2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 20 Punters

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020

20.(11) Ty Long (Chargers)

19.(4) Andy Lee (Cardinals)

18.(+) Pat O'Donnell (Bears)

17.(+) Bradley Pinion (Buccaneers)

16.(+) Rigoberto Sanchez (Colts)

15.(7) Cameron Johnston (Texans)

14.(19) Jordan Berry (Steelers)

13.(10) Bryan Anger (Cowboys)

12.(+) Mitch Wishnowsky (49ers)

11.(15) Sam Martin (Broncos)

10.(16) Kevin Huber (Bengals)

9.(6) Sam Koch (Ravens)

8.(2) Brett Kern (Titans)

7.(9) Logan Cooke (Jaguars)

6.(+) Corey Bojorquez (Bills)

5.(18) Michael Dickson (Seahawks)

4.(+) Jack Fox (Lions)

3.(+) Jake Bailey (Patriots)

2.(3) Tress Way (Football Team)

1.(1) Johnny Hekker (Rams)

Chris Pratt Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted related accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of Chris Pratt-whose latest project "The Tomorrow War" starts streaming on Amazon Prime Video this Friday.

Chris Pratt's Filmography Ranked:

20.What's Your Number? (D-)

19.Movie 43 (D)

18.Passengers (C)

17.Take Me Home Tonight (C)

16.Onward (C)

15.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (C+)

14.Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (C+)

13.Delivery Man (B-)

12.The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (B)

11.The Five-Year Engagement (B)

10.Zero Dark Thirty (B)

9.Jurassic World (B)

8.The Lego Movie (B+)

7.Her (B+)

6.Avengers: Endgame (A-)

5.The Magnificent Seven (A)

4.Wanted (A)

3.Guardians of the Galaxy (A)

2.Moneyball (A)

1.Avengers: Infinity War (A)

Top Dog: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

The MCU is such a carefully calculated behemoth of an entity that when they divert even a little bit off their established course, the results can be very exciting. Infinity War introduced something that our titular team had never faced in any of their past missions: the real prospect of not being able to save the day. Thanos possessed a level of power courtesy of the Infinity Stones that exceed all of theirs combined and the escalating sense of impending doom that comes with them being on the wrong side of a battle for once made this an unbelievably engrossing film that's worthy of its epic billing.

Lowlight: What's Your Number? (2011)

It takes a special kind of shit movie to cancel out the talent/charm of Anna Farris, Chris Evans, Pratt, Andy Samberg and several other great performers. What's Your Number? is the kind of tacky, joyless trash that soils the entire reputation of the romantic comedy genre by assaulting the audience with lazy jokes and some stunningly regressive views towards sex and love for a film that is just shy of 10 years old.    

Most Underrated: Wanted (2008)

Wanted may not be as delightfully unhinged and darkly funny as something like Crank or Shoot' Em Up, but it's still an elite piece of cartoony action madness that rides its combination of stylized bloody shootouts, explosive car chases and self-aware overacting from huge stars (James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman) to B-movie glory.

Most Overrated: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

The biggest letdown in recent Marvel history also happens to be the most shocking failure they've ever churned out. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a party comparable to the first installment when it sticks to what it does best: let its lovable goofball characters riff and engage in some fun fight scenes. However, James Gunn for some reason decided to spend more time exploring themes of family, and it results in a whole lot of forced melodrama that completely clashes with and takes away from its proven lighthearted strengths.    

Top Contender for the Crown of the Most Mediocre Movie I've Ever Seen: Passengers (2016)

A part romance, part sci-fi blockbuster starring two of the most charismatic actors (Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence) working today shouldn't have been so god damn mid. Passengers kind of just aimlessly floats for roughly 2 hours, treating everything from the burgeoning romance between its lead characters to the sci-fi peril that could potentially kill them and the other people on the spacecraft that they're traveling on with stunning indifference.

Movie Review: F9

In late April, Vin Diesel triumphantly reemerged into public life with a video PSA-that has since been parodied on Saturday Night Live-declaring it was time for audiences to return to the MOOVIES. Mr. Diesel wasn't suggesting that people go see A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella or any of the other titles that were tasked with kicking off this unconventional 2021 summer movie season, he was angling for people to make F9 their first trip back to theaters since the pandemic started. If you happened to be one of the folks that listened to the sage wisdom of Dominic Toretto and made the ninth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise your big screen comeback trip, you were treated to another round of the rousing over-the-top spectacle that this series so proudly revels in.

Positioning F9 as the first true blockbuster in a summer slate that's being handed the difficult task of attempting to re-ignite public interest in theatrical moviegoing is really a genius move by Universal and Hollywood as a whole. With its rabid fanbase, massive scale that is optimized by the top shelf audio/video setup that theaters provide and over-the-top setpieces that are capable of birthing a really infectious energy when experienced with a large, engaged crowd, F9 checks every box a studio would want while they're pumping up the value of the theatrical experience. So, does F9 continue the franchise's proud legacy of being the biggest and baddest brand in the world of maximalist action movies? That's a silly question, of course it does!

F9 welcomes back franchise veteran Justin Lin to the director's chair for the first time since Fast and Furious 6 and that extended time away didn't dull any of his sensibilities. He doesn't take for granted that there are dozens of established directors that would kill to have this big of a sandbox to play around in and Lin beautifully conveys that uninhabited freedom by placing a sense of wide-eyed joy into every car chase, fist fight or whatever new piece of groundbreaking insanity they've cooked up. Getting to make a movie where high-powered magnets, jumping cars off cliffs and space expeditions that don't involve NASA are part of an average day of production is a gig that no one else in the business has and Lin seems like he's going to relish that good fortune until this franchise reaches its end.      

While its pleasures remain as fun and creative as ever, there are a couple of elephants in the room that need to be addressed that prevent F9 from hitting the level of excellence they've achieved and maintained since Fast Five. For starters, there's a Rock-sized hole in the dynamic of the "family" that is impossible to overlook. Dwayne Johnson's introduction to this series was a huge reason why it was able to blossom into a kick ass, globe-trotting action franchise. The machine still may be able to run fine without him (the goofy Ludacris/Tyrese dynamic and Sung Kang's long-awaited return as Han are largely responsible for making that happen), but Johnson's charisma and comedic timing is the brand of oil that keeps the engine humming at peak performance and it's not exactly difficult to notice when it's been swapped out for something that's functional yet clearly not as good as what you've been using for the past decade (John Cena as Dom's estranged "evil" brother).

Then there's the much more subtle, but equally important departure of screenwriter Chris Morgan. Morgan had been responsible for the script of every single film from Tokyo Drift through Hobbs & Shaw-which means that he's been the unsung architect behind the franchise's upward trajectory in terms of both quality and popularity. Although Lin's contributions to the script prevent it from completely losing its long-established DNA, Morgan's primary replacement Daniel Casey (Kin) doesn't have the same finesse when it comes to navigating the tricky-ish tonal balance the previous installments aced. The shameless melodrama/self-aware stupidity pendulum often swings too far in the former direction-particularly in the less action-driven middle section of the film, and deciding to spend so much energy diving into the soapy family drama shit between the Toretto brothers puts a pretty sizable dent into the franchise's usually electric pacing. If the upcoming final installments are going to completely stick the landing, both Johnson and Morgan are going to have return to their esteemed positions on this NOS-powered pirate ship.

F9 may be the least electrifying installment of the series since 2009's Fast and Furious, but it still manages to deliver more than enough of that signature F and F entertaining absurdity to work. This franchise has set an extremely high bar for itself and since there's only a couple of small tweaks required to get it back to that place, the family could very well be flying high again on their next deadly high stakes mission.           

Grade: B+

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 20 Kickers

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020

20.(+) Joey Slye (Panthers)

19.(12) Dustin Hopkins (Football Team)

18.(+) Tyler Bass (Bills)

17.(14) Kai'mi Fairbain (Texans)

16.(8) Robbie Gould (49ers)

15.(+) Ryan Succop (Buccaneers) 

14.(+) Nick Folk (Patriots)

13.(+) Daniel Carlson (Raiders)

12.(+) Cairo Santos (Bears)

11.(2) Josh Lambo (Jaguars)

10.(+) Graham Gano (Giants)

9.(7) Greg Zuerlein (Cowboys)

8.(17) Jason Myers (Seahawks)

7.(9) Mason Crosby (Packers)

6.(6) Chris Boswell (Steelers)

5.(3) Will Lutz (Saints)

4.(15) Younghoe Koo (Falcons)

3.(+) Jason Sanders (Dolphins)

2.(4) Harrison Butker (Chiefs)

1.(1) Justin Tucker (Ravens)

Fast and Furious Ranked

Welcome to Ranked-where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out various related accolades. This week, I'm profiling the illustrious Fast and Furious franchise ahead of the release of the latest installment "F9" in theaters on Friday. 

Fast and Furious Movies Ranked:

9.The Fast and the Furious (B-)

8.Fast and Furious (B)

7.2 Fast 2 Furious (B+)

6.Fast and Furious 6 (B+)

5.Hobbs & Shaw (A-)

4.The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (A-)

3.The Fate of the Furious (A)

2.Furious 7 (A)

1.Fast Five (A)

Top Dog: Fast Five (2011)

Fast Five was the entry that changed the entire DNA of the franchise and ahead of F9, it remains the high point. Transitioning into a bigger scale, broader action movie, embracing a lighter tone that provided a great opportunity to highlight the strong buddy rapport that already existed between its established ensemble and adding the wildly charismatic Dwayne Johnson to the cast gave this series a level of creative juice and wall-to-wall fun that it didn't have when it was strictly about street racing. 

Lowlight: The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Its unspectacular origin is a big part of why the Fast and Furious franchise's evolution into the biggest and best action blockbuster franchise on the planet has been so impressive. The original Fast and Furious is a merely passable relic from an era where seemingly every movie aimed at teenagers looked and felt like a long music video that is saved from total mediocrity by some cool cars/street racing scenes and what proved to be the early stages of the development of some strong chemistry between the leads (Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster).  

Most Underrated: The Fate of the Furious (2017)

The non-stop dazzling stunts and moving emotional highs of Furious 7 made it a hard film to follow up, but The Fate of the Furious did so with as much grace as possible. F. Gary Gray brought his signature infectious energy to the director's chair for an installment that features some of the most creative, insane action sequences of the entire series (the prison fight, baby rescue and "flying" car scenes are particularly noteworthy), an exceptional villain turn from Charlize Theron and the introduction of  Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham as an antagonistic comedy duo that was so great that it landed them their own spinoff in short order.

Most Overrated: The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Even when compared to the OG street racing entries outside of Fast and Furious, The Fast and the Furious just can't match up. Everything from the overall entertainment value down to the sense of spectacle behind the direction is light years away from what the franchise has been consistently delivering over the past decade.  

Best Street Racing Installment: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift has gained a pretty sizable cult following in recent years and as far as I'm concerned, that appreciation is long overdue. Not only did does the drifting technique and crowded, colorful Tokyo setting result in the most electrifying racing sequences of the entire franchise, the film introduced the two individuals (director Justin Lin and writer Chris Morgan) to the fold that were largely responsible for turning this franchise into an innovative, fun as shit powerhouse that has  achieved a decades-spanning longevity that no one could've ever imagined. 

Movie Review: Luca

After dropping a philosophical exploration of what makes life worth living and human beings rational fear of death in Soul just 6 short months ago, Pixar owed their fiercely loyal audience a bit of a breather with their next project. Enter Luca-which distills the warmth, relaxation and pleasant vibes of a great summer vacation into movie form.

While this story of 2 sea monsters (the title character voiced by Jacob Tremblay and Alberto voiced by Jake Dylan Grazer) who leave the safety of their homes on the ocean floor to spend the summer in an Italian seaside village whose residents actively hunt their kind does touch on some heavy subjects (fear-based prejudice, parents abandoning their children) along the way, it's far more focused on delivering pure joy and escapism. Luca and Alberto's endless curiosity and huge dreams makes for a true to life take on youth friendship that brings a really pure sweetness to the story and the vibrancy of both the people that occupy the town they go to and the animation that brings it to life establishes a welcoming atmosphere that burns with the same radiance as the sunshine that sits over most of the scenes. 

Seeing this level of outward, abundant positivity run through a Pixar film was a very welcome change (albeit slightly jarring) change of pace for the studio and the impeccable timing of its release only adds to its easygoing appeal. This little walk on the euphoric side of the human experience will be greatly appreciated when they make their swift, inevitable return to making projects that are full of profound existential bombs designed to make the adult viewers contemplate every key aspect of their existence.      

Grade: B       

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 50 Safeties

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020

50.(+) Eric Rowe (Dolphins)

49.(38) Jarrod Wilson (Jaguars)

48.(+) Kyle Dugger (Patriots)

47.(+) Julian Blackmon (Colts)

46.(+) Jordan Fuller (Rams)

45.(18) Tre Boston (Free Agent)

44.(36) Jaquiski Tartt (49ers)

43.(+) Rayshawn Jenkins (Jaguars)

42.(+) Jordan Whitehead (Buccaneers) 

41.(49) Terrell Edmunds (Steelers)

40.(22) Quandre Diggs (Seahawks)

39.(30) Duron Harmon (Falcons)

38.(+) Jeremy Chinn (Panthers)

37.(37) Rodney McLeod (Eagles)

36.(29) Xavier Woods (Vikings)

35.(39) Juan Thornhill (Chiefs)

34.(+) Ronnie Harrison (Browns)

33.(+) Logan Ryan (Giants)

32.(+) DeShon Eliott (Ravens)

31.(20) Malcolm Jenkins (Saints)

30.(43) Vonn Bell (Bengals)

29.(50) Tashaun Gibson (Bears)

28.(19) Landon Collins (Football Team)

27.(24) Justin Reid (Texans)

26.(+) Kamren Curl (Football Team)

25.(+) Antonie Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers) 

24.(26) Jabrill Peppers (Giants)

23.(32) Chuck Clark (Ravens)

22.(42) Khari Willis (Colts)

21.(7) Eddie Jackson (Bears)

20.(14) Anthony Harris (Eagles)

19.(40) Darnell Savage (Packers)

18.(5) Devin McCourty (Patriots)

17.(27) Jimmie Ward (49ers)

16.(10) Derwin James (Chargers)

15.(12) Kareem Jackson (Broncos)

14.(17) Jordan Poyer (Bills)

13.(34) Budda Baker (Cardinals)

12.(8) Micah Hyde (Bills)

11.(4) Tyrann Mathieu (Chiefs)

10.(2) Kevin Byard (Titans)

9.(3) Jamal Adams (Seahawks)

8.(47) Jessie Bates (Bengals)

7.(18) Marcus Maye (Jets)

6.(11) Adrian Amos (Packers)

5.(15) Minkah Fitzpatrick (Steelers)

4.(21) John Johnson III (Browns)

3.(13) Justin Simmons (Broncos)

2.(9) Marcus Williams (Saints)

1.(1) Harrison Smith (Vikings) 

Movie Review: Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

The beauty of The Hitman's Bodyguard was that it was this really pure throwback to the over-the-top buddy action comedies of the 80's and 90's (i.e. Tango & Cash, Midnight Run, The Last Boy Scout) where the entire movie was built around the odd couple chemistry between the leads and the breakneck energy in which the material was delivered with. It was the type of reasonably modest, contained affair that never felt like it was laying down the groundwork for a franchise, but alas after it made somewhat of a splash at the late summer box office in 2017, Lionsgate decided to go forward with a sequel. That sequel-boasting the appropriately preposterous title of Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard-proves to be a worthy continuation of this unlikely success story namely because it remains comfortable and confident with its identity while going through the inevitable bigger, flashier second installment motions. 

The ease in which Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard displays in returning to this world is really a credit to the continuity present within its core creative team. With everyone from the director (Patrick Hughes) to the writer (Tom O'Connor) to the central cast (Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek-who is elevated from a supporting player to a leading role for the second time) all coming back, there was an established synergy in place that allowed this production to avoid the difficult creative realignment some sequels face and just get back into the established swing of things. And since everybody was on the same page well before the cameras rolled, they could get down to what really matters: making the loudest, silliest and most obscene project they could possibly make, and they did a damn fine job of doing just that. 

Hayek's intensity and ability to sling expletives with the proper amount of natural gusto makes her a great addition to the chaotic bickering dynamic Reynolds and Jackson mastered in the previous outing (and effortlessly step back into here), Hughes brings a frenzied sense of urgency to the direction that really amplifies the sensory impact of the non-stop violent/verbal combat that takes place on screen and the way it deploys little character quirks and old school physical humor at times to spruce up its lowbrow dark sense of humor improves the hit rate of its jokes by a considerable margin. While its much less streamlined plot involving the returning trio being recruited by Interpol to thwart a terrorist attack on all of Europe after they kill the government informant (Kristofer Kamiyasu) who was initially tasked with stopping the operation and nondescript contributions from the serious newcomers (Antonio Banderas, Frank Grillo, Morgan Freeman) are enough of a stain to put it slightly below its predecessor, Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard is amusing and entertaining enough to justify continuing this slight, goofy universe.     

Grade: B

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 50 Cornerbacks

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020

50.(+) Byron Murphy (Cardinals)

49.(+) Trevon Diggs (Cowboys)

48.(+) Bashaud Breeland (Vikings)

47.(+) Cameron Sutton (Steelers)

46.(+) Donte Jackson (Panthers)

45.(+) Cameron Dantzler (Vikings)

44.(+) L'Jarius Sneed (Chiefs)

43.(+) D.J. Reed (Seahawks)

42.(11) Patrick Peterson (Vikings)

41.(33) K'Wuan Williams (49ers)

40.(35) Charvarius Ward (Chiefs)

39.(38) Malcolm Butler (Cardinals)

38.(+) Ronald Darby (Broncos)

37.(25) Janoris Jenkins (Titans)

36.(22) Shaq Griffin (Jaguars)

35.(3) Richard Sherman (Free Agent)

34.(+) Kendall Fuller (Football Team)

33.(14) Desmond King (Texans)

32.(18) Brian Poole (Free Agent)

31.(2) Casey Hayward Jr. (Raiders)

30.(47) Xavier Rhodes (Colts)

29.(30) Troy Hill (Browns)

28.(37) Mike Hilton (Bengals)

27.(41) Bradley Roby (Texans)

26.(21) Adoree' Jackson (Giants)

25.(45) Jamel Dean (Buccaneers) 

24.(34) Jonathan Jones (Patriots)

23.(42) Bryce Callahan (Broncos)

22.(12) Darius Slay (Eagles)

21.(+) J.C. Jackson (Patriots)

20.(+) Jason Verrett (49ers)

19.(17) Kyle Fuller (Broncos)

18.(6) Chris Harris Jr. (Chargers)

17.(10) Marshon Lattimore (Saints)

16.(36) Carlton Davis (Buccaneers) 

15.(26) Joe Haden (Steelers)

14.(44) William Jackson III (Football Team)

13.(+) Darious Williams (Rams)

12.(7) Steven Nelson (Free Agent)

11.(24) Denzel Ward (Browns)

10.(23) Kenny Moore (Colts)

9.(5) Byron Jones (Dolphins)

8.(43) James Bradberry (Giants)

7.(4) Marcus Peters (Ravens)

6.(8) Tre'davious White (Bills)

5.(13) Marlon Humphrey (Ravens)

4.(28) Xavien Howard (Dolphins)

3.(1) Stephon Gilmore (Patriots)

2.(9) Jalen Ramsey (Rams) 

1.(20) Jaire Alexander (Packers)

Movie Review: Awake

When Netflix launched their original film division back in the fall of 2015, their goal was to bring theatrical quality films into the homes of their subscribers. As they close in on their sixth anniversary of being in the distribution business, the dozens of Oscar nominations they've picked up and multiple new hit franchises they've bankrolled says all you need to know about how that endeavor has worked out. However, establishing a movie machine that is more or less just a modified, beefed up version of the traditional Hollywood studio model isn't all bottle popping and chest pumping. If you're mimicking the blueprint of an established successful operation down to the smallest details, the shit that doesn't work is going to stick with the same stubborn reliability as the stuff that does.

In the case of Awake, Netflix has embraced one of the major Hollywood studios worst traditions: the throwaway thriller that baits viewers in with a cool premise (a mysterious auditory event has taken away mankind's electronics and their ability to sleep) and some familiar faces (Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barry Pepper, Finn Jones, Frances Fisher, Shamier Anderson) before unleashing a flat, generic project that doesn't even have the courtesy to be bad enough to generate an emphatic negative reaction.

The biggest problem with Awake isn't even it's abundant and near instant forgettability, it's Netflix's decision to release it when they did. They've spent the entire year hyping up their massive 2021 movie slate as this groundbreaking moment for their platform and then proceed to hand out a prime June release date to a thriller that delivers so little in the way of tension, intrigue or even particularly disturbing ways to depict people losing their minds from sleep depravation that I'm not sure if it's offensive or impressive.

Even with a business model that measures success by the amount of people who press play when the logline and ear-shattering autoplaying trailer shows up on the home screen, it's completely stunning to me that the distribution team thought this was something that deserved to be released during summer movie season. Awake had completed filming roughly 6-7 months before any COVID disruptions started to take place, so there's basically no shot that this wasn't ready to be released earlier in the year (a January-April date would've been ideal for something so disposable) and I have a very hard time believing that there wasn't something else on Netflix's 824 movie slate that would've been suited to fill such a premium spot. 

Pedaling out uninspired crap like Awake that will struggle to keep the attention of even the most disengaged streaming audiences that care more about having some background noise while they scroll through their phones than being legitimately engaged by a movie or TV show is exactly why there some who question the long term viability of Netflix's operation. It's great that they are able to print money at an astronomical rate and are willing to greenlight projects that nobody else will, but when those things come at the expense of quality control and finding sensible release dates for each project they produce, they might have to reconsider how they handle their business before they start paying for their avoidable mistakes with canceled subscriptions.           

Grade: D+

Samuel L. Jackson Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted related accolades. This week, I'm profiling the endless filmography of Samuel L. Jackson-whose latest project "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard" hits theaters tomorrow.  

Samuel L. Jackson's Filmography Ranked:

55.The Legend of Tarzan (D)

54.Big Game (D)

53.Freedomland (D+)

52.The Incredibles (D+)

51.Avengers: Age of Ultron (D+)

50.The Man (D+)

49.Glass (C-)

48..xXx: State of the Union (C)

47.Unbreakable (C)

46.Oldboy (C)

45.Unicorn Store (C+)

44.Star Wars: Episode II-Attack of the Clones (C+)

43.Basic (C+)

42..xXx (C+)

41.The Spirit (C+)

40.Iron Man 2 (C+)

39.Soul Men (C+)

38.Chi-Raq (C+)

37.Captain America: The Winter Solider (C+)

36.Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace (C+)

35.Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (B-)

34.Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith (B-)

33.S.W.A.T. (B-)

32.Formula 51 (B)

31.Jumper (B)

30.Deep Blue Sea (B)

29.Spider-Man: Far from Home (B)

28.Robocop (B)

27.Shaft (2019) (B)

26.Shaft (2000) (B)

25.The Long Kiss Goodnight (B)

24.Coming to America (B)

23.The Hitman's Bodyguard (B)

22.Kill Bill: Volume 2 (B)

21.Captain Marvel (B+)

20.Snakes on a Plane (B+)

19.Kong: Skull Island (B+)

18.xXx: Return of Xander Cage (B+)

17.Black Snake Moan (B+)

16.The Avengers (A-)

15.Coach Carter (A-)

14.Die Hard with a Vengeance (A-)

13.Out of Sight (A-) 

12.Jackie Brown (A-)

11.Kingsman: The Secret Service (A-)

10.True Romance (A)

9.Juice (A)

8.The Hateful Eight (A)

7.Menace II Society (A)

6.The Other Guys (A)

5.Jurassic Park (A)

4.Do the Right Thing (A+)

3.Django Unchained (A+)

2.Goodfellas (A+)

1.Pulp Fiction (A+)

Top Dog: Pulp Fiction (1994)

The seminal entry in Quentin Tarantino's gem-filled filmography is what every movie should strive to be: something that combines clever, confident storytelling, strong acting and characters that hook the audience in with a seemingly infinite level of entertainment and rewatch value. Pulp Fiction may not be the only film that possesses this rare combination, but there's nothing else that I've seen that has had a stronger representation of these traits. 

Lowlight: The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

The Legend of Tarzan sunk the big blockbuster remake/reimagining machine to new shameless lows that arguably haven't been met since. David Yates' spectacular $180 million faceplant manages to tell an exceptionally cheesy and convoluted story that sees a now dignified King of the Jungle (Alexander Skarsgard) return to his animal-filled home to stop the treacherous plans of a treacherous Belgian diamond miner (Christoph Waltz) in the most boring way imaginable, making it a real landmark effort in the faction of cinema that doesn't want to be mistaken for something compelling or competent.  

Most Underrated: Menace II Society (1993)

As terrific as Boyz n the Hood is, its elevated status in the pop culture zeitgeist has led to the suffocation of other standout works from that era that covered similar thematic territory. Chief among these unfairly overlooked films is The Hughes Brothers astonishing 1993 debut. Menace II Society offers up one of the grimmest and unflinchingly honest depictions of  what's it like to be a black teenager growing up in a poor neighborhood in America ever put on film. It explores things like the inescapable scars that come from living in a domestic warzone, the vicious cycle of drug use, crime and violence that stem from being stuck in poverty without any real opportunity to get out of it and how some people aren't fortunate enough to get a chance to atone for the boneheaded mistakes they committed during a time in their lives where such things are to be expected in such rich, visceral detail that it should open up the eyes of plenty of individuals who still think the "American Dream" isn't a whole hell of a lot harder to achieve when you're poor and not white.    

Most Overrated: The Incredibles (2004)

Dull, unfunny and loaded with grating characters, The Incredibles is a joyless betrayal to the winning combination of charm, wit and emotional resonance that Pixar is known for.

Best Film I Forget He Was In: Goodfellas (1990)

It's a testament to Jackson's longevity and talent that's he's been able to put together such an expansive filmography that now spans five different decades. One of the great side effects of being such an in-demand actor for so long is that his appearances in certain films-particularly from the early stages of his film breakthrough-can get lost in the shuffle. For me, the biggest title that falls under that little umbrella is a humble little project called Goodfellas. While Jackson has gone on to play significantly bigger parts in movies (Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained) with comparable legacies, getting to say that you were apart of one of the most iconic crime/mob movies of all time before "making it" in Hollywood has to be really cool.   

Film That Benefited the Most from His Presence: Snakes on a Plane (2006)

The roots of modern day memes/internet shitposting can at least partially be traced back to Snakes on a Plane. There was such a steady stream of jokes floating around blogs and message boards in the weeks after this movie was formally announced during the summer of 2005 that the studio decided to capitalize on this unexpected wave of buzz by ordering reshoots that added new scenes (the "I've had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!" line that this movie is best known for was a direct result of these reshoots). There's only one reason that this project ended up living up to its insane pre-release hype and his name is Samuel L. Jackson. The dedication and joy that Jackson displays in being the engine of such a purposefully stupid project allows it to achieve the levels of B-movie fun fans hoped for when the news of its existence first surfaced online.

Strongest Case Against American Remakes of Non-English Language Films: Oldboy (2013)

If the American version of Oldboy was an original project, it would be perfectly fine. Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen turn in good-to-great performances in the leading roles and Spike Lee brings his usual supercharged energy to the director's chair that ensures things never boring. The harsh reality is that this Oldboy is nothing more than a significantly watered down and completely needless updating of a bold South Korean classic that is among the most intelligent, shocking and downright unnerving mystery thrillers ever made.

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 25 Inside Linebackers

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020  

25.(+) Denzel Perryman (Panthers)

24.(+) Tremaine Edmunds (Bills)

23.(+) Leighton Vander Esch (Cowboys)

22.(+) Cole Holcomb (Football Team)

21.(8) C.J. Mosley (Jets)

20.(15) Joe Schobert (Jaguars)

19.(13) Jordan Hicks (Cardinals)

18.(+) Devin Bush (Steelers)

17.(+) Josey Jewell (Broncos)

16.(7) Corey Littleton (Raiders)

15.(9) Benardrick McKinney (Dolphins)

14.(+) Devin White (Buccaneers) 

13.(10) Dont'a Hightower (Patriots)

12.(12) Zach Cunningham (Texans)

11.(16) Nick Kwiatowski (Raiders)

10.(14) Alexander Johnson (Broncos)

9.(11) Jayon Brown (Titans)

8.(+) Roquan Smith (Bears)

7.(19) Blake Martinez (Giants)

6.(5) Deion Jones (Falcons)

5.(23) Fred Warner (49ers)

4.(3) Demario Davis (Saints)

3.(4) Eric Kendricks (Vikings)

2.(2) Lavonte David (Buccaneers) 

1.(1) Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 35 Outside Linebackers

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020

35.(+) Dre Greenlaw (49ers)

34.(+) Nicolas Morrow (Raiders)

33.(+) Pernell McPhee (Ravens)

32.(+) Sion Tiakaki (Browns)

31.(20) Shaq Thompson (Panthers)

30.(18) Bobby Okreke (Colts)

29.(28) Harold Landry (Titans)

28.(26) Lorenzo Carter (Giants)

27.(+) Alex Highsmith (Steelers)

26.(16) Anthony Barr (Vikings)

25.(29) Jordan Jenkins (Texans)

24.(25) Tyus Bowser (Ravens)

23.(+) Hasson Reddick (Panthers)

22.(+) Jaylon Smith (Cowboys)

21.(21) Robert Quinn (Bears)

20.(+) Shaq Lawson (Texans)

19.(+) Andrew Van Ginkel (Dolphins)

18.(17) K.J. Wright (Free Agent)

17.(+) Bradley Chubb (Broncos)

16.(10) Preston Smith (Packers)

15.(14) Matthew Judon (Patriots)

14.(19) Matt Milano (Bills)

13.(7) Kyle Van Noy (Patriots)

12.(13) Jamie Collins (Lions)

11.(30) Myles Jack (Jaguars)

10.(11) Jason Pierre-Paul (Buccaneers) 

9.(22) Leonard Floyd (Rams)

8.(12) Bud Dupree (Titans)

7.(8) Darius Leonard (Colts)

6.(2) Von Miller (Broncos)

5.(3) Chandler Jones (Cardinals)

4.(9) Shaq Barrett (Buccaneers)

3.(6) Za'darius Smith (Packers)

2.(4) T.J. Watt (Steelers)

1.(1) Khalil Mack (Bears)

Rose Byrne Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out related accolades. This week, I'm profiling Rose Byrne-whose latest project "Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway" hits theaters on Friday. 

Rose Byrne's Filmography Ranked:

20.This is Where I Love You (D)

19.Sunshine (D+)

18.Insidious (D+)

17.Like a Boss (C-)

16.The Meddler (C)

15.Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (C+)

14.Adult Beginners (C+)

13.The Internship (B-)

12.Irresistible (B)

11.The Place Beyond the Pines (B)

10.Instant Family (B)

9.Spy (B)

8.Jexi (B+)

7.Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (B+)

6.X-Men: Apocalypse (A-)

5.Neighbors (A-)

4.Bridesmaids (A-)

3.28 Weeks Later (A)

2.X-Men: First Class (A)

1.Get Him to the Greek (A)

Top Dog: Get Him to the Greek (2010)

The 2010's ended up being kind of a depressing time for R-rated comedies not because of the quality of them, but because of the steady decrease in popularity that occurred during the back half of the decade that have practically relegated them to unicorn status within the current cinema landscape. One of the select number of comedies from this period that was able to establish a legacy that's at least relatively enduring is Get Him to the Greek and as far as I'm concerned, it's for a damn good reason. The Forgetting Sarah Marshall spinoff that probably wasn't expected to happen isn't just an expanded showcase for the brash rockstar Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) who ran away with several scenes in Sarah Marshall, it's a beautifully absurd, frequently hilarious satire of the music industry and the assorted nefarious characters that exist within it that hits just about every target it aims at.  

Lowlight: This is Where I Leave You (2014)

There's a special place in cinema hell for any film that wastes the talent of a deep collection of incredible actors and in my version of that fire-and-brimstone-filled purgatory, This is Where I Leave You has a prime spot. Enlisting the services of Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Kathryn Hahn and about a half dozen other widely respected performers for an overwhelmingly contrived melodrama that makes most daytime soap operas look like bastions of restrained, plausible storytelling is the type of creative malpractice that should get people indefinitely banished from the top levels of the Hollywood creative pipeline. 

Most Underrated: 28 Weeks Later (2007)

Living in the shadow of a revered cult classic is a tough fate for any movie to face and that's exactly the hand that 28 Weeks Later was dealt before the camera even began to role. While it may not be a Terminator 2-type revelation that manages to outshine the iconic original against all odds, 28 Weeks Later is an exemplary sequel that deserves far more respect then it gets. By heading in a more action-driven direction without shedding any of the raw, nerve-shredding intensity that made its predecessor such a transcendent piece of horror cinema, 28 Weeks Later is able to carve out its own wildly entertaining path to excellence.  

Most Overrated: Insidious (2011)

The stunning collapse of Insidious is something that I cite all the time when discussing movies that wasted their initial promise. Everything was going great for James Wan's movie in the early stages as the talented veteran horror director showed off his now signature knack for establishing dread-filled atmosphere. Then he went ahead and revealed the entity that has been silently terrorizing a family (Byrne, Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins) is a demon that looked like Darth Maul's cousin, and all of the established good will vanished at the speed of light. Before long, this eerie little supernatural horror tale had morphed into an unintentional comedy extravaganza courtesy of the most egregiously stupid, creatively unhinged demonic possession storyline I've ever seen in a movie. The fact that people with the established skills of Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell-who has since gone to helm some incredible projects of his own (Upgrade, The Invisible Man)-were responsible for such a drastic late game failure makes it even more stupefying and disappointing.      

Most Stunningly Sweet Crowdpleaser: Instant Family (2018) 

While Sean Anders is a writer/director whose generally been involved with projects that I've enjoyed over the years, I wouldn't exactly classify his work as positive or heartwarming. In fact, he's been at least partially responsible for some of the more cynical and obscene comedic projects (That's My Boy, Sex Drive, Horrible Bosses 2) that have been released over the past 15 years. His previous track record made his most recent effort, Instant Family, a real surprise. Despite featuring some moments where the crude slapstick humor he's known for shines through, Instant Family is predominantly a thoroughly warm, goodhearted movie about the adoption process that succeeds at being hopeful without glossing over the frustration, trust issues and sinking feeling that they're not wanted that tends to follow around kids that have spent an extensive amount of time in the foster care system.      

Biggest Missed Opportunity to Create a Special Comedy: Like a Boss (2020)

From Neighbors to Spy to Girls Trip to Keanu, Byrne and Tiffany Haddish have turned in some of the most impressive comedic performances in recent memory. Given their track records, their pairing as the leads in Like a Boss should've been enough to make it at least a pretty good comedy. Unfortunately, Byrne and Haddish were handed underdeveloped, often needlessly dramatic material that undermined their solid chemistry and occasionally successful efforts to overcome the shoddy writing and make a joke land.   

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 35 Defensive Ends

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020

35.(25) Marcus Davenport (Saints)

34.(12) Carlos Dunlap (Seahawks)

33.(+) Chase Winovich (Patriots)

32.(+) Emmanuel Ogbah (Dolphins)

31.(23) Ndamukong Suh (Buccaneers)

30.(+) Mario Edwards (Bears)

29.(+) Trey Hendrickson (Bengals)

28.(11) Justin Houston (Free Agent)

27.(18) Melvin Ingram (Free Agent)

26.(34) Derek Wolfe (Ravens)

25.(19) Yannick Ngakoue (Raiders)

24. (13) Olivier Vernon (Free Agent)

23.(+) Tyson Alualu (Steelers)

22.(+) Brain Burns (Panthers)

21.(+) Montez Sweat (Football Team)

20.(+) Carl Lawson (Jets)

19.(17) Nick Bosa (49ers)

18.(+) Jeffrey Simmons (Titans)

17.(14) Jadeveon Clowney (Browns)

16.(28) Dexter Lawrence (Giants)

15.(+) Arik Armstead (49ers)

14.(16) Jerry Hughes (Bills)

13.(+) Chase Young (Football Team)

12.(8) Danielle Hunter (Vikings)

11.(9) Trey Flowers (Lions)

10.(2) Calias Campbell (Ravens)

9.(26) Stephon Tuitt (Steelers)

8.(3) Brandon Graham (Eagles)

7.(21) Leonard Williams (Giants)

6.(4) J.J. Watt (Cardinals)

5.(6) DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys)

4.(10) Myles Garrett (Browns)

3.(7) Cameron Heyward (Steelers)

2.(5) Joey Bosa (Chargers)

1.(1) Cameron Jordan (Saints)

Quick Movie Reviews: A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella, Plan B

A Quiet Place Part II: Fair or not, there were some lofty expectations being put on A Quiet Place Part II. Not only did it have to deal with the expected pressure that comes with following up a beloved, successful film that wasn't expected to turn into a franchise, it was basically anointed as the movie that the entire studio system was banking on to re-ignite public interest in the theatrical moviegoing experience. Well, Paramount brass and their peers across Hollywood can breathe a huge sigh of relief because they hitched themselves to the right potential cinema revival pony.

The long-awaited horror sequel is a project that extols the sacred virtues of movie theaters film nerds like myself have been rambling on about at length since the experience was stripped away from society for over a year to the fullest possible extent. The way every little noise in this largely silent world slowly trickles through the booming symphony of speakers in the auditorium establishes a visceral sense of unease that never really subsides, how the big screen heightens the effectiveness of the giant monster action setpieces and of course, the undeniable power that comes from sitting in a room with a group of people that are all experiencing a suspense-and-jolt-fueled ride together makes this the commanding showcase piece theaters needed after enduring the darkness of the past 15 months.

Even if it wasn't the exact right film at the exact right moment for theaters, John Krasinski would deserve major acclaim for delivering a bigger, tenser sequel that manages to pave the way for another intrigue-filled installment without sacrificing the emotional backbone that makes A Quiet Place something more than just a cutting-edge technical showcase. If this storm that theaters are currently facing ultimately gets weathered, I hope the history books properly reflect the role A Quiet Place Part II had in saving them.   

Grade: B+

Cruella: Cruella is effectively a 70's London-set version of The Devil Wears Prada that replaces the romantic comedy elements with a spattering of crime/heist/revenge movie influences. Does that unusual mashup of genres paired with the required villain origin story beats and nods to 101 Dalmatians result in something that's extremely messy? 110%, but the slickness of Craig Gillespie's direction, perfectly-calibrated overacting from Emma Stone as the title character and Emma Thompson as the relentlessly cruel fashion tycoon who quickly becomes Cruella's arch nemesis and strong commitment to selling the flashy camp bullshit it so proudly revels in makes it a refreshingly energized, compelling foil to the depressingly soulless crap that typically comes off the Disney live action remake assembly line.   

Grade: B

Plan B: There's this absurd widespread idea that exists in the world of comedy right now that the current social/political climate that has put an increased emphasis on highlighting diversity is quickly killing the artform. After they clean the poop out of their diaper and muster up the courage to log off Twitter for a couple of hours, maybe they should go watch Plan B and see how well their pouty rants hold up. 

This buddy road trip comedy from veteran character actor Natalie Morales does what this portion of the population has deemed to be an impossible task: make a hard-R comedy that is fearless, consistent  and inspired in the delivery of its vulgar humor without ever being rooted in anything that's hateful or mean-spirited. Pair that strong humor with some pointed commentary on the immoral red tape American women face when attempting to make a decision about their own bodies -particularly in conservative areas of the country and a pair of relative unknown lead actors (Kuhoo Verma, Victoria Moroles) that handle everything from the sex gags to the heart-to-heart friendship moments with an impressively natural ease, and you have a great comedy that just might be the best original film Hulu has commissioned to date.

Grade: B+

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 35 Defensive Tackles

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020

35.(+) Raekwon Davis (Dolphins)

34.(+) Brent Urban (Cowboys)

33.(+) Derrick Nnadi (Chiefs)

32.(29) Taven Bryan (Jaguars)

31.(10) Kawann Short (Free Agent)

30.(8) Geno Atkins (Free Agent)

29.(+) Derrick Brown (Panthers)

28.(+) Jarran Reed (Chiefs)

27.(25) Michael Pierce (Vikings)

26.(+) Malik Jackson (Browns)

25.(+) Grover Stewart (Colts)

24.(+) Daron Payne (Football Team)

23.(26) Brandon Williams (Ravens)

22.(+) Sebastian Joseph-Day (Rams)

21.(+) Folorunso Fatukasi (Jets)

20.(14) Sheldon Richardson (Free Agent)

19.(18) Linval Joseph (Chargers)

18.(+) David Onyemata (Saints)

17.(20) Eddie Goldman (Bears)

16.(19) Lawrence Guy (Patriots)

15.(12) D.J Reader (Bengals)

14.(33) Poona Ford (Seahawks)

13.(11) Javon Hargrave (Eagles)

12.(+) Quinnen Williams (Jets)

11.(+) Jonathan Allen (Football Team)

10.(22) Dalvin Tomlinson (Vikings)

9.(13) Shelby Harris (Broncos)

8.(5) Akiem Hicks (Bears)

7.(17) Vita Vea (Buccaneers) 

6.(7) Kenny Clark (Packers)

5.(2) Fletcher Cox (Eagles)

4.(6) DeForest Buckner (Colts)

3.(4) Grady Jarrett (Falcons)

2.(3) Chris Jones (Chiefs)

1.(1) Aaron Donald (Rams)

2020-2021 NBA Year-End Awards

MVP: Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)

In a season where injuries and fatigue brought on by the significantly truncated offseason caused many of the league starts to underachieve, Jokic made for a massive outlier by having the clear best season of his rapidly ascending career. Jokic was an efficient, lethal swiss army knife (26.4 PPG, 56.6 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 86.8 FT%, 8.3 APG) that gracefully handled the challenge of shouldering a bigger offensive load than usual with top running mate Jamal Murray on the sideline for the bulk of the season and ultimately helped lead the Nuggets to an impressive 47-25 record without missing a single game. 

Honorable Mentions: Stephen Curry (Warriors), Joel Embiid (76ers), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert (Jazz)

Gobert is pretty much the Aaron Donald of the NBA at this point with the amount of times he's been in the running or won this award. The Stifle Tower was once again the driving force behind the Jazz's elite defense, swatting a career-best 2.7 shots per game, tying a career-best with 10.1 defensive rebounds per game and just generally making life unpleasant for anyone who tried to drive to the rim against the Western Conference's top team in 2020-21. 

Honorable Mentions: Myles Turner (Pacers), Jimmy Butler (Heat), Draymond Green (Warriors)

Most Improved Player: Zach LaVine (Bulls)

While LaVine's status as an established borderline star took him out of the running for the official NBA honor, I think that's a seriously bogus reason for disqualification. As good as LaVine has been in the past, he brought his overall game up to a whole other stratosphere this season that's worthy of mass recognition. The 25-year old made his 1st All-Star team behind a jaw-dropping campaign that saw him shatter his previous career highs by margins that range from moderately impressive to downright astounding (27.4 PPG, 50.7 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 84.9 FT%, 4.9 APG -up from 25.5, 46.7%, 38.7%,  84.2%, 4.2 respectively) despite shooting, getting to the free throw line and facilitating close to or more than ever before.  

Honorable Mentions: Julius Randle (Knicks), Michael Porter Jr. (Nuggets), Terry Rozier (Hornets)

Sixth Man of the Year: Jordan Clarkson (Jazz)

Deciding to re-up with the Jazz last offseason after being traded there from the Cavs in December 2019 has already paid dividends for Clarkson. The reliable offensive spark plug off the bench gave Utah a big scoring boost -averaging 18.4 points per game in only 26.7 minutes- and played a sneaky big role in making this offense one of the most productive units in the league (4th in points, 3rd in offensive rating).  

Honorable Mentions: Chris Boucher (Raptors), Joe Ingles (Jazz), Derrick Rose (Pistons/Knicks)

Rookie of the Year: LaMelo Ball (Hornets)

Anthony Edwards has become the frontrunner for this award in recent weeks due to Ball missing time with an injury, but I'm not in the business of giving an inefficient shooter (41.7 FG%, 32.9 3P% on just under 17 shot attempts per game) that has no other significant supporting stats whose most meaningful contribution to the league this year was some sweet dunk highlights an honor like this solely on the basis of additional playing time. Ball was an assured, sometimes dazzling passer (7.7 APG), aggressive on-ball defender (1.6 SPG) and better than advertised scorer (15.7 PPG with 43.6 FG% and 35.2 3P% ) whose absence on this surprisingly decent Hornets team was felt to the point where they fell out of the meaningful portion of the playoff picture during his 21 game late season absence. 

Honorable Mentions: Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Kings), Immanuel Quickley (Knicks)

Coach of the Year: Monty Williams (Suns)

The impact that Williams was making on this long suffering Suns squad started to be felt during their unbelievable, but ultimately anticlimactic undefeated run in the Bubble last summer. That change in attitude and playing style was really felt this season as they established themselves as one of the toughest, most complete teams in the NBA right out of the gate, and ended up snapping their 11-year playoff drought in spectacular fashion by finishing in 2nd place (51-21) in the always brutally tough Western Conference.    

Honorable Mentions: Tom Thibodeau (Knicks), Nate McMillan (Hawks), Doc Rivers (76ers)

The Conjuring Universe Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted accolades. This week, I'm profiling The Conjuring Universe ahead of the release of the latest installment "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" this Friday in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. 

The Conjuring Universe Ranked:

6.Annabelle: Creation (C-)

5.The Curse of La Llorona (C)

4.The Nun (B-)

3.The Conjuring 2 (B-)

2.Annabelle Comes Home (B)

1.The Conjuring (B+)

Top Dog: The Conjuring (2013)

Nearly 8 years after its release, The Conjuring remains the standard-setting benchmark for modern supernatural horror. Following the spectacular ball-dropping failure of Insidious, James Wan recovered gracefully with a film that possesses an incredible underlying suspense to jump scare ratio as well as a simple yet engrossing narrative that is elevated by the well-developed, likeable characters that occupy it. 

Lowlight: Annabelle: Creation (2017)

I'm still kind of blown away that David F. Sandberg followed up the pretty great and surprisingly emotionally resonant Lights Out with something as universally inept as Annabelle: Creation. The expanded origin story for the demonic doll that serves as the franchise's de facto mascot is completely absurd, the pacing is strangely sluggish for a movie in this subgenre and the attempts at scares are underwhelming at best and laugh-out-loud funny at worst (there's one scene in particular involving a supporting character being dragged into a shed at the farmhouse where the bulk of the film takes place that wouldn't have felt out of place in any entry of the Scary Movie franchise).   

Most Underrated: Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

The contained setting of the Warren family (Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson) house, its well-meaning but naïve young characters (Madison Iseman, Mckenna Grace, Katie Sarife, Michael Cimino) that inadvertently set a night of unfathomable terror into motion with their persistent curiosity and constant perilous encounters with a wide array of devious supernatural entities gives Annabelle Comes Home a really entertaining 80's funhouse vibe that makes it a refreshingly lighthearted deviation from the intricate mysterious hauntings of the main franchise.  

Most Overrated: Annabelle: Creation (2017)

Every time that I'm reminded that Annabelle: Creation is not only widely regarded as the clear best entry among The Conjuring spin-offs, but as something that's not too far of from the quality of the first two entries, I have to hang in my head in disgust. Even the pretty much wall-to-wall average The Curse of La Llorona had more storytelling juice and clever attempts to generate jolts than this generic, scare-free dud that kind of just nonchalantly exists for 110 minutes.

Top Overhated Spin-Off: The Nun (2018)

While The Nun does fall victim to the same overreliance on jump scares that has been a common thread between nearly all of the Conjuring spin-offs and features some mediocre acting from a cast (Taissa Farmiga, Demian Bichir, Jonas Bloquet) that is far more talented than what they showed here, director Corin Hardy's ability to establish a mesmerizing gothic atmosphere and the subsequent injection of ever-present gloom that it brings to this Romanian monastery-set demons vs. the Catholic Church story is enough to make The Nun a minor success.    

2021 NFL Position Rankings: Top 20 Centers

()=2020 ranking

+=Unranked or not eligible in 2020 

20.(+) Ethan Pocic (Seahawks)

19.(14) Connor McGovern (Jets)

18.(+) Trey Hopkins (Bengals)

17.(+) Austin Reiter (Free Agent)

16.(15) Mitch Morse (Bills)

15.(10) Matt Paradis (Panthers)

14.(11) Ryan Jensen (Buccaneers)

13.(3) Alex Mack (49ers)

12.(8) David Andrews (Patriots)

11.(9) Ryan Kelly (Colts)

10.(16) Chase Roullier (Football Team)

9.(12) Erik McCoy (Saints)

8.(13) Cody Whitehair (Bears)

7.(5) Ben Jones (Titans)

6.(4) Brandon Linder (Jaguars)

5.(1) Jason Kelce (Eagles)

4.(17) Frank Ragnow (Lions)

3.(6) J.C. Tretter (Browns)

2.(7) Corey Linsely (Chargers)

1.(2) Rodney Hudson (Cardinals)