While it certainly doesn't feel like it considering the current state of the world, the 2020 NFL Draft is just under a month away. I'm approaching the halfway point of my evaluation process, which means it's time for me to share with you my early picks for the top available prospects in this year's class. As always, it needs to be said that this list isn't even close to being locked in at this point and will most likely undergo significant changes once I evaluate more players/dig deeper on the ones that I've already started to breakdown. Hope you enjoy and be sure to stay tuned for a steady stream of draft content over the coming weeks.
Notable Prospects I Haven't Evaluated Yet: Justin Herbert, Zach Braun, Kristian Fulton, Trevon Diggs, Ross Blacklock, Tee Higgins, Jeff Gladney, Kenneth Murray, Marlon Davidson, Jordan Love, Jalen Reagor, Cesar Ruiz, Hunter Bryant, A.J. Terrell, Michael Pittman Jr., Julian Okwara, Curtis Weaver, All of the Running Backs and Safeties
1.Joe Burrow, quarterback (LSU)
2.Jeffery Okudah, cornerback (Ohio State)
3.Ceedee Lamb, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
4.Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver (Alabama)
5.Isaiah Simmons, inside linebacker (Clemson)
6.Chase Young, edge rusher (Ohio State)
7.Derrick Brown, defensive tackle (Auburn)
8.Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle (South Carolina)
9.Andrew Thomas, tackle (Georgia)
10.Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback (Alabama)
11.Jedrick Wills, tackle (Alabama)
12.Tristan Wirfs, tackle (Iowa)
13.Henry Ruggs III, wide receiver (Alabama)
14.A.J. Epenesa, edge rusher (Iowa)
15.Denzel Mims, wide receiver (Baylor)
16.Patrick Queen, inside linebacker (LSU)
17.Josh Jones, tackle (Houston)
18.C.J. Henderson, cornerback (Florida)
19.Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver (Arizona State)
20.Laviska Shenault Jr., wide receiver (Colorado)
21.Netane Muti, guard (Fresno State)
22.K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher (LSU)
23.Mekhi Becton, tackle (Louisville)
24.Justin Jefferson, wide receiver (LSU)
25.Yetur Gross-Matos, edger rusher (Penn State)
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
Top 20 Albums of the 2010's: #14-13
14.August Burns Red-Found in Far Away Places (2015):
In a genre where a lot of their peers have lost their edge as they approach 15-20 years of activity, August Burns Red is a massive outlier. They've remained committed to pushing their songwriting forward by making subtle tweaks to their sound and that effort has resulted in some remarkably consistent output. Their seventh full length ended up being the transcendent record that they had been slowly inching towards since they broke out back in 2007. Found in Far Away Places is a wildly intricate and ambitious effort that weaves all of their influences (metalcore, progressive, hardcore, punk) into an epic, breathtaking tapestry.
Standout Tracks: 1.Broken Promises 2.Separating the Seas 3.Majoring in the Minors
13.Allegaeon-Apoptosis (2019):
Dialing back the progressive elements in favor of a faster, heavier sound was an unexpectedly genius move by Colorado extreme metal outfit Allegaeon. While there's admittedly a bit less variety here than there was on 2016's Proponent for Sentience, honing in on their more extreme traits resulted in a tighter, more cohesive product that rides a winning combination of killer riffs, ferocious vocals and unwavering energy to euphoric technical/melodic death metal glory.
Standout Tracks: 1.Metaphobia 2.Exothermic Chemical Combustion 3.Interphase//Meiosis
In a genre where a lot of their peers have lost their edge as they approach 15-20 years of activity, August Burns Red is a massive outlier. They've remained committed to pushing their songwriting forward by making subtle tweaks to their sound and that effort has resulted in some remarkably consistent output. Their seventh full length ended up being the transcendent record that they had been slowly inching towards since they broke out back in 2007. Found in Far Away Places is a wildly intricate and ambitious effort that weaves all of their influences (metalcore, progressive, hardcore, punk) into an epic, breathtaking tapestry.
Standout Tracks: 1.Broken Promises 2.Separating the Seas 3.Majoring in the Minors
13.Allegaeon-Apoptosis (2019):
Dialing back the progressive elements in favor of a faster, heavier sound was an unexpectedly genius move by Colorado extreme metal outfit Allegaeon. While there's admittedly a bit less variety here than there was on 2016's Proponent for Sentience, honing in on their more extreme traits resulted in a tighter, more cohesive product that rides a winning combination of killer riffs, ferocious vocals and unwavering energy to euphoric technical/melodic death metal glory.
Standout Tracks: 1.Metaphobia 2.Exothermic Chemical Combustion 3.Interphase//Meiosis
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Top 20 Albums of the 2010's: #16-15
16.Revocation-Chaos of Forms (2011): 2009's Existence is Futile is a commanding record that made Boston death thrashers Revocation a name to watch in the metal scene. On follow-up Chaos of Forms, they managed to make the leap from promising upstarts to full-blown powerhouse. By adding a second guitarist in Dan Gargiuolo that prominently aided in the songwriting/arrangement process and getting a more commanding vocal performance out of David Davidson, they were to able develop a tighter, more interesting sound that featured more experimentation and technical fireworks.
Standout Tracks: 1.Chaos of Forms 2.Harlot 3.Conjuring the Cataclysm
15.Run the Jewels-Run the Jewels 2 (2014): If Run the Jewels first record was a swift punch in the face, Run the Jewels 2 was a prolonged ass-whopping from all angles. The clever punchlines, anarchistic energy and destructive yet loving chemistry that made this duo an immediate favorite of many hardcore hip-hop fans are cranked up to 1,000 here, which makes it the perfect venom-filled sequel.
Standout Tracks: 1.All Due Respect (feat. Travis Barker) 2.Oh My Darling Don't Cry 3.Lie, Cheat, Steal
Standout Tracks: 1.Chaos of Forms 2.Harlot 3.Conjuring the Cataclysm
15.Run the Jewels-Run the Jewels 2 (2014): If Run the Jewels first record was a swift punch in the face, Run the Jewels 2 was a prolonged ass-whopping from all angles. The clever punchlines, anarchistic energy and destructive yet loving chemistry that made this duo an immediate favorite of many hardcore hip-hop fans are cranked up to 1,000 here, which makes it the perfect venom-filled sequel.
Standout Tracks: 1.All Due Respect (feat. Travis Barker) 2.Oh My Darling Don't Cry 3.Lie, Cheat, Steal
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (Updated 3/25)
1.Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, quarterback (LSU)
2.Washington Redskins: Chase Young, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, cornerback (Ohio State)
4.New York Giants: Tristian Wirfs, tackle (Iowa)
5.Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovaiola, quarterback (Alabama)
6.Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, quarterback (Oregon)
7.Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, inside linebacker (Clemson)
8.Arizona Cardinals: Jedrick Wills, tackle (Alabama)
9.Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, defensive tackle (Auburn)
10.Cleveland Browns: Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle (South Carolina)
11.New York Jets: CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
12.Las Vegas Raiders: Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver (Alabama)
13.San Francisco 49ers: Henry Ruggs, wide receiver (Alabama)
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas, tackle (Georgia)
15.Denver Broncos: Mekhi Becton, tackle (Louisville)
16.Atlanta Falcons: C.J. Henderson, cornerback (Florida)
17.Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, safety (Alabama)
18.Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, tackle (Houston)
19.Las Vegas Raiders: Ross Blacklock, defensive tackle (TCU)
20.Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Diggs, cornerback (Alabama)
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver (Arizona State)
22.Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver (LSU)
23.New England Patriots: Patrick Queen, inside linebacker (LSU)
24.New Orleans Saints: Kenneth Murray, inside linebacker (Oklahoma)
25.Minnesota Vikings: Kenneth Fulton, cornerback (LSU)
26.Miami Dolphins: K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher (LSU)
27.Seattle Seahawks: Yetur Gross-Mantos, edge rusher (Penn State)
28.Baltimore Ravens: A.J. Espensa, edge rusher (Iowa)
29.Tennessee Titans: Noah Igbinoghene, cornerback (Auburn)
30.Green Bay Packers: Tee Higgins, wide receiver (Clemson)
31.San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Gladney, cornerback (TCU)
32.Miami Dolphins: D'Andre Swift, running back (Georgia)
2.Washington Redskins: Chase Young, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, cornerback (Ohio State)
4.New York Giants: Tristian Wirfs, tackle (Iowa)
5.Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovaiola, quarterback (Alabama)
6.Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, quarterback (Oregon)
7.Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, inside linebacker (Clemson)
8.Arizona Cardinals: Jedrick Wills, tackle (Alabama)
9.Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, defensive tackle (Auburn)
10.Cleveland Browns: Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle (South Carolina)
11.New York Jets: CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
12.Las Vegas Raiders: Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver (Alabama)
13.San Francisco 49ers: Henry Ruggs, wide receiver (Alabama)
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas, tackle (Georgia)
15.Denver Broncos: Mekhi Becton, tackle (Louisville)
16.Atlanta Falcons: C.J. Henderson, cornerback (Florida)
17.Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, safety (Alabama)
18.Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, tackle (Houston)
19.Las Vegas Raiders: Ross Blacklock, defensive tackle (TCU)
20.Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Diggs, cornerback (Alabama)
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver (Arizona State)
22.Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver (LSU)
23.New England Patriots: Patrick Queen, inside linebacker (LSU)
24.New Orleans Saints: Kenneth Murray, inside linebacker (Oklahoma)
25.Minnesota Vikings: Kenneth Fulton, cornerback (LSU)
26.Miami Dolphins: K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher (LSU)
27.Seattle Seahawks: Yetur Gross-Mantos, edge rusher (Penn State)
28.Baltimore Ravens: A.J. Espensa, edge rusher (Iowa)
29.Tennessee Titans: Noah Igbinoghene, cornerback (Auburn)
30.Green Bay Packers: Tee Higgins, wide receiver (Clemson)
31.San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Gladney, cornerback (TCU)
32.Miami Dolphins: D'Andre Swift, running back (Georgia)
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Top 20 Albums of the 2010's: #18-17
18.Unearth-Watchers of Rule (2014): When you think of someone that's been doing the same job for a long time, it's natural to assume that all of that experience has made them complacent. Unearth didn't subscribe to that philosophy. These Massachusetts-bred metalcore pioneers gave a defiant middle finger to the uninspired path of releasing watered down versions of their earlier records that many of their peers had drifted down by opting to embrace a whole new level of ferocity on Watchers of Rule. Letting pure, relentless aggression serve as the backbone of the songwriting resulted in an exhilarating listening experience that has enough blistering riffs, monster grooves and incendiary energy to fill at least 50 records.
Standout Tracks: 1.Never Cease 2.From the Tombs of Five Below 3.To the Ground
17.Killswitch Engage-Disarm the Descent (2013): Killswitch Engage ended the 2000's in a bit of rut. As evidenced by their decision to release a SECOND self-titled album, creativity wasn't really flowing their collective veins at that point. After a couple years away from the spotlight and the departure of longtime vocalist Howard Jones, the band surprisingly announced that original frontman Jesse Leach was re-joining the band. Leach's first LP with the band since 2002's Alive or Just Breathing was proof that he was the revitalizing shot in the heart that KsE needed to return to form. With its soaring hooks, catchy riffs and poignant lyrics, Disarm the Descent marked a delightfully nostalgic return to the classic Killswitch sound that made them one of the biggest metal acts of their era.
Standout Tracks: 1.Beyond the Flames 2.The Hell in Me 3.Turning Point
Standout Tracks: 1.Never Cease 2.From the Tombs of Five Below 3.To the Ground
17.Killswitch Engage-Disarm the Descent (2013): Killswitch Engage ended the 2000's in a bit of rut. As evidenced by their decision to release a SECOND self-titled album, creativity wasn't really flowing their collective veins at that point. After a couple years away from the spotlight and the departure of longtime vocalist Howard Jones, the band surprisingly announced that original frontman Jesse Leach was re-joining the band. Leach's first LP with the band since 2002's Alive or Just Breathing was proof that he was the revitalizing shot in the heart that KsE needed to return to form. With its soaring hooks, catchy riffs and poignant lyrics, Disarm the Descent marked a delightfully nostalgic return to the classic Killswitch sound that made them one of the biggest metal acts of their era.
Standout Tracks: 1.Beyond the Flames 2.The Hell in Me 3.Turning Point
Monday, March 23, 2020
Quick Movie Reviews: Bloodshot, The Hunt, The Platform
Bloodshot: I've always found Vin Diesel to be a more engaging screen presence than most. Sure he's pretty stoic, but he has kind of a rugged charisma that has allowed him to be a formidable lead over the years. That being said, the man has limits as an actor. He's not a Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham or Arnold Schwarzenegger-type of action hero that has the chops to pull off drama when called upon. That inability to pull off serious acting is exposed throughout Bloodshot. Turns out Diesel's #1 kryptonite as a performer is having to act angry. Roughly half of his dialogue is yelled here and he sounds more like a mellow dad trying to discipline his kids without compromising their status as the cool parent than a deceased solider whose been reanimated with a variety of superhuman powers (increased strength, healing ability, etc.) that discovers the company that brought him back to life has a secret sinister agenda for him.
Thankfully for Diesel, the efforts of his carefully-chosen collaborators that he touts as his family helped overshadow some of the damage done by his sloppy performance. Director Dave Wilson makes good use of his special effects background by filling the film with cool visuals, the fight team headed by Justin Yu were creative enough with their choreography that it couldn't even be ruined by the wonky editing/camera work and the solid supporting cast (Eiza Gonzalez, Lamorne Morris, Guy Pearce, Sam Heughan) bring some much-needed magnetism to the proceedings. Hopefully Diesel will sit back and reflect before he takes on another project that doesn't adhere to the jokey, over-the top playbook that has made Fast and Furious and xXx work. Despite Bloodshot somehow being able to be a mild success in spite of him, he might not be so fortunate next time.
Grade: B-
The Hunt: Remember when The Hunt, the Blumhouse film about rich liberals kidnapping and hunting "deplorables" that posted pro-conservative things online got pulled from its late September release date last fall because it was believed that it was going to incite violence. Of course not because 80 zillion awful things have happened in the world since then. Even if it was released in a less apocalyptic time, the controversy surrounding The Hunt likely would've died out rapidly once people actually saw the finished product. For a film with such an intentionally incendiary concept, it's oddly neutral from a political standpoint. It pretty much just takes some light, obvious digs at the behavior of people on both sides of the aisle who love to spew uninformed takes on the internet then sits on the sidelines while these dueling bands of idiots sling insults and try to kill each other. As unexpected as this was, taking a borderline apolitical approach results in a message that isn't particularly deep at best and nonexistent at worst.
While it's not a particularly insightful or biting piece of satire, The Hunt does work pretty well as a sleazy genre movie. Craig Zobel crafts some tense action scenes that don't skimp on over-the-top gore, both of the leads (Betty Gilpin as the badass protagonist with a lethal secret, Hilary Swank as the petty, ruthless leader of the group that puts the hunt together) crush their roles and at just 90 minutes in length, it wastes no time dicking around with unnecessary subplots, exposition or cheap attempts at redeeming any of its characters. Basically, The Hunt is a fun B-movie that narrowly avoids greatness because of its misguided attempts at satire.
Grade: B
The Platform: Before I actually review The Platform, I'm going to take some time to condemn the practice of dubbing. It's so distracting and obnoxious to watch a movie where it's clear that the words coming out of the speakers aren't in the language that the people on screen are speaking. Believe or not, I am literate, so at least give me the god damn option to watch a movie that isn't in English with subtitles you uncultured dinks.
Moving on... Unlike The Hunt, The Platform is a subtlety-free allegory about the grave injustices of capitalism. The film is set in a dystopian future where Spain's prisons are tiered, food is served on a platform that drops into the inmates cell once a day and inmates are moved to a different level every 30 days. The two prisoners in each cell can only eat while the platform is on their level and any attempt to keep food after the platform has left your level results in an extreme unlivable temperature (either hot or cold) change until that item has been removed from their cell. This system results in the top floors gorging themselves and refusing to help out those below them while those on the lower floors either starve or literally eat each other alive. This vicious cycle is threatened when a compassionate new inmate (Ivan Massague) tries to rally his fellow inmates against this barbaric system and send a defiant message to the head of the prison.
Maybe it's because we're in the midst of an unprecedented crisis in modern times where capitalism is allowing for the disgusting exploitation and shunning of the needs of American citizens, but The Platform just didn't connect with me. As admirable as its message is, it's told in a very one-note fashion and even as the brutally gory flourishes ramp up, it becomes more of a directionless slog as it goes along until it concludes on an unbelievably limp note that considerably weakens its condemnation of the whole system. The complete waste of a great, relevant premise makes The Platform a particularly crushing disappointment.
Grade: C+
Thankfully for Diesel, the efforts of his carefully-chosen collaborators that he touts as his family helped overshadow some of the damage done by his sloppy performance. Director Dave Wilson makes good use of his special effects background by filling the film with cool visuals, the fight team headed by Justin Yu were creative enough with their choreography that it couldn't even be ruined by the wonky editing/camera work and the solid supporting cast (Eiza Gonzalez, Lamorne Morris, Guy Pearce, Sam Heughan) bring some much-needed magnetism to the proceedings. Hopefully Diesel will sit back and reflect before he takes on another project that doesn't adhere to the jokey, over-the top playbook that has made Fast and Furious and xXx work. Despite Bloodshot somehow being able to be a mild success in spite of him, he might not be so fortunate next time.
Grade: B-
The Hunt: Remember when The Hunt, the Blumhouse film about rich liberals kidnapping and hunting "deplorables" that posted pro-conservative things online got pulled from its late September release date last fall because it was believed that it was going to incite violence. Of course not because 80 zillion awful things have happened in the world since then. Even if it was released in a less apocalyptic time, the controversy surrounding The Hunt likely would've died out rapidly once people actually saw the finished product. For a film with such an intentionally incendiary concept, it's oddly neutral from a political standpoint. It pretty much just takes some light, obvious digs at the behavior of people on both sides of the aisle who love to spew uninformed takes on the internet then sits on the sidelines while these dueling bands of idiots sling insults and try to kill each other. As unexpected as this was, taking a borderline apolitical approach results in a message that isn't particularly deep at best and nonexistent at worst.
While it's not a particularly insightful or biting piece of satire, The Hunt does work pretty well as a sleazy genre movie. Craig Zobel crafts some tense action scenes that don't skimp on over-the-top gore, both of the leads (Betty Gilpin as the badass protagonist with a lethal secret, Hilary Swank as the petty, ruthless leader of the group that puts the hunt together) crush their roles and at just 90 minutes in length, it wastes no time dicking around with unnecessary subplots, exposition or cheap attempts at redeeming any of its characters. Basically, The Hunt is a fun B-movie that narrowly avoids greatness because of its misguided attempts at satire.
Grade: B
The Platform: Before I actually review The Platform, I'm going to take some time to condemn the practice of dubbing. It's so distracting and obnoxious to watch a movie where it's clear that the words coming out of the speakers aren't in the language that the people on screen are speaking. Believe or not, I am literate, so at least give me the god damn option to watch a movie that isn't in English with subtitles you uncultured dinks.
Moving on... Unlike The Hunt, The Platform is a subtlety-free allegory about the grave injustices of capitalism. The film is set in a dystopian future where Spain's prisons are tiered, food is served on a platform that drops into the inmates cell once a day and inmates are moved to a different level every 30 days. The two prisoners in each cell can only eat while the platform is on their level and any attempt to keep food after the platform has left your level results in an extreme unlivable temperature (either hot or cold) change until that item has been removed from their cell. This system results in the top floors gorging themselves and refusing to help out those below them while those on the lower floors either starve or literally eat each other alive. This vicious cycle is threatened when a compassionate new inmate (Ivan Massague) tries to rally his fellow inmates against this barbaric system and send a defiant message to the head of the prison.
Maybe it's because we're in the midst of an unprecedented crisis in modern times where capitalism is allowing for the disgusting exploitation and shunning of the needs of American citizens, but The Platform just didn't connect with me. As admirable as its message is, it's told in a very one-note fashion and even as the brutally gory flourishes ramp up, it becomes more of a directionless slog as it goes along until it concludes on an unbelievably limp note that considerably weakens its condemnation of the whole system. The complete waste of a great, relevant premise makes The Platform a particularly crushing disappointment.
Grade: C+
Friday, March 20, 2020
Top 20 Albums of the 2010's: #20-19
Movies are in the can, so it's time to finally move onto music. In the coming weeks, I'll be dropping my picks for the top 20 albums of the 2010's starting today with #20-19 as well as the 5 honorable mentions that just missed the cut. Stay tuned and hope you enjoy!
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
Entheos-Dark Future (2017)
The Faceless-Autotheism (2012)
Kvelertak-Kvelertak (2010)
Revocation-Revocation (2013)
Travis Scott-Astroworld (2018)
20.Deftones-Diamond Eyes (2010): As I was getting into metal as a teenager, Deftones was a band that I kind of hated. Saturday Night Wrist put me to sleep and "Minerva" frequently drove me insane while logging dozens of hours on NHL 04. Initially, that anti-Deftones bias forced me to ignore Diamond Eyes. However after a couple months of hype (this record leaked online WAY ahead of its May release date) stemming from fans online, I caved and checked it out. This proved to be a superb decision as Diamond Eyes clicked with me right away. Combining signature extreme music properties (pummeling heavy riffs, chaotic shrieks, breakdowns) with breathtaking melodies and full blown shoegaze-inspired ballads is a recipe for metal that is beautiful as it is crushing. Plus this record also inspired me to go back and check out their early discography, which proved to be a gift that I'll be eternally grateful for.
Top Tracks: 1.You've Seen the Butcher 2.Royal 3.Risk
19.Every Time I Die-Ex Lives (2012): Consistent quality output is as big of a part of Every Time I Die's brand as wrestling and the city of Buffalo are. Although they've got a deep, gem-filled catalog, Ex Lives shines brightest of all. The energy is through the roof, Keith Buckley's lyrics are at their sarcastic best and the riff buffet served up by Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams is even more robust than usual.
Top Tracks: 1.Partyting is Such Sweet Sorrow 2.I Suck (Blood) 3.Indian Giver
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
Entheos-Dark Future (2017)
The Faceless-Autotheism (2012)
Kvelertak-Kvelertak (2010)
Revocation-Revocation (2013)
Travis Scott-Astroworld (2018)
20.Deftones-Diamond Eyes (2010): As I was getting into metal as a teenager, Deftones was a band that I kind of hated. Saturday Night Wrist put me to sleep and "Minerva" frequently drove me insane while logging dozens of hours on NHL 04. Initially, that anti-Deftones bias forced me to ignore Diamond Eyes. However after a couple months of hype (this record leaked online WAY ahead of its May release date) stemming from fans online, I caved and checked it out. This proved to be a superb decision as Diamond Eyes clicked with me right away. Combining signature extreme music properties (pummeling heavy riffs, chaotic shrieks, breakdowns) with breathtaking melodies and full blown shoegaze-inspired ballads is a recipe for metal that is beautiful as it is crushing. Plus this record also inspired me to go back and check out their early discography, which proved to be a gift that I'll be eternally grateful for.
Top Tracks: 1.You've Seen the Butcher 2.Royal 3.Risk
19.Every Time I Die-Ex Lives (2012): Consistent quality output is as big of a part of Every Time I Die's brand as wrestling and the city of Buffalo are. Although they've got a deep, gem-filled catalog, Ex Lives shines brightest of all. The energy is through the roof, Keith Buckley's lyrics are at their sarcastic best and the riff buffet served up by Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams is even more robust than usual.
Top Tracks: 1.Partyting is Such Sweet Sorrow 2.I Suck (Blood) 3.Indian Giver
Thursday, March 19, 2020
2020 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
1.Cinncannati Bengals: Joe Burrow, quarterback (LSU)
2.Washington Redskins: Chase Young, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, cornerback (Ohio State)
4.New York Giants: Jedrick Wills, tackle (Alabama)
5.Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovaiola, quarterback (Alabama)
6.Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, quarterback (Oregon)
7.Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, inside linebacker (Clemson)
8.Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Thomas, tackle (Georgia)
9.Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, defensive tackle (Auburn)
10.Cleveland Browns: Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle (South Carolina)
11.New York Jets: Tristian Wirfs, tackle (Iowa)
12.Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
13.San Francisco 49ers: Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver (Alabama)
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mekhi Becton, tackle (Louisville)
15.Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs, wide receiver (Alabama)
16.Atlanta Falcons: C.J. Henderson, cornerback (Florida)
17.Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, safety (Alabama)
18.Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, tackle (Houston)
19.Las Vegas Raiders: Ross Blacklock, defensive tackle (TCU)
20.Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Diggs, cornerback (Alabama)
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver (Arizona State)
22.Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver (LSU)
23.New England Patriots: Kenneth Murray, inside linebacker (Oklahoma)
24.New Orleans Saints: Patrick Queen, inside linebacker (LSU)
25.Minnesota Vikings: Kristian Fulton, cornerback (LSU)
26.Miami Dolphins: A.J. Espensa, edge rusher (Iowa)
27.Seattle Seahawks: K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher (LSU)
28.Baltimore Ravens: Yetur Gross-Matos, edge rusher (Penn State)
29.Tennessee Titans: Zach Braun, edge rusher (Wisconsin)
30.Green Bay Packers: Tee Higgins, wide receiver (Clemson)
31.San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Gladney, cornerback (TCU)
32.Kansas City Chiefs: D'Andre Swift, running back (Georgia)
2.Washington Redskins: Chase Young, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, cornerback (Ohio State)
4.New York Giants: Jedrick Wills, tackle (Alabama)
5.Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovaiola, quarterback (Alabama)
6.Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, quarterback (Oregon)
7.Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, inside linebacker (Clemson)
8.Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Thomas, tackle (Georgia)
9.Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, defensive tackle (Auburn)
10.Cleveland Browns: Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle (South Carolina)
11.New York Jets: Tristian Wirfs, tackle (Iowa)
12.Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
13.San Francisco 49ers: Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver (Alabama)
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mekhi Becton, tackle (Louisville)
15.Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs, wide receiver (Alabama)
16.Atlanta Falcons: C.J. Henderson, cornerback (Florida)
17.Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, safety (Alabama)
18.Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, tackle (Houston)
19.Las Vegas Raiders: Ross Blacklock, defensive tackle (TCU)
20.Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Diggs, cornerback (Alabama)
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver (Arizona State)
22.Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver (LSU)
23.New England Patriots: Kenneth Murray, inside linebacker (Oklahoma)
24.New Orleans Saints: Patrick Queen, inside linebacker (LSU)
25.Minnesota Vikings: Kristian Fulton, cornerback (LSU)
26.Miami Dolphins: A.J. Espensa, edge rusher (Iowa)
27.Seattle Seahawks: K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher (LSU)
28.Baltimore Ravens: Yetur Gross-Matos, edge rusher (Penn State)
29.Tennessee Titans: Zach Braun, edge rusher (Wisconsin)
30.Green Bay Packers: Tee Higgins, wide receiver (Clemson)
31.San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Gladney, cornerback (TCU)
32.Kansas City Chiefs: D'Andre Swift, running back (Georgia)
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Quick Movie Reviews: Onward, The Way Back, Spenser Confidential
Onward: The fourth original Pixar film since 2010 somehow manages to feel more familiar than all of the sequels they've churned out over the last decade. Writer/director Pete Scanlon (Monsters University) blows a golden opportunity to build a quirky, unique world by adhering a string of loss/grief clichés to a story about two elf brothers (Tom Holland, Chris Pratt) that set off on a journey to complete a spell that will bring their deceased father back to life for one day. While the climax is sweet, everything leading up to it is so pedestrian and devoid of humor (Most of the gags surround a pair of legs running into things. Hilarious!) or emotion that a single effective scene can't possibly make up for the mediocrity it basks in the rest of the way. Onward really is nothing more than just a soulless average version of Coco, which is just flat-out disheartening for a company that's trying to return to their roots as the premiere brand in original animation.
Grade: C
The Way Back: What a comeback vehicle for Ben Affleck. Affleck's own struggles with alcoholism provides a deeply cathartic personal touch to the character of Jack Cunningham, a man whose life has been defined by tragedy and drowning the substantial pain that came from those experiences in substances who receives a job coaching the high school basketball team he once starred for that puts his life on a positive trajectory for the first time in a long time. By framing this as more of a character study surrounding Jack than an inspirational sports underdog drama, tricky themes (substance/familial abuse, divorce, unfathomable loss) are treated with humanity instead of melodramatic pageantry and Affleck gets ample room to inject emotional depth into this deeply flawed yet very relatable character. Addiction isn't an easy thing to overcome, but The Way Back demonstrates that with having the support of others and the courage to admit your problem and apologize to the people you hurt along the way, that it is possible to come back from.
Grade: B+
Spenser Confidential: At a time of global crisis where people are being told to stay inside as much as possible to help fight the spread of this virus, streaming titles are an especially valuable property. Entertainment is essential to many of us that are looking for any way to temporarily block the lengthy list of personal, economic and social horrors this pandemic has brought on. Enter Spenser Confidential: which very well could be the most conveniently-timed Netflix release of all time. Nothing says "taking your mind off of COVID-19" like a pair of ex-cons (Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke) kicking teeth in all over Boston while trying to solve the mysterious deaths of two cops. It's a remarkably silly action comedy that will undoubtedly annoy any audience that doesn't have a taste for throwback buddy movies, but the grizzled smartass rapport between Wahlberg and Duke as well as the giddily energetic direction from Peter Berg made this a wonderful piece of frantic macho escapism.
Grade: B+
Grade: C
The Way Back: What a comeback vehicle for Ben Affleck. Affleck's own struggles with alcoholism provides a deeply cathartic personal touch to the character of Jack Cunningham, a man whose life has been defined by tragedy and drowning the substantial pain that came from those experiences in substances who receives a job coaching the high school basketball team he once starred for that puts his life on a positive trajectory for the first time in a long time. By framing this as more of a character study surrounding Jack than an inspirational sports underdog drama, tricky themes (substance/familial abuse, divorce, unfathomable loss) are treated with humanity instead of melodramatic pageantry and Affleck gets ample room to inject emotional depth into this deeply flawed yet very relatable character. Addiction isn't an easy thing to overcome, but The Way Back demonstrates that with having the support of others and the courage to admit your problem and apologize to the people you hurt along the way, that it is possible to come back from.
Grade: B+
Spenser Confidential: At a time of global crisis where people are being told to stay inside as much as possible to help fight the spread of this virus, streaming titles are an especially valuable property. Entertainment is essential to many of us that are looking for any way to temporarily block the lengthy list of personal, economic and social horrors this pandemic has brought on. Enter Spenser Confidential: which very well could be the most conveniently-timed Netflix release of all time. Nothing says "taking your mind off of COVID-19" like a pair of ex-cons (Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke) kicking teeth in all over Boston while trying to solve the mysterious deaths of two cops. It's a remarkably silly action comedy that will undoubtedly annoy any audience that doesn't have a taste for throwback buddy movies, but the grizzled smartass rapport between Wahlberg and Duke as well as the giddily energetic direction from Peter Berg made this a wonderful piece of frantic macho escapism.
Grade: B+
Monday, March 16, 2020
2020 NFL Free Agency: Predictions, Reactions and Other Miscellaneous Thoughts
As I said yesterday, a miscalculation on my part prevented me from writing my annual NFL Free Agency column on Friday and since then, a ton of notable names have either been franchise tagged or re-signed by the team they played for last season. To counter that error in judgement, I'm going to change things up a bit by doing a loosely-structured, rapid fire take piece where I discuss the deals that have been already done, how they're going to effect the rest of the market, etc. Without further ado, here are some predictions, reactions and other miscellaneous thoughts on the 2020 NFL Free Agency period.
-While Tom Brady is still the biggest story of free agency, it's been amazing to observe the tidal wave of bullshit that has been tossed around surrounding his potential suitors. The Titans proved their interest wasn't real by inking Ryan Tannehill to a new 4 year deal worth up to $118 mil ($62 mil guaranteed) yesterday, not a solitary peep has come out of the Chargers or Raiders camps in the past 72 hours and the truly insane narrative that the 49ers were going to dump Jimmy Garoppolo for him finally got squashed over the weekend. More or less, this means that the only outside team who was serious about their interest is the Buccaneers. With his market seemingly clarified, Brady's ultimate decision will further expose what narratives were real and which ones were fake. Does he value a paycheck and a chance to play with top-tier weapons at the cost of learning a new system and taking a monumental physical beating at age 43 or does he want to go about his business the same way he has for the 20 past seasons? I'm leaning towards the latter, especially since Bruce Arians runs a scheme that couldn't possibly be more poorly-suited to Brady's strengths as a surgical short-to-intermediate passer.
-HOT TAKE ALERT: I believe the Titans made the right choice by choosing to re-sign Tannehill over pursuing Brady. Let me explain why I feel this way as clearly as possible so I'm not accused of dumping on Brady's legacy:
1. Brady has repeatedly said he's going to retire at 45, which gives him a max of 3 more seasons in the league if his word is to be believed. This means Brady would have to learn a new system, develop a rapport with all new receivers and completely change his approach to offseason workouts for the first time in forever to try and win a title in a very short window. That's a tall, tall order to put on any quarterback-especially when they're as old as Brady.
2.Despite the Titans AFC Championship appearance this season, there's not enough reason to believe that they were a "quarterback" away from winning a championship. Their defense is mediocre as hell and they don't exactly have a war chest of weapons outside of Derrick Henry and promising young wideout A.J. Brown.
3.Speaking of Brown, why the hell would the front office and coaching staff want to risk his development by pairing him with a QB that has repeatedly shown no faith or interest in working with young receivers? Brady would rather throw the ball to a 37 year old with no gas left in the tank than a promising young kid that has a chance to be special if he continues to learn and get opportunities to make plays. Considering that Brown is the focal point of the Titans passing attack, bringing Brady in makes no sense.
4.Has anyone considered that Brady might actually showing signs of aging in his EARLY FUCKING 40'S????? Yes, he's the greatest quarterback I've ever seen play the game. Yes, he's aged gracefully thus far. But does that make him impervious to a decline in play? Of course not. What happened with the Patriots last season can't entirely be put on their lackluster receiving corps and people have to actually grapple with the possibility that Brady might not be an absolute killing machine anymore. As hard as it is to believe, even unprecedented greatness can come to an end at some point.
Could Tannehill end up being a bust? No question. He was a pretty average quarterback during his time with the Dolphins and his playoff performances were very underwhelming for a guy who was tearing apart defenses with relative ease during the regular season. However, signing a quarterback that has proven he can thrive in your system and showed remarkable polish as soon as he got under center is something that is worth taking a chance on.
-Tannehill's deal should eliminate any doubt that the Cowboys are going to make Dak Prescott the highest-paid QB in the league. Any quarterback that isn't a complete stiff is practically guaranteed to get record-setting money when they get a new contract in the current landscape and since Prescott is a promising QB on the cusp of entering his prime (he'll be 27 in July) that made huge strides in his 1st year with Kellen Moore as OC, he's going to command an absolutely absurd amount of cash. At least $140 mil over 4 years seems like a distinct possibility.
-The rest of the quarterback market is going to be fascinating to watch. If Brady stuns the world and ends up signing with the Bucs, the notoriously unrefined gunslinger Jameis Winston will become an intriguing dice roll option for any QB-needy team. Teddy Bridgewater seems like a lock to get an opportunity to start elsewhere after impressing in relief of Drew Brees last season. Marcus Mariota should attract attention from a number of suitors looking to push their QB's (Bears, Raiders, Jaguars, Colts, Lions) and get a chance to possibly do what Tannehill did him to last year. Phillip Rivers might end up retiring if the right opportunity doesn't present itself (maybe the Colts will come calling?). Andy Dalton and Nick Foles seem likely to join this deep market if their current teams can't find trade partners. One thing is for sure: By this time next week, there's going to be a lot of known quarterbacks heading to new destinations.
-Franchise tagging Derrick Henry, Shaq Barrett and Chris Jones was the right move for a variety of reasons. In the case of Jones, it prevents an elite interior pass-rusher from hitting the market while the Chiefs try to work out a long-term extension that won't hurt their ability to give Patrick Mahomes a huge payday down the line. When it comes to Barrett, it gives the Bucs a chance to see if his massive 2019 production boom (19.5 sacks-besting his previous career high in 2015 by a whopping 14) was simply a result of him rushing the passer significantly more in Todd Bowles' blitz-happy defense or an actual rise to top-tier edge rusher status for a player that was merely solid during his 5 seasons with the Broncos. For Henry, the tag allows the Titans to avoid making the mistake that the Rams made with giving Todd Gurley a long-term deal and potentially handle a high-volume runner with a violent, punishing play style that is all but guaranteed to have a short career shelf life on a year-to-year basis.
-As always, much is being made in circles about not overpaying for potential contract year wonders including Austin Hooper, Anthony Harris and Justin Simmons-the latter two of which were franchise tagged by the Vikings and Broncos. While acknowledging the possible risks of signing those guys is certainly warranted, why aren't those same levels of caution applied to the contract discussions of wildly erratic star players like Amari Cooper and Jadevon Clowney? They boast at least the same amount of risk as the aforementioned players and since they play higher value positions, are likely to receive much larger contracts. Not to mention, they both have very serious red flags surrounding their games. Cooper has some of the shakiest hands in the league, Clowney's work ethic is questionable at best and both of them have durability concerns. In a perfect world, they'd both get short-term "prove it" deals, but there's no chance in hell that happens-so whatever teams end up signing them better hope that the negative aspects of their play don't intensify during their second contracts.
-Byron Jones is arguably the most intriguing player on the market without a clear destination. He's versatile (over 30+ starts at both corner and safety), has only missed 1 game over the course of his 5-year career and has grown into one of the strongest man coverage DB's in the league over the past couple of seasons. Since the Cowboys more than likely won't be to afford to bring him back, look for any pass defense-challenged team (Colts, Eagles, 49ers, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Raiders, Redskins, Panthers) with cap space to make a run at him.
-If you're looking for a "surprise" contender to earn a huge deal, keep an eye on inside linebacker Corey Littleton. Littleton has thrived since the Rams named him a starter on defense in 2018, is an All-Pro special teamer and is still just 26 years old. He has a very legit chance to top the 5 year/$85 mil deal the Jets gave C.J. Mosley last season.
-The late wave of notable cuts has added a lot of potential big name redemption projects to the market. Struggling and/or injury-prone vets including Xavier Rhodes, Desmond Trufant and Devonta Freeman could really pop if they enter the right system or in the case of the two ex-Falcons, beat the injury bug that has ailed them of late. These guys will be affordable options at in-demand positions and that potential for excellent value should allow to them garner a fair amount of attention on the market.
-With the trade of David Johnson to the Texans, Kenyan Drake-who received the transition tag-has earned his spot as the Cardinals starting running back. Shoutout Steve Kiem and Kliff Kingsbury for being brilliant football minds and not letting greatness walk out the door.
-Bill O'Brien needs to be permanently banned from making player personnel decisions. His trade of 5x All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for an ailing David Johnson and a pair of draft picks (2020 2nd round, 2021 4th round) is already a strong contender for the most inexplicable and flat-out bad deals in NFL history.
-While Tom Brady is still the biggest story of free agency, it's been amazing to observe the tidal wave of bullshit that has been tossed around surrounding his potential suitors. The Titans proved their interest wasn't real by inking Ryan Tannehill to a new 4 year deal worth up to $118 mil ($62 mil guaranteed) yesterday, not a solitary peep has come out of the Chargers or Raiders camps in the past 72 hours and the truly insane narrative that the 49ers were going to dump Jimmy Garoppolo for him finally got squashed over the weekend. More or less, this means that the only outside team who was serious about their interest is the Buccaneers. With his market seemingly clarified, Brady's ultimate decision will further expose what narratives were real and which ones were fake. Does he value a paycheck and a chance to play with top-tier weapons at the cost of learning a new system and taking a monumental physical beating at age 43 or does he want to go about his business the same way he has for the 20 past seasons? I'm leaning towards the latter, especially since Bruce Arians runs a scheme that couldn't possibly be more poorly-suited to Brady's strengths as a surgical short-to-intermediate passer.
-HOT TAKE ALERT: I believe the Titans made the right choice by choosing to re-sign Tannehill over pursuing Brady. Let me explain why I feel this way as clearly as possible so I'm not accused of dumping on Brady's legacy:
1. Brady has repeatedly said he's going to retire at 45, which gives him a max of 3 more seasons in the league if his word is to be believed. This means Brady would have to learn a new system, develop a rapport with all new receivers and completely change his approach to offseason workouts for the first time in forever to try and win a title in a very short window. That's a tall, tall order to put on any quarterback-especially when they're as old as Brady.
2.Despite the Titans AFC Championship appearance this season, there's not enough reason to believe that they were a "quarterback" away from winning a championship. Their defense is mediocre as hell and they don't exactly have a war chest of weapons outside of Derrick Henry and promising young wideout A.J. Brown.
3.Speaking of Brown, why the hell would the front office and coaching staff want to risk his development by pairing him with a QB that has repeatedly shown no faith or interest in working with young receivers? Brady would rather throw the ball to a 37 year old with no gas left in the tank than a promising young kid that has a chance to be special if he continues to learn and get opportunities to make plays. Considering that Brown is the focal point of the Titans passing attack, bringing Brady in makes no sense.
4.Has anyone considered that Brady might actually showing signs of aging in his EARLY FUCKING 40'S????? Yes, he's the greatest quarterback I've ever seen play the game. Yes, he's aged gracefully thus far. But does that make him impervious to a decline in play? Of course not. What happened with the Patriots last season can't entirely be put on their lackluster receiving corps and people have to actually grapple with the possibility that Brady might not be an absolute killing machine anymore. As hard as it is to believe, even unprecedented greatness can come to an end at some point.
Could Tannehill end up being a bust? No question. He was a pretty average quarterback during his time with the Dolphins and his playoff performances were very underwhelming for a guy who was tearing apart defenses with relative ease during the regular season. However, signing a quarterback that has proven he can thrive in your system and showed remarkable polish as soon as he got under center is something that is worth taking a chance on.
-Tannehill's deal should eliminate any doubt that the Cowboys are going to make Dak Prescott the highest-paid QB in the league. Any quarterback that isn't a complete stiff is practically guaranteed to get record-setting money when they get a new contract in the current landscape and since Prescott is a promising QB on the cusp of entering his prime (he'll be 27 in July) that made huge strides in his 1st year with Kellen Moore as OC, he's going to command an absolutely absurd amount of cash. At least $140 mil over 4 years seems like a distinct possibility.
-The rest of the quarterback market is going to be fascinating to watch. If Brady stuns the world and ends up signing with the Bucs, the notoriously unrefined gunslinger Jameis Winston will become an intriguing dice roll option for any QB-needy team. Teddy Bridgewater seems like a lock to get an opportunity to start elsewhere after impressing in relief of Drew Brees last season. Marcus Mariota should attract attention from a number of suitors looking to push their QB's (Bears, Raiders, Jaguars, Colts, Lions) and get a chance to possibly do what Tannehill did him to last year. Phillip Rivers might end up retiring if the right opportunity doesn't present itself (maybe the Colts will come calling?). Andy Dalton and Nick Foles seem likely to join this deep market if their current teams can't find trade partners. One thing is for sure: By this time next week, there's going to be a lot of known quarterbacks heading to new destinations.
-Franchise tagging Derrick Henry, Shaq Barrett and Chris Jones was the right move for a variety of reasons. In the case of Jones, it prevents an elite interior pass-rusher from hitting the market while the Chiefs try to work out a long-term extension that won't hurt their ability to give Patrick Mahomes a huge payday down the line. When it comes to Barrett, it gives the Bucs a chance to see if his massive 2019 production boom (19.5 sacks-besting his previous career high in 2015 by a whopping 14) was simply a result of him rushing the passer significantly more in Todd Bowles' blitz-happy defense or an actual rise to top-tier edge rusher status for a player that was merely solid during his 5 seasons with the Broncos. For Henry, the tag allows the Titans to avoid making the mistake that the Rams made with giving Todd Gurley a long-term deal and potentially handle a high-volume runner with a violent, punishing play style that is all but guaranteed to have a short career shelf life on a year-to-year basis.
-As always, much is being made in circles about not overpaying for potential contract year wonders including Austin Hooper, Anthony Harris and Justin Simmons-the latter two of which were franchise tagged by the Vikings and Broncos. While acknowledging the possible risks of signing those guys is certainly warranted, why aren't those same levels of caution applied to the contract discussions of wildly erratic star players like Amari Cooper and Jadevon Clowney? They boast at least the same amount of risk as the aforementioned players and since they play higher value positions, are likely to receive much larger contracts. Not to mention, they both have very serious red flags surrounding their games. Cooper has some of the shakiest hands in the league, Clowney's work ethic is questionable at best and both of them have durability concerns. In a perfect world, they'd both get short-term "prove it" deals, but there's no chance in hell that happens-so whatever teams end up signing them better hope that the negative aspects of their play don't intensify during their second contracts.
-Byron Jones is arguably the most intriguing player on the market without a clear destination. He's versatile (over 30+ starts at both corner and safety), has only missed 1 game over the course of his 5-year career and has grown into one of the strongest man coverage DB's in the league over the past couple of seasons. Since the Cowboys more than likely won't be to afford to bring him back, look for any pass defense-challenged team (Colts, Eagles, 49ers, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Raiders, Redskins, Panthers) with cap space to make a run at him.
-If you're looking for a "surprise" contender to earn a huge deal, keep an eye on inside linebacker Corey Littleton. Littleton has thrived since the Rams named him a starter on defense in 2018, is an All-Pro special teamer and is still just 26 years old. He has a very legit chance to top the 5 year/$85 mil deal the Jets gave C.J. Mosley last season.
-The late wave of notable cuts has added a lot of potential big name redemption projects to the market. Struggling and/or injury-prone vets including Xavier Rhodes, Desmond Trufant and Devonta Freeman could really pop if they enter the right system or in the case of the two ex-Falcons, beat the injury bug that has ailed them of late. These guys will be affordable options at in-demand positions and that potential for excellent value should allow to them garner a fair amount of attention on the market.
-With the trade of David Johnson to the Texans, Kenyan Drake-who received the transition tag-has earned his spot as the Cardinals starting running back. Shoutout Steve Kiem and Kliff Kingsbury for being brilliant football minds and not letting greatness walk out the door.
-Bill O'Brien needs to be permanently banned from making player personnel decisions. His trade of 5x All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for an ailing David Johnson and a pair of draft picks (2020 2nd round, 2021 4th round) is already a strong contender for the most inexplicable and flat-out bad deals in NFL history.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Programming Notice
Hey all, just wanted to give a quick series of updates about how I'm going to handle producing content in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak
-With no wide releases currently on the schedule until at least April 10th and movie theater closures across the country imminent, The Best and Worst of column will be shelved until Hollywood returns to normal operation.
-This week, I'm going to do a review dump of the last batch of movies I saw in theaters as well as a certain streaming title that has become especially popular given the current climate. You can also expect reviews of some streaming TBD titles in the coming weeks.
-Courtesy of a baffling lack of judgement, I didn't write my NFL free agency preview column on Friday. Since then guys like Ryan Tannehill, Anthony Castonzo and Hunter Henry have all re-upped with their teams and the market is becoming far less robust by the minute. If there's enough high-profile players left come tomorrow, I'll post a column. If not, I'll scrap it and just move forward with my free agency winners and losers column next week. Apologize for handling this so poorly.
-Weekly NFL Mock Drafts will start this week followed by an early look at my top available prospects the following week.
-If nothing else, I picked a great time to be doing decade retrospectives. The Top 20 Albums of the 2010's countdown will start later this week and a list of the 10 most underrated movies of the 2010's will also be posted sometime in the next 10-14 days.
Thanks as always for reading and I look forward to bringing you as much material as possible during this frightening and uncertain time in the world.
-With no wide releases currently on the schedule until at least April 10th and movie theater closures across the country imminent, The Best and Worst of column will be shelved until Hollywood returns to normal operation.
-This week, I'm going to do a review dump of the last batch of movies I saw in theaters as well as a certain streaming title that has become especially popular given the current climate. You can also expect reviews of some streaming TBD titles in the coming weeks.
-Courtesy of a baffling lack of judgement, I didn't write my NFL free agency preview column on Friday. Since then guys like Ryan Tannehill, Anthony Castonzo and Hunter Henry have all re-upped with their teams and the market is becoming far less robust by the minute. If there's enough high-profile players left come tomorrow, I'll post a column. If not, I'll scrap it and just move forward with my free agency winners and losers column next week. Apologize for handling this so poorly.
-Weekly NFL Mock Drafts will start this week followed by an early look at my top available prospects the following week.
-If nothing else, I picked a great time to be doing decade retrospectives. The Top 20 Albums of the 2010's countdown will start later this week and a list of the 10 most underrated movies of the 2010's will also be posted sometime in the next 10-14 days.
Thanks as always for reading and I look forward to bringing you as much material as possible during this frightening and uncertain time in the world.
Friday, March 13, 2020
Top 20 Movies of the 2010's Recap
After a very drawn out month, my top 20 movies of the 2010's countdown has finally concluded. Here's a full recap of the list:
20.The Fighter (2010)
19.Straight Outta Compton (2015)
18.Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
17.Room (2015)
16.A Star is Born (2018)
15.Inception (2010)
14.22 Jump Street (2014)
13.The Nice Guys (2016)
12.Kick-Ass (2010)
11.Marriage Story (2019)
10.50/50 (2011)
9.Black Swan (2010)
8.This is the End (2013)
7.John Wick:Chapter 3-Parabellum (2019)
6.Manchester by the Sea (2016)
5.Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
4.Fruitvale Station (2013)
3.Whiplash (2014)
2.Gone Girl (2014)
1.Django Unchained (2012)
20.The Fighter (2010)
19.Straight Outta Compton (2015)
18.Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
17.Room (2015)
16.A Star is Born (2018)
15.Inception (2010)
14.22 Jump Street (2014)
13.The Nice Guys (2016)
12.Kick-Ass (2010)
11.Marriage Story (2019)
10.50/50 (2011)
9.Black Swan (2010)
8.This is the End (2013)
7.John Wick:Chapter 3-Parabellum (2019)
6.Manchester by the Sea (2016)
5.Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
4.Fruitvale Station (2013)
3.Whiplash (2014)
2.Gone Girl (2014)
1.Django Unchained (2012)
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Top 20 Movies of the 2010's: #2-1
2.Gone Girl (2014): The sheer depth of Gone Girl is astonishing. On the surface, it's an exceptional psychological mystery thriller full of compelling characters with questionable moral compasses and possible motives to do horrible shit-which makes it very hard to predict what's going to happen next. While writer Gillian Flynn and director David Fincher are setting up their twisty missing persons/potential murder narrative, it also manages to organically provide commentary on things like how unforeseen financial hardships can cause a marriage to decompose, the negative mental impact of achieving fame at a young age and the media's disturbing tendency to run with controversial stories that haven't been properly vetted for accuracy just for the sake of generating ratings. This combination of intelligence and unpredictability makes it the perfect thriller for the modern era and I will champion the hell out of it at every possible opportunity.
1.Django Unchained (2012): This shouldn't be much of a surprise to anybody. Quentin Tarantino is my favorite filmmaker on the planet and I believe that Django Unchained is his finest piece of work since Pulp Fiction. Being able to craft a rollicking, hilarious revenge western without sugarcoating the atrocities of slavery is one of the most impressive things Tarantino has accomplished over the course of his illustrious career.
1.Django Unchained (2012): This shouldn't be much of a surprise to anybody. Quentin Tarantino is my favorite filmmaker on the planet and I believe that Django Unchained is his finest piece of work since Pulp Fiction. Being able to craft a rollicking, hilarious revenge western without sugarcoating the atrocities of slavery is one of the most impressive things Tarantino has accomplished over the course of his illustrious career.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Top 20 Movies of the 2010's: #4-3
4.Fruitvale Station (2013): Police brutality and racially-fueled murders of unarmed people of color-particularly black men-are disgustingly common practices here in the United States of America. Not too many of the people who have been unjustly killed by the people who swore an oath to protect them get to have their stories shared with the masses, but Ryan Coogler was brave enough to shine a light on this heinous behavior from law enforcement by bringing the tale of Oscar Grant-who was murdered by two BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) officers in Oakland, California on New Year's Eve 2009-to the big screen with his potent directorial debut Fruitvale Station. Fruitvale Station focuses on getting to know Grant (Michael B. Jordan in an apporoatiely nuanced turn) his family and how he was trying to right the wrongs he had committed in the past during what ended up being the last day of life, which makes his death even more devastating and maddening. Underneath all of the political posturing that inevitably emerges every time an incident like this occurs, it gets lost that the actions of these trigger-happy cops means that someone is growing up without a son, father, brother or friend, and that attention to the person behind the headline is what made Fruitvale Station such a revelatory film.
3.Whiplash (2014): How can a drama about the relationship between a young music conservatory student (Miles Teller) and his jazz drumming professor (J.K. Simmons) turn into something that boasts the tension of a thriller? Simple: Make the professor a hot-tempered madman who is obsessed with achieving perfection and treat every performance like its the difference between living and dying. Every mistake is magnified and every triumph is felt, which in turns allows every moment of this impeccably-acted/directed character study to be nothing short of riveting.
3.Whiplash (2014): How can a drama about the relationship between a young music conservatory student (Miles Teller) and his jazz drumming professor (J.K. Simmons) turn into something that boasts the tension of a thriller? Simple: Make the professor a hot-tempered madman who is obsessed with achieving perfection and treat every performance like its the difference between living and dying. Every mistake is magnified and every triumph is felt, which in turns allows every moment of this impeccably-acted/directed character study to be nothing short of riveting.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Top 20 Movies of the 2010's: #6-5
6.Manchester by the Sea (2016): Grief is becoming an increasingly prevalent topic for films to examine. To-date, nothing else in this recent wave of films on the subject has touched on this topic with more grace and poignancy than Manchester by the Sea. Kenneth Lonergan's powerfully understated drama provides no easy, comforting answers on how to deal with the sudden loss of a loved and understands that the healing process differs for everyone. It's an utterly devastating, but essential watch that helps provide a deeper understanding and empathy for people that are going through immense emotional pain that can be exceptionally difficult for others to comprehend or relate to.
5.Silver Linings Playbook (2012): On the other end of the emotional spectrum from Manchester by the Sea lies Silver Linings Playbook. This romantic dramedy is basically pure ecstasy in cinematic form that leaves me in a euphoric state every time I watch it. David O. Russell did a tremendous job tackling mental illness in a sensitive manner, putting together a very straightforward yet uplifting story and used his special gift for directing actors to get yet another round of terrific, multi-faceted performances out of his cast (Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver).
5.Silver Linings Playbook (2012): On the other end of the emotional spectrum from Manchester by the Sea lies Silver Linings Playbook. This romantic dramedy is basically pure ecstasy in cinematic form that leaves me in a euphoric state every time I watch it. David O. Russell did a tremendous job tackling mental illness in a sensitive manner, putting together a very straightforward yet uplifting story and used his special gift for directing actors to get yet another round of terrific, multi-faceted performances out of his cast (Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver).
Monday, March 9, 2020
The Best and Worst of Emma Roberts
“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 “The Hunt” star Emma Roberts.
Films starring Emma Roberts that I've seen:
Blow
The Winning Season
It's Kind of a Funny Story
Scream 4
The Art of Getting By
Celeste and Jesse Forever
We're the Millers
Empire State
Adult World
Nerve
Best Performance: Nerve (2016)
I'm still stunned that this modest, well-reviewed hit didn't launch Roberts to the next level of stardom. Her towering, confident presence and strong rapport she possesses with co-lead Dave Franco provided Nerve with the strong base it needed to become an engrossing thriller.
Worst Performance: Empire State (2013)
By playing an inconsequential side character that has less than 10 minutes of screen time, Roberts ends up being one of the best parts of this lousy, little-seen crime saga about a group of young men (Liam Hemsworth, Michael Angarano, Greg Vrostos, Jerry Ferrara) who orchestrate a massive robbery of cash from a sloppily-ran armored truck company by default. If the script had found a way to better utilize Roberts' real movie star magnetism in a film that was awfully light on engaging actors, Empire State might've been a little more bearable.
Best Film: We're the Millers (2013)
This raunchfest about a low level weed dealer (Jason Sudekis) having to hire a group of misfits he knows (Jennifer Aniston, Roberts, Will Poulter) to pose as his family in order to smuggle an RV full of product across the border from Mexico was one of the stronger comedies of the 2010's. The convincingly dysfunctional makeshift family dynamic along with the outrageous scenarios that arise during their journey make this an inspired, hilarious ride that is fun to rewatch.
Worst Film: Empire State (2013)
A heist movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Hunger Games-era Liam Hemsworth choosing to bypass theaters doesn't inspire a lot of confidence about the quality of the project. Empire State spends about 99% of its runtime proving that Lionsgate made the right decision by banishing it to VOD purgatory. From top to bottom, this is a woefully inept film that is poorly paced, thinly written and features an abundance of obnoxious characters that I wanted to see get arrested or killed just so they would disappear from the god damn screen.
Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “A Quiet Place Part II” star Emily Blunt.
Films starring Emma Roberts that I've seen:
Blow
The Winning Season
It's Kind of a Funny Story
Scream 4
The Art of Getting By
Celeste and Jesse Forever
We're the Millers
Empire State
Adult World
Nerve
Best Performance: Nerve (2016)
I'm still stunned that this modest, well-reviewed hit didn't launch Roberts to the next level of stardom. Her towering, confident presence and strong rapport she possesses with co-lead Dave Franco provided Nerve with the strong base it needed to become an engrossing thriller.
Worst Performance: Empire State (2013)
By playing an inconsequential side character that has less than 10 minutes of screen time, Roberts ends up being one of the best parts of this lousy, little-seen crime saga about a group of young men (Liam Hemsworth, Michael Angarano, Greg Vrostos, Jerry Ferrara) who orchestrate a massive robbery of cash from a sloppily-ran armored truck company by default. If the script had found a way to better utilize Roberts' real movie star magnetism in a film that was awfully light on engaging actors, Empire State might've been a little more bearable.
Best Film: We're the Millers (2013)
This raunchfest about a low level weed dealer (Jason Sudekis) having to hire a group of misfits he knows (Jennifer Aniston, Roberts, Will Poulter) to pose as his family in order to smuggle an RV full of product across the border from Mexico was one of the stronger comedies of the 2010's. The convincingly dysfunctional makeshift family dynamic along with the outrageous scenarios that arise during their journey make this an inspired, hilarious ride that is fun to rewatch.
Worst Film: Empire State (2013)
A heist movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Hunger Games-era Liam Hemsworth choosing to bypass theaters doesn't inspire a lot of confidence about the quality of the project. Empire State spends about 99% of its runtime proving that Lionsgate made the right decision by banishing it to VOD purgatory. From top to bottom, this is a woefully inept film that is poorly paced, thinly written and features an abundance of obnoxious characters that I wanted to see get arrested or killed just so they would disappear from the god damn screen.
Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “A Quiet Place Part II” star Emily Blunt.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Top 20 Movies of the 2010's: #8-7
8.This is the End (2013): Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg enlisting some of their famous friends (Jay Baruchel, James Franco,Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Rihanna) to play exaggerated versions of themselves in a comedy set during the apocalypse led to something really special. A clever, twisted sense of humor, an abundance of quotable lines/memorable moments and a well-matched ensemble cast that was willing to poke fun at themselves made This is the End the funniest movie of the decade.
7.John Wick-Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019): What did John Wick do for the film industry? As far as I'm concerned, a whole hell of a lot. It proved that a property can organically turn into a franchise that becomes more and more successful with each subsequent entry during a decade where the theatrical experience was allegedly dying, revived the ailing career of Keanu Reeves, exposed the world to a pair of superb directors (Chad Stahelski, David Leitch) and made cleanly-edited, immaculately-choreographed action scenes cool again. As terrific as the first two films are, John Wick-Chapter 3: Parabellum brought the series to a whole new level simply by adding more humor and jaw-dropping marital arts to the stunning action sequences its become known for. While it remains unclear just how much its going to effect the landscape, this film and its predecessors have issued an open challenge for genre filmmakers to step their game up or risk getting buried by the Babayaga.
7.John Wick-Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019): What did John Wick do for the film industry? As far as I'm concerned, a whole hell of a lot. It proved that a property can organically turn into a franchise that becomes more and more successful with each subsequent entry during a decade where the theatrical experience was allegedly dying, revived the ailing career of Keanu Reeves, exposed the world to a pair of superb directors (Chad Stahelski, David Leitch) and made cleanly-edited, immaculately-choreographed action scenes cool again. As terrific as the first two films are, John Wick-Chapter 3: Parabellum brought the series to a whole new level simply by adding more humor and jaw-dropping marital arts to the stunning action sequences its become known for. While it remains unclear just how much its going to effect the landscape, this film and its predecessors have issued an open challenge for genre filmmakers to step their game up or risk getting buried by the Babayaga.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
2020 NFL Mock Draft (Post-Combine)
1.Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, quarterback (LSU)
2.Washington Redskins: Chase Young, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, cornerback (Ohio State)
4.New York Giants: CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
5.Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovaiola, quarterback (Alabama)
6.Los Angeles Chargers: Jedrick Wills, tackle (Alabama)
7.Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, inside linebacker (Clemson)
8.Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Thomas, tackle (Georgia)
9.Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, defensive tackle (Auburn)
10.Cleveland Browns: Tristian Wirfs, tackle (Iowa)
11.New York Jets: Mekhi Becton, tackle (Louisville)
12.Las Vegas Raiders: Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver (Alabama)
13.Indianapolis Colts: Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle (South Carolina)
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Herbert, quarterback (Oregon)
15.Denver Broncos: Herny Ruggs, wide receiver (Alabama)
16.Atlanta Falcons: K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher (LSU)
17.Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, safety (Alabama)
18.Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, tackle (Houston)
19.Las Vegas Raiders: Patrick Queen, inside linebacker (LSU)
20.Jacksonville Jaguars: C.J. Henderson, cornerback (Florida)
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver (Arizona State)
22.Buffalo Bills: A.J. Espensa, edge rusher (Iowa)
23.New England Patriots: Kenneth Murray, inside linebacker (Oklahoma)
24.New Orleans Saints: Jordan Love, quarterback (Utah State)
25.Minnesota Vikings: Ross Blacklock, defensive tackle (TCU)
26.Miami Dolphins: D'Andre Swift, running back (Georgia)
27.Seattle Seahawks: Trevon Diggs, cornerback (Alabama)
28.Baltimore Ravens: Yetur Gross-Matos, edge rusher (Penn State)
29.Tennessee Titans: Austin Jackson, tackle (USC)
30.Green Bay Packers: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver (LSU)
31.San Francisco 49ers: Kristian Fulton, cornerback (LSU)
32.Kansas City Chiefs: Noah Igbinoghene, cornerback (Auburn)
2.Washington Redskins: Chase Young, edge rusher (Ohio State)
3.Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, cornerback (Ohio State)
4.New York Giants: CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver (Oklahoma)
5.Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovaiola, quarterback (Alabama)
6.Los Angeles Chargers: Jedrick Wills, tackle (Alabama)
7.Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, inside linebacker (Clemson)
8.Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Thomas, tackle (Georgia)
9.Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, defensive tackle (Auburn)
10.Cleveland Browns: Tristian Wirfs, tackle (Iowa)
11.New York Jets: Mekhi Becton, tackle (Louisville)
12.Las Vegas Raiders: Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver (Alabama)
13.Indianapolis Colts: Javon Kinlaw, defensive tackle (South Carolina)
14.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Herbert, quarterback (Oregon)
15.Denver Broncos: Herny Ruggs, wide receiver (Alabama)
16.Atlanta Falcons: K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher (LSU)
17.Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, safety (Alabama)
18.Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, tackle (Houston)
19.Las Vegas Raiders: Patrick Queen, inside linebacker (LSU)
20.Jacksonville Jaguars: C.J. Henderson, cornerback (Florida)
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver (Arizona State)
22.Buffalo Bills: A.J. Espensa, edge rusher (Iowa)
23.New England Patriots: Kenneth Murray, inside linebacker (Oklahoma)
24.New Orleans Saints: Jordan Love, quarterback (Utah State)
25.Minnesota Vikings: Ross Blacklock, defensive tackle (TCU)
26.Miami Dolphins: D'Andre Swift, running back (Georgia)
27.Seattle Seahawks: Trevon Diggs, cornerback (Alabama)
28.Baltimore Ravens: Yetur Gross-Matos, edge rusher (Penn State)
29.Tennessee Titans: Austin Jackson, tackle (USC)
30.Green Bay Packers: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver (LSU)
31.San Francisco 49ers: Kristian Fulton, cornerback (LSU)
32.Kansas City Chiefs: Noah Igbinoghene, cornerback (Auburn)
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
The Best and Worst of Ben Affleck (2020)
“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 “The Way Back” star Ben Affleck.
Films starring Ben Affleck that I've seen:
Dazed and Confused
Mallrats
Chasing Amy
Good Will Hunting
Armageddon
Dogma
Boiler Room
Pearl Harbor
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Daredevil
Smokin' Aces
State of Play
Extract
The Town
Argo
Runner Runner
Gone Girl
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
The Accountant
Live by Night
Justice League
Triple Frontier
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
Best Performance: Gone Girl (2014)
Rosamund Pike may be the clear runaway star of Gone Girl, but she didn't give the only terrific performance in David Fincher and Gillian Flynn's masterful mystery thriller. Affleck brings an ideal mix of charisma and sliminess to Nick Dunne that makes him the perfect morally questionable protagonist/murder suspect for a story that is almost exclusively populated by reprehensible characters.
Worst Performance: Pearl Harbor (2001)
The five or so subsequent years after his breakout in Good Will Hunting weren't kind to Affleck as he chose some really crappy projects to star in. As much as he stumbled through the likes of Armageddon and Daredevil, Pearl Harbor easily brought out the worst in him as an actor. He was stiff, awkward and possibly comatose as the lead in this melodramatic romance disguised as a war film.
Best Film: Good Will Hunting (1997)
As a lifelong Massachusetts resident, I'm actually legally obligated to pick something set in Boston as my favorite Affleck movie. While I do love The Town very much, his first Boston-set movie with his old childhood friend Matt Damon has an even more special place in my heart. Good Will Hunting is a timeless classic full of strong performances, rich characters and moving moments that puts me in a great mood every single time I watch it.
Worst Film: Pearl Harbor (2001)
What is there to say about Pearl Harbor that I haven't already said in the past? To be honest, probably nothing. Michael Bay's bizarre, completely fictionalized take on one of the most tragic days in United States history is one of the most notorious miscalculations Hollywood has made since I've been alive. The acting is embarrassing, the writing is way too corny and at over 3 hours long, this tedious pile of trash feels like it's never going to come to an end.
Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “The Hunt” star Emma Roberts.
Films starring Ben Affleck that I've seen:
Dazed and Confused
Mallrats
Chasing Amy
Good Will Hunting
Armageddon
Dogma
Boiler Room
Pearl Harbor
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Daredevil
Smokin' Aces
State of Play
Extract
The Town
Argo
Runner Runner
Gone Girl
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice
The Accountant
Live by Night
Justice League
Triple Frontier
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot
Best Performance: Gone Girl (2014)
Rosamund Pike may be the clear runaway star of Gone Girl, but she didn't give the only terrific performance in David Fincher and Gillian Flynn's masterful mystery thriller. Affleck brings an ideal mix of charisma and sliminess to Nick Dunne that makes him the perfect morally questionable protagonist/murder suspect for a story that is almost exclusively populated by reprehensible characters.
Worst Performance: Pearl Harbor (2001)
The five or so subsequent years after his breakout in Good Will Hunting weren't kind to Affleck as he chose some really crappy projects to star in. As much as he stumbled through the likes of Armageddon and Daredevil, Pearl Harbor easily brought out the worst in him as an actor. He was stiff, awkward and possibly comatose as the lead in this melodramatic romance disguised as a war film.
Best Film: Good Will Hunting (1997)
As a lifelong Massachusetts resident, I'm actually legally obligated to pick something set in Boston as my favorite Affleck movie. While I do love The Town very much, his first Boston-set movie with his old childhood friend Matt Damon has an even more special place in my heart. Good Will Hunting is a timeless classic full of strong performances, rich characters and moving moments that puts me in a great mood every single time I watch it.
Worst Film: Pearl Harbor (2001)
What is there to say about Pearl Harbor that I haven't already said in the past? To be honest, probably nothing. Michael Bay's bizarre, completely fictionalized take on one of the most tragic days in United States history is one of the most notorious miscalculations Hollywood has made since I've been alive. The acting is embarrassing, the writing is way too corny and at over 3 hours long, this tedious pile of trash feels like it's never going to come to an end.
Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “The Hunt” star Emma Roberts.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Movie Review: The Invisible Man
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The year was 2016. Universal was trying to enter the extended universe game, but since they don't have the film rights to any superheroes anymore, they had to dig deep to find a property that had the potential to sustain the public's interest over a long period of time. What they came up with was "The Dark Universe", a series of films focused on the classic monsters including Dracula and Frankenstein that put the studio on the map back in the 30's. Those grand ambitions crumbled before they even got a chance to really materialize into much of anything after the debut film (2017's The Mummy) in this proposed series tanked on a spectacular level and all of the other Dark Universe titles in development were promptly canceled. Pulling the plug on The Dark Universe might've been a blessing in disguise for Universal after all because Leigh Whannell's masterful timely take on The Invisible Man would've never come to fruition if The Mummy had performed like they had hoped.
While horror veteran Whannell does a terrific job of building suspense and delivering traditional shocks, the way he handles an abusive relationship is what makes The Invisible Man so deeply unnerving. Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) isn't a terrifying monster because he's found a way to become invisible, it's because of the ways he reigns constant terror on his ex (Elisabeth Moss) that he views as his property. Watching him go to great lengths to discredit, terrorize and toy with a woman who left him because of his unrelenting abuse is far more bone-chilling than any jump scare or gruesome supernatural death could ever possibly be. There are plenty of women in the world right now that are currently in a relationship like this or have been one in the past, which is something that is impossible to overlook as the events of this film transpire and subsequently adds a subtly harrowing undercurrent to every single scene of the film.
As terrific as the writing and direction is, Whannell's updated approach to this classic monster tale wouldn't have reached its peak if he didn't have someone as fearlessly gifted as Moss in the lead role. The truly special expressiveness she possesses along with some assistance from a top-notch makeup department that provides the necessary visible signs of distress allows her to convey the quiet terror and constant unease that anyone who is able to escape from their abuser or is a victim of stalking must feel every moment of every day. The pain she endures not only from Adrian, but from the people that she loves and trusts not entirely believing her stories of how he's abusing her in his invisible state is on full display and escalates in a fashion that is just heartbreaking to watch. Moss' willingness to go to such great lengths to convincingly convey such a deep level of suffering even turns an ending that could've been contrived in the hands of a lesser actor into a powerful piece of catharsis that gives way to a beautiful final moment that had me on the verge of tears as I exited the theater. If Moss doesn't at the very least warrant consideration for this extraordinary performance comes awards season, it'll be a full blown travesty. She's that fucking good.
The Invisible Man is a bold, chilling knockout that serves as another well-earned victory lap for the Blumhouse Productions team. Not since Get Out has a film blended real life and cinematic horrors together so effectively. This is 2020's first masterpiece and I'm not expecting to stop thinking about it anytime soon.
While horror veteran Whannell does a terrific job of building suspense and delivering traditional shocks, the way he handles an abusive relationship is what makes The Invisible Man so deeply unnerving. Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) isn't a terrifying monster because he's found a way to become invisible, it's because of the ways he reigns constant terror on his ex (Elisabeth Moss) that he views as his property. Watching him go to great lengths to discredit, terrorize and toy with a woman who left him because of his unrelenting abuse is far more bone-chilling than any jump scare or gruesome supernatural death could ever possibly be. There are plenty of women in the world right now that are currently in a relationship like this or have been one in the past, which is something that is impossible to overlook as the events of this film transpire and subsequently adds a subtly harrowing undercurrent to every single scene of the film.
As terrific as the writing and direction is, Whannell's updated approach to this classic monster tale wouldn't have reached its peak if he didn't have someone as fearlessly gifted as Moss in the lead role. The truly special expressiveness she possesses along with some assistance from a top-notch makeup department that provides the necessary visible signs of distress allows her to convey the quiet terror and constant unease that anyone who is able to escape from their abuser or is a victim of stalking must feel every moment of every day. The pain she endures not only from Adrian, but from the people that she loves and trusts not entirely believing her stories of how he's abusing her in his invisible state is on full display and escalates in a fashion that is just heartbreaking to watch. Moss' willingness to go to such great lengths to convincingly convey such a deep level of suffering even turns an ending that could've been contrived in the hands of a lesser actor into a powerful piece of catharsis that gives way to a beautiful final moment that had me on the verge of tears as I exited the theater. If Moss doesn't at the very least warrant consideration for this extraordinary performance comes awards season, it'll be a full blown travesty. She's that fucking good.
The Invisible Man is a bold, chilling knockout that serves as another well-earned victory lap for the Blumhouse Productions team. Not since Get Out has a film blended real life and cinematic horrors together so effectively. This is 2020's first masterpiece and I'm not expecting to stop thinking about it anytime soon.
Grade: A
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Top 20 Movies of the 2010's: #10-9
10.50/50 (2011): All too often cancer is reduced to a manipulative melodramatic plot device that kills off one member of a couple in lazy, tearjerker romance stories. Hollywood's strange fetishization of such a dreaded disease is part of what made 50/50 so special. Screenwriter Will Reiser is a cancer survivor himself and his experiences provide 50/50 with a realistic, well-rounded perspective that makes it unlike any other film on the topic. While it vividly captures the brutal struggles that both the individual and their loved ones go through during this agonizing process, it also organically injects comedy into the proceedings-which prevents the film from ever slipping into full-on gloominess or repeating the forced melodramatic sins of the aforementioned disingenuous cancer movies. It also serves as a reminder of why Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an elite, endlessly versatile actor who deserves more respect in the industry.
9.Black Swan (2010): Getting under the viewer's skin by any means necessary is the primary goal of a psychological thriller. Black Swan didn't just get under my skin, it waged a visceral war on my general perception of reality vs. fiction until my brain more or less turned to goop. The way Darren Aronofsky slowly builds tension throughout until it builds to a thoroughly uncomfortable level in the final act along with a thoroughly unnerving performance from Natalie Portman as a ballerina who becomes enamored with achieving perfection at all costs after she's cast in the lead role in her company's production of Swan Lake made this is a disturbing yet completely enthralling watch.
9.Black Swan (2010): Getting under the viewer's skin by any means necessary is the primary goal of a psychological thriller. Black Swan didn't just get under my skin, it waged a visceral war on my general perception of reality vs. fiction until my brain more or less turned to goop. The way Darren Aronofsky slowly builds tension throughout until it builds to a thoroughly uncomfortable level in the final act along with a thoroughly unnerving performance from Natalie Portman as a ballerina who becomes enamored with achieving perfection at all costs after she's cast in the lead role in her company's production of Swan Lake made this is a disturbing yet completely enthralling watch.
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