orleans Saints)

Trey Flowers, defensive end (2021 team: Detroit Lions)

Tyler Conklin, tight end (2021 team: Minnesota Vikings)

Tyrod Taylor, quarterback (2021 team: Houston Texans)

Uchenna Nwosu, edge rusher (2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers)

Whitney Mercilus, edge rusher (2021 teams: Houston Texans/Green Bay Packers)

Will Fuller, wide receiver (2021 team: Miami Dolphins)

Will Hernandez, guard (2021 team: New York Giants)

William Gholston, defensive end (2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Xavier Rhodes, cornerback (2021 team: Indianapolis Colts)

Xavier Woods, safety (2021 team: Minnesota Vikings)

Zach Ertz, tight end (2021 teams: Philadelphia Eagles/Arizona Cardinals)

Zach Pascal, wide receiver (2021 team: Indianapolis Colts)

Mark Ruffalo Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out related superlatives and accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of Mark Ruffalo-whose latest film "The Adam Project" hits Netflix on Friday. 

Mark Ruffalo's Filmography Ranked:

20.Avengers: Age of Ultron (D+)

19.Windtalkers (C-)

18.The Kids Are All Right (C-)

17.Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (C)

16.Begin Again (C+)

15.Infinitely Polar Bear (B-)

14.13 Going on 30 (B-)

13.Collateral (B-)

12.Date Night (B)

11.Dark Waters (B)

10.Foxcatcher (B)

9.Zodiac (B)

8.The Avengers (B+)

7.Now You See Me (B+)

6.Now You See Me 2 (A-)

5.Avengers: Endgame (A-)

4.Spotlight (A-)

3.Shutter Island (A-)

2.Avengers: Infinity War (A)

1.Thor: Ragnarok (A)

Top Dog: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

With the possible exception of paving the way for James Gunn to make a couple of awesome DC projects after they temporarily fired him from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, hiring Taika Waititi to effectively reboot Thor with Ragnarok was the greatest move Marvel Studios has ever made. Waititi morphed a pretty low end MCU property into a zany, hilarious gem by injecting it with his signature oddball humor, a psychedelic color pallet and new characters (Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, Cate Blanchett's Hela, Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster, Waititi's Korg, Ruffalo's Hulk in his first appearance in a non-Avengers film) that meshed really well with a visibly reinvigorated Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.   

Lowlight: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Joss Whedon has received a ton of shit for his significantly reworked version of Justice League. What I believe he deserves far more shit for is what he did with Age of Ultron. He kneecapped whatever good will and momentum he built up with the original Avengers film by making a meandering, convoluted piece of garbage that doesn't have an ounce of the blockbuster filmmaking competency that even the most middling Marvel projects can typically be relied on to have.   

Most Underrated: Now You See Me 2 (2016)

The sequel to the stupid/brilliant magician heist thriller Now You See Me doubles down on its stupid /brilliant elements and the result is an even more fun movie. Lizzy Caplan is utterly delightful as the snarky, charismatic replacement for Isla Fisher's character, Daniel Radcliffe has a blast with his seedy villain role and the heist sequences (especially the Macau Science Center scene) are absurdly entertaining pieces of frantic madness.

Most Overrated: Collateral (2004)

There are some things about Collateral that are very well done. Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx do good work playing against type as a crazed hitman and quiet, reserved taxi driver respectively, the noir-inspired visuals are really slick and the final scene on the train is downright explosive. The problem is that Michael Mann reliably suffocates a lot of the potential suspense/entertainment value by ensuring that the events of the film effectively play out in slow motion with glacial pacing that is a massive detriment to the brand of stylized crime thrillers he makes.   

Best New-ish Scorsese Movie: Shutter Island (2010)

Absolutely nobody is going to agree with me that Shutter Island is better than The Wolf of Wall Street or The Irishman, but I believe this is Scorsese's finest movie of the 2010's. Scorsese enters the pulpy psychological thriller realm for the first time with this grim, expertly crafted slow burn detective story that features some terrific performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Ruffalo, Michelle Williams and Ben Kingsley and a whopper of a plot twist that gives way to a terrific final act.  

Greatest Reminder of Ruffalo's Underrated Acting Talent: Foxcatcher (2014)

Ruffalo has to be in the running for the title of Most Underrated Modern Actor That Happens to Have Multiple Oscar Nominations on their Resume. Of his 3 nominated performances, his turn in the compelling yet somewhat uneven sports/crime biopic Foxcatcher stands out the most. Ruffalo serves as the film's calm, honest and quiet emotional anchor, which in turn adds an extra gut punch to the shocking climax that makes this story so chilling.  

Movie Review: The Batman

Batman has been part of the global pop culture landscape for such a long time that trying to find a fresh angle for an adaptation has turned into a really difficult creative exercise. Even if you were to narrow your focus to only the live action versions that have appeared on small and big screens over the past 55 years, the character has been the star from projects that covered every piece of tonal territory from cartoon-esque camp insanity to suffocating grit. Cue writer/director Matt Reeves aka as the man who helped restore the stock of the Planet of the Apes brand after Tim Burton's misguided 2001 remake and changed how the found footage style could be utilized with the sci-fi monster flick Cloverfield. The Batman-which is somehow the first solo Batman film in nearly a decade-breaks new ground by crafting a dense noir mystery narrative that embraces "the world's greatest detective" moniker that's always been synonymous with the character and setting it during Bruce Wayne's 2nd year as Batman at a time where Gotham is overrun by crime, residents view Batman as more of a ruthless vigilante than a hero and Wayne is left to question if his efforts to change things are making any impact. Reeves parlays this unique vision for Batman and the universe that he occupies into an absorbing, mesmerizing masterpiece that once again proves that bringing in talented, ambitious filmmakers should always be the top priority for a superhero movie.

Like all great pieces of noir, everything in The Batman is birthed from its setting. This version of Gotham is a wasteland of deep, unchecked corruption and lawlessness that informs the story and the people that occupy it at each turn. Every character is either partaking and/or profiting off the rampant crime taking place or shaped by living in a place where tragedy never stops, and hope is nowhere to be found. The sky is always painted with a shade of gray or black that engulfs the city in perpetual darkness. Terms like hero and villain are almost irrelevant because the power players of Gotham and the people fighting against them are doing what they believe is necessary to survive in a place where greed is rewarded, and violence is expected.    

These defining aesthetics of Gotham are vividly brought to life by the lens of cinematographer Greig Fraser and orchestration of composer Michael Giacchino. Each shot and soundtrack choice are expertly woven together to evoke a visceral sense of fear, danger, brutality, etc. to match whatever other fresh hell Gotham can deliver its citizens. There's no more than a few scenes in the entire film that don't feature some form of breathtaking image or musical composition that dazzles the senses while also further exemplifying the extent of the rot that consumes its setting. Seeing images, music and sound so carefully crafted to work in tandem is such a rare phenomenon in film and the impact this symbiotic relationship has on the immersiveness of The Batman's atmosphere can't be understated.   

Showing the ills of Gotham in such great detail also has an effect on how the characters are portrayed- particularly in the case of plights of Wayne/Batman (Robert Pattinson), Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz) and Edward Nashton/Riddler (Paul Dano). In past iterations of Batman, there would be a clear distinction made between the behaviors of the good and evil characters. Here, they're treated as three people who have more similarities than differences. While their scars from the past and personalities may be different, this trio have all experienced suffering and trauma at the hands of Gotham and are all in the process of executing a plan that they believe will finally see those who wronged them brought to justice. There's been plenty of superhero films that have featured villains with empathetic streaks or heroes that are put into a situation or two where their character is tested, but making a superhero story where everyone's morals are cloudy and rarely end up doing something that is truly right is a refreshing change of pace that raises some thought-provoking questions about the often small distinction between heroes and villains as well as the different ways the emotional fallout from experiencing a negative event can materialize in a human being.    

The final piece of Reeves' haunting Batman vision is fully realized by the exceptional work of the actors he cast. There's been no shortage of high-powered ensembles behind Batman films over the years, but I'd argue that none of them captured the essence of their characters better than this one. Pattinson's reclusive, grief-stricken and rage-filled portrayal of Wayne/Batman is an utterly fascinating take on the character that's completely distinct from any of its predecessors, Kravitz does a terrific job of capturing the moral ambiguity, fearlessness and fight to survive that makes Kyle the perfect kindred spirit/love interest/foil for Batman, Dano is a deeply unsettling, subtly heartbreaking tour de force that takes command of every single scene he appears in, Jeffrey Wright subverts the hard-boiled cop archetype the character has previously been on screen by turning Jim Gordon into a smartass, dedicated detective who chooses to believe Batman is a force for good at a time where people believe he is nothing more than a masked vigilante who lurks in the shadows and Colin Farrell serves as sort of a light in this darkened world with his delightfully hammy turn as small town gangster Oz "The Penguin" Cobblepot. 

It's extremely funny to me that this cast (namely Pattinson and Kravitz) was met with so many raised eyebrows and turned-up noses when it was announced. This is an incredibly gifted group of actors (Deeper supporting players Andy Serkis, John Turturro and Peter Sarsgaard are also very good in it) who have proved the extent of their talent time and time again and only further solidified their reputations as some of the industry's brightest stars with what they achieved here. With their firm handle on these characters and a passionate, detailed-oriented filmmaker in Reeves captaining the ship, the potential for this run of Batman films couldn't possibly be higher.

Plain and simple, The Batman is a masterpiece. I'm in awe of what Reeves and his collaborators on-and-off camera were able to accomplish with this spellbinding film that completely redefines what the superhero genre is capable of achieving on an artistic level. The future of this franchise is incredibly exciting and let's hope that the upcoming merger with Discovery doesn't screw up the hot streak Warner Brothers has been on with their DC projects over the past couple years.                     

Grade: A

2022 NFL Mock Draft (Post-Combine)

1.Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, tackle (Alabama)

2.Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, edge rusher (Michigan)

3.Houston Texans: Ickey Ekonwu, tackle (NC State)

4.New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge rusher (Oregon)

5.New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, safety (Notre Dame)

6.Carolina Panthers: Malik Willis, quarterback (Liberty)

7.New York Giants: Charles Cross, tackle (Mississippi State)

8.Atlanta Falcons: Sauce Gardner, cornerback (Cincinnati) 

9.Denver Broncos: David Ojabo, edge rusher (Michigan)

10.New York Jets: Derrick Stingley Jr., cornerback (LSU)

11.Washington Commanders: Kenny Pickett, quarterback (Pittsburgh)

12.Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Davis, defensive tackle (Georgia)

13.Cleveland Browns: Drake London, wide receiver (USC)

14.Baltimore Ravens: Travon Walker, edge rusher (Georgia)

15.Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Lloyd, inside linebacker (Utah)

16.Philadelphia Eagles: Garrett Wilson, wide receiver (Ohio State)

17.Los Angeles Chargers: Devonte Wyatt, defensive tackle (Georgia)

18.New Orleans Saints: Desmond Ridder, quarterback (Cincinnati)

19.Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Linderbaum, center/guard (Iowa) 

20.Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenyon Green, guard (Texas A&M)

21.New England Patriots: Nakobe Dean, inside linebacker (Georgia) 

22.Las Vegas Raiders: Treylon Burks, wide receiver (Arkansas)

23.Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Booth, cornerback (Clemson)

24.Dallas Cowboys: George Karalaftis, edge rusher (Purdue)

25.Buffalo Bills: Kalir Elam, cornerback (Florida)

26.Tenneesee Titans: Jameson Williams, wide receiver (Alabama)

27.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Matt Corral, quarterback (Ole Miss)

28.Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave, wide receiver (Ohio State) 

29.Miami Dolphins: Trevor Panning, tackle (Northern Iowa)

30.Kansas City Chiefs: Dax Hill, safety (Michigan)

31.Cincinnati Bengals: Zion Johnson, guard (Boston College)

32.Detroit Lions: Jahan Dotson, wide receiver (Penn State)

Update

Hello all,

I'm starting my 2022 NFL Draft prep process today, so I'll be taking the rest of the week off from writing. Posting will resume on Monday with of all things, a post-combine mock draft.

Thanks,  

Chris Maitland

Live Action Batman Movies Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted relevant superlatives. This week, I'm profiling the live action Batman movies ahead of the release of "The Batman'" in theaters on Thursday night. 

Live Action Batman Movies Ranked:

(Note: Both cuts of Justice League have been excluded since they're both ensemble pieces that don't predominantly focus on Batman)

8.Batman & Robin (D+)

7.Batman Forever (C+)

6.Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (B-)

5.Batman Returns (B)

4.Batman (B+)

3.The Dark Knight (A-)

2.The Dark Knight Rises (A-) 

1.Batman Begins (A)

Top Dog: Batman Begins (2005)

So much has happened with the Batman character and superhero movies on the whole in the 16 and a half years since Batman Begins was released that its impact has been unfairly dulled a bit. Christopher Nolan's inaugural Batman project proved that Christian Bale's rare combination of magnetism and otherworldly commitment to the character he's playing in his early projects translated to the world of blockbusters, villains of lesser prominence (Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow, Liam Nesson's Ra's al Gul) could be just as memorable as the universe's heavy hitters and a darker, more realistic approach was way more interesting than the varying degrees of campiness that defined all of the previous live action iterations of the character. 

Lowlight: Batman & Robin (1997)

While not without its funny moments (mostly courtesy of Arnold Schwarzenegger's nutty performance as Mr. Freeze), Batman & Robin elevates the cartoonish lunacy of the franchise's previous film Batman Forever to such a high degree that it becomes more grating than entertaining.    

Most Underrated: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Having to follow The Dark Knight inevitably caused The Dark Knight Rises to receive harsher criticism than it deserved. While it's certainly a bit too long and has some creative choices that don't work overly well (namely in the final act reveal involving Marion Cotillard's character), The Dark Knight Rises is still an impressive finale for the Dark Knight trilogy. Tom Hardy brings the perfect balance of terror and camp to his portrayal of masked terrorist Bane, the action setpieces are universally excellent and the presence of a more complex emotional arc for Bruce Wayne allows Bale to give his best performance of the series. 

Most Overrated: The Dark Knight (2008)

Don't take this as some kind of brutal contrarian takedown of The Dark Knight. It's a thrilling film that plays out more like a crime saga than a superhero movie and features a downright legendary performance from the late Heath Ledger as the Joker. However, the widespread hailing of it as not only one of the best superhero movies ever made, but one of the greatest movies ever made period is a sentiment that I disagree with so strongly that I've always viewed The Dark Knight as a bit overrated.