2019 NBA Free Agency: Top 10 Players Available

The legal tampering period for NBA free agency officially starts on Sunday at 6:00 PM EST. Here are the 10 guys that I believe are the biggest available prizes in this star-filled class.

10.Al Horford, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Boston Celtics)
While his middling (13-15 PPG) scoring output earned him some detractors during his 3 year stint with the Celtics, Horford is an exceptional passer, rim protector and locker room presence that should be able to carve out a key role on a contending team.
Possible Destinations: Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors

9.Nikola Vucevic, center (2018-19 team: Orlando Magic)
The long unheralded Vucevic finally got to bask in the glory of some national attention after making the 1st All-Star and playoff appearances of his 8-year NBA career last season. Now he'll look to parlay that newfound respect into the 1st big payday of his career. The 28-year old has averaged a double double in 5 of the past 7 seasons (including a career-best 20.8 PPG and 12.0 RPG last season) and has the floor-stretching capabilities teams covet in a big in this perimeter-driven era of the NBA, so a $100 mil+ deal seems likely.
Possible Destinations: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings  

8.Tobias Harris, small/power forward (2018-19 teams: Los Angeles Clippers/Philadelphia 76ers)
Harris kind of flew under the radar following a mid-season trade to the 76ers, but make no mistake-this guy is an explosive, well-rounded offensive presence that is on the cusp of entering his prime.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks  

7.Khris Middleton, shooting guard/small forward (2018-19 teams: Milwaukee Bucks)
Is Middleton likely to remain in Milwaukee? Without question. However, Middleton's lethal outside shooting, consistency as a secondary scorer and respectable defense will make him a desirable option for any team that's looking to bring in a high-end running mate for an established star.
Possible Destinations: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz  

6.Jimmy Butler, small forward (2018-19 teams: Minnesota Timberwolves/Philadelphia 76ers)
His now infamous tenure with the Timberwolves demonstrated just how cancerous of a locker room presence Butler can be when things aren't going great on the court, but his status as a hard-nosed wing that makes valuable contributions on both ends of the floor is enough to overshadow the comical lack of maturity he's shown when faced with adversity. The losers of the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes are all likely to make a hard push for the 4x All-Star .
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks,  Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks 

5.Kevin Durant, small/power forward (2018-19 team: Golden State Warriors)
Oh how a serious injury can change the long term outlook for an athlete. The dominant forward was set to be the most coveted free agency asset this summer as recently as the beginning of this month. After suffering an Achilles injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals that's going to keep him out until at least the start of the 2020-21 season, Durant-who will be 32 the next time he steps onto the court-is now a massive flight risk that might not ever be the same. A team that's currently very far removed from winning a title as currently constructed like the Nets or Knicks can afford to roll the dice on a player with massive upside, but there's a very real chance that whatever max deal Durant ends up signing ends up going down as an all time bad contract.
Possible Destinations: Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors

4.Klay Thompson, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Golden State Warriors)
An unfortunate injury in the latter stages of the NBA Finals has also put a dent in Thompson's stock, but I'm a lot more optimistic about his chances of returning to full strength in 2020-21 than I am Durant's. Barring some unexpected complications during his rehab from a torn ACL, Thompson's killer instinct, defensive prowess and absurd outside shooting ability should allow him to continue to be a perennial All-Star for the next several years.
Possible Destinations: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers 

3.Kemba Walker, point guard (2018-19 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Teams in the market for a star point guard this summer have the luxury of choosing between Walker and Kyrie Irving. While he's a couple years older and a less efficient shooter than Irving, Walker's durability and high character paired with only a slight downtick in scoring output (23.6 PPG over the past 3 seasons compared to Irving's 24.4) could make him a more appealing option for a team that wants to prevent a morale-killing melodrama like the one that sunk the 2018-19 Celtics from unfolding in their locker room.
Possible Destinations: Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns 

2.Kyrie Irving, point guard (2018-19 team: Boston Celtics)
As long as you can deal with his erratic personality and don't anoint him as a leader in the locker room, Irving will be a fantastic addition to a roster. He's proven to be an absolute assassin in crunch time over the years and his ability to create his own shot is pretty much unparalleled in the league right now.  
Possible Destinations: Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers 

1.Kawhi Leonard, small forward (2018-19 team: Toronto Raptors)
After an ugly 2017-18 campaign with the Spurs where he shut himself down for the year after appearing in just 9 games, Leonard spent 2018-19 reminding everyone why he is arguably the most complete player in the league right now. With the Warriors dynasty on the brink of collapsing, his decision to stay in Toronto after winning a title or go elsewhere to start a new superteam could ultimately be what decides who ends up sitting atop the NBA's currently vacant throne for at least the next 3-5 years.
Possible Destinations: Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks 

Other Notable Free Agents (* indicates a restricted free agent):
Al-Farouq Aminu, small/power forward (2018-19 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Alec Burks, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Cleveland Cavaliers/Sacramento Kings)
Amir Johnson, power forward (2018-19 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Anthony Tolliver, power forward (2018-19 team: Minnesota Timberwolves)
Austin Rivers, point guard (2018-19 teams: Washington Wizards/Houston Rockets)
Boban Marjonovic, center (2018-19 teams: Los Angeles Clippers/Philadelphia 76ers)
Bobby Portis*, power forward (2018-19 teams: Chicago Bulls/Washington Wizards)
Bojan Bogdanovic, small forward (2018-19 team: Indiana Pacers)
Brook Lopez, center (2018-19 team: Milwaukee Bucks)
Carmelo Anthony, small forward (2018-19 team: Houston Rockets)
Cory Joseph, point guard (2018-19 team: Indiana Pacers)
D'Angelo Russell*, point guard (2018-19 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Daniel Theis, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Boston Celtics)
Danny Green, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Toronto Raptors)
Darren Collison, point guard (2018-19 team: Indiana Pacers)
DeAndre Jordan, center (2018-19 teams: Dallas Mavericks/New York Knicks)
Delon Wright*, point guard (2018-19 teams: Toronto Raptors/Memphis Grizzlies)
DeMarcus Cousins, center (2018-19 team: Golden State Warriors)
DeMarre Carroll, small forward (2018-19 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Derrick Rose, point guard (2018-19 team: Minnesota Timberwolves)
Dewayne Dedmon, center (2018-19 team: Atlanta Hawks)
Dragan Bender*, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Phoenix Suns)
Ed Davis, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Elfrid Payton, point guard (2018-19 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Emmanuel Mudiay, point guard (2018-19 team: New York Knicks)
Enes Kanter, center (2018-19 teams: New York Knicks/Portland Trail Blazers)
Frank Kaminsky*, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Garrett Temple, shooting guard/small forward (2018-19 teams: Memphis Grizzlies/Los Angeles Clippers)
Gerald Green, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Houston Rockets)
Greg Monroe, power forward (2018-19 teams: Toronto Raptors/Boston Celtics/Philadelphia 76ers)
Jeremy Lin, point guard (2018-19 teams: Atlanta Hawks/Toronto Raptors)
Harrison Barnes, small forward (2018-19 team: Sacramento Kings)
Iman Shumpert, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Sacramento Kings/Houston Rockets)
Isaiah Thomas, point guard (2018-19 team: Denver Nuggets)
Ish Smith, point guard (2018-19 team: Detroit Pistons)
Ivica Zubac*, center (2018-19 teams: Los Angeles Lakers/Clippers)
J.J Barea, point guard (2018-19 team: Dallas Mavericks)
J.J. Redick, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Jabari Parker, small/power forward (2018-19 teams: Chicago Bulls/Washington Wizards)
Jamal Crawford, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Phoenix Suns)
James Ennis, small forward (2018-19 teams: Houston Rockets/Philadelphia 76ers)
JaMychal Green, power forward (2018-19 teams: Memphis Grizzlies/Los Angeles Clippers)
Jared Dudley, small/power forward (2018-19 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Thabo Sefolosha, small forward (2018-19 team: Utah Jazz)
JaVale McGree, center (2018-19 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Jeff Green., small/power forward (2018-19 team: Washington Wizards)
Jeremy Lamb, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Jonas Jerebko, power forward (2018-19 team: Golden State Warriors)
Jonas Valanciunas, center (2018-19 teams: Toronto Raptors/Memphis Grizzlies)
Julius Randle, power forward (2018-19 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Justin Holiday, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Chicago Bulls/Memphis Grizzlies)
Kenneth Faried, power forward (2018-19 teams: Brooklyn Nets/Houston Rockets)
Kelly Oubre Jr.*, small forward (2018-19 teams: Washington Wizards/Phoenix Suns)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, small guard (2018-19 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Kevon Looney, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Golden State Warriors)
Kristaps Porzingis*, power forward/center (2018-19 teams: New York Knicks/Dallas Mavericks)
Lance Stephenson, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Malcolm Brogdon*, point/shooting guard (2018-19 team: Milwaukee Bucks)
Marcus Morris, small/power forward (2018-19 team: Boston Celtics)
Mario Hezonja, small forward (2018-19 team: New York Knicks)
Markieff Morris, power forward (2018-19 teams: Washington Wizards/Oklahoma City Thunder)
Mike Muscala, power forward/center (2018-19 teams: Philadelphia 76ers/Los Angeles Lakers)
Mike Scott, power forward (2018-19 teams: Los Angeles Clippers/Philadelphia 76ers)
Nik Stauskas, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Portland Trail Blazers/Cleveland Cavaliers)
Nikola Mirotic, power forward (2018-19 teams: New Orleans Pelicans/Milwaukee Bucks)
Noah Vonleh, power forward/center (2018-19 team: New York Knicks)
Patrick Beverley, point guard (2018-19 team: Los Angeles Clippers)
Rajon Rondo, point guard (2018-19 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Reggie Bullock, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Detroit Pistons/Los Angeles Lakers)
Richaun Holmes, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Phoenix Suns)
Ricky Rubio, point guard (2018-19 team: Utah Jazz)
Robin Lopez, center (2018-19 team: Chicago Bulls)
Rodney Hood, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Cleveland Cavaliers/Portland Trail Blazers)
Rodney McGruder*, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Miami Heat/Los Angeles Clippers)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, small forward (2018-19 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Rudy Gay, small forward (2018-19 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Salah Mejri, center (2018-19 team: Dallas Mavericks)
Seth Curry, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Shabazz Napier, point guard (2018-19 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Stanley Johnson*, small forward (2018-19 team: Detroit Pistons)
T.J. McConnell, point guard (2018-19 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Taj Gibson, power forward (2018-19 team: Minnesota Timberwolves)
Terrence Ross, shooting guard (2018-19 team: Orlando Magic)
Terry Rozier*, point guard (2018-19 team: Boston Celtics)
Thaddeus Young, power forward (2018-19 team: Indiana Pacers)
Thomas Bryant*, power forward/center (2018-19 team: Washington Wizards)
Tomas Satoransky*, point/shooting guard (2018-19 team: Washington Wizards)
Trevor Ariza, small forward (2018-19 teams: Phoenix Suns/Washington Wizards)
Trey Lyles*, power forward (2018-19 team: Denver Nuggets)
Tyus Jones*, point guard (2018-19 team: Minnesota Timberwolves)
Vince Carter, shooting guard/small forward (2018-19 team: Atlanta Hawks)
Wayne Ellington, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Miami Heat/Detroit Pistons)
Wesley Matthews, shooting guard (2018-19 teams: Dallas Mavericks/Indiana Pacers)
Willie Cauley-Stein*, center (2018-19 team: Sacramento Kings)
Wilson Chandler, small forward (2018-19 teams: Philadelphia 76ers/Los Angeles Clippers)
Zaza Pachulia, center (2018-19 team: Detroit Pistons)

2019 NFL Position Rankings: Top 20 Kickers

20.Jason Sanders (Dolphins)
19.Michael Badgley (Chargers)
18.Ryan Succop (Titans)
17.Mason Crosby (Packers)
16.Jake Elliott (Eagles)
15.Steven Hauschka (Bills)
14.Adam Vinatieri (Colts)
13.Graham Gano (Panthers)
12.Harrison Butker (Chiefs)
11.Dustin Hopkins (Redskins)
10.Kai'mi Fairbairn (Texans)
9.Jason Myers (Seahawks)
8.Josh Lambo (Jaguars)
7.Matt Prater (Lions)
6.Aldrick Rosas (Giants)
5.Will Lutz (Saints)
4.Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots)
3.Greg Zuerlein (Rams)
2.Robbie Gould (49ers)
1.Justin Tucker (Ravens)

2019 NFL Position Rankings: Top 50 Safeties

50.Justin Simmons (Broncos)
49.Tedric Thompson (Seahawks)
48.Xavier Woods (Cowboys)
47.Clayton Geathers (Colts)
46.Justin Evans (Buccaneers)
45.George Iloka (Cowboys)
44.Morgan Burnett (Browns)
43.Eric Berry (Free Agent)
42.Sean Davis (Steelers)
41.Rodney McLeod (Eagles)
40.Antonie Bethea (Giants)
39.Eric Reid (Panthers)
38.Duron Harmon (Patriots)
37.Shawn Williams (Bengals)
36.Justin Reid (Texans)
35.Jordan Poyer (Bills)
34.Patrick Chung (Patriots)
33.Quandre Diggs (Lions)
32.Damarious Randall (Browns)
31.Karl Joseph (Raiders)
30.Vonn Bell (Saints)
29.Ricardo Allen (Falcons)
28.Bradley McDougald (Seahawks)
27.Tashaun Gibson (Texans)
26.Jabrill Peppers (Giants)
25.Malik Hooker (Colts)
24.Andrew Sendejo (Eagles)
23.Marcus Williams (Saints)
22.Jessie Bates (Bengals)
21.Keanu Neal (Falcons)
20.Marcus Maye (Jets)
19.HaHa Clinton-Dix (Bears)
18.D.J. Swearinger (Cardinals)
17.Tony Jefferson (Ravens)
16.Lamarcus Joyner (Raiders)
15.Landon Collins (Redskins)
14.Tyrann Mathieu (Chiefs)
13.Derwin James (Chargers)
12.Malcolm Jenkins (Eagles)
11.John Johnson III (Rams)
10.Reshad Jones (Dolphins)
9.Micah Hyde (Bills)
8.Adrian Amos (Packers)
7.Devin McCourty (Patriots)
6.Jamal Adams (Jets)
5.Eddie Jackson (Bears)
4.Kevin Byard (Titans)
3.Eric Weddle (Rams)
2.Earl Thomas (Ravens)
1.Harrison Smith (Vikings)

The Best and Worst of Kate McKinnon

“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 “Yesterday” star Kate McKinnon.

Films starring Kate McKinnon that I've seen:
Life Partners
Sisters
Finding Dory
Ghostbusters
Masterminds
Office Christmas Party
Rough Night
The Spy Who Dumped Me

Best Performance: Rough Night (2017)
While poor box office numbers have prevented the Saturday Night Live star's big screen breakout from happening, McKinnon has turned in several sensational performances thus far. Out of this bunch of standout work, her turn in Rough Night has a slight edge over the rest of the pack. Even among a great comedic cast (Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Zoe Kravitz, Paul W. Downs, Eric Andre, Bo Burnham, Ty Burrell, Demi Moore), McKinnon's frenzied energy, ace timing and unreal commitment to selling every joke allows her to be the MVP of every scene she appears in.  

Worst Performance: N/A
Her relatively short list of credits may be part of the reason for her spotless acting record thus far, but I think it's more indictive of her rare gifts. McKinnon is the type of effortlessly funny, immensely dedicated performer who enhances the quality of a project simply by being there. Nearly everything that comes out of her mouth generates a smirk, chuckle or hysterical laughing fit-which makes her a powerhouse presence that commands attention at all times.

Best Film: Rough Night (2017)
Rough Night got a raw deal from the jump. This black comedy from Broad City mainstays Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs was unfairly compared to 1998's Very Bad Things due to its plot centered around the accidental death of a stripper at a bachelorette party-making it a popular target for criticism from people throughout the moviegoing community. Personally, I thought it was a near-consistently hilarious ride that deserves to go down as one of this decade's most underrated comedies. Its clever morbid humor, pitch perfect ensemble cast and flashes of since sentimentality underneath all of the absurd hijinks that drive the story make Rough Night a memorable raunchfest.

Worst Film: Life Partners (2014)
A base level of competency in the acting/directing department and rare representation of a close friendship between straight and gay characters can't save Life Partners from a being a middling indie romantic dramedy. Poor writing that is too reliant on contrived obstacles breaking up the relationship between the protagonists (Gillian Jacobs, Leighton Meester) and failed attempts to pull at the heartstrings crushes any chance Life Partners has of finding its footing.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Spider-Man: Far from Home” star Marisa Tomei. 

Concert Review: August Burns Red-- Boston, MA-- June 21st, 2019

Lineup: August Burns Red/Silverstein/Silent Planet ("Ten Years of Constellations Tour")
Venue: House of Blues, Boston, MA

Silent Planet: In a metalcore scene that isn't exactly loaded with excitement at the moment, LA's Silent Planet has made waves with a distinct sound that combines elements from all over the musical spectrum. There's gloomy atmospheric sections, ultra-technical spazzouts and of course, some soaring melodic hooks. Not all of it clicks (particularly vocally-where polarizing styles like spoken word and pseudo-rapping play a big part in frontman Garrett Russell's arsenal), but their experimentation and overall talent definitely commands attention. My respect for them only went up after seeing them live for the first time last night. Russell is a tremendous perfomer that brings an old-school DIY hardcore sensibility to the stage by jumping into the crowd or handing the mic to a fan to scream the words at every possible turn and some of the more emotional passages that left me cold on record are much more resonant when you get to see just how personal those lyrics are to Russell. Silent Planet is a terrific live act and I expect them to continue to rise up the metalcore ranks over the next few years.
  
Silverstein: The previous time I saw post-hardcore/emo act Silverstein play with August Burns Red on the Leveler tour in February 2012, I thought their live show was among the shittiest things that had ever graced my ears. 19-year old edgelord me was still harboring a baseless grudge that had formed sometime around when they first blew up in 2005 or 06 and silently mocked them the entire time they were stage. Now that those "lol I'm too extreme for this poppy shit" days are well behind me, I actually enjoyed Silverstein's set quite a bit. They had the cohesion and assured stage presence you'd expect from a seasoned act, a lot of the songs they played were pretty catchy and the crowd was popping off the entire time they were on stage. Apologies to these fine Canadians for illogically hating on them for such a long time.

August Burns Red: Anniversary tours might be favorite trend in music right now. Nostalgic sentimentality paired with getting to hear a bunch of songs that an artist never or rarely plays during a normal set is a beautiful combination that makes for fun-ass concert experiences. August Burns Red's 2009 LP Constellations is easily one of the finest albums in their impressive catalog and the majesty of this record was fully on display last night. With its dense songwriting, seamless transitions from track to track and expertly-deployed breakdowns, Constellations is a powerful, triumphant piece of work that displays all of the technical craftsmanship and raw emotion that has allowed August Burns Red to become one of modern metal's most popular acts. Getting the opportunity to see it performed from front to back only reaffirmed the deep-rooted love I have for this metalcore classic as well as reminded me of the greatness of some songs that I hadn't paid attention to as much in recent years ("Ocean of Apathy", "Rationalist", "Crusades").    

The only problems with their set stemmed from my dumb ass not accounting for the fact that the pits were essentially guaranteed to span the entire front of the floor. As a result of this inexplicable oversight, I ended up getting boxed into a corner for the first quarter of the set. By the time I freed myself from the confines of this overcrowded mosh prison, I had to settle for a garbage spot by ABR's merch table that rendered a decent amount of Jake Luhrs' vocals inaudible (although the  drums and guitars sounded amazing from there). While these self-inflicted problems could've been easily avoided if I had just left the killzone before they started playing, it did nonetheless put a bit of a damper on the evening. Basically if you're a frail person who gets annoyed by getting pressed into a railing for a significant period of time, stay out of the front. Otherwise, you'll more than likely have a fantastic time when this tour comes through your city.

Grades:
Silent Planet: B+
Silverstein: B
August Burns Red: B+

Setlists:
Silent Planet:
The New Eternity
Orphan
Panic Room
Native Blood
XX (City Grave)
Psychescape
Afterdusk
Depths II

Silverstein:
Retrograde
Whiplash
Smashed into Pieces
Vices
Smile in Your Sleep
A Midwestern State of Emergency
Ghost
Massachusetts
I Will Illuminate
My Heroine
The Afterglow

August Burns Red:
Thirty and Seven
Existence
Ocean of Apathy
White Washed
Mariana's Trench
The Escape Artist
Indonesia
Paradox
Meridian
Rationalist
Meddler
Crusades

Encore:
Dual Drum Solo (Matt Greiner and Dustin Davidson)
Ghosts
Invisible Enemy
Empire
Composure

Quick Movie Reviews: Men in Black: International, Murder Mystery, Shaft

Men in Black: International: What a weird watch this ended up being. Unlike a lot of sequels and spin-offs, Men in Black: International feels like it belongs to a different series. Sure there's still the shades, neuralysers and single letter codenames, but the tone is oddly serious and the manic, breezy pacing of the original MiB trilogy has been slowed down considerably. Adding to the oddity of this revival is that this uncharacteristic routine manages to be somewhat successful. It's never boring, director F. Gary Gray puts together some relatively exciting action sequences and the primary cast (Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Kumail Nanjiani, Liam Nesson, Rebecca Ferguson) all do respectable work-although Ferguson was sadly underutilized. Would've been it better if the script stuck closer to the franchise's roots by properly utilizing the tremendous comedic rapport of Thompson and Hemsworth? Absolutely. However, this inability to capitalize on the established dynamic of its stars doesn't mean its a total failure. In fact, I would say that even with all of the flaws brought on by the change in tone-it's still a more focused and enjoyable product than Men in Black II. Middling box office numbers will likely prevent this franchise from continuing as currently constituted, but I'd definitely be down for another go-round with this cast if Sony brought in some new writers that were better suited for a goofy sci-fi comedy.
Grade: B-

Murder Mystery: Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston's latest project/summer vacation doesn't work nearly as well as their first one. Murder Mystery has all of the features of the genre (collection of suspicious characters, double crosses, over-the-top reveals) its attempting to satirize without the electricity of a traditional whodunit or the healthy volume of silly laughs and heart Sandler's projects tend to have. The always affable chemistry between these comedy vets and a handful of good jokes ensure that the proceedings aren't a completely middling affair, but that's still not enough to prevent this from being one of Sandler's most anonymous movies to-date.
Grade: C+

Shaft: While not without its groanworthy "goddamn kids these days" jokes and narrative bumps, Shaft does a pretty good job of bringing this franchise into the modern day without sacrificing the style and edge that has defined it from day one. This iteration is more of an odd couple buddy movie than a straight-up actioner with an estranged father (Samuel L. Jackson-reprising his role as the foul-mouthed private investigator from the 2000 reboot) and son (Jessie T. Usher), who is a rookie FBI data analyst, teaming up to solve a murder. They question each other's procedures, bicker over the differences between their generations and ultimately, learn some much-needed life lessons from each other. Sure it's predictable as hell, but it's an amusing ride bolstered by the always welcome presence of cinema's finest F-bomb slinging asskicker, Usher's understated comedy chops and a quality supporting cast led by the always fantastic Regina Hall as Usher's mom/Jackson's ex-wife. Shaft is simply a flashy, enjoyable exercise in escapism-which is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for this time of year.
Grade: B

2019 NBA Mock Draft 1.0 (Draft Day)

1.New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, small/power forward (Duke)
2.Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, point guard (Murray State) 
3.New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett, shooting guard/small forward (Duke)
4.New Orleans Pelicans: Jarrett Culver, shooting guard (Texas Tech)
5.Cleveland Cavaliers: Cam Reddish, shooting guard/small forward (Duke)
6.Phoenix Suns: Darius Garland, point guard (Vanderbilit)
7.Chicago Bulls: Coby White, point/shooting guard (North Carolina)
8.Atlanta Hawks: De'Andre Hunter, small forward (Virginia)
9.Washington Wizards: Jaxson Hayes, center (Texas)

10.Atlanta Hawks: Sekou Doumbouya, small/power forward (France)

11.Minnesota Timberwolves: Nassir Little, small forward (North Carolina)

12.Charlotte Hornets: Rui Hachimura, small/power forward (Gonzaga)

13.Miami Heat: P.J. Washington, power forward (Kentucky)

14.Boston Celtics: Bol Bol, center (Oregon)

15.Detroit Pistons: Tyler Herro, shooting guard (Kentucky)

16.Orlando Magic: Gogo Bitadze, center (Republic of Georgia)

17.Atlanta Hawks: Romeo Langford, shooting guard/small forward (Indiana)

18.Indiana Pacers: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, point/shooting guard (Virginia Tech)

19.San Antonio Spurs: Brandon Clarke, power forward (Gonzaga)

20.Boston Celtics: Matisse Thybulle, shooting guard (Washington) 

21.Oklahoma City Thunder: Nic Claxton, power forward/center (Georgia)

22.Boston Celtics: Luka Samanic, power forward/center (Croatia)

23.Memphis Grizzlies: Keldon Johnson, small forward (Kentucky)

24.Philadelphia 76ers: Cameron Johnson, small forward (North Carolina)

25.Portland Trail Blazers: Ty Jerome, point/shooting guard (Virginia)

26.Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Porter Jr., shooting guard (USC)

27.Brooklyn Nets: Dylan Windler, small forward (Belmont)

28.Golden State Warriors: Mfiondu Kabengele, center (Florida State)

29.San Antonio Spurs: Bruno Fernando, center (Maryland)

30.Milwaukee Bucks: Jontay Porter, center (Missouri)

The Best and Worst of Tim Allen

“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 “Toy Story 4” star Tim Allen.

Films starring Tim Allen that I've seen:
The Santa Clause 
Toy Story
Jungle 2 Jungle 
Toy Story 2
Galaxy Quest
Buzz Lightyear of Space Command: The Adventure Begins
Big Trouble
The Santa Clause 2
Christmas with the Kranks
Wild Hogs 
Toy Story 3

Best Performance: Galaxy Quest (1999)
Allen brought a sense of self-awareness and killer wit to the role of Jason Nesmith-the spotlight hog who served as the lead on popular sci-fi series "Galaxy Quest"-in this clever parody of Star Trek.

Worst Performance: Wild Hogs (2007)
While some would argue it was sooner, I'd pinpoint Wild Hogs as the exact moment where Allen lost his fastball. Whatever everyman likability he brought to his past roles was replaced by a soul-sucking blandness that kills every joke before it even gets a chance to land.

Best Film: Toy Story (1995)
All three previously released Toy Story movies are sensational, but nostalgia pushes to the original to the front of the pack. Toy Story is the first movie I remember truly loving as a kid and as I've grown older, that feeling has only intensified. With its huge heart, large collection of memorable characters and constant laughs, it achieves a rare level of magic that's a joy to behold.

Worst Film: Wild Hogs (2007)
My apologies to the dads out there who recently saw this on TNT and were delighted by all the kooky hijinks this group of suburban, middle-aged bikers get into on their journey out west, but Wild Hogs didn't make me laugh a whole lot. It's the type of broad comedy that's just innocuous enough to not be completely tortuous yet still has enough cringeworthy moments to go down as a relatively painful watch overall.  

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

2019 NFL Position Rankings: Top 50 Cornerbacks

50.Trae Waynes (Vikings)
49.J.C. Jackson (Patriots)
48.Quincy Wilson (Colts)
47.James Bradberry (Panthers)
46.Darqueze Dennard (Bengals)
45.Justin Coleman (Lions)
44.Robert Alford (Cardinals)
43.Bradley Roby (Texans)
42.Mike Hilton (Steelers)
41.Patrick Robinson (Saints)
40.Jaire Alexander (Packers)
39.Kenny Moore (Colts)
38.Joe Haden (Steelers)
37.Janoris Jenkins (Giants)
36.Malcolm Butler (Titans)
35.Brandon Carr (Ravens)
34.Tre'Davious White (Bills)
33.Desmond Trufant (Falcons)
32.Josh Norman (Redskins)
31.Ronald Darby (Eagles)
30.Kendall Fuller (Chiefs)
29.Adoree' Jackson (Titans)
28.Steven Nelson (Steelers)
27.William Jackson III (Bengals)
26.Trumaine Johnson (Jets)
25.Pierre Desir (Colts)
24.Denzel Ward (Browns)
23.Nickell Robey-Coleman (Rams)
22.Richard Sherman (49ers)
21.Marcus Peters (Rams)
20.Xavier Rhodes (Vikings)
19.Xavien Howard (Dolphins)
18.Marlon Humphery (Ravens)
17.Jonathan Joseph (Texans)
16.Bryce Callahan (Broncos)
15.Jason McCourty (Patriots)
14.Prince Amukamara (Bears)
13.Marshon Lattimore (Saints)
12.Kareem Jackson (Broncos)
11.Byron Jones (Cowboys)
10.Aqib Talib (Rams)
9.Kyle Fuller (Bears)
8.A.J. Bouye (Jaguars)
7.Desmond King (Chargers)
6.Darius Slay (Lions)
5.Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
4.Jalen Ramsey (Jaguars)
3.Casey Hayward (Chargers)
2.Chris Harris Jr. (Broncos)
1.Stephon Gilmore (Patriots)

2018-19 NBA Year-End Awards

MVP: Kawhi Leonard (Raptors) (26.6 PPG, 49.6 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 85.4 FT% 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden have received a ton of MVP buzz thanks to the consistent excellence they displayed running their team's uptempo offenses. Those guys may have stuffed the hell of the stat sheets on a near nightly basis, but did the presence of either of those guys truly transform their team? Kawhi Leonard changed the fortunes of a Raptors squad that had been a punchline for nearly a decade due to their annual collapses in the playoffs by re-establishing himself as the league's best two-way player after essentially sitting out the entire 2017-18 season. The Board Man that's about to get paid also averaged career highs in points and rebounds per game during this magical season that ended with his team lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Honorable Mentions: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), James Harden (Rockets), Paul George (Thunder)

Coach of the Year: Mike Malone (Nuggets)
The 2018-19 NBA season truly was a master class in coaching. Mike Budenholzer brought the Bucks from perennial fringe playoff contenders to the top of the Eastern Conference, Nick Nurse helped a team shed its reputation as postseason chokers in his 1st season as a head coach, Nate McMillan kept the Pacers on track after Victor Oladipo ruptured his quad in late January, Steve Clifford snapped a seven year playoff drought in Orlando and Doc Riverfs guided a Clippers squad with no true star and a constantly fluctuating roster to the playoffs in the ultracompetitive Western Conference. As worthy as all of these guys are, the work Mike Malone did impressed me the most. Leading a youth-driven Nuggets team that saw several huge changes to their rotation and battled injuries to key contributors (Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap) all season long to a 54-28 record-which was good enough for 2nd place in the West and 4th best in the entire league- was a staggering accomplishment for a team that had been merely decent in the prior few seasons.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Budenholzer (Bucks), Nick Nurse (Raptors) Doc Rivers (Clippers)

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert (Jazz) (9.0 DRPG, 2.3 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 5.7 DWS)
2018-19 was business as usual for the league's best rim protector. The Stifle Tower once again anchored the Jazz's elite defense (2nd in defensive rating) by making the paint a very uncomfortable place for opponents. He finished in the top 2-5 in nearly every defensive category (defensive rebounds, blocks, defensive win shares, individual defensive rating) that measures the effectiveness of an interior player and was pivotal in making Quin Snyder's club the physical thorn in the side that wears down most of their opponents.
Honorable Mentions: Myles Turner (Pacers), Paul George (Thunder), Andre Drummond (Pistons)

Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic (Mavericks) (21.2 PPG, 42.7 FG%, 32.7 3P%, 71.3 FT% 6.0 APG, 7.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG)
Trae Young's sensational play over the last couple months of the season was almost enough for him to steal this honor away from Doncic, but the Mavs small forward put together a more complete rookie campaign than the Hawks point guard. The 20-year old showed his EuroLeague dominance was no fluke by routinely taking over games and flashing a big time shotmaking ability that resembled a battle-tested vet. Not to mention, his stepback 3's are already among the prettiest in the league.
Honorable Mentions: Trae Young (Hawke), Deandre Ayton (Suns), Collin Sexton (Cavaliers)

Most Improved Player: Pascal Siakam (Raptors) (16.9 PPG, 54.9 FG%, 36.9 3P%, 78.5 FT%, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG)
This award is designed to reward improbable underdog stories like this. Siakam went from relatively insignificant role player to a key starter that served as an offensive X-factor on a championship-winning season in the matter of 1 season. Based on what he showed in his inargual season as a starter, there's no reason to believe that this efficient, well-rounded player won't continue to improve and be a pillar of this Raptors team for years to come.
Honorable Mentions: D'Angelo Russell (Nets), De'Aaron Fox (Kings), Buddy Hield (Kings)

Sixth Man of the Year: Montrezl Harrell (Clippers) (16.6 PPG, 61.5 FG%, 64.3 FT%, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 0.9 SPG)
With the possible exception of Lou Williams when he was in the middle of one of his patented scoring explosions, no member of this scrappy Clippers squad made opponents more uneasy than Harrell. His physicality, craftiness around the rim and relentless motor provided the Clippers with a  true terrorizer on the floor for a little over 26 minutes per night. The Clippers unlikely success this past season wouldn't have happened without productive, hard-nosed guys like Harrell on the roster and bulldogs like him should help the team in their pursuit of star players this summer.    
Honorable Mentions: Lou Williams (Clippers), Domontas Sabonis (Pacers), Terrence Ross (Magic)

All-NBA Team
1st team:
Guard: Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Guard: James Harden (Rockets)
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Forward: Kawhi Leonard (Raptors)
Center: Joel Embiid (76ers)

2nd team:
Guard: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
Guard: Kyrie Irving (Celtics)
Forward: Paul George (Thunder)
Forward: Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Center: Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

3rd team:
Guard: Kemba Walker (Hornets)
Guard: Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Forward: Blake Griffin (Pistons)
Forward: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
Center: Nikola Vucevic (Magic)

All-Defensive Team
1st team:
Guard: Marcus Smart (Celtics)
Guard: Eric Bledsoe (Bucks)
Forward: Paul George (Thunder)
Forward: Kawhi Leonard (Raptors)
Center: Rudy Gobert (Jazz)

2nd team:
Guard: Klay Thompson (Warriors)
Guard: Jrue Holiday (Pelicans)
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Forward: Draymond Green (Warriors)
Center: Andre Drummond (Pistons)

3rd team:
Guard: Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Guard: De'Aaron Fox (Kings)
Forward: P.J. Tucker (Rockets)
Forward: Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Center: Myles Turner (Pacers)

All-Rookie Team
1st team:
Guard: Trae Young (Hawks)
Guard: Collin Sexton (Cavaliers)
Forward: Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
Forward: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
Center: Deandre Ayton (Suns)

2nd team:
Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Clippers)
Guard: Landry Shamet (76ers/Clippers)
Forward: Marvin Bagley Jr. (Kings) 
Forward: Kevin Knox (Knicks)
Center: Mitchell Robinson (Knicks)

2019 NFL Position Rankings: Top 35 Outside Linebackers

35.De'Vondre Campbell (Falcons)
34.Brooks Reed (Cardinals)
33.Clay Matthews (Rams)
32.Matthew Judon (Ravens)
31.Alex Anzalone (Saints)
30.Dante Fowler Jr. (Rams)
29.Kyler Fackrell (Packers)
28.Shaquil Barrett (Buccaneers)
27.A.J. Klein (Saints)
26.Sean Lee (Cowboys)
25.Aaron Lynch (Bears)
24.Whitney Mercilus (Texans)
23.Shaq Thompson (Panthers)
22.Bradley Chubb (Broncos)
21.Kyle Van Noy (Patriots)
20.Leonard Floyd (Bears)
19.Nigel Bradham (Eagles)
18.Za'Darius Smith (Packers)
17.Matt Milano (Bills)
16.Anthony Barr (Vikings)
15.Terrell Suggs (Cardinals)
14.Dont'a Hightower (Patriots)
13.Thomas Davis (Chargers)
12.T.J. Watt (Steelers)
11.Preston Smith (Packers)
10.Lorenzo Alexander (Bills)
9.Darius Leonard (Colts)
8.Leighton Vander Esch (Cowboys)
7.K.J. Wright (Seahawks)
6.Ryan Kerrigan (Redskins)
5.Chandler Jones (Cardinals)
4.Lavonte David (Buccaneers)
3.Jadeveon Clowney (Texans)
2.Von Miller (Broncos)
1.Khalil Mack (Bears)

The Best and Worst of Tessa Thompson

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

Films starring Tessa Thompson that I've seen:
Dear White People
Selma
Creed
War on Everyone
Thor: Ragnarok
Annihilation 
Sorry to Bother You
Creed II
Avengers: Endgame

Best Performance: Creed (2015)
Sincere, deep-rooted emotion has made both Creed movies standouts in the sports drama genre and all three leads (Thompson, Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone) have equally contributed to the   poignancy that drives this era of the Rocky franchise. Thompson brings a very believable  combination of strength, vulnerability, courage and fear to her role as Bianca, an up-and-coming singer suffering from progressive hearing loss that develops an unlikely romantic relationship with Adonis Creed (Jordan).

Worst Performance: Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Over half of the above titles are elevated by Thompson's charm and ace comic timing. Sorry to Bother You is the only comedic role she's had thus far where those qualities didn't shine through. Her performance as Detroit, the artist girlfriend of protagonist Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield), is a terrible one-note joke about the phoniness and lack of self-awareness that many creative people have in spades.

Best Film: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Outside of the baffling disappointment of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, Marvel has been in a hell of a groove over the past couple years. As much as I love Black Panther and the last two Avengers movies, Thor: Ragnarok is the peak of this era for me by far. Thanks to Taika Waititi's abstract sense of humor, a vibrant color palette that evokes the atmosphere of a comic book and a terrific cast that perfectly sells this goofy material, Ragnarok becomes the superhero behemoth's most entertaining and delightfully strange product to-date.

Worst Film: Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Boots Riley is a smart guy and he deserves some credit for making something that is a true original from start to finish. However, a bold, unique narrative isn't enough to cover up the poorly-constructed jokes and unfocused, hyperactive attempts at social/political commentary that ultimately sink this capitalism satire.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Toy Story 4” star Tim Allen. 

2019 NFL Position Rankings: Top 25 Inside Linebackers

25.Brandon Marshall (Raiders)
24.Jake Ryan (Jaguars)
23.Kwon Alexander (49ers)
22.Denzel Perryman (Chargers)
21.Elandon Roberts (Patriots)
20.Zach Cunningham (Texans)
19.Cory Littleton (Rams)
18.Eric Kendricks (Vikings)
17.Wesley Woodyard (Titans)
16.Todd Davis (Broncos)
15.Jayon Brown (Titans)
14.Blake Martinez (Packers)
13.Myles Jack (Jaguars)
12.Jordan Hicks (Cardinals)
11.Danny Trevathan (Bears)
10.Avery Williamson (Jets)
9.Joe Schobert (Browns)
8.Demario Davis (Saints)
7.Jaylon Smith (Cowboys)
6.Benardrick McKinney (Texans)
5.Zach Brown (Eagles)
4.C.J. Mosley (Jets)
3.Deion Jones (Falcons)
2.Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
1.Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)

Quick Movie Reviews: Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Rocketman, Dark Phoenix

Godzilla: King of the Monsters: Compared to Gareth Edwards' plodding, essentially action-free 2014 reboot, King of the Monsters is a triumph. Michael Dougherty (Krampus, Trick 'r Treat) decided to make a kaiju movie where the monsters actually get a notable amount of screen time and wait for it, actually fight each other! Crazy concept right? Despite atoning for the head-scratching sins of its predecessor, this new Godzilla movie still isn't anything special. Giant monsters are being unearthed constantly throughout King of the Monsters yet the entire affair feels oddly routine. A three-headed dragon emerging from the ice or a pterodactyl-like creature coming out of a volcano should generate more than a "huh, would you look that?" from the human characters-especially since most of them have spent most of their adult lives tracking and studying these creatures. The action sequences are competent and some of the individual shots of the monsters are absolutely stunning, but the final battle in Boston was the only time the movie fully utilized all of the badass creatures it had its disposal-which was really disappointing to see from a "clash of the titans" blockbuster that easily could've been an epic spectacle.
Grade: B-

Rocketman: As lazy and unfair as it might be, comparing Rocketman to Bohemian Rhapsody is inevitable. The polarizing Queen biopic is still fresh in people's minds after a very successful box office run last fall/winter and obviously deals with some of the same themes as Freddie Mercury and Elton John achieved superstardom during an era where being openly gay was viewed as a surefire way to kill your career. Not to mention, Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher was brought into complete the final few weeks of filming on Bohemian Rhapsody following the firing of credited director Bryan Singer.

When it comes to the actual on-screen product, they couldn't be any more different. Where Bohemian Rhapsody was a clearly sanitized, by-the-numbers biopic, Rocketman is a delightfully odd creation that celebrates John's career without glossing over the dark times. The frequent detours into elaborately-choregraphed dream sequences/musical numbers took a little bit of getting used to, but they do a brilliant job of helping explain the origin of many of his deeply personal songs as well as exploring the juxtaposition between his colorful on-stage persona and the toxic relationships and suffocating loneliness that plagued his personal life which eventually resulted in him developing a serious substance abuse problem.

These rapidly fluctuating emotional highs and lows flow so seamlessly in large part due to Taron Edgerton's tremendous work as John. He did a terrific job convincingly portraying the multiple facets of John's personality both off-stage and through his music with a sensational vocal performance that does all of these iconic songs justice.

Kudos to John for being brave enough to put his inner demons out there and bringing in a creative team (Fletcher, writer Lee Hall) that would make sure his story didn't turn into a typical Rockstar biopic. While I doubt that a ton of artists will be willing to follow John's lead, the fearlessness, raw emotion and vibrancy of Rocketman will hopefully lead to a future with more unfiltered biopics.
Grade: B+

Dark Phoenix:  Dark Phoenix's more drama-centric approach has drawn ire from a lot critics and audiences, but I thought it was a nice, well-executed departure from the genre norm. Watching the variety of believable ways each character reacted to Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) turning into a villain with unimaginable power against her will following a mysterious explosion during a space rescue mission was fascinating and having a narrative that deals with the ideas of trauma, family and covering up the truth to "protect" someone you love allows these super talented actors to really sink their teeth into their roles. The more minimalist, emotionally-grounded storyline also turned the few huge action scenes into very impactful showdowns with legit stakes/tension that gave every member of the crew their moment to shine. Ultimately, Dark Phoenix is a satisfying albeit bittersweet ending for this criminally underrated franchise that was responsible for the rebirth of the superhero genre nearly 20 years ago. While not without its misfires, the excellent ensemble casts, massive action setpieces and willingness to actually put its heroes in danger allowed both iterations of X-Men to carve out its own place in an increasingly crowded caped crusader marketplace. These films deserve far better than to be a forgotten footnote in a genre where nothing almost nothing outside of the MCU is viewed as worthwhile and even though I'm excited to see what Marvel Studios does with the property down the road, I'll miss Fox's take on the franchise terribly.    
Grade: B+ 

Concert Review: Coheed and Cambria--Boston, MA-- June 6th, 2019

Lineup: Coheed and Cambria/Mastodon/Every Time I Die (The Unheavenly Skye Tour)
Venue: Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA

Every Time I Die: Seeing a road dog veteran band who usually headlines dingy clubs perform at a fully seated venue in one of Boston's bojueest neighborhoods was super strange- a fact that vocalist Keith Buckley acknowledged multiple times during their set. Venue oddity aside, Every Time I Die was their usual excellent selves. The big stage and lack of a pit didn't prevent them from delivering 40 minutes of energetic, chaotic metalcore that went over surprisingly well with an audience that was at least somewhat comprised of people that didn't come to see them. Hopefully we'll be blessed with a new record and subsequent return to seat-free tours in sweaty 800-capacity rooms by the middle of next year.
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Mastodon: I've been absurdly nervous about seeing Mastodon again since the moment I found about this tour. Their live show is notoriously erratic and since the last time was an absolute doozy of a performance where Brent Hinds' vocals resembled a cat trying to cough up a furball for 90 minutes, my expectations heading into last night were incredibly low. Making matters worse is the fact that Crack the Skye, which they were playing from front to back in honor of its 10th anniversary, is one of my favorite records ever. The slew of negativity I walked in with proved to be nothing but a whole lot of false worry.

Clearly this triumph was much more than a pleasant surprise. Hell, I would've been shocked if I ended up merely ENJOYING their performance. This nearly hiccup-free shit that captured the epic scale and haunting atmosphere that makes Crack the Skye a progressive metal masterpiece basically scrambled my brain. I don't know if it caused by extreme shock or confusion, but it was a feeling that I've never felt before and couldn't possibly put into a suitable string of words. Will my cynical ass bitch about how this show was a bittersweet reminder of the force Mastodon used to be sometime in the near future? Without a doubt, but in the interim, I'm just going to cherish the fact that I saw a band that was crucial in solidifying my love of music put on a hell of a performance at a time where I thought they were no longer capable of doing so.

Coheed and Cambria: Whenever someone asks me to name live acts that have consistently impressed me, Coheed and Cambria is one of the first artists that pops into my mind. Every single time I've seen them dating back to their spring 2006 co-headliner with Avenged Sevenfold has been an incredible experience and that reliable excellence was on display once again here. Everything from the lesser-played songs from their extensive back catalog (“Gravity's Union”, “Mother Superior”) to the staples that have been bringing down the house for over a decade (“Welcome Home”, “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3”) to the plethora of material they played from their great new record The Unheavenly Creatures sounded tremendous. There's not a riff, drum hit or vocal note that isn't either exactly like the studio version or perfectly embellished to get a bigger pop out of the crowd. In my eyes, that's the definition of an exceptional performer. Even among the artists I'd place in the elite tier of live acts, Coheed sits comfortably among the top. As long as they are physically able to perform their songs, their shows will remain a clinic in both musicianship and sending fans home happy.


Grades:
Every Time I Die: A-
Mastodon: A
Coheed and Cambria: A+

Setlists:
Every Time I Die:
Roman Holiday
Glitches
Underwater Bimbos from Outer Space
We'rewolf
Floater
Decayin' with the Boys
Thirst
INRIhab
It Remembers
The Coin Has a Say
The New Black
Map Change

Mastodon:
Oblivion
Divinations
Quintessence
The Czar
Ghost of Karelia
Crack the Skye
The Last Baron
Blood and Thunder
Crystal Skull
Ancient Kingdom
The Motherload

Coheed and Cambria:
Prologue
The Dark Sentencer
Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant
Unheavenly Creatures
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
A Favor House Atlantic
The Gutter
True Ugly
No World for Tomorrow
Gravity's Union
Mother Superior
The Suffering
Old Flames

Encore:
The Pavilion (A Long Way Back)
Welcome Home

2019 NFL Position Rankings: Top 35 Defensive Ends

35.Marcus Davenport (Saints)
34.Jonathan Allen (Redskins)
33.Carl Lawson (Bengals)
32.Michael Brockers (Rams)
31.Alex Okafor (Chiefs)
30.Robert Quinn (Cowboys)
29.Mario Addison (Panthers)
28.Henry Anderson (Jets)
27.Ezekiel Ansah (Seahawks)
26.Shaq Lawson (Bills)
25.Jabaal Sheard (Colts)
24.Derek Wolfe (Broncos)
23.Everson Griffen (Vikings)
22.Yannick Ngakoue (Jaguars)
21.Leonard Williams (Jets)
20.Frank Clark (Chiefs)
19.Mike Daniels (Packers)
18.Carlos Dunlap (Bengals)
17.Michael Bennett (Patriots)
16.Cameron Wake (Titans)
15.Danielle Hunter (Vikings)
14.Justin Houston (Colts)
13.Olivier Vernon (Browns)
12.Myles Garrett (Browns)
11.Cameron Heyward (Steelers)
10.Dee Ford (49ers)
9.Joey Bosa (Chargers)
8.Jerry Hughes (Bills)
7.Melvin Ingram (Chargers)
6.Trey Flowers (Lions)
5.DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys)
4.Brandon Graham (Eagles)
3.Calias Campbell (Jaguars)
2.J.J. Watt (Texans)
1.Cameron Jordan (Saints)

The Best and Worst of Tye Sheridan

“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 “Dark Phoenix” star Tye Sheridan.

Films starring Tye Sheridan that I've seen:
The Tree of Life
Mud
The Forger
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse 
X-Men: Apocalypse 
Ready Player One

Best Performance: Mud (2013)
Sheridan's breakout performance remains my favorite of his by a solid margin. As a bored, poverty-stricken Arkansas teenager who along with his best friend (Jacob Laofland) develops a friendship with a mysterious yet noble fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) after stumbling upon the abandoned houseboat he's hiding out in, Sheridan brings a sizable amount of heart to this gritty, grounded drama.

Worst Performance: Ready Player One (2018)
In a movie where Ben Mendelsohn puts on a clinic in cringeworthy overacting, the poor efforts from everyone else are kind of hard to notice. While it lacks the unintentionally comedic theatrics that Mendelsohn fills every scene with, Sheridan's performance as the film's protagonist is similarly stinky. By bringing nothing but a whole lot of blandness to the table, Wade Watts ends up being the complete antithesis of the vivid digital world he spends most of his time in.

Best Film: X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Both generations of Fox's X-Men saga have spawned some really excellent and subsequently very underrated superhero flicks. The most recent installment Apocalypse is one of the top dogs in that exclusive camp.  While it represents a step back from the epic scope of Days of Future Past,  Apocalypse boasts terrific action scenes, an imposing villain that serves as a legitimately formidable opponent for the titular heroes, some legitimately emotional moments and of course, a great ensemble cast that elevates the material at every turn. 

Worst Film: The Tree of Life (2011)
Terrence Malick's mediation on the "meaning of life" epitomizes insufferable arthouse cinema. This piece of meandering, self-congratulatory indie trash that operates under the guise of exploring the many high-and-lows of human existence is about as enjoyable as getting kicked in the balls with a steel toe boot for 3 straight hours. Even entertaining the thought of watching this repulsive auteur masturbation session again makes me physically ill.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Men in Black: International” star Tessa Thompson. 

Album Review: Denzel Curry-ZUU

Last July's TA1300 looks like it could end up going down as the project that launched Denzel Curry into stardom. By adding more conscious, soulful influences to his arsenal without losing the raw edge that gained him a cult following in the hardcore/industrial hip-hop community, the 24-year old  received the most critical acclaim and commercial success of his career thus far. This wave of buzz helped Curry land slots on several high-profile US festivals (Lollapalooza, Governor's Ball, Boston Calling) as well as serve as the opener on pop's latest megastar Billie Eilish's current headlining tour, which should introduce a ton of new audiences to the distinct stylings of the Black Metal Terrorist. Curry kicks the traction he's built up over the last 10 months into warp speed with his latest LP ZUU, a fiery, efficient collection of trunk-knocking trap anthems that are begging to be played at a high volume all summer long.

Where TAB1300 was a dark, deeply personal record that covered a lot of different musical and thematic ground, ZUU is a collection of bangers from front to back that strictly serves as a nostalgic love letter to Curry's hometown of Miami. Even when this 29-minute ragefest explores the darker side of Curry's upbringing in Carol City ("We carry hollow tips 'cause it reflects what's in my soul" on album closer "P.A.T" was the most poignant of all), ZUU is largely driven by a sense of vibrancy and fondness for what the city and its music means to him. As confident of a performer as he's been since the days of Nostalgic 64, he's arguably never sounder more at ease then he does creating hooky, energetic tracks behind speaker-rattling bass, distorted vocal samples and drum machines that hit like a cannonball. These club-ready tunes that gracefully combine real life grit with larger-than-life playfulness is what Curry grew up on in America's most underrated hip-hop hub, and it's evident when listening to this record that honoring and adding to South Florida's rich history was a big deal to him.  

Adding to the laid-back party atmosphere of this record is the loose composition style it utilizes.  ZUU comes together in such an organic manner that it feels like it was crafted in real time on a stoop or a bus going to/from work or school instead of a recording studio.  How did Curry achieve that seemingly spontaneous feel? By freestyling the whole damn album. That's right, every bar on here came to him once the red light turned on. To be honest, that is borderline unfathomable to me. The tremendous collection of hard-hitting beats he had to work with may have helped kickstart the creative juices, but making every verse sound as tight as something that was pre-written is just silly and adds yet another item to the long list of reasons why Curry is so good at what he does.

ZUU is a highly enjoyable listen that is yet another impressive showcase for Curry's exceptional mic skills and rare dynamism. There's seemingly no style within the hip-hop scene that he's unwilling to try his hand at, and that fearlessness and success when it comes to experimentation makes him a very exciting artist to follow. If he wasn't already in the conversation before last summer, the powerhouse, polar opposite combo of TA1300 and ZUU should be enough to solidify his case to be considered one of the best rappers in the game right now.

Grade: B+
Standout Tracks:
1.BIRDZ (feat. Rick Ross)
2.RICKY
3.P.A.T. (feat. PlayThatBoiZay)

2019 NFL Position Rankings: Top 30 Defensive Tackles

30.Dalvin Tomlinson (Giants)
29.D.J. Reader (Texans)
28.Steve McClendon (Jets)
27.Mike Pennel (Patriots)
26.David Onyemata (Saints)
25.Da'Shawn Hand (Lions)
24.Malik Jackson (Eagles)
23.Sheldon Rankins (Saints)
22.Javon Hargrave (Steelers)
21.Sheldon Richardson (Browns)
20.Brandon Williams (Ravens)
19.Linval Joseph (Vikings)
18.Eddie Goldman (Bears)
17.Michael Pierce (Ravens)
16.Shelby Harris (Broncos)
15.Lawrence Guy (Patriots)
14.Marcell Dareus (Jaguars)
13.Gerald McCoy (Panthers)
12.DeForest Buckner (49ers)
11.Ndamukong Suh (Buccaneers)
10.Kawann Short (Panthers)
9.Kenny Clark (Packers)
8.Jurrell Casey (Titans)
7.Geno Atkins (Bengals)
6.Grady Jarrett (Falcons)
5.Damon Harrison (Lions)
4.Chris Jones (Chiefs)
3.Akiem Hicks (Bears)
2.Fletcher Cox (Eagles)
1.Aaron Donald (Rams)

Culturesport Kickstarter

Hello all,
A friend of a friend is working on a sci-fi anime project called Culturesport and needs some help in order to get it off the ground. You can watch the pilot episode and read the full story outline for this trippy, visually distinct planned series of shorts/donate to the Kickstarter below. Here's the official synopsis of this teaser episode that's entitled "Rotterdam 1995": The seas are rising. A reclusive engineer has come to town, promising to invent a new system of dikes and dams, using a computer that harnesses the power of dreams. A pair of twins are selected for the study- gabber kids from the local hardcore scene. But as they get suckered deeper into a digital dream world, they realize the inventor's true goal isn't to protect Rotterdam at all.  

Animation is an incredibly lengthy, involved process that requires a lot of resources to pull off and it would be a real shame if they didn't get the opportunity to put their fully-realized vision into the world. I wish the entire Culturesport team the best of luck in the final week of their fundraising efforts.

-Chris Maitland


Donate here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/culturesport/culturesport-season-1?ref=br8k3z&fbclid=IwAR3SVj7suBS9B2Q4lse24-f0a8mw5ncW-lloTRlTKvQVN-KDTvgSNj8zDXI