The Best and Worst of Kevin Costner

"The Best and Worst of" series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of "Molly's Game" star Kevin Costner.

Films starring Kevin Costner that I've seen:

Night Shift

The Untouchables

Bull Durham

Field of Dreams

Dances with Wolves

Mr. Brooks

Man of Steel

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit 

3 Days to Kill

Draft Day

McFarland, USA

Criminal

Hidden Figures

Best Performance: Draft Day (2014)
As someone who has a borderline unhealthy fascination with the endless drama, intrigue and misdirection that surrounds the NFL Draft year-in and year-out,  Draft Day proved to be a riveting viewing experience for me. The immense entertainment value of this film was bolstered by Costner's terrific performance as protagonist Sonny Weaver Jr. He's believable every step of the way as a veteran general manager trying to maneuver the relentless chaos that occurs within an NFL team's headquarters on the first night of the draft.

Worst Performance: Criminal (2016)
Like Liam Nesson and Denzel Washington before him, Costner, who has primarily starred in dramas  for the bulk of his career, has become an AARP-action hero in recent years. While he's typically serviceable in these roles, he was horribly miscast in Criminal. Costner is way too even-keeled to convincingly play a violent, manic convict that gets the memories of a deceased CIA agent implanted into his head by government officials in an attempt to gain intel on the whereabouts of a renowned computer hacker (Michael Pitt) that has gained access to all of the world's nuclear launch codes.  

Best Film: The Untouchables (1988)
While its reputation is certainly good, I still feel like The Untouchables is a very underrated gangster movie. David Mamet's tight, well-constructed script paired with appropriately showy performances from a gifted ensemble cast (Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro) and director Brian De Palma's gift of staging elaborate action sequences (the notorious stair shootout in particular is a thing of beauty) makes this film an engrossing thrill ride from start to finish. 

Worst Film: Criminal (2016)
Capturing the right tone is an integral part of making a successful action movie and that failure to establish a vibe that fits the content of the film is without question the biggest miscalculation Criminal commits. Criminal's flat-out refusal to brace the insanity of its concept and surprisingly sporadic and thoroughly inept fight scenes make it an insufferable slog to watch.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". The next victim of my praise and ire will be "Insidious: The Last Key" star Lin Shaye.  

10 Most Anticipated Films of Winter/Spring 2018

Even though a number of award hopefuls have yet to be released throughout the United States, it's time for jabroni bloggers like myself to look ahead and see what the first four months of 2018 has in- store for the movie lovers of the world. While the schedule is a bit less crowded than usual with only 50 semi-wide-to-wide releases currently slated for release from January-April, the number of titles that I'm hotly anticipating is pretty comparable to the more densely-packed calendars of recent years. Here are the 10 films I'm most excited to check out over the course of this winter/spring.

10.Mom and Dad (1/19): A plot involving a virus that forces parents to want to murder their children + one half of the directing team behind the Crank franchise+ the guarantee of seeing Nicolas Cage in full psycho mode = Potential B-movie masterpiece.

9.The Commuter (1/12): Liam Nesson is back in transportation-based action movie game and I couldn't possibly be more excited about it. If director Jaume Collet-Serra is able to recapture the gleefully over-the-top thrills of 2014's Non-Stop, this should be a blast.

8.A Quiet Place (4/6): While I wouldn't be shocked if the final product ended up underwhelming, the teaser trailer is astonishingly tense and I'm very intrigued to see how handle Emily Blunt and John Krasinski handle horror/thriller material.

7.Tomb Raider (3/16): Alicia Vikander is an excellent choice to play Lara Croft and if the spirit of the video games is translated to the big screen this time around, this could be a rousing, Indiana Jones-esque adventure movie.

6.The Upside (3/9): Remaking The Intouchables probably isn't necessary, but I'm cautiously optimistic in Neil Burger's (Limitless, Divergent) ability to capture the immense warmth and emotional power of the French original.  

5.Death Wish (3/2): With his relegation to the direct-to-VOD/DVD D-grade action circuit over the past few years, you could make a pretty strong argument that Bruce Willis has become a shell of his former self. An Eli Roth-helmed reboot of the vigilante classic Death Wish looks like it could be just what Willis needs to remind the world of his days as one of the genre's most reliably charismatic and badass stars.  

4.Game Night (2/23): A group of friends that regularly gather for game nights stumbling onto an actual murder-mystery to solve is a phenomenal concept for an R-rated comedy and this cast of top-notch character actors (Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Kyle Chandler, Lamorne Morris, Billy Magnussen, Jeffrey Wright, Jesse Plemons, Chelsea Peretti) possesses the chops to make this something truly insane and special.

3.Annihilation (2/23): The wave of bad buzz that has surrounded Annihilation following Paramount's decision to release it directly to Netflix in most countries outside of the US earlier this month hasn't effected my anticipation level in the slightest. Alex Garland's (Ex Machina) track record as both a writer and director is pretty much flawless, both trailers that have been released thus far are master classes in establishing excitement without giving too much away and I'm down to see anything that features the typically great Natalie Portman in a leading role.

2.Super Troopers 2 (4/20): Super Troopers is one of the most absurdly dumb, strange and hilarious movies I've ever seen and even though the long-awaited sequel has almost no chance of matching the original's brilliance, I'm stoked to spend another two hours with Vermont's most eccentric team of state troopers.

1.Black Panther (2/16): With an extremely talented ensemble cast (Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Ny'ongo, Daniel Kaluuya, about a half-dozen others), a director in Ryan Coogler that was behind two of the finest movies of this decade (Fruitvale Station, Creed) to-date and a badass titular hero who was easily my favorite part of Captain America: Civil War, there's absolutely no reason to believe that Black Panther shouldn't be a top-tier superhero movie. I'm going to be LIVID if the fatcats at Marvel found a way to fuck this one up.

Also Interested In:

Proud Mary (1/12)

Den of Thieves (1/19)

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (1/26)

God Particle (2/2)

The 15:17 to Paris (2/9)
Red Sparrow (3/2) 

Gringo (3/9)

Thoroughbreds (3/9)
7 Days in Entebbe (3/16)
Flower (3/16)

Pacific Rim Uprising (3/23)
Unsane (3/23)
Lean on Pete (3/30)
Blockers (4/6)

Chappaquiddick (4/6)
New Mutants (4/13)
Rampage (4/20)

Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Jared Goff (Rams)
Jared Goff's shockingly excellent sophomore season ended with yet another unexpected huge statline. Outside of a lost fumble that was returned for a TD in the 2nd quarter, Goff put together an impressive performance (301 YDS, 4 TD) in a 27-23 road shootout win over the Titans. Following his breakout campaign this year, Goff should be among the first 10 QB's off the board in 2018.
Honorable Mentions: Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Alex Smith (Chiefs)

LVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees' so-so outing (239 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) in a playoff-esque game against the Falcons undoubtedly disappointed a lot of championship-chasing owners that were expecting big things from the typically lights-out Saints QB. A vastly improved defense and strong running attack resulted in Brees posting his lowest TD (22) and yardage totals (4,089) since he joined the Saints in 2006 and if the 38-year old future Hall-of-Famer decides to re-sign with New Orleans this offseason, the perennial fantasy MVP will likely be downgraded to low-end QB1 status for the 1st time in over a decade.

Dishonorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys),  Matthew Stafford (Lions), Derek Carr (Raiders)

Running Back

MVP: Todd Gurley (Rams)
Todd Gurley's redemption campaign ended on the highest possible note. The 3rd-year bellcow back was the Rams offense's weapon of choice on Sunday as he shredded a visibly overwhelmed Titans defense for 276 YDS (118 rushing, 158 receiving) from scrimmage and 2 receiving TD's on 32 touches. The return of the tackle-shedding prowess he displayed as a rookie paired with his sudden emergence as a viable pass-catcher in 2017 makes Gurley a strong contender to be next year's top overall pick in both standard and PPR leagues.

Honorable Mentions: Dion Lewis (Patriots), C.J Anderson (Broncos), Melvin Gordon (Chargers)

LVP: Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
The man that's been dubbed by some people as "The Saints Killer" was MIA in New Orleans on Sunday afternoon. Devonta Freeman mustered a decent 56 YDS (36 rushing, 20 receiving) on 13 touches, but a crucial goal-line fumble and a large 2nd-half deficit derailed any chance of the league's highest-paid running back having another productive outing against the Saints. Despite getting less volume in new offensive coordinator Steve Skarskian's offense this season, Freeman should remain a mid-tier RB1 option going into 2018.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Christian McCaffery (Panthers), Kenyan Drake (Dolphins), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
Games like the one he had in Week 16 remind me you of just how special Larry Fitzgerald is. The ageless wonder carved up an aimless, injury-depleted Giants defense for 119 YDS and a TD on 9 receptions. Despite playing with a revolving door of QB's, Fitzgerald managed to post his 3rd straight 100 reception, 1,000-yard season in 2017. If Fitz decides to come back for a 15th NFL season in 2018, there's no reason to believe that the 34-year old gridiron legend couldn't continue to be productive.

Honorable Mentions: Ted Ginn Jr. (Saints), Julio Jones (Falcons), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Steelers)

LVP: Alshon Jeffrey (Eagles)
Alshon Jeffrey put together his 1st truly debilitating fantasy dud as a member of the Eagles this week by failing to catch a pass against a well below-average Raiders secondary. While yard total was only slightly above average (781), Jeffrey was a deadly redzone threat this season (9 TD's in 15 games) and his strong chemistry with Carson Wentz will make him a strong double-digit TD candidate for the foreseeable future.

Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), Devin Funchess (Panthers), Adam Thielen (Vikings)

Tight End

MVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
Eric Ebron was the only member of the Lions to notch a quality fantasy performance (5 REC/83 YDS/1 TD) in a gut-wrenching upset loss to the Bengals that officially closed the door on their slim playoff hopes. The always erratic Ebron will hit the free agent market in March, making his future fantasy prospects a complete mystery at this point in time.

Honorable Mentions: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Vernon Davis (Redskins)

LVP: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)
Kyle Rudolph was by far one of championship week's most surprising and aggravating busts. Not only did Rudolph's 4-game TD streak come to a close, he only managed 6 yards against a Packers defense that has gotten destroyed by tight ends all season long. Rudolph's place as a solid, but not overly expectional fantasy TE will remain the same as long as he's in a Vikings uniform.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Delanie Walker (Titans)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Arizona Cardinals
Arizona's D delivered any fantasy owner that stuck with them a nice championship week surprise with a 2 sack, 3 takeway (including a fumble recovery for a TD) performance in an effortless-looking 23-0 win against an already checked-out Giants squad. This group failed to live up to their elite-level projections for most of this season, but they have enough young talent and pass-rushing prowess to potentially right the ship in 2018.

Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers

LVP: Jacksonville Jaguars
The league leader in takeaways, sacks and passing defense looked like a bottom-5 defense on Sunday afternoon, picking up only 1 sack, an INT, a blocked extra point and worst of all, surrendering 38 points to the Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers. This crushing meltdown was a brutal end to a season where the Jags emerged as an elite fantasy defense that was capable of reeling off a 20+ point performance at any given time. They're a near-lock to be the 1st defense selected in next season's drafts. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens 

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 17

=Last week's ranking

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

The Best and Worst of Ving Rhames

The "Best and Worst of" series profiles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of "Father Figures" star Ving Rhames.

Films starring Ving Rhames that I've seen:
Pulp Fiction 
Mission: Impossible
Con Air
Entrapment
Baby Boy
Dawn of the Dead
Mission: Impossible III
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Day of the Dead
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Surrogates
Piranha 3D
Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol
Piranha 3DD
Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2

Best Performance: Baby Boy (2001)

While Marsellus Wallace is an iconic character from my all-time favorite movie (Pulp Fiction), Rhames got overshadowed in Quentin Tarantino's breakout project by the incendiary acting of Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis and Harvey Keitel. In contrast, Baby Boy is 100% Rhames' show. His turn as Melvin, an imposing ex-con-turned successful small business owner, is not only the strongest source of comedy in John Singleton's insane yet brilliant coming-of-age drama, but his stern yet caring demeanor serves as the moral compass that helps the stubborn protagonist (Tyrese Gibson) learn the errors in his ways.  

Worst Performance: Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation (2015)

There isn't anything seriously wrong with Rhames' 5th turn as computer hacker extraordinaire Luther Stickell , it just lacks the gusto and boatloads of charisma that he usually brings to his roles.

 

Best Film: Pulp Fiction (1994)

My appreciation of Quentin Tarantino's work and film as an artform can largely be attributed to Pulp Fiction. The vivid characters, sharp dialogue, sensational acting and sharply-constructed storytelling opened my eyes to how magical movies can be when they hit all the right notes. 

Worst Film: Day of the Dead (2008)

This cheap, dumb and not even remotely entertaining entry into Hollywood's deep zombie movie canon feels like it was simply made to cash-in on the good will of both George A.Romero's iconic original Dead franchise and Zach Snyder's well-received 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead (that ironically also starred Rhames in a different role). There's not even any good gore or unintentional comedy to distract from how painfully inept the entire production is, which probably explains why it was immediately banished to the limited release/VOD/Wal-Mart $5 bin circuit.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week's victim of my praise and ire will be "Molly's Game" star Kevin Costner. 

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 16

=Last week's ranking

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

Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Cam Newton (Panthers)
On a day where Aaron Rodgers' return from a broken collarbone was supposed to be the big story, Cam Newton came in and stole the show. The Panthers dual-threat QB amassed 300 total YDS (242 passing, 58 rushing) and 4 passing TD's in a 31-24 victory that all but eliminated the Packers from playoffs contention. Despite posting a handful of duds along the way, Newton has bounced back nicely from a poor 2016 and barring a complete meltdown against the Buccaneers this week, should finish the year as a top 10 fantasy QB.
Honorable Mentions: Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), Eli Manning (Giants), Blake Bortles (Jaguars)

LVP: Phillip Rivers (Chargers) 
Just when you thought Phillip Rivers had returned to the reliable QB1 form he displayed during the first 7-8 years of his career, he proceeds to have a full-blown implosion in a critical spot. Rivers made the Chargers road to the playoffs a whole lot tougher thanks to the pitiful performance (227 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT) he had against the Chiefs easily burnable defense. The always unpredictable Rivers will be a volatile QB1 against the Jets in fantasy championship week. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Jared Goff (Rams), Matt Ryan (Falcons)

Running Back

MVP: Todd Gurley (Rams)
Aside from the remarkably strong play of their defense, Todd Gurley was the primary reason that the Rams were able to obliterate Seattle on Sunday afternoon. Gurley roasted a banged-up Seahawks defense for 180 total YDS (152 rushing, 28 receiving) and 4 TD's (3 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches. The 3rd-year back has handsomely rewarded anyone that took a chance on him with a late 2nd-early 3rd round pick with consistent, dual-threat production that has made his dismal sophomore season feel like a distant (albeit painful) memory.

Honorable Mentions: Kareem Hunt (Chiefs), Mark Ingram (Saints), Devonta Freeman (Falcons)

LVP: Carlos Hyde (49ers)
Competent-to-excellent performances from all of the league's star backs has left the merely decent RB2 Carlos Hyde as Week 15's fantasy donkey. Hyde was repeatedly stuffed by the Titans solid front 7, registering an abysmal 25 YDS on 16 carries. Despite Jimmy Garoppolo's strong play over the last 3 games, Hyde should be the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's offensive gameplan in Week 16 when the 49ers take on the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Jammal Williams (Packers), Mike Davis (Seahawks), Lamar Miller (Texans)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Sterling Shepard (Giants)
Sterling Shepard's monster performance against the Eagles was quite possibly the most pleasant surprise of the fantasy semifinals. The University of Oklahoma product was Eli Manning's favorite target, securing 11 receptions for 139 YDS and a TD, on an afternoon where the Giants offense was shockingly productive. Shepard has emerged as an admirable fantasy option in the absence of Odell Beckham Jr. and will look to close out the season strong against the Cardinals this week.

Honorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), Rishard Matthews (Titans), Michael Thomas (Saints)

LVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks) 
Doug Baldwin was one of the many impact players that ended up getting completely stifled as the Seahawks got completely embarrassed by the Rams on their home field. Baldwin only pulled in 1 catch for 6 YDS as Wade Phillips' aggressive defense managed to hold MVP candidate Russell Wilson to only 142 YDS through the air. Angry Doug has put together his worst statistical season (67 REC, 866 YDS, 5 TD) since 2014 this year, but his fantasy owners should be reasonably optimistic that he'll be able to close out this somewhat underwhelming campaign on a high note versus a Cowboys secondary that has had difficulty containing top pass-catchers throughout the 2017 season.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Devin Funchess (Panthers), Adam Thielen (Vikings), A.J. Green (Bengals)

Tight End

MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski returned from his 1-game suspension with arguably the finest game of his Hall-of-Fame career. Gronk ended up being one of the deciding factors in the thrilling shootout between the Patriots and Steelers, picking up an eye-popping 168 YDS and the game-clinching 2-point conversion on 9 receptions. A revenge-driven Bills secondary will be tasked with trying to contain this nearly unstoppable goliath as the Patriots return home to Gillette Stadium with a chance to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the 5th time in the last 6 years.

Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Evan Engram (Giants)

LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
The bad side of Jimmy Graham reared its ugly head again in Week 15. Graham fared even worse than the aforementioned Doug Baldwin, picking up -1 YD on 1 reception in the Seahawks deflating 42-7 loss to the Rams. Despite posting less than 10 receiving YDS in 4 games, Graham's high TD total (9)was enough to make him a top-tier TE1 in 2017. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Jared Cook (Raiders), Hunter Henry (Chargers), Austin Hooper (Falcons)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Baltimore Ravens
A week after getting decimated by the Steelers, the Ravens hard-nosed, takeaway-happy defense was handed the gift of playing the Browns mistake-prone offense. Baltimore picked up 2 sacks, 2 INT and 2 fumble recoveries (1 of which was returned for a TD) in an easy 27-10 win that kept them in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt. Dean Pees' group will look to close out their impressive 2017 with a bang against a Colts offense that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season. 

Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs

LVP: Seattle Seahawks
This atrocious performance from the Seahawks might've offered up a glimpse of the potentially grim future for this former defensive juggernaut. While a couple of sacks and an INT prevented them from finishing with negative points, this group's struggle to stop the run combined with the offense's inability to sustain drives resulted in them surrendering a whopping 40 points to the Rams on Sunday afternoon. Injuries and inconsistent play rocked Seattle's typically stout defense this season and it'll be interesting to see if their aging corps players (Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett) will be able to return to their former glory in 2018.

Dishonorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals 

Top 10 Live Performances of 2017

While the volume of quality releases ended up being somewhat smaller than I had hoped, my concertgoing experiences ended up making this musical year a huge success. A solid chunk of the most memorable, surreal and chill-inducing shows I've ever attended occurred during this wild stretch of time otherwise known as 2017. Here are the 10 best performances that I was fortunate enough to witness over the past 12 months.

Concerts I attended in 2017:
2/19: Tove Lo/Phoebe Ryan, House of Blues, Boston, MA
2/24: Run the Jewels/The Gaslamp Killer/Gangsta Boo/Cuz Lightyear, House of Blues, Boston, MA
3/9: Every Time I Die/Knocked Loose/Harm's Way/Eternal Sleep, The Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
3/28: Vince Staples/Kilo Kish, Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
5/9: Coheed and Cambria/The Dear Hunter, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA
5/19: Metallica/Volbeat, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
5/23: Future/Migos/Tory Lanez, Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
5/29: Boston Calling (Tool, Weezer, Cage the Elephant, Run the Jewels, Flatbush Zombies, Converge, The Hotelier), Harvard Athletic Complex, Allston, MA
6/6: Banks/Toulouse, Royale, Boston, MA
7/29: The Summer Slaughter Tour (The Black Dahlia Murder/Dying Fetus/The Faceless/Oceano/Origin/Rings of Saturn), The Palladium, Worcester, MA
9/19: Thy Art is Murder/Fallujah/Ghost Bath, Brighton Music Hall, Allston, MA
9/24: Between the Buried and Me/The Contortionist/Polyphia/Toothgrinder, Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
12/8: Converge/Pile/Give, Brighton Music Hall, Allston, MA

Honorable Mentions: Fallujah (9/19), Dying Fetus (7/29), Converge (12/8), The Faceless (7/29), Future (5/23)

10.Flatbush Zombies (5/29): If it weren't for the lackluster festival crowd that was either unfamiliar with their material or just didn't give a shit, this performance would've cracked the top five. Like most of hip-hop's elite live acts, Flatbush Zombies possess an unwavering level of punk-esque energy, off-the-charts technical prowess and a genuine sense of unpredictability that makes them exhilarating to watch. I'm really looking forward to seeing them with a crowd full of people that are willing to match their levels of insanity at some point in the future.

9.Tove Lo (2/19): The main takeaway I had from Tove Lo's live show was that she deserves to be a god damn international sensation. Her attention-grabbing headlining set at the House of Blues did an excellent job of highlighting (and subsequently reinforcing) that she has all the tools (magnetic personality, natural flare for performing, unique and powerful voice, musical fearlessness) required to be a Madonna or Lady Gaga-esque alternative pop superstar.

8.Weezer (5/29): Weezer's rousing 75-minute set at Boston Calling was far and away the most pleasant surprise of the year. Rolling out a hit-filled setlist that was tailor-made for a festival setting, Weezer offered up one of the most over-the-top fun slices of nostalgia I've ever experienced.

7.Converge (5/29): Seeing one of the most chaotic bands in the history of metal play the biggest stage at a relatively major outdoor festival that predominately books indie rock/pop/folk acts made for a beautifully odd spectacle. Converge's trademark intensity translated surprisingly well to a massive stage and their career-spanning setlist was damn near perfect.

6.Banks (6/6): Breaking news: Jillian Banks is a queen that has miraculously gotten even better live since the last time I saw her in November 2015. Her stirring vocals combined with the sheer level of artistry that went into her stage production (choreography, lighting, etc.) helped accentuate the raw power, honesty and dark beauty that defined her cathartic 2016 LP The Altar.  

5.Run the Jewels (2/24): Their insane rise in popularity (THEY'RE OPENING FOR LORDE THIS  SPRING) and subsequent move to larger venues has not taken the edge away from Run the Jewels' live shows. Killer Mike and El-P are still the same kings of anarchic fun that they were when they first teamed up in 2013 and that ability to consistently light a room on fire makes them the best live act in hip-hop in my sorry-ass opinion.

4.Every Time I Die (3/9): One of the safest bets in music is Every Time I Die putting on a killer live show. Even with a not overly great setlist and a barrier-protected stage with a low ceiling that was ill-equipped to house their typical chaotic shenanigans, Buffalo's angriest sons were still able to straight-up eviscerate the room with a glorious collection of pummeling riffs and level of grimy hardcore energy that only savvy genre veterans like them can offer up.

3.The Black Dahlia Murder (7/29): We're now entering the shameless fanboy section of this list. I was blessed with seeing three of my all-time favorite records played in their entirety this year and unsurprisingly, these performances ended up being the most impressive live shows I saw in 2017. In the case of The Black Dahlia Murder, this performance of their 2007 breakout album Nocturnal ended up serving as a visceral reminder of why they've enjoyed such longevity in modern death metal's tumultuous climate. Nocturnal's eerie, suffocating atmosphere beautifully translated to a live setting and even after all of the lineup changes they've endured over the years, founding members Trevor Strnad (vocals) and Brian Eshbach (rhythm guitarist/primary songwriter) are every bit as passionate and musically sharp as they were at the inception of the band.

2.Coheed and Cambria (5/9): Given Coheed and Cambria's track record of playing their records from start to finish (they've fittingly dubbed these unorthodox anniversary tours "Neverenders"), I had been eagerly waiting for the From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness tour since they completed the touring cycle for its predecessor, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, in the fall of 2014. Thankfully, the actual show managed to live up to my nuclear level of anticipation for it. Hearing this flawless collection of tracks live essentially served as a time machine back to my middle/early high school years and seeing it performed against the backdrop of Boston Harbor on a cold, rainy night made the experience that much more epic.

1.Between the Buried and Me (9/24): If you read my initial review of the show or have come in contact with me anytime over the past three months, this selection should come as no surprise. Colors is in my top five favorite albums of all-time and watching this beautiful, multi-layered masterpiece come to life in real time was simply stunning to behold. I'll never be able to shake the sheer magic of this performance as long as I live.

Miscellaneous Awards:
Top 5 Shows
5.Run the Jewels/The Gaslamp Killer/Gangsta Boo/Cuz Lightyear
4.Summer Slaughter
3.Between the Buried and Me/The Contortionist/Polyphia/Toothgrinder
2.Coheed and Cambria/The Dear Hunter
1.Boston Calling

5 Biggest Surprises
5.Rings of Saturn
4.Origin
3.The Gaslamp Killer
2.Future
1.Weezer

5 Biggest Letdowns:
5.Volbeat
4.Vince Staples
3.Toothgrinder
2.Tool
1.Metallica

5 Artists I Hope to See in 2018:
5.Counterparts
4.Gucci Mane
3.Lorde
2.Rivers of Nihil
1.Travi$ Scott

The Best and Worst of Benicio del Toro

The "Best and Worst of" 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 "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" star Benicio del Toro.  

Films starring Benicio Del Toro that I've seen:

The Usual Suspects

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Snatch

Sin City

The Wolfman

Savages

Thor: The Dark World

Guardians of the Galaxy

Sicario

Best Performance: Sicario (2015)
As the mysterious and imposing law enforcement agent Alejandro Gillick, del Toro helped give Sicario the relentlessly intense edge that made it one of the most engaging and effective thrillers of the past few years.

Worst Performance: The Wolfman (2010)
Elite actors phoning it in is a rare phenomenon in the movie industry, but del Toro's performance in The Wolfman qualifies as one of these unfortunate anomalies. Like everyone not named Hugo Weaving that appeared in this gothic horror stinker, del Toro looks like he's ready for a nap every second he's on screen.

Best Film: Sin City (2005)
The quality of del Toro's filmography is flat-out ridiculous. A number of the films listed above are among my all-time favorites (The Usual Suspects, Snatch, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and even the "lesser" entries (outside of The Wolfman) are all films that I really enjoyed. Even amidst all this excellence, Sin City stands out from the pack. The first big-screen adaptation of Frank Miller's celebrated graphic novel series combined unique, eye-popping visuals, a sleazy yet intoxicating atmosphere and an endearing band of antiheroes to make a breathtaking piece of modern-noir that continues to floor me upon each viewing.

Worst Film: The Wolfman (2010)
The lone stain on del Toro's resume is a pretty sizable one. Joe Johnston managed to pull off the seemingly impossible by making a gore-filled horror flick starring an ensemble full of terrific actors (del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving) painfully dull. Easily one of the biggest missed opportunities of this decade so far.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Of". Next week, I'll profile the filmography of "Father Figures" star Ving Rhames.  

My 5 Favorite Christmas Movies

One of the greatest joys of the holiday season is firing up a great Christmas movie. While the holiday film market is clearly pretty limited, it's still produced a number of iconic titles that people watch religiously as soon as the calendar turns to November (if not sooner). Here are the 5 films I go to when I'm feeling like a festive motherfucker.

Note: As much as I love it, I don't consider Die Hard to be a Christmas movie. Complaints, insults and any other vitriol you may have regarding this take can be directed to me on the Twitter machine @cmaitlandmm


Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
A Christmas Story (1983)
A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)
Arthur Christmas (2011)

5.Bad Santa (2003): Giving and togetherness may be staples of the season, but there are times where you just need a break from all that merriment and those moments are why Bad Santa exists. With its band of reprehensible characters led by the sensational Billy Bob Thornton and non-stop morbid humor, Terry Zwigoff's cult classic is the official feel-bad movie of the holiday season.

4.Christmas Vacation (1989): Watching someone fail in spectacular fashion to give their loved ones the "perfect" Christmas has never been this entertaining. Clark Griswold's (Chevy Case) grand-scale meltdown in the last 20 minutes alone is enough to make this required yearly viewing.

3.Elf (2003): To put it simply, Elf is a god damn delight. Buddy the Elf, played with an absurd amount of enthusiasm and charm by Will Ferrell, is an immensely likable protagonist, the laughs are constant and above all, it's the rare film that reminded me that there is indeed a bit of warmth in the vortex of cynicism and bitterness that's otherwise known as my soul.

2.The Night Before (2015): Like all of Seth Rogen's best projects, The Night Before is a warm, hilarious film full of well-matched actors that is absolutely perfect for this time of year. Special shout-out to Michael Shannon for swooping in from the heavens (literally) and stealing the show from this cast full of seasoned comedy veterans.

1.Jingle All the Way (1996): If I ran a TV network, Jingle All the Way would get a Christmas Story-esque marathon every year. This timeless masterpiece has everything: Santa suit-clad con men pedaling knockoff toys to unsuspecting parents on Christmas Eve, elaborate fist fights aboard parade floats, reindeers destroying property, a kickass fake superhero that's cooler than 95% of the real superheroes, Sinbad as a psychotic mailman who makes Newman from Seinfeld look like the most reliable, dedicated worker in the history of the United States Postal Service and of course, Arnold Schwarznegger repeatedly screaming like he's in the sequel to Commando. Nothing will ever stop me from loving the shit out of this strange, hilarious movie. 

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 15

()=last week's ranking

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

Week 14 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
For the first 2 months of the 2017 season, there was a national debate about whether or not Ben Roethlisberger's days as a top-tier QB were officially over. Since the calendar turned to November, he's been one of the hottest QB's in the NFL and this run of excellence continued during the 1st week of the fantasy playoffs. Roethlisberger made the Ravens 12th-ranked pass defense look like a scout team as he torched them for 506 YDS and 2 TD's in another improbable win for the 11-2 Steelers. Despite the warpath he's been on for the past month, I have a hard time trusting Big Ben to deliver against a highly motivated Patriots squad in Week 15's marquee matchup.
Honorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
Miami once again proved to be a house of horrors for the typically brilliant Tom Brady. The 5-time Super Bowl Champ was uncharacteristically sloppy and unpoised (24-43, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT) in a stunning upset loss to the lowly Dolphins last night. Despite his poor play in 2 straight weeks, I'd be shocked if Brady didn't bounce back in a major way against an injury-depleted Steelers secondary that just got lit up by Joe Flacco.

Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Derek Carr (Raiders), Marcus Mariota (Titans)

Running Back

MVP: Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
While his YDS per touch weren't overly impressive (5.6), Le'Veon Bell still put together an absurd fantasy statline. Bell picked up 125 yards from scrimmage (48 rushing, 77 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches in the Steelers remarkable 39-38 comeback against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. With home field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line, Bell will more than likely be the Steelers primary offensive weapon this week versus the Patriots weak run defense.

Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Jordan Howard (Bears), Todd Gurley (Rams)

LVP: Latavius Murray (Vikings)
Poor Latavius Murray simply didn't stand a chance against the Panthers on Sunday. A combination of Carolina's stout front preventing him from finding any room to run and the Vikings playing from behind for most of the game led to Murray's horrible 11-touch, 20 YD performance. Murray has greatly exceeded expectations since taking over as the Vikings primary back following the season-ending ACL injury to star rookie Dalvin Cook in early October and should be able to return to his typical high-end RB2 role in Week 15 against a Bengals defense that has really struggled to contain the run in recent weeks. 

Dishonorable Mentions: LeGarette Blount (Eagles), Lamar Miller (Texans), Christian McCaffery (Panthers)

Wide Receiver

MVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Seemingly nothing can stop DeAndre Hopkins from dominating right now. The dream team of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates forced the ball to the star wideout for the majority of the game with spectacular results (149 YDS and 2 TD on 11 receptions) in a 26-16 loss to the suddenly competent 49ers. Hopkins will look to continue his nearly season-long reign of dominance against the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense in Week 15. 

Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Davante Adams (Packers), Cooper Kupp (Rams)

LVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
Mike Evans underwhelming 2017 campaign continued on Sunday afternoon against the Lions. The Bucs top wideout struggled to separate from Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay, finishing the game with only 2 receptions for 25 yards. Evans, who hasn't found the endzone since Week 7, has been wildly ineffective in both games since Jameis Winston returned from injury and his fantasy owners can't feel good about rolling him out this week against a stingy Falcons secondary that has shut down just about every top wideout they've faced this season.

Dishonorable Mentions: Robby Anderson (Jets), Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

Tight End

MVP: Jared Cook (Raiders)
Right on cue, the world's most volatile fantasy tight end managed to bolster his owner's spirits a week after destroying them. Jared Cook was on the receiving end of Derek Carr's lone garbage time TD pass to cap off a nice 5 reception, 75 YD performance against the Chiefs on Sunday. With injuries aplenty making this notoriously depth-deprived position even thinner than usual, feel free to keep rolling the dice on Cook for the rest of the season. 

Honorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Chargers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), O.J. Howard (Buccaneers)

LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
After finding the endzone in 4 straight games, Jimmy Graham failed to register a reception against the Jaguars outstanding pass D. Even with this monumental dud on his resume, Graham has still managed to score 9 TD's in his 8 last games, so he'll be a no-brainer starter against the Rams this week.

Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Stephen Anderson (Texans), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Denver Broncos
Don't look now, but the Broncos defense finally had a game where they played up to their exceptional talent level. An impressive 4 sack, 2 takeaway (an INT and a fumble recovery) performance helped Denver snap their 8-game losing streak with a 23-0 victory over the Jets. The Broncos talented, but underachieving D have a decent shot of finding success once again this Thursday against a Colts offense that has allowed 19 sacks and turned the ball over 5 times in their last 5 games.

Honorable Mentions: Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers

LVP: New England Patriots
The Patriots defensive resurgence took a huge unexpected hit in a 27-20 loss to the Dolphins last night. Matt Patricia's troops managed just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways on a night where Jay Cutler, Kenyan Drake and Jarvis Landry regularly exploited the early-season deficiencies (run D, massive coverage lapses, poor linebacker play) that they'd done a good job of hiding since the Jets game in mid-October. Even though I expect them to win by a decent margin, the Pats D will be a below-average fantasy play this week against a Steelers offense that doesn't allow a lot of sacks and has only turned the ball over in 1 of their last 4 home games.

Dishonorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks 

Programming Notice

Dear readers,

Due to my commitment to spend as much time as possible listening to records and watching movies in preparation for my 2017 best-of lists, I'll be writing in a somewhat reduced capacity over the next month or so. You can still expect all of my weekly columns and some other fun stuff as this wild year comes to a close, but I'll be refraining from posting any lengthy reviews until these extensive year-end recaps are complete. Thank you for your continued support of this silly little blog and I hope you enjoy the slew of content I have lined up for the next 4-5 weeks.

Chris Maitland

Concert Review: Converge-- Allston, MA-- December 8th, 2017

Lineup: Converge/Pile/Give
Venue: Brighton Music Hall, Allston, MA
Date: December 8th, 2017

Give: Of all the things I'd expect to see at Converge show, an Adidas jumpsuit-clad hardcore band hitting the stage was not one of them. Once the shock wore off, Give's powerful bass lines, goofy energy and subtle hip-hop influences managed to entertain me for the duration of their 30-minute set. Kudos to Converge for bringing a unique act that doesn't really align with any aspect of their sound on the road with them.

Pile: On the other end of the surprise spectrum came Pile. These guys played a strange hybrid of post-hardcore, stoner and indie rock that didn't resonate with me in the slightest. Every song, regardless of tempo, slogged along for what felt like a millennium and outside of Mastodon, I've never seen another band that looked less interested in performing. I was alarmingly close to falling asleep while standing up the entire time they were on stage and if I didn't go take a piss around the 20-minute mark of their set, that remarkable feat would've undoubtedly been accomplished. I'd be more likely to voluntarily enter the state of Vermont for the first time in 12 years than agree to sit through another live performance by these innovators in sleepytime songwriting.

Converge: A large of part Converge's legacy has been built upon their live shows. Their incendiary performances helped them break out of Boston's iconic hardcore scene in the mid-90's and went onto a play a crucial role in the metamorphosis that resulted in them becoming one of the most renowned metal bands on the planet in the early 2000's. 23 years into their run as a national touring act, the spastic forefathers of metalcore still eviscerate every stage they step onto in seemingly effortless fashion. The sense of chaos and pain that serves as the backbone of their music takes on a whole new life in a live setting that never fails to be captivating as all hell. Frontman Jake Bannon storms around the stage like a man that's hellbent on delivering destruction to the masses, happily sharing the mic with any fan that wants it while his bandmates (guitarist Kurt Ballou, bassist/backing vocalist Nate Newton, drummer Ben Koller) establish this visceral, apocalyptic atmosphere that simply overwhelms you. Marinating this level of raw intensity and punk energy at a stage of their career where they've earned enough acclaim to go down in the annals of the genre's history, especially when playing a setlist that is driven by the somber, darkly melodic material from their new LP The Dusk in Us, is a stirring testament to the sheer amount of passion, pride and agony that goes into every single one of Coverge's sets. There are a very small number of acts that I would declare to be an absolute must-see every time they're in town and unless they undergo an unforeseen musical midlife crisis in the next few years, Converge will remain on this esteemed list for the foreseeable future.  

Scores:
Give 6.5/10
Pile 2.5/10
Converge 9/10

Setlist:
Converge:
Reptilian
Under Duress
Arkhipov Calm
A Single Tear
Dark Horse
The Broken Vow
Aimless Arrow
Black Cloud
The Dusk in Us
Eye of the Quarrel
Broken by Light
Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast
Eve
I Can Tell You About Pain
Eagles Become Vultures

Encore:
Concubine

The Best and Worst of Tommy Lee Jones

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 "Just Getting Started" star Tommy Lee Jones.

Films starring Tommy Lee Jones that I've seen:
Under Siege
Natural Born Killers
Batman Forever
Volcano
Men in Black
Small Soldiers
Men in Black II
Man of the House
No Country for Old Men
Captain America: The First Avenger
Men in Black 3
Criminal
Jason Bourne
Mechanic: Resurrection

Best Performance: Natural Born Killers (1994)
For such a stoic personality, Jones is surprisingly adept at playing unhinged, over-the-top characters and his performance in Natural Born Killers is the finest example of this underutilized skill. Jones' non-stop deranged energy is the only real highlight of the wildly disjointed second half of Oliver Stone's uneven satire of sensationalist media.

Worst Performance: Jason Bourne (2016)
Jones has been typecast as a curmudgeon lawman for so long that I think even he's starting to get tired of it. His by-the-numbers "I'M A SUPER SERIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT WHOSE GOING TO CATCH THE BAD GUY BY ANY MEANS NESSECARY" routine was very appropriate for an impressively average spy thriller like Jason Bourne.

Best Film: No Country for Old Men (2007)
Films like No Country for Old Men are why I'll always consider the Coen Brothers among the best directors on the planet, regardless of how many middling-to-bad movies they've released over the course of their lengthy careers. This Texas-set crime drama is an unforgettable powerhouse with some of the finest acting, storytelling, dialogue and suspense I've ever seen on screen. After exploring all sorts of different time periods and genres in the 10 years since No Country was released, I'm hoping that the Coens will return to the grimy, darkly comic criminal underworld they portray so brilliantly before too long.

Worst Film: Criminal (2016)
No movie in the history of cinema could've benefitted more from the presence of Nicolas Cage than Criminal. Watching straight-faced Kevin Costner repeatedly scream about having the memories of a dead CIA agent (Ryan Reynolds) implanted in his head and kill random dudes with lamps makes this film seriously painful to watch. Casting Cage in the lead role would've turned this overly serious action thriller into a brilliant piece of ludicrous, high-concept B-movie poetry. Shame on Ariel Vomen, Elaine Grainger and everyone at Lionsgate for not letting Mr. Cage come in and carry this movie on his crazy-ass shoulders.

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 "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" star Benicio Del Toro. 

Week 13 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Alex Smith (Chiefs)
Alex Smith woke up in a MAJOR way in Week 13 following back-to-back poor outings. Smith gave a Chiefs offense that had been lethargic as hell for much of the past month a much needed shot to the heart with a dominant, mistake-free performance (436 total YDS and 4 TD's through the air) against the Jets largely inexperienced defense. The Chiefs signalcaller will be a solid QB1 option this week against a Raiders defense that he lit up for 342 YDS and 3 TD's in mid-October.
Honorable Mentions: Josh McCown (Jets), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
No this isn't a typo. TB12 posted a rare fantasy dud (258 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT) against a Bills squad that he's eviscerated on a regular basis over the past 17 years. I'm no psychic, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Brady will end up annihilating the lifeless Dolphins defense next Monday night.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Derek Carr (Raiders)

Running Back

MVP: Alvin Kamara (Saints)
Alvin Kamara is a god damn force of nature. The rookie sensation was outstanding against the Panthers stout defense on Sunday afternoon, picking up 126 yards from scrimmage (60 rushing, 66 receiving) and 2 scores in a huge divisional win for the Saints. Kamara will look to stretch his multi-TD streak to 3 games against the Falcons above-average rush defense on Thursday night.  

Honorable Mentions: Le'Veon Bell (Steelers), Rex Burkhead (Patriots), Alex Collins (Ravens)

LVP: Jordan Howard (Bears)
The Bears embarrassing lack of weapons in the passing game once again derailed their talented 2nd-year running back. Jordan Howard only mustered 33 YDS (38 rushing, -5 receiving) on 14 touches in a matchup against a lowly 49ers D that looked very favorable on paper. Facing stacked fronts on a weekly basis, Howard will be a risky RB2 throughout the fantasy playoffs.

Dishonorable Mentions: Kareem Hunt (Chiefs), Isaiah Crowell (Browns), Duke Johnson Jr. (Browns)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs)
Alex Smith's ability to jump start this offense against the Jets can largely be attributed to the fact that Tyreek Hill was heavily involved in the gameplan for the 1st time in nearly a month. Hill accumulated a career-high 185 YDS and 2 TD's on 6 receptions in the Chiefs rough 38-31 loss to the feisty Jets. The NFL's fastest man could be in-line for another big day when he takes on the Raiders poor secondary in Week 14. 

Honorable Mentions: Nelson Agholor (Eagles), A.J Green (Bengals), Keenan Allen (Chargers)

LVP: Brandin Cooks (Patriots)
With Tom Brady having a very off day by his lofty standards, Brandin Cooks was left famished against the Bills beatable secondary. The Patriots star wideout made very little impact (22 total yards) on his 3 touches in another not overly impressive double-digit win for the defending Super Bowl champs. Like his quarterback, it's highly likely that Cooks will bounce back against the Dolphins questionable passing defense in Week 14. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)

Tight End

MVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
While his damage was almost exclusively done in the first 18 minutes of the game, Travis Kelce still managed to be the king of the tight end position this week. Kelce turned his 4 receptions into 94 YDS and 2 TD's in the Chiefs narrow loss in a shootout with the Jets on Sunday afternoon. The star tight end will look to keep rolling this week against a Raiders defense that has allowed the 8th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

Honorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

LVP: Jared Cook (Raiders)
In a development that should only come as a surprise to the most naïve and/or blindly optimistic fantasy owners out there, Jared Cook once again managed to underwhelm in a huge spot. Cook failed to take advantage of the absence of starting WR's Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree against the Giants dumpster fire of a defense, reeling in just a single catch for 9 YDS in a big win for this up-and-down Raiders squad. He'll remain in his traditional boom-or-bust TE1 slot for this week's matchup against the Chiefs.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Jack Doyle (Colts), Vernon Davis (Redskins)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams reigned terror from all angles on the geriatric, injury-riddled Cardinals on Sunday, registering 6 sacks, 2 INT's, 2 blocked kicks and a TD in a 32-16 win. Wade Phillips' crew has been one of the most consistently strong fantasy options this season and even with some shaky matchups in the final 3 games (Eagles, Seahawks, Titans), they should continue to be a top 5-10 defense.

Honorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots

LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
While their offense looked rejuvenated in Week 13 , the Chiefs D fell flat on its face yet again. This once-feared group's lack of discipline and playmaking (0 sacks or takeaways) allowed the Jets to come out on top in this 38-31 slugfest. Unless Bob Sutton can suddenly get this group to cut down on the absurd amount of stupid penalties and horrific coverage lapses they commit every week, the Chiefs won't be a formidable play in fantasy. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints 

2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 14

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