The Best and Worst of Chiwetel Ejiofor

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 "Doctor Strange" star Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor that I've seen:
Love Actually
Four Brothers
Serenity 
Inside Man
American Gangster
Salt
12 Years a Slave
The Martian
Secret in Their Eyes
Triple 9 

Best Performance: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Despite the fact that I find 12 Years a Slave to be an overrated film, there's no denying that Ejiofor is absolutely brilliant in it. Ejiofor's turn as Solomon Northup-a free African-American man working as a violinist in upstate New York who is duped into taking a job in Washington D.C. and promptly sold into slavery in 1841-is remarkably powerful and manages to prevent Steve McQueen's uneven film from ever completely collapsing.   

Worst Performance: Salt (2010)
After getting his career in American films off to a nice start with well-received films like American Gangster, Inside Man and Talk to Me, Ejiofor finally attached himself to a huge dud with Philip Noyce's (The Bone Collector, Clear and Present Danger) Salt. While Kurt Wimmer's awful script  certainly doesn't help matters, Ejiofor is still far too stoic to make his stock character (by-the-books FBI agent who isn't sure who he can trust in an international espionage case) in this overly serious pile of manure work on any sort of level.

Best Film: American Gangster (2007) 
I'll never understand why American Gangster doesn't get more love from the moviegoing public. It's consistently riveting, the acting from everyone in its massive ensemble cast is sensational and the script from Steve Zaillian does an excellent job of subverting cliches while exploring the rise and fall of Harlem-based heroin kingpin Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington in one of his finest performances). With the exception of Gladiator, I firmly believe this is Ridley Scott's most impressive post-Alien film.  

Worst Film: Love Actually (2003)
Richard Curtis is a well-respected veteran writer/director whose films I'm not really familiar with. If the rest of his work is anything like Love Actually, the only movie of his that I've actually seen, I'm elated that I've managed to successfully avoid his work. Love Actually is so full of sappiness, artificial melodrama and weak jokes that I felt like I was watching a star-studded, two-hour commercial for Hallmark. If Christmas ever ends up being canceled, I'm going to put all of the blame on this holiday-themed atrocity.   

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 "Arrival" star Amy Adams

Way Too Early Oscar Predictions

This time of year is what movie fanatics like myself live for. The biggest buzz-generating film festivals (Telluride, Venice, Toronto) have passed and the frontrunners for the year-end awards have started to solidify. In the spirit of this magical season, I thought it would be fun to use the word-of-mouth flood out of the major film festivals and general industry buzz to put together some early guesses for how the Oscars will shake out in February. It should be noted that a number of possible contenders (Silence, Fences, Hidden Figures, Live by Night, The Founder, Miss Sloane, Patriots Day, Rules Don't Apply, Gold) have yet to be publicly screened, so the makeup of this field could be significantly altered by the time December rolls around. Without further ado, here are my way too early predictions for the 89th Academy Awards.


Best Picture:
Arrival
Fences
Jackie
La La Land
Loving
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight 
Silence
And the Winner Is.....: La La Land
La La Land has been the darling of every festival its screened at and that level of universal acclaim paired with the type of Old Hollywood backdrop that the Academy consistently fawns over makes Damien Chazelle's original musical the overwhelming favorite to win Best Picture this year.  

Best Actor:
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Silence
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Tom Hanks, Sully
Denzel Washington, Fences

And the Winner Is...: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
2016's Best Actor field is uncharacteristically thin, which makes this an ideal year to award a hardened veteran actor like Affleck that has been largely (and in my eyes, criminally) underappreciated for the duration of his career for a performance that is being hailed as his best-to date. 

Best Actress:
Amy Adams, Arrival
Annette Bening, 20th Century Women

Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land 

And the Winner is: Emma Stone, La La Land
On the contrary, the Best Actress field is the deepest its been since at least 2010. I can honestly say that all five of these women have a shot at taking home Oscar gold, but I'm going to give Stone the slight edge due to the momentum she's picked up after her upset Best Actress win at the Venice Film Festival in September.

Best Supporting Actor:
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Liam Nesson, Silence
Peter Saarsgard, Jackie
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals
And the Winner is: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
If I were to place a bet on one award winner right now, it would be this one. Moonlight has positioned itself as one of this year's strongest awards contenders and no one else in this category has come anywhere close to matching the praise that Ali has received for his performance.

Best Supporting Actress:
Viola Davis, Fences
Greta Gerwig, 20th Century Women
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea 
And the Winner Is: Naomie Harris, Moonlight
It wouldn't shock me at all if Davis or Williams ended up winning, but I believe this year's Oscars are going to be about awarding lesser-known actors and as a Britain-bred character actress that hasn't gained much traction in American cinema, Harris fits that bill to a T.  

Best Director:
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea 
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Martin Scorsese, Silence
Denis Villenevue, Arrival 
And the Winner Is: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Yet another pretty open field with a nice blend of established powerhouse filmmakers and promising up-and-comers, but Chazelle has the edge right now. Judging from the small amount of footage that's currently floating around the internet, you can tell that Chazelle has given La La Land a distinct tone and visual style that should really resonate with voters.  

Best Animated Feature:
Finding Dory
Kubo & the Two Strings 
Miss Hokusai
Moana
Zootopia
And the Winner is: Zootopia 
Zootopia has all of the components needed to win (Disney-backing, excellent reviews, thought-provoking messages that are bound to go over your 6-year old's head) this award and unless Moana goes down as an instant classic, I can't see a scenario where this doesn't win.

Album Review: Lady Gaga-Joanne

Pop superstar Lady Gaga has made some drastic changes to her public persona over the past couple of years. She's abandoned her head-turning oddball fashion choices in favor of a more traditional Old Hollywood style and took a break from music to advance her acting career with a bit part in 2014's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and starring role in FX's American Horror Story: Hotel last fall. Gaga's recent string of transformations has now (unsurprisingly) led to a massive change in musical identity on her long-awaited comeback album Joanne, which manages to be an uneven, puzzling and occasionally brilliant ride that is practically assured to be one of 2016's most polarizing mainstream albums.     

The overhauled sound Gaga rolls with on Joanne introduces a whole new set of problems to her music. As flawed as her post-Fame/Fame Monster projects have been, they at least felt like fully-formed projects with a cohesive structure. On this record, Gaga pretty much just throws a bunch of clashing, seemingly random ideas at the listener's ears in the hope that some of them will leave a lasting impression. There's weak forays into glam rock ("Perfect Illusion"), grimy reggae ("Dancin' in Circles) and the complete unknown (the WTF-inducing "Come to Mama") that all that come off as forced, disjointed detours in the context of the album. These portions of Joanne should serve as a cautionary tale for any artist that is thinking about experimenting with their sound just for the hell of it.  

The closest Joanne comes to having a sense of cohesion comes on the set of country-influenced rock tracks that kick off the album. Unfortunately, these tracks-with the notable exception of "Diamond Heart", which is able to skate by on the sheer power of its hook- somehow manage to be worst than most of the whacked-out ones. Gaga inexplicably uses the type of soaring, melodramatic vocal delivery on these guitar-driven tracks ("A-YO", "John Wayne", "the aforementioned "Diamond Heart") that are typically reserved for Broadway musicals and bad Michael Jackson impersonators. Her over-the-top vocals have obviously served very well in the past, but they sound really awkward when paired with the combination of discarded Lynyrd Skynyrd riffs and C-grade electropop backing beats she utilizes on these tracks. Country and rock are both primarily driven by rough vocalists and Gaga's love of theatrics make it impossible for her to pull off these genres in any sort of convincing fashion.

When Gaga isn't consumed with trying to be a crossover country rockstar, Joanne manages to be pretty enjoyable. The title track and "Angel Down" are tender, moving ballads that showcase an introspective side that Gaga has never really put on display in the past while the Florence Welch-assisted "Hey Girl" is a captivating showcase for two of the finest vocalists on the planet. If Joanne was heavier on straight-up pop ballads, it would've ended up being the drastic reinvention Gaga was striving for. 

Joanne is ultimately a massive albeit somewhat endearing mess. The quality of the ballads and Gaga's vocals on the non-country tracks prevent it from ever approaching trainwreck status, but it's far too scattershot in quality and cohesiveness to really celebrate. I believe that Gaga has the talent to excel outside of her established zany synthpop niche, she just needs to organically discover a new style that better suits her skill set as an artist.

2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Hey Girl (feat. Florence Welch)
2.Angel Down
3.Joanne

Week 7 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Andrew Luck (Colts)
After a so-so performance against the Texans in Week 6, Andrew Luck came back in a big way this week. Luck carved up the Titans solid secondary, picking up 353 YDS and 3 TD through the air and an additional 17 yards on the ground. Luck's gunslinger mentality makes him susceptible to crippling stinkers every once in a while, but he's still an elite QB1 option that should be started every week.   
Honorable Mentions: Drew Brees (Saints), Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

LVP: Eli Manning (Giants)
Eli Manning's October cold streak followed him across the pond. While Manning played a clean, turnover-free game in London on Sunday, the Rams defense forced to him throw short passes all game, which resulted in pretty middling performance (196 YDS and 0 TD) for the Giants signal-caller. Manning's fortunes seems like they're bound to turn around soon as the Giants face the Bengals, Browns and Bears in 3 of their first 4 games following their Week 8 bye. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Derek Carr (Raiders)

Running Back
MVP: Melvin Gordon (Chargers)
2016's most improbable fantasy success story just wrote his impressive chapter to date. Melvin Gordon was borderline unstoppable in Week 7 as he picked up 121 total yards (68 rushing, 53 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) in the Chargers comeback OT win over the Falcons. Gordon has been a regular in the endzone in 2016 (10 TD in 7 games) and given the Chargers general lack of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, there's no reason to believe he won't continue to regularly find paydirt for the rest of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Jay Ajayi (Dolphins), LeGarrette Blount (Patriots), Matt Forte (Jets)

LVP: Terrance West (Ravens)
Marty Mornhinweg's puzzling offensive playcalling and a matchup against a stout Jets run KO'd Terrance West in Week 7. West managed 10 yards on a mere 8 carries in yet another ugly loss for the Ravens, who have now lost 4 straight since their 3-0 start. West is still the top dog in the Ravens crowded backfield committee and he should continue to be a mid-level RB2 as long as he remains the starter. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Howard (Bears), Matt Jones (Redskins), Christine Michael (Seahawks)

Wide Receiver
MVP: A.J. Green (Bengals)
After 2 consecutive so-so to decent outings, A.J. Green delivered his 3rd "holy shit" performance (150+ yards) of the still relatively young 2016 season. Green brought in all 8 balls thrown his way for 169 yards and a TD-an absurd 1-handed leaping grab on a hail mary that will live in infamy for the rest time-against the Browns porous secondary. Green has another plus matchup in Week 8 against a potentially Josh Norman-less Redskins secondary.   
Honorable Mentions: Mike Evans (Buccaneers), T.Y. Hilton (Colts), Randall Cobb (Packers)

LVP: Allen Robinson (Jaguars)
Allen Robinson nightmarish 2016 campaign hit a new low in Week 7. Despite facing a Raiders secondary that has gotten repeatedly torched this season, Robinson managed to have just 2 receptions for 9 yards on 8 targets (tied with Marqise Lee for most on the team). The struggles of Blake Bortles paired with his sudden inability to get separation from opposing defensive backs on a regular basis has led to a serious regression from the 3rd-year receiver in 2016. This strong candidate for fantasy bust of the year is currently a risky WR3 play at best.
Dishonorable Mentions: Amari Cooper (Raiders), Jordy Nelson (Packers), Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)

Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
In a shocking turn of events, Rob Gronkowski tore shit up in Week 7. The Steelers admittedly did a decent job covering Gronk for most of the game, but unfortunately for them, they still allowed him to pick up 93 YDS and a TD on just 4 receptions. Gronkowski is back in kill mode and the only thing the rest of the NFL can do now is pray.  
Honorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Jack Doyle (Colts), Julius Thomas (Jaguars)

LVP: Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
On a day where one half of the Patriots dynamic tight end duo was unstoppable, the other one was basically invisible. Martellus Bennett picked up 1 catch for 5 yards on just 2 targets as the Patriots focused on a more of a run-first attack against the Steelers. Bennett's downfield ability and redzone targets make him one of the most intriguing TE's in the league, but his owners should be wary of using him as a weekly starter because of Tom Brady's love for spreading the ball around to different receivers each week.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Chargers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Dennis Pitta (Ravens)

Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
A week after earning the top defensive spot through a pair of touchdowns, the Eagles picked up the honor in a more traditional fashion this week. The Eagles terrorized a Vikings offense that hadn't turned the ball all over coming into this game, picking up 6 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, an interception and a kick return TD while only allowing 10 points. The Eagles defense aren't a strong contender to go for the MVP 3peat in Week 8 as they face the turnover/sack-averse Cowboys offense, but should be still played regardless.  
Honorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers

LVP: Buffalo Bills
The Bills recent hot streak came to a crashing halt on Sunday. The Bills got 1 sack, failed to get a takeaway and surrendered 28 points in a surprising loss against the Dolphins, who are suddenly showing life after an ugly 1-4 start. The Bills have a rough matchup against the Tom Brady-led Patriots in Week 8, so I would advise their owners to go to stream a replacement option such as the Jets, Chargers or Raiders this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings

()=last week's ranking

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

The Best and Worst of Ben Foster

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 "Inferno" star Ben Foster.

Films starring Ben Foster that I've seen:
Big Trouble
The Punisher 
X-Men: The Last Stand 
Alpha Dog 
3:10 to Yuma
30 Days of Night
The Mechanic
Contraband
Lone Survivor
The Finest Hours
Hell or High Water

Best Performance: Alpha Dog (2007) 
Alpha Dog is a potent, engrossing crime drama that I feel is highly underrated. The quality of its massive acting ensemble is the primary reason that I loved the film and of that talented bunch that includes the likes of Justin Timberlake, Olivia Wilde and the late Anton Yelchin, Foster is the clear standout. As the skinhead brother of a teenager (Yelchin) who's been kidnapped as a form of ransom by the drug dealer (Emile Hirsch) he owes money to, Foster is a fragile emotional powerhouse that is brimming with unhinged intensity and sincere pain every moment he's on screen. 

Worst Performance: Big Trouble (2002)
Big Trouble is a pretty forgettable comedy that oddly featured a number of future stars including Zooey Deschanel, Sofia Vergara and Foster in some of their first Hollywood roles. This overly quirky dark comedy featured lackluster performances from a majority of its cast (Johnny Knoxville and Stanley Tucci are the only two actors that showed up to play here), but Foster came out looking worse than anyone not named Tim Allen. Foster proved here that he has no knack for comedy with a performance that was completely soulless and unfitting for the material.   


Best Film: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Films like 3:10 to Yuma are why I'll always give remakes a chance. When a film is this exhilarating, sharp and universally well-acted, who cares if it's an update of a preexisting film?  

Worst Film: The Finest Hours (2016) 
While there's still a bunch of films slated for release over the next two months and a number of others from earlier this year that I still need to catch up on, 2016 has been notable for its lack of serious duds. To be honest, the only truly unholy piece of shit I've seen this year is The Finest Hours. Director Craig Gillespie (Million Dollar Arm, Fright Night) managed to turn a pretty remarkable true story of the Coast Guard's storied rescue of the crew of the SS Pendleton during a blizzard off the coast of New England in 1952 into a tedious snoozefest that focuses more on documenting the sappy romance between the hero Coast Guard officer (a god awful Chris Pine) and his fiance (an equally wretched Holliday Grainger) than the rescue itself. It wouldn't surprise in the least if this corny, overly sentimental pile of trash ultimately went down as my pick for the worst movie of this year.

 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 "Doctor Strange" star Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Movie Review: The Accountant

Epic paradoxes like The Accountant don't come down the Hollywood pipeline too often, but when they do it's a glorious occasion for fans of overwhelming irony everywhere. The titular accountant (Ben Affleck) is an autistic math wizard/covert military-trained assassin that is hired by criminal organizations to "uncook the books" and figure who or what is responsible for their lost funds. However, the movie surrounding this mathematical prodigy seems to have been constructed by a braindead teenager with a severe case of ADHD. Screenwriter Bill Dubuque (The Judge) is content with introducing a whole bunch of supporting characters (J.K. Simmons' U.S. treasury agent, Anna Kendrick's love interest/unintentional sidekick, Jon Bernthal's rival hitman) and subplots that are either not fleshed out or completely inconsequential for a majority of the film. Thanks to the plot twists revealed in the last 20 minutes of the film, all of the poorly-conceived storylines suddenly collide and yield an avalanche of mind-numbingly absurd resolutions that was more than enough to conjure up an extended expletive-filled rant as soon as I exited the theater. These types of narrative contrivances and gaps in logic usually don't bother me, but when a film is as stone-serious and plot-driven as The Accountant, it's impossible for me to not get frustrated by them. 

Labuque's gross incompetence is salvaged by the force of Ben Affleck's performance. Affleck is convincing as both the man whose autism and rough upbringing have left him completely disconnected from the world and the ruthless assassin who can dismantle a team of skilled mercenaries without batting an eyelash. Between this and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2016 deserves to go down as the year Affleck overcame shitty scripts to deliver a pair of terrific, layered performances. While its narrative flaws are crippling, the quality of the acting and the fight scenes are just enough to make The Accountant a passable autumn thriller.
  
3/5 Stars

Album Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan-Dissociation

The Dillinger Escape Plan shocked the metal world in early August when they announced they were going to be breaking up following the completion of the touring cycle for their sixth studio album Dissociation in 2017. That unexpected announcement unsurprisingly generated a bittersweet feeling among the band's devoted fanbase and raised the hype surrounding Dissociation to a sky-high level. Even with the borderline unrealistic expectations that were placed upon it by throngs of Dillinger diehards (myself included), Dissociation manages to be one hell of a swan song for the matchcore pioneers.

Every time you listen to a Dillinger Escape Plan record, you're expecting to experience a slice of controlled musical chaos packed into a sprawling yet cohesive package. Dissociation takes that Dillinger trademark characteristic and injects with a shitload of performance-enhancing drugs. The level of gleefully strange experimentation on this record is so constant that it makes the rest of their discography look accessible by comparison. Opening track "Limerent Death" does an excellent job of teasing the madness the rest of the album offers up. The song combines massive grooves, subtle violins, vocalist Greg Puciato's ear-piercing shrieks and guitarist Ben Weinman's signature fret-board spanning spazzouts to create a monster of track that kicks the listener in the teeth for four minutes.

The twists and turns only get crazier as Dissociation progresses. Dillinger incorporates everything from prominent strings ("Nothing to Forget") to oft-kilter jazz guitar passages ("Honeysuckle") to eerie, atmospheric synths that wouldn't be out of place on a Boards of Canada song (the title track) into their chaotic musical attack. Unlocking all of the different layers present on Dissociation will take even longer than usual for a Dillinger record and the adventure that comes with re-listening to this album is a large part of why it's so special.

Of course this cornucopia of wide-spanning musical influences wouldn't work nearly as well if it wasn't for Dillinger Escape Plan's tremendous musicianship. You can feel that each member of the band wanted to push the boundaries of what they were capable of musically here and it results in Dissociation featuring some of the most dense, awe-inspiring compositions they've ever crafted.

Like just about every other one of their records, Weinman and Puciato end up giving the most attention-grabbing performances on Dissociation. Weinman's absurd technical chops and Puciato's staggering vocal range allow Dillinger to make even the most drastic tempo or genre change sound effortlessly organic. Tracks like "Surrogate", "Wanting Not So Much to as to" and "Manufacturing Discontent" feature some of the most frantic, creative guitar passages and stunning clean-sung/screamed vocal sections that Dillinger has ever recorded. The musical versatility and songwriting prowess of Dillinger's unofficial power couple ensures that Dissociation is one of the finest releases they've ever put out.    

While Weinman and Puciato are Dillinger's two primary mad scientists, the rhythm section of bassist Liam Wilson and drummer Billy Rymer still play an integral role in the success of Dissociation's whacked-out experiments. Wilson's thunderous bass lines and Rymer's elaborate fills often serve as the guiding force that prevents this chaotic machine from spontaneously combusting. Weinman and Puciato may shape the identity of Dillinger Escape Plan, but I hope that history that doesn't forget the significant contributions Wilson and Rymer have made to this band over the years.           

Dissociation is about as satisfying of a final record as you'll ever hear in the music industry. This is exactly the type of beautiful, unpredictable and violent record I'd hoped Dillinger Escape Plan would end their career with. I'm obviously really bummed that they're calling it quits while they're still in their prime, but at least they went out with an album that's as inspired and true to their roots as Dissociation. I can't thank Dillinger Escape Plan enough for their contributions to the metal community over their nearly 20 years of activity and I know god damn well that they'll never be another band as intense, strange or dynamic as them ever again.  

4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Honeysuckle
2.Apologies Not Included
3.Manufacturing Discontent

Week 6 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback: 
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
At the ripe age of 37, Brees continues to be an A+ fantasy quarterback option. Brees shredded the suddenly inept Panthers defense for 465 YDS and 4 TD in the Saints 41-38 victory on Sunday. Brees has a much rougher matchup this week against the Chiefs, but it would be a shock if he didn't at least put up serviceable numbers. 
Honorable Mentions: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Cam Newton (Panthers)

LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
This is a classic example of when a solid real-life game didn't translate to a good fantasy performance. Wilson was the model of efficiency against the Falcons (270 YDS, 67.6 CMP%, 0 turnovers) but failed to reach the endzone against a defense that had allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks going into Week 6. Wilson will be a questionable start in Week 7 as he faces an Arizona Cardinals defense that has surrendered the 5th fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this season. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Derek Carr (Raiders), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)

Running Back
MVP: LeSean McCoy (Bills)
It may have been a year overdue, but LeSean McCoy finally got his revenge on Chip Kelly. McCoy  picked up 142 total YDS (140 rushing, 2 receiving) and 3 TD on 21 touches against the 49ers and undoubtedly haunted the dreams of his former head coach. The Bills have rode McCoy hard during their current 4-game winning streak and as long as that high volume of carries continues to net positive results, I expect him to maintain his status as one of the NFL's few true workhorse running backs.
Honorable Mentions: David Johnson (Cardinals), Lamar Miller (Texans), Terrance West (Ravens)

LVP: Isaiah Crowell (Browns)
After a surprisingly hot start, Isaiah Crowell has come crashing back down to earth in a big way. Crowell managed just 36 total yards (16 rushing, 20 receiving) on 11 touches against the Titans underrated run defense (they're currently ranked 7th in the league against the run) in Week 6. Despite his struggles in back-to-back weeks, the sheer volume of touches Crowell receives in Hue Jackson's run-first offense still makes him worth starting as an RB2 in most leagues.

Dishonorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde (49ers), Mark Ingram (Saints), Ryan Matthews (Eagles)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
Now THIS is the Odell Beckham Jr. fantasy owners have come to know and love since he entered in the league in 2014. After a brutal first half which included a lost fumble, Beckham came out of halftime 150% dialed in and ended up gassing the Ravens secondary for 222 YDS (a new career-high) and 2 TD's on 8 receptions. Eli Manning's inconsistency and his diva-esque emotional outbursts are going to lead to the occasional dud, but OBJ is still one of the strongest WR1 options in all of fantasy football. 
Honorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Saints), Golden Tate (Lions), Julio Jones (Falcons)

LVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
There were a handful of other notable WR1/2's (Demaryius Thomas, Doug Baldwin, T.Y. Hilton, Jeremy Maclin, Allen Robinson) who struggled in Week 6, but none of them had as good of a matchup or carry the same level of prestige as Antonio Brown. Brown (4 REC/39 YDS 1 CAR/6 YDS) managed to get shut down by the much-maligned cornerback Byron Maxwell, who was just re-inserted into the starting lineup last week to replace the injured Xavien Howard after being benched for poor play earlier this season, in what what an absolutely disastrous outing for the Steelers offense in a shocking blowout loss against the lowly Dolphins. Back-to-back underwhelming performances is not out of the realm of possibility for Brown as the Steelers have the unfortunate task of facing the red hot Patriots with backup quarterback Landry Jones at the helm in Week 7.
Dishonorable Mentions: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Doug Baldwin (Seahawks), Jeremy Maclin (Chiefs)

Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski has officially returned to his normal elite status. The Bengals defense had no answer for Gronkowski, as he mustered a career-high 162 YDS and 1 TD on 7 receptions in yet another Patriots blowout win at Gillette Stadium. There's no reason to believe that Gronkowski won't be similarly dominant in Week 7 as he faces a banged-up Steelers defense that is coming off of a game in which they allowed 81 yards to career backup MarQueis Gray.
Honorable Mentions: Coby Fleener (Saints), Hunter Henry (Chargers), Greg Olsen (Panthers)

LVP: Delanie Walker (Titans)
Marcus Mariota had his 2nd consecutive strong outing in Week 6 against the Browns, but star tight end Delanie Walker played almost no part in that success. Walker managed to only haul in a single reception for 21 yards.on just 2 targets (which somehow was still enough to be tied for 4th most on the team). Even with this poor outing, Walker is still by far the most potent threat in the Titans passing game and he has a very good chance to bounce back against the Colts horrid secondary in Week 7. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jesse James (Steelers), Zach Ertz (Eagles)

Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
Despite surrendering 27 points and failing to register a sack against the Redskins on Sunday, a pair of TD's (a pick-6 and a kick return) allowed them to finish as the top fantasy defense for the 2nd time this season. Outside of the Vikings, Bills, Broncos, Seahawks and Cardinals, I don't believe there's a better fantasy option than the Eagles D right now. 
Honorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens

LVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers meltdown in Miami wasn't limited to the offensive side of the ball. Their normally productive defense looked like a bunch of shell-shocked Arena League players, as they allowed 30 points and managed zero takeways or sacks against a Dolphins offense that has become notorious for regularly turning the ball over and getting sacked over the past 5 years. The Steelers defense usually isn't this inept, but their lack of sacks (8, currently tied for 28th in the league) and inconsistent takeways (6, currently tied for 19th in the league) makes it hard to justify keeping them on your roster. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals

Week 7 NFL Power Rankings

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

As We Proceed Episode #4

My hip-hop podcast As We Proceed has returned from a 3-month hiatus. On this episode, Feliciano and I discuss FX's Atlanta, Danny Brown's new record Atrocity Exhibition, Chance the Rapper's recent show in Boston and the joys of puppetry. You can stream the episode on Soundcloud or download it on iTunes at the links below. Huge thanks in advance to anyone that takes the time to check it out.

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/asweproceedpodcast/the-boys-are-back 
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/as-we-proceed/id1122163104?mt=2

The Best and Worst of Isla Fisher

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 "Keeping Up with the Joneses" star Isla Fisher.

Films starring Isla Fisher that I've seen:
Scooby-Doo
I Heart Huckabees 
Wedding Crashers
The Lookout
Hot Rod
Rango
Bachelorette
Now You See Me
Life of Crime
The Brothers Grimsby

Best Performance: Wedding Crashers (2005)
Fisher rose from the shadows of the anonymity in 2005 to deliver one of the most memorable breakout performances of my lifetime to-date. In a film that featured a slew of Hollywood veterans including Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson and Christopher Walken, Fisher's turn as psychotic sex addict Gloria Cleary ended up being the clear standout. While her post-Wedding Crashers role choices have been all over the quality spectrum, Fisher proved here that she can be an elite comedic performer when given the right material.  

Worst Performance: Now You See Me (2013)
In a film that's full of strong, over-the-top performances, Fisher is the clear the weak link. Fisher's lack of charm and overly serious approach to the character of flashy magician Henley Reeves made her a poor fit in an ensemble cast that otherwise had a strong rapport with one another. Fisher's absence from Now You See Me 2 (she was replaced by her Bachelorette co-star Lizzy Caplan, who proved to be the film's top scene-stealer) is a pretty big part of the reason why the sequel ended up topping the quality of its predecessor.   


Best Film: Hot Rod (2007)
Irreverent comedy is an art form that I have an unwavering love for and as far as I'm concerned, no film has ever done it better than The Lonely Island's Hot Rod. Andy Samberg and co.'s big-screen debut is the perfect blend of insanity, stupidity and hilarity, which in turn makes it one of the quotable and rewatchable comedies of all-time.     

Worst Film: Scooby-Doo (2002)
Childhood nostalgia is one of the most powerful feelings a human being can feel and when Hollywood makes a shitty movie out of a TV show, book, etc. you loved growing up, it feels like they're murdering everything that is pure in the world. I believe that Raja Gosnell's (Big Momma's House, The Smurfs franchise) live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo is a contender for the strongest example of this soul-crushing phenomenon. Everything from the casting choices (outside of Matthew Lillard, who is a dead ringer for Shaggy) to the nature of the plot takes a steaming dump on the genuine enchantment and good-natured humor that made Scooby Doo one of the greatest cartoons of all-time. I sincerely hope that the ghosts of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera are currently tormenting the lives of every person at Warner Brothers who green-lit this project.

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 "Inferno" star Ben Foster. 

The Best and Worst of J.K. Simmons

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 Accountant" star J.K Simmons.

Films starring J.K. Simmons that I've seen:
Spider-Man
Hidalgo
Spider-Man 2
Thank You for Smoking
Harsh Times
Spider-Man 3
Juno
Burn After Reading
I Love You, Man
Extract
Up in the Air
Young Adult
Contraband
The Words
Whiplash
Terminator: Genysis
Kung Fu Panda 3
Zootopia

Best Performance: Whiplash (2014)
I had always respected Simmons as an actor, but it wasn't until I saw Whiplash that I realized the true scope of his abilities. He takes a character (a hot-tempered jazz drum instructor) that doesn't sound like it would ever work on paper and makes into one of the most imposing, terrifying and fascinating villains to ever grace the silver screen. Simmons deserves every accolade and award win he picked up for this performance and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Terrence Fletcher ended up going down as one of the most notable film characters from this era.  

Worst Performance: Juno (2007)
For a veteran character actor, Simmons' resume is surprisingly devoid of a large number of duds. That being said, his performance in the 2007 indie atrocity Juno is a hell of an exception to his pretty impressive track record of consistency. Simmons plays the father of Ellen Page's obnoxious titular character and while his character is far less insufferable than rest of the asshats that populate this movie, he's still pretty god damn annoying and smug.

Best Film: Whiplash (2014)
What writer/director Damien Chazelle was able to accomplish with Whiplash is truly staggering. Chazelle turned a film about a 19-year old jazz drumming mentor (Miles Teller) and his demanding mentor (Simmons) into one of the most intense, riveting and satisfying dramas I've ever seen. In a decade that has been wildly erratic in quality to-date, Whiplash is one of only a handful of true masterpieces.


Worst Film: Juno (2007)
I'm really glad that I don't have to live in the world that screenwriter Diablo Cody created in Juno. Every character in this movie is movie is either a quirky cornball or a smartass douchebag that is begging to get punched in the face every time they own their pretentious mouths. I hope all of these imaginary people went onto live unfulfilling lives and died alone in a pool of self-hatred.   

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 "Keeping Up with the Joneses" star Isla Fisher. 

Movie Review: The Girl on the Train

October has become Hollywood's unofficial dumping ground for adaptations of popular adult novels. In the past two years, the film versions of Gone Girl and The Martian have brought in massive grosses ($167.8 and $228.4 million respectively) in a month that is traditionally reserved for horror films, mid-budget action movies and the occasional period piece. The good people over at Universal and Dreamworks are kept this recent trend alive by releasing big-screen adaptation of Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train on the first weekend of October. While it isn't quite as masterful as its blood relative Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train  is still a rock-solid psychological thriller.

The Girl on the Train focuses on three women (the collectively terrific Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett and Rebecca Ferguson) whose lives are all interconnected. Rachel (Blunt) is an unemployed, emotionally-unstable alcoholic who constantly rides the train through the neighborhood in which her ex-husband Tom (Justin Theroux) and current wife Anna (Ferguson) reside. During her daily commute on the train, Rachel becomes obsessed with Megan (Bennett) and Scott (Luke Evans), a young married couple that Rachel has come to blindly believe is the embodiment of true love. One fateful afternoon, a highly inebriated Rachel sees Megan on her balcony with another man and promptly gets off the train to confront her over her infidelity. Rachel awakens the next morning from her drunken haze covered in blood and scrapes with no recollection of what occurred after she got off of the train and soon hears a news report that Megan-who is revealed to have been employed as the nanny to Tom and Anna's baby- has gone missing. Perplexed and devastated, Rachel quickly becomes hellbent on trying to figure out if she had anything to do with Megan's disappearance.

I'm not going to lie, it's basically impossible to watch The Girl on the Train without comparing it to Gone Girl. While The Girl on the Train may not feature the satirical social commentary and level of unpredictability that made Gone Girl a masterpiece, the parallels between this and David Fincher's 2014 film are still very strong. Both films rely on a group of heavily flawed protagonists that serve as unreliable narrators, feature engaging yet occasionally convoluted intertwined narratives and have key plot points that frequently veer between wildly over-the-top and alarmingly realistic. There's no doubt in my mind that the people who disliked Gone Girl's bleakness and largely unlikable characters will have a similarly unpleasant time with this, but anyone that enjoyed Fincher's film or Gillian Flynn's novel should have no problem becoming absorbed by The Girl on the Train's deceit-driven central mystery.

The script from Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary, Men, Women & Children) is light on surprises and features a few too many overlong, soulless monologues, but still manages to be pretty impressive on the whole. The motivations and backstories of all three leading women are well-developed and the frequent transitions between different characters and timelines are handled in a very organic matter. Juggling a story with three protagonists that shifts between the past and present on a whim without ever becoming super convoluted is a lofty task that Wilson handled very well.      

What ends up elevating The Girl on the Train from B to B+ range is the remarkable turn from Blunt as Rachel. Blunt displays every ounce of the emptiness, delusion, rage and self-doubt that comes with alcoholism while still making Rachel the most (and arguably only) emphatic character in the film. Underneath all of her rash decision-making and constant lying, Rachel is a good soul that has fallen into a pattern of self-destructive behavior after going through years of immense emotional pain and trauma. You seldom see alcoholism played with this level of authenticity on screen and as someone who has witnessed several family members battle with the disease for most of my life, I can't stress enough how important it is to see an actor accurately depict the effect it can have on a person's psychological and personal health. Blunt has been turning in consistently strong performances of late, but I feel like this could very well be her finest work to-date.

The Girl on the Train is the perfect appetizer to cleanse the pallet from this summer's wave of blockbusters before the onslaught of award contenders start hitting theaters within the next few weeks. It's not likely to have a place on many people's "Best of 2016" lists or achieve any sort of cult status, but The Girl on the Train is still a very well-constructed, engaging and finely-acted thriller that should satisfy most fans of the genre.        
 
4/5 Stars

Week 6 NFL Power Rankings

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

Week 5 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Marcus Mariota (Titans)
Apparently all Marcus Mariota needed to turn things around was to face a team that is in more turmoil than his Titans. Mariota was a fantasy goldmine against the dysfunctional Dolphins this week, picking up 163 YDS and 3 TD's through the air and an additional 60 YDS and a TD on the ground. It remains unclear whether he's truly overcome his early-season struggles or this was merely a fluke strong performance against a weak defense, but Mariota is worth keeping around as a QB2 in 12+ team leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)

LVP: Eli Manning (Giants)
Going into Week 5, it seemed like Eli Manning had been handed a gift from the football gods. He was facing a Packers team that was ranked 28th in the league against the pass and was without both of their starting corners (Sam Shields and Damarious Randall). Unfortunately for Manning's fantasy owners, he didn't take advantage of this enticing matchup. The combination of an excellent pass-rushing performance from the Packers front 7 and a healthy amount of missed throws led to yet another very subpar performance (199 YD/1 TD/1 FUM) from Manning. The inevitability of performances like this one are the downside of owning Manning, but his ability to go off at anytime makes him very difficult to get rid of.
Dishonorable Mentions: Joe Flacco (Ravens), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)

Running Back
MVP: David Johnson (Cardinals)
With the delightful Drew Stanton filling in for the concussed Carson Palmer under center, the Cardinals offense ran through David Johnson in Week 5. The sophomore running back demonstrated his 2-way prowess by gouging the weak 49ers defense for 185 total yards (157 rushing, 28 receiving) and 2 TD on 30 touches. Johnson is one of the few highly-drafted RB's to live up to their elite billing so far this season and he should continue to be an integral part of the Cardinals offense as they try to crawl back to the top of the NFC West after a rough 2-3 start.
Honorable Mentions: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Jordan Howard (Bears), Tevin Coleman (Falcons)

LVP: Lamar Miller (Texans)
Lamar Miller continued his early-season woes in the Texans Week 5 tilt with the undefeated Vikings. While the Vikings early 24-0 lead limited his opportunities (he had 9 touches on the day), his 24 total yards (20 rushing, 4 receiving) is still wildly disappointing for a guy who is being utilized as an RB1 in approximately 50-60% of leagues. With just 453 total yards and 0 TD's through the first 5 games of the year, Miller has proven to be a monumental letdown for owners that used a late 1st/early 2nd round pick on him. 
Dishonorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Jerick McKinnon (Vikings), Matt Forte (Jets)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
Late-game heroics have once again elevated T.Y. Hilton to the top of the weekly wide receiver list. A game-winning 35-yard TD grab was the cherry on top for Hilton's impressive 10 reception/171-yard performance against the Bears on Sunday afternoon. Hilton is the only consistent playmaker the Colts have on offense right now, which means Andrew Luck will force an obscene amount of throws his way each and every week regardless of matchup.  
Honorable Mentions: Sammie Coates (Steelers), Amari Cooper (Raiders), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

LVP: Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
Jarvis Landry's weak performance this past Sunday against the Titans is just a case of tough luck. Landry reeled in all 3 of the targets sent his way in the game, but Ryan Tannehill bizarrely threw just 18 passes on the day as the Dolphins got manhandled by the Titans at home. This is the 1st game of the season in which Landry got less than 10 targets and 55 receiving yards (he finished this game with 28), so it's probable that he'll return to his WR2/3 form against the Steelers in Week 6.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), John Brown (Cardinals), Julian Edelman (Patriots)

Tight End
MVP: Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
Despite Rob Gronkowski putting up his Gronk-caliber performance (5 REC, 109 YDS) of the season this week, Martellus Bennett still managed to steal the show. The Black Unicorn (6 REC/67 YDS) was a frequent flyer in the endzone on Sunday as he caught all 3 of Tom Brady's TD passes in the Patriots blowout win over the Browns. Even with Gronkowski starting to look like himself again, Bennett can still be used as a TE1 in most matchups.  
Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Delanie Walker (Titans), Dwayne Allen (Colts)

LVP: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)
The up-and-down play of Kyle Rudolph continued in Week 5. Rudolph followed-up back-to-back excellent performances against the Panthers and Giants in which he netted 125 YDS and 2 TD's on 12 receptions with a 2 REC/15 yard-stinker against the Texans. Despite his inconsistency, Rudolph's pivotal role in the Vikings passing game makes a low-end TE1 with a mid-range ceiling moving forward. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Jason Witten (Cowboys)

Defense
MVP: Buffalo Bills
It took far longer than expected, but the Bills defense is starting to look like the bully Rex Ryan and his defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman promised it would be when they arrived in Buffalo prior to last season. The Bills did surrender 19 points to the Rams below average offense, but their 4 sacks, 3 takeaways (2 interceptions and a fumble recovery) and touchdown more than made up for that middling points allowed total. The Bills have been among the elite fantasy defenses so far in 2016 and if they're somehow still available in your league, you need to pounce on them immediately.  
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots

LVP: Carolina Panthers
In real life, the Panthers defense fared pretty decently in Week 5 considering the injuries that are currently plaguing their defensive line and secondary. However from a fantasy prescriptive, they were thoroughly underwhelming. The Panthers failed to generate a takeaway against a Buccaneers offense that 2nd in the league in turnovers going into this game and only picked up 2 sacks to offset the 17 points they allowed. Until the Panthers get some of their currently dinged-up players back on field, they should only be considered an emergency option in fantasy.
Dishonorable Mentions: Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos

Concert Review: Dance Gavin Dance-- Cambridge, MA-- October 7th, 2016

Lineup: Dance Gavin Dance/The Contortionist/Hail the Sun/Good Tiger/The White Noise
Venue: The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
Date: October 7th, 2016

The White Noise: When you're attending a show with more than a few bands on the bill, you naturally don't have high expectations for the first band that takes the stage. In most cases, the occupants of this slot are uninspired, middling acts that seem to have been put on the tour just for the hell of it. The White Noise was not one of those bands. I can not recall the last time I saw a band playing to a scarce crowd of people who have no clue who they are come out and wreak as much havoc as they did. Within the first three songs of their set, their guitarist had essentially run a mini-marathon around the Middle East's stage and their singer had leaped off the stage to start a mosh pit then proceeded to do the rest of the song in the middle of the crowd. When you're an unknown band opening a show for an established veteran act like Dance Gavin Dance, this is the type of bold, attention-grabbing shit you need to do to make a lasting impression on an audience. 

The White Noise set wasn't just a display of super-charged energy, the music also happened to be great. They are the rare post-hardcore band to combine catchy pop-inspired hooks with breakdowns that are legitimately heavy. With an intense live show and a deal with Fearless Records-who rosters the likes of August Burns Red, Pierce the Veil and blessthefall- don't be surprised if these guys blow up in the near future.

Good Tiger: Good Tiger is one of those bands that I haven't gotten around to checking out despite hearing nothing but great things about them from people whose opinions I really respect. Seeing them live was the final push I needed to get off my lazy ass and actually listen to their music. Elliott Coleman (ex-TesseracT and Sky Eats Airplane) is a terrific frontman with one of the most captivating, soulful voices in all of metal and the music was a really nice combination of post-hardcore, math rock and straight-up prog. Good Tiger is one of the more unique prog metal acts I've heard in a while and I'm excited to find out if their massive live sound carries over to their studio recordings.

Hail the Sun: I'm not going to lie, I had no idea how big Dance Gavin Dance Jr... I mean Hail the Sun was until this show. They got the type of wild crowd reaction that's usually reserved for headliners and big-name support acts. While it might just be case of recency bias, I've never been more surprised by a band receiving such an explosive crowd reaction in my eight years of going to concerts on a regular basis.

Despite the fact my enthusiasm was subdued compared to a majority of the crowd, I still found Hail the Sun to be pretty good. I don't love the vocals, but their guitarwork is the type of spastic technical wizardry that I can't get enough of and their primary vocalist-who is also their drummer-deserves a ton of credit for being able to bang out pretty intricate fills while simultaneously singing. Hail the Sun put on a pretty fun set that was more than enough to inspire me to revisit their new album Culture Scars ASAP. 

The Contortionist: While The Contortionist did their studio material justice with a technically-proficient performance, their 40-minute set still managed to leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Every time I've seen The Contortionist over the past few years I just can't help but get sad about the direction they've taken post-Exoplanet. After Exoplanet came out in 2010, The Contortionist appeared destined to join Between the Buried and Me, Protest the Hero and Mastodon on the hill of modern prog metal behemoths. Now, they're a merely decent act that has sacrificed their unique progressive deathcore sound to become a glorified Cynic tribute band. The Contortionist has transformed into the vanilla ice cream of prog metal and that shit depresses the hell out of me.

Dance Gavin Dance: As someone whose love affair with metal/rock/hardcore/etc. music started in the mid 2000's, it's kind of astonishing that I'd never seen Dance Gavin Dance live before this show. They've put out a whopping seven albums in nine years as a national band, have become known for their relentless touring (this show marked the 5th time they've played in Massachusetts since May 2014) and are easily one of the most popular post-hardcore bands to be founded during my formative years yet they somehow managed to never appear on a tour I was interested in until now. Their performance on Friday night was enough to make me feel like a complete jabroni for waiting until 2016 to pull the trigger on seeing them live. 

Dance Gavin Dance's stage show is noticeably different than any of the other post-hardcore bands I've seen. Their energy isn't noteworthy, they talk very little in between songs and their stage presence is pretty reserved. However, their sound mix/overall playing was near perfect and as far I'm as concerned, that's more important than explosive stage antics. Everything from the beautiful contrast between co-vocalists Tilian Pearson's angelic falsetto singing and Jon Mess' notoriously raspy screams to guitarist Will Swan's frantic sweep picks sounded exactly the same as it did on record. Given all of the advancements in recording technology that have made masking imperfections on studio albums incredibly easy, it's a stroke of good fortune every time you get to see a band like Dance Gavin Dance that has the talent and musicality to flawlessly play every note of their music in a live setting.

The construction of the setlist was kind of unexpected for a veteran band. Seven of the 12 songs they played were off of their last two albums (last year's Instant Gratification and the just-released Mothership) and they didn't play more than one song off of any their other records. I get that the band doesn't want to play a bunch of stuff from the Jonny Craig and Kurt Travis-eras, but it was still strange to see them gloss over a lot of their bigger songs ("Uneasy Hearts Weigh the Most", "And I Told Them I Invented Times New Roman", "It's Safe to Say You Dig the Backseat") in favor of the newer material.

As weird as it was to hear so little old stuff, it's not a decision that I have a problem with. Instant Gratification is my favorite record in Dance Gavin Dance's catalog and Mothership impressed the hell out of me on first listen, so having a set based around the material only boosted the quality of the set in my eyes. I wish they swapped out Instant Gratification lowlight "Death of a Strawberry" for someone like "Something New" or "The Cuddler", but aside from that, the song choices were pretty much perfect. "Stroke God, Millionaire" and "We Own the Night" were absolutely colossal while Mothership crown jewel "Flossy Dicky Bounce" ended up being the most purely fun song of the night.

It's been a stacked year for live performances, but Dance Gavin Dance is a lock to go down as one of the absolute best. I'm elated that I finally got to check off of my bucket list and I will not allow myself to skip another of their Boston-area shows without a valid reason ever again.            

Scores:
The White Noise 8/10
Good Tiger 7.5/10
Hail the Sun 7.5/10
The Contortionist 6.5/10
Dance Gavin Dance 9/10

Setlists:
The White Noise (taken from setlist.fm):
Bloom
Red Eye Lids
Bite Marks
Brainwashed
Picture Day
Cosmopolitician

Good Tiger (taken from setlist.fm):
Snake Oil
I Pain What I See
All Her Own Teeth
Float On
Aspirations
Where Are the Birds

Hail the Sun (taken from setlist.fm):
Human Target Practice
Ow! (Spliado!) (I Like It, Though)
Burn Nice and Slow (The Formative Years)
Relax/Divide
Falling on Deaf Ears
Entertainment Lies
Will They Blame Me If You Go Disappearing?

The Contortionist:
Language I: Intuition
Language II: Conspire
Thrive
Solipsis
Primordial Sound
Casuality
Oscillator
The Parable 

Dance Gavin Dance:
Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise
Stroke God, Millionaire
On the Run
Spooks
Tree Village
Flossie Dickey Bounce
Death of a Strawberry
Strawberry Swisher Pt. 3
Betrayed by the Game
Lemon Meringue Tie 
We Own the Night

Encore:
Alex English 

Album Review: Banks-The Altar

Jillian Banks-known professionally as Banks-has inexplicably evaded stardom since arriving on the music scene in 2013. Despite landing the coveted opening spot on The Weeknd's The Madness tour last fall and having the same dark, downtempo aesthetic that has made Lana Del Rey, Lorde and Halsey phenoms in the pop/R&B scene, Banks has failed to generate the level of buzz that a lot of her counterparts have received over the same period of time. Her striking second LP The Altar will hopefully prove to be enough to give her the breakout success she deserves. 

Like her 2014 debut Goddess, The Altar is a deeply personal collection of songs. This time around Banks focuses on her recent broken engagement and the flood of conflicting emotions she felt leading up to and following the break-up. Over the course of the album's 13 tracks, she explains the personality clashes and lengthy self-examination process that led to her pulling the plug on the relationship ("Gemini Feed", "Mind Games"), the initial regrets she had with her decision to end things ("Haunt", "Poltergeist") and how the aftermath of the breakup helped her transform into a stronger, more confident person ("Fuck with Myself", "Weaker Girl"). Banks' ability to organically blend vulnerability and internal strength in her songwriting gives this record the genuine cathartic power that most records in this unofficial subgenre always strive for, but rarely actually have.    

As strong as the songwriting and overarching messages of her music are, Banks' greatest asset will always be her distinct, powerhouse voice. The wide range of emotions displayed on The Altar wouldn't be nearly as effective if it wasn't for her tremendous vocal ability. She possesses the special ability to get under the listener's skin and cut directly into their soul at any given moment. There are a number of moments on here that reduced my insides into a pool of pathetic fangirl tears (most notably the verses on "27 Hours" and the chorus on the aforementioned "Mind Games"), even after multiple listens. While her regular use of electronic vocal effects could potentially be off-putting to purist listeners, the haunting power and raw beauty of her voice is more than enough to prove that her singing chops aren't merely a product of ProTools and other studio trickery.

In what has been a banner year for pop and R&B, I can say without hesitation that The Altar is one of the absolute best records the genre has offered up in 2016. Banks' remarkable level of confidence and more adventurous, emotionally-dense songwriting helped The Altar avoid the consistency pitfalls that prevented Goddess from being a really special record. The Altar solidifies Banks' place as one of the brightest talents in R&B/pop music right now and I'm absolutely elated to see where her career goes from here.  

4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Gemini Feed
2.Mind Games
3.Poltergeist

Album Review: Danny Brown-Atrocity Exhibition

Love him or hate him, Danny Brown is one of the most undeniably unique artists in hip-hop right now. He primarily raps in a distinctive high-pitched squawk, his production fuses avant-garde experimentation with the pulse-pounding thump of EDM and he approaches topics such as drug use, sex and growing up impoverished in the inner city with unflinching honesty. His hotly anticipated second LP Atrocity Exhibition sees Brown taking his music into even an more manic, original direction.

While Brown's music has never been known for its positivity, Atrocity Exhibition is so dark that it makes his previous albums look like the musical equivalents of watching Rudy on a loop. This album is a trip through Brown's personal hell and the journey is every bit as riveting as it is distressing. The lyrics largely deal with Brown's battle with depression and the anxiety that has come with his fame, and how he fights those feelings with a surplus of drugs and casual sex. The topics Brown raps about aren't exactly groundbreaking for the hip-hop genre, but the approach to addressing them absolutely is. Brown purposely takes away the potential appeal of his behavior by going into excruciating detail about how his lifestyle is a vicious cycle of temporary, soaring highs followed by prolonged, crushing lows that he is too scared to break free from. Making a record that deals so openly with the downside of the "rockstar" lifestyle is a fascinating and welcome antithesis from the thematic exploration you see from a lot of other rappers at this point in time.    

Backing up Brown's reflections on depression-induced debauchery and crippling anxiety is some of the most inventive production I've ever heard on a hip-hop record. Brown has stated in multiple interviews that Atrocity Exhibition marked the first time he had the budget to afford all of the samples he wanted to utilize in his beats and that investment pays off in a huge way. Using influences that range from post-punk ("Downward Spiral") to hardcore trance ("Ain't it Funny") to frantic industrial hip-hop (lead single "When It Rain"), Brown creates a constantly unpredictable, chaotic atmosphere that perfectly complements the album's dark subject matter.

Despite its constant genre shifts, Atrocity Exhibition remarkably never manages to lose its cohesion. It's a true testament to the depth and execution of Brown's artistic vision that the record is able to maintain a consistent, organic tone while experimenting with so many drastically different styles of music.
 
Brown's past two projects (2011's XXX and 2013's Old) have flirted with masterpiece status, but Atrocity Exhibition is the first time where he's actually achieved it. There's not another artist in hip-hop right now that could've made an album that explores depression and the effects of fame in such an insane, offbeat and innovative way. It might sound like a case of delusional rambling to people who are unfamiliar with Brown's work or are turned by his abrasive, over-the-top rapping style, but I believe that Atrocity Exhibition deserves to be mentioned alongside Kendrick Lamar's last two legitimate studio albums (good kid m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly), both of Run the Jewels' albums and Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in the most important hip-hop albums of the 2010's so far conversation.   

4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Ain't It Funny
2.When It Rain
3.Golddust

Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

()=last week's rankings

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

Week 4 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
With the possible exception of Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, there has not a bigger surprise fantasy standout this season than Matt Ryan. The Falcons signalcaller somehow managed to top his brilliant 396 YD/3 TD performance against the Raiders in Week 2 with a ridiculous 503 YD/4 TD performance against the reigning NFC Champion Panthers on Sunday. Ryan faces his toughest opponent to-date in Week 5 as the Falcons travel to Denver to take on the dominant Broncos defense, but despite the brutal matchup, there's no reason to believe his absurd early-season production level is going to suddenly come to a screeching halt.   
Honorable Mentions: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Matthew Stafford has been one of the biggest steals in all of fantasy football so far in 2016, but none of that surprising early-season excellence was on display this week. Stafford was remarkably inefficient, mustering just 213 YDS, a successful 2 point-conversion and 0 TD's while throwing a pair of INT's against a Bears defense that's currently decimated by injury. Stafford has a good shot of putting up stinky numbers yet again in Week 5 as the Lions take on the stingy Eagles defense, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Eli Manning (Giants), Marcus Mariota (Titans)

Running Back
MVP: DeMarco Murray (Titans)
As skeptical as I am that's he going to be able sustain his current level of success for the entire season, there's no denying that DeMarco Murray has been excellent through the first 4 weeks of 2016. Murray once again looked like a true workhorse back against the Texans, picking up 119 total yards (95 rushing, 24 receiving) and 2 TD's on 27 touches. Murray has been the lone spark of life on the Titans offense this year and as of right now, he's easily the strongest RB1 option in fantasy football.  
Honorable Mentions: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Isaiah Crowell (Browns), Matt Jones (Redskins)

LVP: Charles Sims (Buccaneers)
Charles Sims followed up an impressive outing in his first career start against the Rams in Week 3 with a bona fide stinker against the Broncos in Week 4. Just about nothing went right for the 3rd-year back out of West Virginia on Sunday as the Broncos prolific defense held him to just 35 yards (28 rushing, 7 receiving) on 17 touches and forced him to lose a costly fumble in the 2nd quarter that helped give the reigning Super Bowl Champions the momentum they needed to pummel the Buccaneers into oblivion. Sims' slump looks like it could be short-lived as he is going up against the suddenly vulnerable Panthers defense in Week 5. 
Dishonorable Mentions: LeGarrette Blount (Patriots), Latavius Murray (Raiders), Matt Forte (Jets)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
A lot of speculation emerged around the status of Julio Jones-who has been dealing with ankle and calf ailments-following his underwhelming performance (1 REC/16 YDS) against the god awful Saints secondary last week. Jones promptly proved that speculation that he was being bogged down by injuries to be nothing but white noise with a complete and total evisceration of the Panthers defense in Week 4. Jones stomped on the souls of the Panthers defensive backs for 60 minutes, finishing with an absolutely ridiculous 300 YDS and a touchdown on 12 receptions. Jones is the type of rare, inhuman aerial weapon that you can feel comfortable locking into your starting lineup every week, regardless of matchup.   
Honorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), A.J. Green (Bengals), Will Fuller (Texans)

LVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Near-constant double coverage got the best of DeAndre Hopkins in Week 4. The Texans star wideout wasn't able to get any separation against the Titans underrated secondary, as he picked up just 1 catch for 4 yards on a season-low 6 targets. The combination of defenses honing in on him more than ever and slower-than-expected process of developing a rapport with new quarterback Brock Osweiler has led to a slow start for Hopkins, but I firmly believe that he'll able to get back on track within the next few weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Travis Benjamin (Chargers)

Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
The importance of Reed's role in the Redskins offense was re-confirmed in their narrow win over the Browns in Week 4. On a day where the Redskins other receivers bizarrely couldn't get much of anything going (the other 6 players that caught passes from Kirk Cousins finished with a combined total of 110 yards) against the Browns well below-average secondary, Reed came to the rescue by reeling in 9 of his 10 targets for 73 YDS and 2 TD. Reed is starting to justify his early-round draft status with his play over the past few weeks and as long as he stays healthy, he should be at least a top-5 TE in 2016.  
Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)

LVP: Dennis Pitta (Ravens)
The Dennis Pitta comeback tour hit its 1st bump in the road this week against the Raiders. Joe Flacco's safety net simply wasn't called upon as Pitta finished the afternoon with 3 receptions for 17 YDS on 5 targets (tied with Bershad Perriman for 4th most on the team). Pitta owners shouldn't panic over this underwhelming performance as he is still a crucial cog in the Ravens passing game and one of the team's only legitimate redzone targets.
Dishonorable Mentions: Coby Fleener (Saints), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Delanie Walker (Titans)

Defense
MVP: Los Angeles Rams
Facing a divisional opponent once again brought the best out of the Rams defense. The Rams made life hell for the Cardinals offense, picking up 3 sacks, 3 INT's and 2 fumble recoveries while allowing just 13 points. The Rams have re-affirmed their place among the elite fantasy defense options after their horrific Week 1 performance cast widespread doubt about their status for 2016. They appear to be line to put up another solid performance in Week 5 when they take on the up-and-down Bills.
Honorable Mentions: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals

LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs followed up the most impressive defensive performance of 2016 so far with arguably one of the weakest. The Chiefs defense straight-up embarrassed themselves as they surrendered 43 points to the Steelers offense without managing a takeaway to make up for the tidal wave of points they allowed. This catastrophic meltdown should end up going down as just a bump in the road for this talented group and I expect them to promptly return to form when they return from bye in Week 6. 
Dishonorable Mentions: New England Patriots, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals

The Best and Worst of Emily Blunt

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 Girl on the Train" star Emily Blunt.

Films starring Emily Blunt that I've seen:
Dan in Real Life
Charlie Wilson's War
Sunshine Cleaning
The Wolfman
Gnomeo & Juliet
The Adjustment Bureau
The Muppets
The Five-Year Engagement  
Looper
Edge of Tomorrow
Sicario 

Best Performance: Looper (2012)
While Blunt was already a grizzled Hollywood veteran when it was released, Looper was the first time where her acting ability floored me. As the protective mother of a child (Pierce Gagnon) who may grow up to be a tyrant, Blunt gives this wild sci-fi thriller a burst of humanity with a terrific performance that beautifully tows the line between strength and vulnerability. This performance marked a clear turning point in Blunt's career and the growth she's displayed from this point on has allowed her to transform into one of the finest young actresses on the planet.         

Worst Performance: The Wolfman (2010)
The Wolfman was one of those epic misfires where just about no one involved with the project emerged from the wreckage unscathed. Unfortunately for Blunt, she was not one of the lucky few to be spared from this cinematic dumpster fire. The combination of a poorly-written character that was nothing more than a generic "damsel in distress" archetype and an emotional range that rivaled a pencil sharpener led to Blunt giving the weakest performance in Joe Johnston's (Jumanji, Jurassic Park III) misguided, painfully dull reboot of the 1941 horror classic.  

Best Film: Sicario (2015)
In the single most disappointing year for movies in recent memory, Denis Villeneuve's (Prisoners, Incendies) tense, well-acted thriller was one of only a dozen or so films that managed to thoroughly impress me. Sicario takes an unflinching, riveting look at the thin line between the Mexican drug cartels and the international government agencies that are trying to bring them down. The narrative may be straightforward, but the relentless level of suspense and fascinating moral questions it raises more than make up for its lack of storytelling surprises.

Worst Film: Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
A film that parodies Shakespeare with lawn gnomes and features a soundtrack full of weak-ass Elton John covers is basically my idea of cinematic purgatory. I recently found out that there's a sequel for this currently in production, which proves that creativity in the world of animated movies is officially dead.

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 Accountant" star J.K. Simmons.