Concert Review: Intronaut-- Cambridge, MA-- March 30th, 2016

Lineup: Intronaut, Scale the Summit, North and Rozamov
Venue: The Middle East Downstairs Cambridge, MA

Rozamov: These guys are the go-to local opener for any sludge/doom metal show in the Boston-area. Last night marked the first time I'd actually seen them and I really hope I don't have to ever again. Every single song featured the same plodding sludge riff, lifeless drum fills and muddled harsh vocals for seven or eight minutes and the entire band displayed an energy level that was reminiscent of the titular character from Weekend at Bernie's. Unless you're looking to learn the basics of how to play the most mind-numbingly dull sludge metal humanly possible, I'd avoid voluntarily seeing Rozamov at all costs.

North: Just about anything would've sounded good after Rozamov had just lulled me to sleep for 30 minutes, but North was seriously great. Their sound was a perfect mix of punishing sludge and atmospheric post-metal and the amount of killer riffs they laid down in every song was flat-out absurd. I'm going to need to dig into their discography ASAP after witnessing this excellent performance.

Scale the Summit: For those don't know, Scale the Summit was added to this tour at the last minute after the original direct support act-Germany's The Ocean-was forced to drop off after not getting their work visas processed in time for the start of the tour. While I was incredibly disappointed that The Ocean wasn't able to do this tour, Scale the Summit was about as perfect of a replacement as Intronaut could've got for this tour. I could ramble on for an elongated period of time about how tight the band was or how warmly the crowd received them, but this set largely served as a gateway to help me rediscover the brilliance of Scale the Summit's music. With the exception of giving their latest album V a few spins at the end of the last year, I've largely ignored listening to them for the past couple of years and for the entire 45 minutes they were on stage, I became overwhelmed with self-hatred for making such a moronic decision. Between their top-notch technical chops and ability to create a consistently rich, dense atmosphere with their music, Scale the Summit is firmly embedded in the upper echelon of instrumental metal bands. Scale the Summit is an absolute joy to behold live and I will never make the mistake of sleeping on their music again as long as I live.

Intronaut: I'd seen Intronaut three times prior to this (opening for Mastodon in 2009, Meshuggah in 2013 and Between the Buried and Me in 2014), but I was extremely excited to finally get the chance to see them headline. As with the previous times I've seen them, Intronaut's performance was freaking outstanding. While their live show has been consistently excellent over the years, this show saw them raising their game to the next level due to their decision to play their brilliant new album The Direction of Last Things in its entirety. The intimacy and note-perfect acoustics of the Middle East Downstairs maximized the power of the record's striking blend of crushing riffs and jazz-inspired melodies and made all seven songs even more immense and striking than the studio versions.

As always, the biggest highlight of going to an Intronaut show is getting the pleasure of seeing bassist Joe Lester and drummer Danny Walker play in person. As far as I'm concerned, these guys are the best rhythm section in all of music at the moment and seeing them perform live showcases just how exceptionally gifted they are at their respective instruments. Lester and Walker are the backbone of Intronaut's tremendous success as a band and prove that more bands in the present day should put a bigger emphasis on having a strong rhythm section. This show once again reaffirmed my belief that Intronaut is one of the most criminally overlooked bands in modern metal and I urge anyone that can catch a show on the last two weeks of this tour to do so.

Scores:
Rozamov 2/10
North 8/10
Scale the Summit 8.5/10
Intronaut 9/10

Setlists:
Scale the Summit:
Blue Sun
Oort Cloud
Narrow Sailanet
Atlas Novus
Pontus Euxinus
Soria Moria
Kestral
Odyssey
Origin of Species

Intronaut:
Fast Worms
Digital Gerrymandering
The Pleasant Surprise
The Unlikely Event of a Water Landing
Sul Ponticello
The Direction of Last Things
City Hymnal

Encore:
Core Relations
Milk Leg
The Literal Black Cloud

The Best and Worst of Don Cheadle

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

Film starring Don Cheadle that I've seen:
Volcano
Boogie Nights
Mission to Mars
Swordfish
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
Hotel Rwanda
Crash
Reign Over Me
Ocean's Thirteen
Traitor
Brooklyn's Finest
Iron Man 2
The Guard
Flight
Iron Man 3 
Avengers: Age of Ultron 

Best Performance: Hotel Rwanda (2004) 
Hotel Rwanda is a film that I find to be grossly overrated among the unofficial "awards-friendly historical dramas that dominate cinemas for the last three or four months of every calendar year" genre. While the writing, directing and acting ensemble is strong on the whole, Hotel Rwanda's overall quality and emotional impact would've been far less if not for the incredible work of Cheadle. Portraying Paul Ruseabagina, a hotel manger who housed over 1,000 refugees during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, Cheadle captures the bravery and compassion that made Ruseabagina an unlikely hero during a period of perpetual unease and danger.

Worst Performance: Iron Man 2 (2010)
Cheadle isn't among my favorite actors working right now, but there's no denying that he's turned in consistently solid performances throughout his career. Of the 17 films I've seen of his over the years, Iron Man 2 is the only one where I felt he was phoning in his performance. For the duration of the film, Cheadle seemed reluctant to commit to the character of Col.James Rhodes/War Machine, Tony Stark's best friend and Iron Man's sidekick, and had a wooden presence that completely went against everything he's shown as an actor prior to this film. Iron Man 2 may have been a clear lowlight in Cheadle's career, but he can at least take solace in the fact that he still wasn't nearly as bad as Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell were in the film.

Best Film: Ocean's Eleven (2001) 
I'm generally not one of those people that excessively criticizes Hollywood for the types of movies they put out in the modern era, but I will say that they don't make lighthearted crime movies like they used to. Just about every heist movie that hits the marketplace has to be driven by grit and darkness or else it won't greenlit. This refusal to conform to the heist film genre standards of the past 40 years or so is what made Ocean's Eleven such a welcome retreat from the Dog Day Afternoon and Heat's of the world. The remake of the 1960 classic was a star-studded, flawless throwback to the breezy, good-natured capers that ruled multiplexes in the 50's and 60's and is without question one of the most purely entertaining films to be released in my lifetime to-date.   

Worst Film: Ocean's Twelve (2004)
Cheadle gets the prestigious honor of being the first actor in the history of this series to have their best and worst film be part of the same franchise. The wit, charm and high stakes of the central heist that made the first installment a massive success was swapped out for molasses-esque pacing, convoluted writing and a joyless climax in the second installment of Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy. While the filmmakers were able to get the series back to its infectiously fun roots with 2007's Ocean's Thirteen, it wasn't good enough to undo much of the damage this tedious, pointless film did to this franchise.

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

2016 NFL Mock Draft 3.0 (Updated 3/28)

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

Album Review: Killswitch Engage-Incarnate

Killswitch Engage got a much-needed jolt of creative life when original singer Jesse Leach rejoined the lineup in 2012. Leach's incendiary presence and spectacular vocal performance made their 2013 comeback album, Disarm the Descent, their most impressive release since 2004's The End of Heartache. KsE's reinvigoration continues with Incarnate, a predictable yet still highly enjoyable record from the Massachusetts-bred metalcore pioneers.

Per usual, KsE is at their undeniable best when they're in full-on metalcore anthem mode. "Strength of the Mind", "Embrace the Journey...Upraised", "Alone I Stand", "Hate by Design" and "The Great Deceit" feature a perfect balance of Leach's harsh and clean vocals and guitarists Adam Dutekwicz and Joel Strozel's trading off catchy chunk riffs and big, sweeping solos. While the entire band is in peak form on Incarnate, Leach ends up stealing the show with yet another outstanding vocal performance. On the back half of the record when the band abandons their heavy, uptempo niche and starts messing around with mid-paced songs ("Until the Day", "Just Let Go", "It Falls on Me") that largely lack their signature strong melodic riffing, Leach keeps the proceedings on track with his incredible range and flare for memorable, emotionally-charged choruses. Incarnate lacks the relentless energy and remarkable consistency of Disarm the Descent, but it's still a catchy, well-crafted metalcore record that once again proves why Killswitch Engage has enjoyed the longevity that has alluded many of their peers.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Strength of the Mind
2.Embrace the Journey...Upraised
3.Alone I Stand

The Best and Worst of Ben Affleck

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" star Ben Affleck.

Films Starring Ben Affleck that I've seen:
Mallrats
Chasing Amy
Good Will Hunting 
Armageddon 
Dogma
Pearl Harbor
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back 
Daredevil
Surviving Christmas
Smokin' Aces
State of Play
Extract 
The Town
Argo 
Runner Runner
Gone Girl

Best Performance: Gone Girl (2014)
Affleck has been on a roll on both sides of the camera since he rejuvenated his career with 2007's Gone Baby Gone. While Affleck has turned in a number of excellent performances of late, his work in Gone Girl is his clear defining moment as an actor. Affleck brings the perfect amount of smugness and emotional indifference to the role of Nick Dunne, a shady man who becomes the primary suspect for the murder of his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) following her mysterious disappearance on the date of their fifth wedding anniversary.    

Worst Performance: Armageddon (1998)
After his breakout performance in Good Will Hunting, Affleck's career hit a wall for nearly a decade. He starred almost exclusively in god awful movies and any bit of the acting talent he showed in Good Will Hunting appeared to be a fluke. His lowest moment came in Michael Bay's dim-witted sci-fi action blockbuster/high-budget soap opera Armageddon- his first major role following Good Will Hunting. Affleck has all of the charisma of a vacuum cleaner as he shoots off non-stop idiotic dialogue and shares no shortage of awkward, faux-sentimental scenes with his on-screen wife, played an equally wooden Liv Tyler.  

Best Film: Good Will Hunting (1997)
Being from the Boston-area and having a soft spot for coming-of-age stories, I'm pretty much obligated to love this movie. Between the strength of the acting, likability of the characters and poignancy of its central messages of dealing with grief and facing your fears, Good Will Hunting hits all the right notes for the genre. It may not be the most complex or thought-provoking film, but it's without question one of the most touching and endlessly rewatchable films I've ever seen.

Worst Film: Pearl Harbor (2001)
You won't find too many films from the past 15 years that are more widely panned than Pearl Harbor and in my eyes, every ounce of the public disdain for this film is justified. Michael Bay turned one of the most traumatic events in United States history into a ridiculous corny, overlong and poorly-acted melodrama that focuses more on a moronic love triangle between Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale's characters than the actual bombing of Pearl Harbor. To this day, I remain genuinely surprised that the people who weren't steady Hollywood fixtures when this was released (Bay, Beckinsale, Hartnett and Jennifer Garner) were able to find work again after starring in this grand-scale debacle.    

 Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Miles Ahead" star Don Cheadle.

As We Proceed Podcast

Hello all,
I am proud to announce my involvement in a new hip-hop podcast entitled "As We Proceed" with my friend Feliciano Segundo. I'd like to publicly thank Feliciano for asking me to join him in this venture. The first recording session was a blast and I look forward to having many more spirited conversations and debates with him in the future. The debut episode can be found be here(http://soundcloud.com/feliciano-segundo/as-we-proceed-episode-1-this-unruly-mess-of-pablo) and I would highly appreciate if all y'all fine people took the time to check it out. Hope you enjoy!

Chris Maitland

Track-By-Track Album Review: Kanye West-The Life of Pablo

(Editor's Note: This is a review for the initial Tidal release of the album)
The release of Kanye West's latest project, The Life of Pablo, last month was nontraditional to say the least. After nearly a year of delays and a seemingly endless amount of title changes, West announced the album had dropped on Jay-Z's subscription-based streaming service Tidal during a performance on the February 13th episode of Saturday Night Live. Less than 48 hours after releasing The Life of Pablo, West took to Twitter and went on a long-winded rant confirming that the album would only be available on Tidal- bypassing a release on all other digital and physical formats- and that the project was "open-ended" and would be tweaked several times over the coming months. The album itself is every bit as messy as its ill-conceived rollout and because of this, I've decided to take a track-by-track look at this chaotic, roller coaster of an album. 

1.Ultralight Beam: As much as I admire West as an artist, there are times where his ego gets the best of him. "Ultralight Beam" is a prime example of this phenomenon. What was clearly intended to be this sweeping, emotional track comes off as an absurd, self-indulgent affair thanks to West's pathetic attempt to sing like an R&B crooner and the ridiculously over-the-top use of a gospel choir. West's masturbatory egotrip is single-handily salvaged by a spotlight-stealing verse from fellow Chicago-bred MC and music critic darling Chance the Rapper. With his consistently clever lines and perfect flow for the moody, gospel-influenced beat, Chance injects this stale track with a much-needed burst of life. Between this and his similarly spectacular guest spot on Action Bronson's "Baby Blue" last year, it's become increasingly clear that Chance needs to drop his long-awaited follow-up to 2013's Acid Rap as soon as possible.

2/3: Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1/2: No song on here illustrates the cohesion issues that exist on The Life of Pablo better than this two-part "epic" track. The "Father Stretch My Hands" saga is essentially just West trying to cram as many clashing musical ideas as he can possibly can into less than four and a half of minutes. The highlights of this musical clusterfluck include some reliably mediocre clean singing from Kid Cudi, a disco beat that sounds like it was record at Studio 54 in 1973, a random trap hook from some 18-year old kid named Desiigner that just got signed to West's GOOD Music label, and to top it all off, West rapping about the hazards of screwing a model that just bleached her asshole. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a few enjoyable moments amidst all the drastic, rapid tempo shifts, there's just way too much going on here for the track to amount to anything that's truly enjoyable.

4.Famous: Magic tends to happen when West collaborates with Rihanna and "Famous" is no exception to that rule. West actually raps a proper verse for the first time on the album and it results in a beautiful, punchline-filled verse that serves as a reminder of just how clever and infectious West can be when he puts forth a legitimate effort on the mic. Pair West's strong, bravado-filled verses with a memorable hook from Rihanna and you have one of the clear standout tracks on this record. 

5.Feedback: Don't look now, but The Life of Pablo appears to be gaining some traction! Behind a grimy beat that sounds like an outtake from Yeezus, West drops two quick, aggressive verses explaining how misunderstood he is as a person and artist and seemingly apologizing for some of the insane public comments he's made over the years. It's far from a classic, but it's definitely an enjoyable track that showcases West at his hungriest. 

6.Low Lights: This is basically just an extended intro to the next track "Highlights". It serves no real purpose other than to fill time.

7.Highlights: Of the songs on The Life of Pablo that actually sound polished, this is easily the worst. The combination of over-the-top autotune, piss-poor rapping from West and a guest spot from the always obnoxious Young Thug make this track completely insufferable.

8.Freestyle 4: With a title like "Freestyle 4" you'd expect Kanye to drop some serious bars here right? WRONG!! This is essentially a two-minute spoken word piece dedicated to Kanye's love of having wild sex while under the influence of various drugs with another attempt to push his label's recent signer Desiigner-who sounds exactly like the poor man's Future- at the end of the song. God damn you Kanye for getting my hopes up for some hot fire spitting and giving me this dull malarkey instead.

9.I Love Kanye: This hilarious interlude sees West skewering his arrogance by simply stating how much he loves himself for 52 seconds. West's self-awareness is a large part of why his public antics have never bothered me and this track only further confirms that.

10.Waves: This is the song that West attributed the delay of The Life of Pablo to. After hearing the album, I completely believe that claim as the final product sounds clearly rushed and uneven. It's a shame West felt the need to slap this track together at the last minute because there are flashes of potential greatness (the stunning intro, the hook from Chris Brown) scattered throughout the duration of the song. Given the "open-ended" nature of this project, it would've been a better idea to not release it until it was actually finished.

11.FML: Just when it seemed like The Life of Pablo was a total lost cause, "FML" puts a stop to lengthy mid-album skid. The rapping from West is merely average and you once again can't help but feel that this song wasn't fully developed, but the eerie beat and haunting chorus from The Weeknd is enough to make this track a winner.

12.Real Friends: While "FML" was a step in the right direction, "Real Friends" marks the point where The Life of Pablo starts to really pick up in quality. "Real Friends" sees West addressing how focusing on his career, marriage and fatherhood has effected his other relationships in a very thoughtful, articulate manner. It's a fantastic antithesis to the mindless boasting that makes up most of this album and proves that West is still capable of creating poignant, introspective material when he wants to.  

13.Wolves: Is the version with Frank Ocean, Vic Mensa and Sia that was performed at the Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary special in February 2015 and leaked onto the internet a few weeks ago better than this one? Absolutely. Is the version featuring Caroline Shaw that appears on this record a huge step-down from the original? Absolutely not. This is an immense and thoroughly chilling track that makes better use of Kanye's dark pop aesthetic than anything on 2008's 808's and Heartbreak did. Of course I'd like to hear a properly mastered rendition of the original version at some point in time, but this current version is still mightily impressive. 

14. Silver Surfer Intermission: YAY ANOTHER POINTLESS INTERLUDE!!!! THANK YOU BASED YEEZUS!!!!!

15.30 Hours: This is EXACTLY what I wanted "Freestyle 4" to be. This is a great throwback to the fun, bullshit ad-lib tracks you would find on a number of classic hip-hop records in the late 80's and early 90's. It would've been better suited as the closing track, but it's still a solid, throwaway track that makes great use of West's charisma and knack for hilarious wordplay.

16.No More Parties in LA: The internet exploded when Kanye dropped this collab track with Kendrick Lamar back in January and for good reason; it's one hell of a song. This is an ambitious, jazzy and lyrically-dense track that would've fit in beautifully on either of West's early classics (2004's The College Dropout and 2005's Late Registration). This is the best song on The Life of Pablo by a considerable margin and I firmly believe that it ranks among the finest songs West has released over the course of his storied career.

17.Facts (Charlie Heat Version): "Facts" is everything you'd expect out of a Kanye West Nike diss song. The entire track is build around a highly-energized West taking pointed shots at the shoe giant and incessantly bragging about his massive success with rival Adidas behind a stellar, abrasive beat. It's a moronic and extremely petty song and I loved every minute of it. Bonus points for boldly citing Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick "Swaggy P" Young as one of the reasons Adidas is doing better than Nike right now (any NBA fans out there knows that this is easily the most insane and false thing West says on the entire record).

18.Fade: The success of "Fade" is a testament to how brilliant of a producer West is. The sample work and beat are so god damn impressive that it all but completely glosses over the half-assed, incomplete verses that West, Ty Dolla $ign and Post Malone deliver on this track. It's definitely a fitting ending to the wild, disjointed ride that is The Life of Pablo.

The Life of Pablo serves as a perfect metaphor for Kanye West as a person and artist. It's a ridiculously polarizing piece of art that's frequently jumps between being brilliant, incoherent, bizarre, obnoxious, fascinating and flat-out insane. West is a musical mad scientist with a frequently changing sound and while this isn't even close to being his finest experiment, you have to commend him for making such an unpolished work on any sort of level. 

3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.No More Parties in LA
2.Famous
3.Wolves

2016 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (Updated 3/21)

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

The Best and Worst of Miles Teller

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "The Divergent Series: Allegiant" star Miles Teller.
 
Films starring Miles Teller that I've seen:
Footloose
Project X
21 & Over
The Spectacular Now
That Awkward Moment
Divergent
Whiplash
Insurgent
Fantastic Four 

Best Performance: The Spectacular Now (2013)
The Spectacular Now was the film that made realize that Teller is one of the best young actors on the planet right now. As Sutter Keely-an 18-year old alcoholic jock who falls in love with an artsy loner (Shailene Woodley)-Teller showcases a tremendous emotional range and the type of commanding screen presence that only the all-time greats possess.

Worst Performance: 21 & Over (2013)
Teller has proven a number of times (Project X, That Awkward Moment, Footloose) that he has the chops and timing required to thrive in the comedy world. However, you wouldn't know that by watching 21 & Over. With his turn as the obnoxious, unfunny co-protagonist Miller, Teller manages to be the worst part of this well below average comedy 

Best Film: Whiplash (2014)
Damian Chazelle's Whiplash is not your average music drama. It tells the story of a 19-year drummer (Teller) at a prestigious New York music conservatory and his relationship with the hot-headed, but well-respected leader of the school's jazz band (J.K. Simmons in an Academy Award-winning role) with the intensity and white-knuckle suspense of a thriller. There's little doubt in my mind that this rousing, electric masterpiece will go down as one of the seminal films of the 2010's. 

Worst Film: 21 & Over  (2013)
I will admit that I'm a person that's very easily amused by vulgar humor. I can honestly name the amount of R-rated comedies that have been released in the past decade that I disliked on two hands. Scott Moore and Jon Lucas' 21 & Over is one of them. 21 & Over basically rehashes The Hangover (which Lucas and Moore had a hand in writing) without the obscene, clever gags and talent-loaded cast that made that film a winner.


Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" star Ben Affleck

Album Review: Flatbush Zombies: 3001: A Laced Odyssey

New York-bred hip-hop trio Flatbush Zombies are proud outsiders. At a time where most of the current hip-hop landscape consists of trap and radio-friendly pop acts, their eccentric, drug-fueled brand of hip-hop defies any traditional categorization. After two successful mixtapes (2012's D.R.U.G.S. and 2013's BetterOffDead) and a collab EP with fellow Flatbush rap group The Underachievers (2014's Clockwork Indigo), Flatbush Zombies have finally taken their long-awaited plunge into the world of studio albums with 3001: A Laced Odyssey, which is easily their most demented and surreal effort to-date.

3001: A Laced Odyssey is quite possibly one of the most apt album titles of all-time. This album is basically an insane, deranged journey through the minds of three zany, creative dudes whose lives/careers have been both aided and hampered by hallucinogenic drugs. Armed with a series of off-kilter, minimalist beats and an even more abstract take on their traditionally odd rapping style, Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick "The Architect" Elliot have created a chaotic hour of music that practically begs to be heard under the influence of mushrooms or LSD.

Flatbush Zombies decision to take their music in a more psychedelic direction is an absolutely brilliant one as it gives 3001 the clear sense of focus that their mixtapes often lacked. With a cohesive vision in place, all three members of the group are able to elevate their rapping to the next level. The opening trio of tracks ("The Odyssey", "Bounce", "R.I.P.C.D.") do an excellent job of establishing the tone right out of the gate with the trio dropping abrasive, high-energy verses that highlight each of their unique eccentricities and perfectly complement the hazy production. There are still some choppy verses here and there ( most notably Juice on the aforementioned "R.I.P.C.D." and Elliot on "New Phone, Who Dis?") but for the most part, they sound much more confident and polished now that they've taken their druggie personas to the next level.

The downside to their new direction is that Elliott's production, which has been an integral part of the group's appeal since their inception, isn't nearly as dynamic and impressive as it was on their first two releases. Aside from the beautiful mid-song beat switch in "Trade-Off" and the grimy flash of 12-minute closing epic "Your Favorite Rap Song", most of the beats on 3001 are damn near impossible to distinguish from one another. This record desperately needed an an all-out banger like BetterOffDead's "Drug Parade" or sleazy R&B track like "TP4" to break up the repetitive nature of the record's trippy, lo-fi production. The production is far from bad and it definitely plays an essential part of establishing the record's psychedelic mood, it just largely lacks the experimentation and grit that made Elliott's past work noteworthy. 

This record also further exposes the wide gap in talent between Darko and his bandmates. While Elliot and Juice have steadily improved their rapping since D.R.U.G.S. was released they are still light years behind Darko in terms of technical ability and charisma. Darko is an unhinged hip-hop monster whose fiery presence injects a healthy dose of sinister energy into every track he appears on. While Elliot and Juice are certainly respectable rappers, they lack the lethal flows and devilish wit that make Darko a star. This talent divide has been present since day one, but 3001 marks the first time its emerged as a problem due to the baffling decision to give Darko less amount of time on the mic than his bandmates. On about half of the record, Darko takes a back seat to Elliot and Juice. Unsurprisingly, these tracks ("A Spike Lee Joint", "This is It", "New Phone, Who Dis?","Good Grief") lack the excitement and danger of the songs where Darko is more prominently featured. The group dynamic goes a long way in making Flatbush Zombies one of the most exciting up-and-coming acts in hip-hop, but they won't reach their full potential until they give their most interesting member more time to shine.

3001 may have its fair share of flaws, but it's still a batshit insane musical journey that is absolutely worth embarking on. Even when they release a song that's too goofy or half-baked to work, their bizarre, bold style ensures that the proceedings never get dull. Flatbush Zombies' career is trending upward and I'm really excited to see what the future holds for them. 

3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.The Odyssey
2.R.I.P.C.D.
3.Trade-Off

Movie Review: 10 Cloverfield Lane

 

Sorry to crush you soul Cloverfield fans, but J.J Abrams wasn't being truthful when he referred to 10 Cloverfield Lane as a "blood relative" and "spiritual sequel" to the 2008 sci-fi smash that grossed over $170 million worldwide. Aside from a vague marketing campaign that doesn't disclose the plot and Abrams' involvement as a producer, there are next to no similarities between Cloverfield and this film. While the film may not be the sequel Cloverfield fans we're hoping for, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an excellent standalone film that bristles with relentless tension and unnerving suspense.

10 Cloverfield Lane is a prime example of the benefits of not knowing much about a film prior to watching it. A lot of the enjoyment to be had here comes from the constant chaos and unpredictability of the narrative and if they had disclosed significant plot details in the trailer, I'm not sure if the film would've been as effective. While I clearly can't get into much detail without ruining the central mystery that drives the film, the film's largely claustrophobic setting and the relentless uncertainty that surrounds the plot allows ample time for the skeleton crew of actors (the film only features three major characters) to show off their wide range and tremendous ability. Mary Elizabeth Winstead once again demonstrates why she is the most unheralded young actress in Hollywood right now with her striking turn as the film's reluctant heroine, relative newcomer John Gallagher Jr. strikes gold as the film's comic relief and moral compass and John Goodman is equal parts terrifying and sympathetic as the mysterious man who built the bunker the three main characters are held up in. Strong acting is essential to making intimate films like this work and as evidenced by their terrific work here, Winstead, Gallagher Jr. and Goodman all seemed to have a perfect understanding of that unwritten rule. The film does lose a bit of steam with its completely absurd and unfitting climax, but the sheer strength of everything else leading up to it makes the messy conclusion forgivable. With its constantly thrilling narrative and remarkable acting across the board, 10 Cloverfield Lane is the first film of 2016 that managed to leave a strong impression on me.

4/5 Stars

2016 NFL Free Agency Recap

With a majority of the big names off the market, it's time to reflect on who came out on top and who faltered in free agency this season. Here are my picks for the best and worst moves of the 2016 NFL free agency period.

Biggest Winners: Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have suddenly become one of the most intriguing up-and-coming teams in the league after their impressive 2015 campaign and that newfound relevance allowed them to bring in a number of the best free agents on the market this offseason. Not only did the Raiders bring in a lot of top-end talent without getting themselves into cap hell, each player they signed either bolstered one of their established strengths (Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin) or fixed a major weakness (Sean Smith) that existed on their roster.
Runners-Up: Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles

Biggest Losers: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins may have just brought in a new general manager, but the horrid personnel decisions that have plagued then for much of the past decade appear to have reared their ugly head once again in 2016. The Dolphins made a series of baffling decisions (choosing to acquire the aging and rapidly deteriorating Mario Williams over re-signing the younger and far more productive Oliver Vernon at defensive end, trading back in the draft to acquire oft-injured inside linebacker Kiko Alonso and the bloated contract of underperforming cornerback Byron Maxwell from the Eagles, cutting top corner Brent Grimes with no viable backup plan in place, letting top offensive contributors Lamar Miller and Rishard Matthews walk without giving them legitimate contract offers) that made zero sense for a team that desperately needed stability and additional talent after a highly disappointing 2015 season. 
Runners-Up: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Denver Broncos

Best Individual Signing: Sean Smith to the Raiders (4 years/$40 mil/$20 mil guaranteed)
When you look how insane the deal that only other big-name corner (Janoris Jenkins) that hit the open market got (5 years/$62 mil/$27 mil guaranteed), you get an excellent idea of just how much of a value signing this is for the Raiders. Smith is a legitimate shutdown corner that's still in the middle of his prime at 28 going on 29 and with the Raiders ferocious front seven in front of him, he should continue to be every bit as good as he was during his time with the Chiefs.
Runners-Up: Danny Trevathan to the Bears, Kelechi Osemele to the Raiders, Lamar Miller to the Texans

Worst Individual Signing: Brock Osweiler to the Texans (4 years/$72 mil/$37 mil guaranteed)
After the horrific play of Brian Hoyer led to them getting bounced from the playoffs last season, it's hardly surprising that the Texans felt the need to make a change at quarterback going into 2016. However, giving top dollar to a quarterback in Osweiler who has less than 10 career starts and highly benefited from having one of the greatest defenses of all-time hold opponents to an average of less than 14 points per game is a move that reeks of desperation. This is the type of signing that causes mass regime changes if it backfires and I wouldn't be surprised if this rash decision leads to both general manager Rick Smith and head coach Bill O'Brien getting ousted from the Texans by the end of the 2017 season.
Runners-Up: Chris Ivory to the Jaguars, Mario Williams to the Dolphins, Coby Fleener to the Saints 

Best Player Still on the Market: Ryan Fitzpatrick (quarterback)
There is a handful of teams that are still in the market for a starting quarterback and the only one available right now that doesn't have a considerable amount of red flags attached to them is Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick isn't exactly a superstar, but as he proved with the Jets in 2015, he can be a viable starter when put into the right system.
Runners-Up: Donald Penn (tackle), Evan Mathis (guard), Russell Okung (tackle)

2016 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Updated 3/10)

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

The Best and Worst of Alan Rickman

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

Films starring Alan Rickman that I've seen:
Die Hard
Dogma
Galaxy Quest
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Love Actually
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Butler

Best Performance: Die Hard (1988)
Rickman was a virtual unknown in the mid-to-late 80's, but that all changed once Die Hard was released. Rickman's menacing presence and sarcastic wit instantly made German thief/terrorist Hans Gruber one of the most iconic villains in the history of cinema.

Worst Performance: Love Actually (2003)
Rickman's underwhelming performance in the schmaltzy ensemble romantic comedy Love Actually isn't really on him. Richard Curtis' script gave him very little to work with and while he puts forth  valiant effort, he can't save his character from being anything but the stock "long-married middle-aged guy who lusts after an attractive younger woman" character you've seen in a million other romantic comedies.

Best Film: Die Hard (1988)
My absurd love of action movies is well-documented on this site and like a lot of self-proclaimed action junkies, Die Hard is one of my all-time favorites. John McTieranan's Christmas-set action opus contains all of the winning ingredients for this genre: a charismatic protagonist, a top-notch villain, a not even remotely serious tone and of course, non-stop, exhilarating action sequences. I don't quite agree with the popular notion that it's the greatest action movie of all-time, but it's definitely damn near close.

Worst Film: The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
I'll never forget my experience seeing The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy in theaters when I was 13. A group of friends and I went to go see on it opening weekend and before we went in, the ticket-taker went on a prolonged rant about great the movie was (this had never happened to me before and it hasn't happened again since). Let's just say I didn't share the ticket-taker's over-the-top enthusiasm for this movie. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of those comedies that thinks every single joke that trots out is the funniest and most clever joke ever written, which makes for an incredibly obnoxious viewing experience. It was honestly a pity to watch great actors like Mos Def, Rickman, Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel and Sam Rockwell get wasted on a smug film full of terrible, forced humor with a space-travel plot so muddled that it makes John Carter look coherent. Damn this movie to hell.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "The Divergent Series: Allegiant" star Miles Teller.

2016 NFL Free Agency: Top 10 Best Players Available

The official start of free agency may be approximately 72 hours away, but the 2016 free agency class is already guaranteed to generate as much buzz as the 2015 class that saw nearly a dozen elite players including Ndamukong Suh, DeMarco Murray and Randall Cobb hit the open market. Almost all of the biggest names set to hit free agency (Von Miller, Alshon Jeffrey, Eric Berry, Josh Norman, Kirk Cousins, Muhammad Wilkerson) have been given the franchise tag that prevents them from leaving their current team. That being said, there are still a number of impact players that will be free to sign with any team when the new league starts on Wednesday March 9th at 4:00 P.M. EST. Here are my picks for the 10 best available players in the 2016 free agent class.

10.Bruce Irvin, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
While his brash personality and reputation as a dirty player have made one of the most polarizing players in the NFL, there's no denying that Irvin has been one of the best situational pass-rushing specialists in the NFL over the past few seasons. With his steady year-to-year improvement since entering the league in 2012 and lack of wear and tear given his age (28), he could end up being a steal for a team that needs edge-rushing help.
Possible Destinations: Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers

9.Marvin Jones, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
With Alshon Jeffrey being locked up by the Bears, Jones is now by far the best wide receiver available in free agency. His youth (he turns 26 next week), consistency and ability to play both inside and outside makes him an excellent option for teams that are looking for a high-end number two receiver.
Possible Destinations: Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, New York Giants

8.Richie Incognito, guard (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Incognito had one of the most surprising comebacks in recent NFL history with a career-best season at age 32 in 2015. His age is definitely a bit of a concern moving forward, but if his dominant play last season is any indicator, he should continue to be productive throughout his (likely) final contract as an NFL player.
Possible Destinations: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, San Fransisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints

7.Lamar Miller, running back (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Miller is one of only a handful of running backs currently in the league that's good to enough shoulder the brunt of the carries himself. Miller's three-down capabilities paired with his pass-catching and elusiveness makes him one of the rare running backs that's worth giving a sizable contract to in the current pass-first climate of the NFL.
Possible Destinations: Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans

6.Sean Smith, cornerback (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Smith has quietly been one of the most productive corners in the league since he signed with the Chiefs in 2013, grading out as one of Pro Football Focus' top 15 corners in coverage each of the past two seasons. Smith's shutdown ability makes him the clear standout in this relatively weak group of free agent cornerback and that should allow him to secure one of the heftiest contracts of anyone on the market in 2016.
Possible Destinations: Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants

5.Danny Trevathan, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
He may not get the fanfare of his teammate Brandon Marshall, but Trevathan is a versatile, imposing force in the middle of the defense who's equally adept at stopping the run and dropping back in coverage. Given the small amount of top-tier inside linebackers currently in the league, it would be a shock if a linebacker-needy team with deep pockets didn't give Trevathan an outrageous amount of money.
Possible Destinations: Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers

4.Malik Jackson, defensive end/tackle (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Jackson got hot at just the right time to get paid, putting together a phenomenal playoff run to cap off his excellent 2015 season with the Broncos. While it's unclear if being a part of the Broncos talented-loaded defense or his own natural talent was responsible for his tremendous production over the past two seasons, his ability to play anywhere on the defensive line and consistent efficiency as both a pass-rusher and run-stopper makes him too intriguing of a player to not take a chance on. 
Possible Destinations: Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers

3.Damon Harrison, defensive tackle (Most recent team: New York Jets)
He may not be a household name, but there is arguably no better run-stuffing interior defensive lineman in football right now than Harrison. Harrison is the type of player that can come in and significantly alter the identity of a defense right away. If the Jets aren't able to re-sign him (which is the current rumor), any team that runs a 3-4 defense that has trouble stopping the run needs to make an aggressive push to land him.
Possible Destinations: New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, San Fransisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins

2.Doug Martin, running back (Most recent team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Doug Martin's unexpected return to form in 2015 has elevated him back to the premiere running back status he held after his stellar rookie campaign in 2012. The injuries and inconsistent play that derailed his 2013 and 2014 seasons make him a less-than-ideal candidate for a long-term deal, but the complete utter and dominance he showed in 2015 and status as one of the few running backs that can run, catch and pass-protect with equal proficiency makes him a gamble worth taking for any run-first team that's in the market for a true workhorse back.
Possible Destinations: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, San Fransisco 49ers, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions

1.Kelechi Osemele, guard (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Osemele has been a force of nature over the past four seasons with the Ravens and is without question the best offensive lineman to hit the open market since Jason Peters in 2009. Osemele's current standing as one of the most well-rounded and ferocious guards in the league makes him a top priority for any team that's looking to fortify the interior of their offensive line for the 2016 season.  
Possible Destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Fransisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers

Other Notable Free Agents:
Dwayne Allen, tight end (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Prince Amukamara, cornerback (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Robert Ayers, defensive end (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Joe Barksdale, tackle (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Mark Barron, safety (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Zane Beadles, guard (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Kelvin Beachum, tackle (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Travis Benjamin, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
LeGarrette Blount, running back (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Anquan Boldin, wide receiver (Most recent team: San Fransisco 49ers)
Alex Boone, guard (Most recent team: San Fransisco 49ers)
Nigel Bradham, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Brandon Brooks, guard (Most recent team: Houston Texans)
David Bruton, safety (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Donald Butler, inside linebacker (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Marques Colston, wide receiver (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Jared Cook, tight end (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Antonio Cromartie, cornerback (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Chase Daniel, quarterback (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Jahri Evans, guard (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Nick Fairley, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Coby Fleener, tight end (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Matt Forte, running back (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)
Arian Foster, running back (Most recent team: Houston Texans)
Ramon Foster, guard (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jerrell Freeman, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Dwight Freeney, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Junior Gallette, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Antonio Gates, tight end (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
William Gay, cornerback (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Tashaun Gibson, safety (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
Ladarius Green, tight end (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Michael Griffin, safety (Most recent team: Tennessee Titans)
Robert Griffin III, quarterback (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Tamba Hali, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Leon Hall, cornerback (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Greg Hardy, defensive end (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)
Percy Harvin, wide receiver (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
William Hayes, defensive end (Most recent: Los Angeles Rams)
Casey Hayward, cornerback (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Jaye Howard, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
George Iloka, safety (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Chris Ivory, running back (Most recent team: New York Jets) 
Janoris Jenkins, cornerback (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Charles Johnson, defensive end (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)
Chris Johnson, running back (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Derrick Johnson, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Rashad Johnson, safety (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Adam Jones, cornerback (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Jermaine Kearse, wide receiver (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Terrence Knighton, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
James Laurinaitis, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Ricardo Lockette, wide receiver (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Chris Long, defensive end (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Alex Mack, center (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
Evan Mathis, guard (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Rishard Matthews, wide receiver (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Rolando McClain, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys) 
Rodney McLeod, safety (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Leodis McKelvin, cornerback (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Brandon Mebane, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Zach Miller, tight end (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)
Alfred Morris, running back (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Mike Neal, defensive end/tackle (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Reggie Nelson, safety (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Haloti Ngata, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Russell Okung, tackle (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Brock Osweiler, quarterback (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Donald Penn, tackle (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)
Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Bilal Powell, running back (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Jerraud Powers, cornerback (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Brian Quick, wide receiver (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Manny Ramirez, center/guard (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Ruben Randle, wide receiver (Most recent team: New York Giants)
B.J. Raji, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Mohamed Sanu, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Mitchell Schwartz, tackle (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
Derrick Shelby, defensive end (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Aldon Smith, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)
Andre Smith, tackle (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Daryl Smith, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Walter Thurmond, safety (Most recent team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Stephen Tulloch, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Courtney Upshaw, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Benjamin Watson, tight end (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Eric Weddle, safety (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Roddy White, wide receiver (Most recent team: Atlanta Falcons)
Ian Williams, defensive tackle (Most recent team: San Fransisco 49ers)
Mario Williams, defensive end (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Stefen Wisnewski, center (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Best and Worst of Morgan Freeman

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

Films starring Morgan Freeman that I've seen:
Unforgiven
Outbreak 
Seven
Deep Impact
Dreamcatcher 
Bruce Almighty
Million Dollar Baby
Batman Begins
War of the Worlds
Lucky Number Slevin
Evan Almighty
Gone Baby Gone
Wanted
The Dark Knight
Red
Conan the Barbarian
Dolphin Tale
The Dark Knight Rises
Olympus Has Fallen
Oblivion
Now You See Me
Last Vegas
The Lego Movie
Transcendence
Lucy
Ted 2

Best Performance: Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Freeman won his only Oscar to-date for this performance and for my money, is one of the most deserving winners of the past decade or so. As Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris -a retired boxer and co-trainer of up-and-coming fighter Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank), Freeman serves as the emotional core of Clint Eastwood's devastating boxing drama.

Worst Performance: Lucy (2014)
Freeman had successfully avoided suffering the same fate of other aging highly-respected actors (Robert De Niro, Al Pacino) who were turning in phoned-in performances in garbage movies for most of the 2000's. Then Lucy happened. From the first time he appears in Luc Besson's sci-fi action film, Freeman looks perplexed as to why he accepted a role in such a preposterous and flat-out moronic movie (I'd like to think that he was deeply pondering what he was going to with his paycheck from starring in this garbage). 

Best Film: Unforgiven (1992)
Clint Eastwood's swan song to the western genre that made him a Hollywood A-lister is the single greatest achievement of his decorated five-decade career. The density of the narrative, unforgettable performances from Eastwood, Freeman and Gene Hackman in the lead roles and its refreshing take on the emotional toll a life of crime and murder has on the human psyche makes Unforgiven my all-time favorite western. 

Worst Film: Transcendence (2014)
Christopher Nolan's longtime cinematographer Wally Pfitser could've really used some guidance from his mentor on his disastrous directorial debut Transcendence. Pfister and screenwriter Jack Paglen waste a fascinating premise and stellar cast led by Johnny Depp, Freeman and Rebecca Hall on a film that is convoluted and dull as all hell.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Eye in the Sky" star Alan Rickman. 

Quick Concert Review: Migos-- Cambridge, MA-- March 2nd, 2016

Show: The Dab Tour featuring Migos, Skippa Da Flippa and Domingo Mango and Mango Foo
Venue: The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
Date: March 2nd, 2016

Domingo Mango and Mango Foo: At least one of these Mango clowns is related to Offset from Migos and it couldn't be more obvious when listening to them that they're trying to trying to cash-in on that goodwill.  Domingo Mango and Mango Foo are basically Migos if you took away the energy, charisma and technical abilities (aka what makes them good) that drives their music. The only saving grace of their set was that they played for just 10 minutes and promptly left the stage with little-to-no fanfare.

Skippa Da Flippa: Another one of Migos proteges that I'd never really listened to before this show. He was far from perfect, but he had a decent flow, some fun hooks and knew how to work a crowd, which is exactly what you want in an opener for these type of shows.

Migos: This was easily the most nervous I've ever been to see an artist live in my life. I'd heard so many horror stories about the poor quality of Migos live shows that I was incredibly reluctant to shell out $36 for the ticket to this show, but ultimately my devout fandom was enough for me to roll the dice and pray that they've tightened up their live act since their last major tour early last year. My gamble paid off big time as Migos put on a phenomenal show that will more than likely go down as one of the most fun shows I attend in 2016. Their high-energy, incredibly tight performance was the exact opposite of the sloppy, stagnant group I'd read about in other reviews. With the exception of two chorus-only medleys, they played every song from start to finish and all three members of the group were putting forth maximum effort on the mic for the duration of the set. There was a couple of issues with the sound mix at times and the almost complete lack of material from their breakout mixtape Y.R.N. was a bit disappointing, but for the most part their 75-minute set served as a forceful reminder of why they're the eccentric, unheralded kings of the trap rap scene. I urge everyone that's a fan of theirs to get tickets to see them on this tour or the next time they're in your area.

Scores:
Domingo Mango and Mango Foo: 3/10
Skippa Da Flippa 7/10
Migos 8.5/10

Setlist:
Migos (order may be off in the middle):
Hoe on a Mission
Plan B
Chances
WOA
You Wanna See
Fall Back
Hannah Montana
No Label II medley (Antidope/Ounces/Emmit Smith) (choruses only)
Bricks (Carnage cover)
Freak No More
Wishy Washy
One Time
Pipe it Up
Look at My Dab
Fight Night
Handsome and Wealthy
First 48
Medley (Birds/Hit Em/two other songs that I didn't recognize) (choruses only)

2016 NFL Draft Quarterback Prospects: Studs, Duds, Steals and Question Marks

by Liam Madigan-Fried
 
Imagine if you will, that you are grocery shopping one day, and you decide to try your luck at finding a few big, juicy red apples. When you get to the apple cart, you see at once that there are no perfectly round and succulent specimens. But rather there are a few…good options. Sure, there might be a bruise here or there, and they might be a bit undersized, but with the right cook and the right recipe, you could still make one hell of an apple pie! That’s exactly where we find ourselves with this year’s batch of incoming rookie quarterbacks. The 2016 quarterback may be devoid of any shiny red Blake Bortles or Jameis Winston's on the tree, but with undeniably raw yet talented prospects such as North Dakota State's Carson Wentz and Cal’s Jared Goff topping off this year’s talent pool, teams looking to add a quarterback this year should get exactly what they paid for.

Stud: Jared Goff (Junior-Cal) 
This one was a hard decision with Carson Wentz having a great workout at the Scouting Combine last weekend. However, I’ve got to give the edge to the Cal guy. Despite some questions about his overall physique (most notably his nine-inch hand size), Goff showed on day two of the combine that he has the talent to be a potential top-five pick. Goff's Combine workout showcased the excellent arm strength and unrivaled accuracy that garnered him national attention while he was at Cal and further solidified why he should be the first quarterback taken in April's draft. Although Combine and Pro Day results are hardly telling factors of future success (ex: Teddy Bridgewater’s less than stellar showing two years ago), Goff has an established body of work in his three years starting at Cal to back him up on his path to the draft. In those three seasons, Goff threw for an impressive 12,200 yards (96 TD’s, 30 INT’s) to go along with a completion rate of 62.3% on a team that lacked top-end offensive talent. Though he might be the most talented passer in this year’s bunch, one question remains: Is Goff, the kid who grew up and played in sunny California, the right fit for the harsh climate of Cleveland, the likely first team to select a quarterback with the number two overall pick? Or will the Browns chose to go with Wentz, who has plenty of bad weather experience after playing in the frozen tundra otherwise known as North Dakota for the past three years? Only time or the monkey with the cymbals that the Browns so obviously use to make their draft day choices will tell.

Bust: Christian Hackenberg (Junior-Penn State) 
It disappoints me to have to include Hackenberg in such a category considering I’ve been a fan of him since his magical freshman year under the tutelage of former Penn State (and current Houston Texans) head coach Bill O’Brien. However, his status as a bust is largely going to depend on what team he ends up with. With his combination of impressive size (6’4, 228lbs), athleticism  (4.78 40, 7.04 3-cone drill) and elite arm strength, I’m worried that a weak, quarterback-needy team will force him into a starting situation that he's just not ready for at this point in time. If any team expects this kid to be their franchise savior within his first couple of years in the league, they’re bound to end up with the next Brandon Weeden or Josh Freeman. Hackenberg is an incredibly raw prospect with a slew of problems with accuracy, reading defenses and decisionmaking that need to be fixed before he becomes a starting quarterback in the NFL. If any team expects too much from him at once, Hackenberg is destined to fall flat in the pros. 

Steal: Kevin Hogan (Senior-Stanford) 
This is one quarterback I believe is destined to be a draft day steal. In his four years playing at Stanford (three starting), Hogan has thrown for a combined 9,385 yards 75 TD’s and 29 INT’s and completed a commendable 66.6% of his passes. He closed out the 2015 season with a four-game winning streak that culminated in a blowout 45-16 win over Iowa in the Rose Bowl. The  aforementioned winning streak would've been at 11 games had it not been for a narrow 38-36 loss to Oregon in Week 10. His numbers might not as dazzling as this year's top-rated QB prospects, but Hogan has proven time and again that he's an exceptional game manager who has the ability and intelligence to make clutch plays when his team needs them. He might not possess the ideal arm strength and athleticism of his Stanford predecessor Andrew Luck, but Hogan can give a team who has the time to develop a young prospect the chance to gain a future efficiency machine (Cowboys anyone?)

Unknown:Brandon Doughty (Senior-Western Kentucky) 
Doughty turned in a decent days work at the combine despite running the slowest 40 time for quarterbacks (5.22). Doughty had a stellar career at Western Kentucky, throwing for a combined 12,855 yards,111 TD’s and 34 INT’s and an overall completion rate of 59.6% (his completion rate would be higher had he not been lost to injury in 2011 and 2012.) Many skeptics will rightly point to the fact that Doughty wasn’t exactly facing top notch competition while at Western Kentucky, which is why it is difficult to tell whether his collegiate success will translate into the NFL. 

Connor Cook (Senior-Michigan State) 
Although though he's bit a behind Goff and Wentz, Cook possesses one of the more impressive resumes of any quarterback in this draft class. During his four years as a starter for Michigan State, he thrown for a combined 9,194 yards (71 TD’s, 22 INT’s) and led the Spartans to a pair of Big Ten Championships in 2013 and 2015 and a Rose Bowl victory in 2013. However with his rather unimpressive completion rate (56.5%) and well-documented character problems, Cook is going to have be damn near perfect throughout the rest of the pre-draft workouts and interviews to sneak back into early-round consideration.

Update

Hello all,
I'd like to apologize for my lack of posting this week. My computer crapped out Monday morning and I'm currently looking for a replacement. I'll hopefully be back to regular posting by the end of the week once I obtain a new computer. Thank you very much for reading and I hope you'll check back soon for new content!


Chris Maitland