Movie Review: Studio 666

Honestly, the best part of Studio 666 is the fact that it was able to actually get made. As much name recognition and cache as the Foo Fighters still possess nearly 30 years into their run as a band, getting a studio to finance and theatrically release a schlocky supernatural horror comedy where they star as themselves in a story that centers around them moving into a haunted Los Angeles mansion to record their new album isn't an easy ask. The brass at indie-adjacent distributor Open Road Films ended being the generous individuals that were on board with putting out an homage to the Foos love of heavy metal music, old rock n'roll B-movies like Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park and being goofballs into the world and I'm thankful they did because who the hell knows if or when we'll see anything like this on a big screen again.

Could Studio 666 afford a tighter script/edit that cut down on the buildup to the final act splatter-meets-slasher frenzy and got rid of the lame 2nd ending that follows the much more coherent, organic feeling conclusion that preceded it? 100%, but the band's enthusiasm for the project and litany of vintage grindhouse-inspired death scenes are too strong to get overly down about its rough spots. This was drawn up to be nothing more than a low budget goof of a movie in which the band makes some dumb jokes (often at their own expense), composes/performs some new songs that mark a pretty big stylistic departure from what they typically make and eventually gets brutally murdered by some bloodthirsty demons. Since Studio 666 features all of those things and manages to be pretty fun in the process, it's safe to say that the mission was accomplished. 

Grade: B-

Movie Review: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The reboot of Texas Chainsaw Massacre made some headlines in the entertainment world back in August 2020 when the producers fired directors Ryan and Andy Tohill after the 1st week of shooting in Bulgaria, dumped every piece of footage they shot and tapped cinematographer by trade David Blue Garcia as a last second replacement. Replacing the director mid-shoot tends to be a tell-tale sign that a production isn't going to end in the birth of a quality on screen product and surprise surprise, Texas Chainsaw Massacre didn't buck that negative trend. 

What Garcia cobbled together from the ashes of the Tohill Brothers aborted vision is a scattershot, visibly rushed mess. In fact, the film is delivered in such a manic, abridged fashion that it doesn't even feel like they were able to shoot the entire script. Everything from the commentary on gentrification to the subplot surrounding sole survivor of the 1974 original Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouere stepping in for the late Marilyn Burns) returning to Harlow to finally extract revenge against Leatherface for killing her friends 50 years earlier to the actual murder scenes all kind of just happen with no buildup, development or real direction. What's on display here is little more than 80 minutes of undeveloped, charisma-free characters dying brutal deaths and forced callbacks to the original with no cohesion or weight behind them and that's exactly the kind of lazy shit you'd expect from what is effectively the movie equivalent of somebody doing the duration of their school project an hour before it was due. There are some endearing moments on account of its largely practical gore effects that don't skimp on the nasty details, quietly breathtaking cinematography from Ricardo Diaz and absurd ending that is so abrupt and unexpected that it's kind of weirdly genius, but none of these little victories are enough to save Texas Chainsaw Massacre from being another poorly executed effort in an increasingly crappy slasher franchise. 

Grade: C-

Will Forte Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked", a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted related superlatives and accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of Will Forte-whose latest project "Studio 666" opens in theaters tomorrow.

Will Forte's Filmography Ranked:

19.Baby Mama (B-)

18.Life of Crime (B-)

17.The Watch (B-)

16.Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (B-) 

15.A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (B)

14.Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (B)

13.The Brothers Solomon (B)

12.Fanboys (B)

11.A Futile and Stupid Gesture (B)

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

9.Beerfest (B)

8.That's My Boy (B+)

7.Nebraska (B+)

6.The Lego Movie (B+)

5.Good Boys (A-)

4.Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (A-)

3.Keanu (A-)

2.Booksmart (A-)

1.MacGruber (A-)

Top Dog: MacGruber (2010)

MacGruber remaining Forte's crowning achievement nearly 12 years after its release just makes too much sense. Not only is it an incredibly funny, highly rewatchable goof on 80's action movies, it's a project/role that perfectly utilizes his manic comedic gifts and surrounds him with people (Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillipe, Maya Rudolph, Val Kilmer, Powers Boothe) that do an excellent job of playing off the relentless energy he brings to every scene he appears in.  

Lowlight: Baby Mama (2008)

Although it's likely due to a combination of my enjoyment of silly comedies and not seeing a few of the more poorly received projects he's appeared in (Rock of Ages, Scoob!, Don Verdean), it's pretty impressive that a decent comedy that's primary sin is not fully utilizing the talents of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey is my least favorite Forte movie. Not too many actors have a filmography that is dud-free in my book, so congrats Will for receiving this completely useless deceleration.     

Most Underrated: Keanu (2016)

The likely final ever on-camera live action collaboration between Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele is a delightful little whacked-out gem of a buddy comedy that has hilarious performers (Key, Peele, Forte, Method Man, Tiffany Haddish) sprinkled throughout its ensemble and some surprisingly strong action sequences.   

Most Overrated: Beerfest (2006)

Describing Beerfest as overrated feels pretty ridiculous, but this movie was discussed and quoted to such an insane degree during my first couple years of high school that I've always viewed it that way. To be fair, Beerfest is an amusing effort from the Broken Lizard crew and a notable improvement over their previous film Club Dread. However, it's way more hit or miss than Super Troopers and there were a handful of movies released that same year (Borat, Clerks II, Grandma's Boy, Talladega Nights, Accepted, Jackass: Number Two) that I find to be significantly funnier.     

Best Use of Forte's Comedic Gifts in a Small Role: Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012)

In just a few scenes worth of screentime, Forte manages to be the single best thing about the unsung absurdist comedy classic Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie. His turn as a short-tempered sword shop owner is some of his finest gonzo madman work to date and the perfect showcase for the incredible timing, delivery and commitment to selling silliness that has made him a legend in this particular subgenre of comedy.    

Best Post-90's Adam Sandler Comedy Outside of The Longest Yard: That's My Boy (2012)

While Sandler has proved himself as an elite dramatic actor over the past 2 decades, the bulk of the comedy movies that he's released from 2000 through the present day haven't been particularly good. One of the few times that he got it right came in what might be the most polarizing film in his entire catalog. That's My Boy is a huge departure in terms of tone and content as it's an R-rated comedy in which Sandler plays an absolutely vile jackass of a character and that change in delivery is a crucial part of its success. Going to vulgar, morally dubious extremes with the jokes and content of its story while also harkening back to the wall-to-wall silliness that made his 90's movies work so well gives That's My Boy a winning combination of uncharted territory and comforting familiarity that results in a steady stream of laughs.  

2021-22 NBA Midseason Awards

Top Player: Joel Embiid (76ers)

Adding James Harden to the mix will almost certainly kill Embiid's bid to be the season-league MVP, but it's hard to dismiss what he did in the 1st half of the season. Garnering more defensive attention than ever before with the voluntary absence of Ben Simmons, Embiid not only upped his game (29.5 PPG, 49.5 FG%, 36.9 3P%, 81.3 FT%, 11.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.0 SPG) but provided more opportunities for young players like Tyrese Maxey, Mattias Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton to assert themselves-which subsequently made the 76ers a deeper, more balanced team than they were over the past few years when Simmons was on the floor. 

Honorable Mentions: Steph Curry (Warriors), Demar DeRozan (Bulls), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

Top Defensive Player: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)

While Jackson's shooting stroke hasn't fully come back since returning from a torn meniscus that cost him nearly all of the 2020-21 season, he's made up for it by solidifying himself as the Grizzlies defensive anchor. The versatile big man is currently averaging a career-high 2.2 blocks, posting 1.0 steal per game for the 1st time in a non-injury shortened season and has greatly improved as an on-ball defender away from the rim.  

Honorable Mentions: Robert Williams (Celtics), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Dejounte Murray (Spurs)

Most Improved: Darius Garland (Cavaliers) 

There was some debate last season as to whether Garland's increases in statistical output were due to him actually improving as a player or simply a result of stat-padding from playing on a terrible team that routinely found themselves in non-competitive game situations. Since Garland is now an All-Star point guard on a legitimately good team, that debate has died a swift death. The 3rd year pro has been exceptional this season-averaging career highs in field goal percentage (47.7%), points (20.3) and assists (8.0) per game. Perhaps most impressively, he's done all this while being tasked with serving as the team's top scorer and facilitator and playing with 3 different starters alongside him in the backcourt (Collin Sexton, Ricky Rubio, Caris LaVert) since Opening Night in October.  

Honorable Mentions: Miles Bridges (Hornets), Desmond Bane (Grizzlies), Anfernee Simons (Trail Blazars)  

Top 6th Man: Tyler Herro (Heat)

The humbling disappointment of his 2020-21 campaign following his exceptional play in the 2020 Playoff Bubble seemed to be the best thing to happen to Herro. In year 3, Herro has accepted his role as the Heat's 6th man and really thrived in it by averaging 20 points while shooting 37.4% from deep on a career-high 6.7 attempts per game.

Honorable Mentions: Kelly Oubre Jr. (Hornets), Kevin Love (Cavaliers), Jordan Clarkson (Jazz) 

Top Rookie: Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)

Allowing Mobley to slip to the 3rd pick is something the Pistons and Rockets might end up spending the next 15 years regretting. Putting an imposing 7-foot athletic freak who can stretch the floor and swat shots at an elite level alongside a more traditional center in Jarrett Allen have given the Cavs a very dynamic big man pairing that is incredibly hard to match up against on both ends of the floor and that pairing has been instrumental to the Cavs shocking climb into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Honorable Mentions: Josh Giddey (Thunder), Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Cade Cunningham (Pistons)

Top Coach: Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies) 

Everything seems to be finally coming together for the Grizzlies this season after back-to-back disappointing play-in tournament exits and Jenkins is a huge reason why this team has shot to the top tier of the Western Conference. From the increased defensive buy-in to the handling of the rotations to the near universal improvement of the roster headlined by star point guard Ja Morant blossoming into a top 15 player in the league, Jenkins has done an incredible job of shaping a cohesive, well-balanced team that can compete with any team in the league on any given night.

Honorable Mentions: Billy Donovan (Bulls), J.B. Bickerstaff (Cavaliers), Steve Kerr (Warriors)

Movie Review: Uncharted

Through a combination of the creatives showing up and performing their duties admirably and simply existing, Uncharted manages to confirm some things that a majority of the general public, movie nerds and/or fans of the game already knew. 1: That Tom Holland guy is indeed a certified movie star in or outside of the Spider-Man suit. 2: Mark Wahlberg can play a cocky, sarcastic, but ultimately likeable asshole character pretty well. 3: Cinematographer Chung hoon-Chung (Last Night in Soho, It) has a really incredible knack for framing and capturing dazzling images. 4: Bringing Uncharted from PlayStation consoles to cinema screens just confirms that it's a B-grade Indiana Jones for a generation of people who probably aren't familiar with the iconic adventure franchise.

Does Ruben Fleischer's (Venom, both entries in the Zombieland series) film have a few tricks up its sleeves? Certainly. The big setpieces seamlessly recreate the aesthetic of a freewheeling video game where the player is frantically trying to use their wits to solve a problem or stay alive in a hostile environment, there's a major treasure hunting sequence that prominently features the name/logo of a brand that I never expected in a million years to have the capital to buy their way into a $100 million+ movie and Sophia Ali's take on an Australian accent is so strange that it took me until a few hours after I got out of the movie to realize that she was even doing an Australian accent. 

These few moments of inspiration and endearing confusion ultimately aren't enough to shake the overarching feeling that this is anything more than just a safe, competent project. While it's never boring and doesn't have any really debilitating deficiencies, the amount of kinetic energy, entertainment value and magnetic characters present in Uncharted pales in comparison to the really great adventure films (Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mummy) that it's lifted its entire playbook from. Can this issue be resolved in the next installment of the franchise that's almost certainly happening now that the film has gotten off to a strong start at the box office? Absolutely, but breaking its stock blockbuster mold is going to require a lot more imagination and passion on the page and behind the camera and that may prove to be too big of an obstacle for something that's so deeply beholden to the formula of superior movies to overcome.      

Grade: B-

Channing Tatum Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"- a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted relevant superlatives and accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of Channing Tatum-whose latest project "Dog" arrives in theaters tonight. 

Channing Tatum's Filmography Ranked:

26.Jupiter Ascending (F)

25.Havoc (D+)

24.The Dilemma (D+)

23.Haywire (D+)

22.Hail, Caesar! (C-)

21.The Eagle (C) 

20.Step Up (C+)

19.Don Jon (C+)

18.Public Enemies (B-)

17.G.I. Joe: Retaliation (B) 

16.G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra (B)

15.Stop-Loss (B)

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

13.White House Down (B)

12.The Lego Batman Movie (B)

11.Logan Lucky (B)

10.Magic Mike (B)

9.Side Effects (B)

8.Foxcatcher (B)

7.Magic Mike XXL (B)

6.Kingsman: The Golden Circle (B+)

5.The Lego Movie (B+)

4.Coach Carter (A-)

3.The Hateful Eight (A)

2.21 Jump Street (A)

1.22 Jump Street (A)

Top Dog: 22 Jump Street (2014)

21 Jump Street is a silly, subversive and consistently hilarious takedown of the entertainment industry's reboot culture that easily ranks among the funniest movies of the 2010's. 22 Jump Street adjusts its aim to sequels and somehow manages to be even better. Tatum and Jonah Hill's buddy dynamic remains a comedic grand slam, the new characters played by Jillian Bell, Wyatt Russell, Amber Stevens and Peter Stromare are all terrific fits within this snarky, charismatic ensemble and the clever meta commentary leads to huge laughs throughout.    

Lowlight: Jupiter Ascending (2015)

Given the big swings the Wachowskis have made a career taking, it was only a matter of time before one of their projects failed spectacularly. Jupiter Ascending-which sadly could prove to be the sibling's final collaborative film project as Lana directed The Matrix Resurrections by herself-ended up being that crash and burn disaster. With its nonsensical, convoluted story, a cast that seems like they're either sedated (Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean) or hopped up on several kilos of cocaine (Eddie Redmayne) and brutally slow pacing, Jupiter Ascending is an aimless mess that was excruciating to sit through.  

Most Overrated: Hail, Caesar! (2016)

The Coen Brothers followed up their most underrated triumph in Inside Llewyn Davis with one of their most overrated whiffs in Hail, Caesar! This comedy that alternates between being a love letter to and satire of early 50's Hollywood falls into the dreaded no man's land of not being conventionally funny enough to work as the former and lacking the bite to succeed as the latter.

Most Underrated: Magic Mike XXL (2015)

The possibility of producing a sequel was probably the last thing Tatum, Steven Soderbergh or anyone else involved with Magic Mike had on their minds when they made the bittersweet 2012 character drama that was loosely based on Tatum's experiences as a stripper. The only thing more surprising than a follow-up occurring was the approach they utilized for it. Magic Mike XXL makes the bold pivot from understated drama to full-blown road trip party comedy that celebrates male friendship, treating women with respect and the power of overcoming adversity in equal measure. While it doesn't have the same weight or conflict that the original had, the sheer amount of warmth, positivity and energy on display make it a better overall movie. 

Quick Movie Reviews: Moonfall, I Want You Back, Kimi

 Moonfall: It wasn't too long ago that German director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) could be relied upon to make sweeping blockbusters that were exceptionally stupid and very entertaining. His signature skills started to fade away with the poor Independence Day follow-up Resurgence back in 2016 and almost 6 years later, the ungodly awful Moonfall appears to have permanently laid them to rest. 

The ingredients for another successful Emmerich disaster pic are all right in front of him: Earth is facing a potential extinction at the hands of its own moon when it's unexpectedly knocked out of orbit and the explanation as to why gets crazier and crazier as the trio of astronauts (Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley) sent to investigate the phenomenon start to get answers. But time seems to have stripped Emmerich of the enthusiasm and feel he once had for preparing his signature dish. The endless idiocy that makes up Moonfall is delivered in such a joyless manner that it eliminates even the slightest chance of something fun occurring. Moonfall's ability to turn plot developments that are so crazy that it's hard to believe that they even appear in a real movie into the driest, dullest shit imaginable is a terrible magic trick that should've never happened in a million years under the guidance of a director that has plenty of experience of turning gleeful stupidity into irresistible entertainment. Emmerich missed an open goal by 100 miles with Moonfall and the staggering ineptitude on display throughout marks a really sad fall from grace for one of the greatest architects of big, trashy entertainment that Hollywood has seen over the past 30 years.            

Grade: D-

I Want You Back: As a streaming romantic comedy that was purposely released at a time where it could capitalize on the boom the genre inevitably receives on and around Valentine's Day, I Want You Back gets the job done. It's a pleasant, undemanding watch that is relatively funny, naturally sweet without being too corny and boasts a great lead pairing in Charlie Day and Jenny Slate who skillfully navigate both sides of the genre coin. Unflashy, competent romcoms could become a nice little tradition during this not overly riveting portion of the release calendar, so hopefully some respectable writers/directors and appealing actors with comedic chops and solid chemistry can come through and make that happen.      

Grade: B

KIMI: Unlike Steven Soderbergh's previous foray into the thriller genre (the dull and convoluted Unsane), KIMI is an energetic, paranoia-filled tale that makes the most of its contained settings and sub-90-minute runtime. Zoe Kravitz turns in a great performance as an agoraphobic tech worker who is forced to venture outside the walls of her Seattle apartment after she stumbles upon a violent crime on an audio stream she was tasked with reviewing and Soderbergh is able to effectively heighten the tension by deploying wobbly camerawork that mirrors the visible anxiety Kravitz's character is experiencing in these situations and a pulsating score from Cliff Martinez during most of the key sequences. A pretty silly final act that isn't really tonally in line with what comes before it and the half-assed attempts to provide commentary on the invasive security practices of big tech companies take away from some of the fun, but even with those shaky elements, KIMI still manages to be Soderbergh's best effort since Logan Lucky by a pretty comfortable margin.        

Grade: B

2022 NFL Mock Draft (Pre-Combine)

1.Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, tackle (Alabama)

2.Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, edge rusher (Michigan)

3.Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton, safety (Notre Dame)

4.New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge rusher (Oregon)

5.New York Giants: Ickey Ekwonu, tackle (NC State)

6.Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, quarterback (Pittsburgh)

7.New York Giants: Devin Lloyd, inside linebacker (Utah)

8.Atlanta Falcons: Charles Cross, tackle (Mississippi State)

9.Denver Broncos: David Ojabo, edge rusher (Michigan)

10.New York Jets: Derrick Stingley Jr., cornerback (LSU)

11.Washington Commanders: Sam Howell, quarterback (North Carolina) 

12.Minnesota Vikings: Sauce Gardner, cornerback (Cincinnati) 

13.Cleveland Browns: Drake London, wide receiver (USC)

14.Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, center (Iowa) 

15.Philadelphia Eagles: George Karalaftis, edge rusher (Purdue)

16.Philadelphia Eagles: Jameson Williams, wide receiver (Alabama)

17.Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Davis, defensive tackle (Georgia)

18.New Orleans Saints: Matt Corral, quarterback (Ole Miss)

19.Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, inside linebacker (Georgia)

20.Pittsburgh Steelers: Trent McDuffie, cornerback (Washington)

21.New England Patriots: Treylon Burks, wide receiver (Arkansas)

22.Las Vegas Raiders: Garrett Wilson, wide receiver (Ohio State)

23.Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Booth, cornerback (Clemson)

24.Dallas Cowboys: Trevor Penning, tackle (Northern Iowa)

25.Buffalo Bills: Kenyon Green, guard (Texas A&M)

26.Tennessee Titans: Trey McBride, tight end (Colorado State)

27.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Malik Willis, quarterback (Liberty)

28.Green Bay Packers: Jahan Dotson, wide receiver (Penn State)

29.Miami Dolphins: Drake Jackson, edge rusher (USC)

30.Kansas City Chiefs: Kalir Elam, cornerback (Florida)

31.Cinncinati Bengals: Zion Johnson, center (Boston College)

32.Detroit Lions: Chris Olave, wide receiver (Ohio State)

Super Bowl 56 Prediction

Conference Championship Record: 1-1 (Correct: Rams Incorrect: Chiefs)

Overall Playoff Record: 8-4

Cincinnati Bengals over Los Angeles Rams: In terms of real football matchups, the Rams have a significant advantage in most areas. Sean McVay knows everything his former understudy Zac Taylor is going to do on offense, Matthew Stafford is a more seasoned quarterback than Joe Burrow, the Rams offense has done a much better job of turning their redzone trips into touchdowns this postseason, Aaron Donald and Von Miller are in a great spot to feast against a shaky Bengals offensive line that surrendered 9 sacks to the Titans in the Divisional Round and finally, the game is being played in their damn home stadium. So why the hell am I picking the Bengals? Very simple: I'm a superstitious asshole that believes they're a team of destiny.

How the Bengals have been able to grind out the 3 victories that brought them to the Super Bowl is incredible. They've never been in complete control or even looked particularly impressive in any of these games, but they've played smart, taken advantage of their opponents' mistakes and showed a ton of a resiliency along the way. Heart, grit and discipline is a trio that can you take a long way in the NFL, particularly when it's paired with the talent that Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and several of the other top Bengals possess and these largely mental intangibles is the lone area where the Bengals have a notable advantage over the Rams. Ultimately, I believe those qualities will put them in a position to pull off the upset on Sunday night and if they manage to do it, they will've capped off the most unlikely title run since the Ravens raised the Lombardi in 2012. 

Owen Wilson Ranked

Welcome to "Ranked"-a weekly series where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out assorted relevant superlatives and accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of Owen Wilson-whose latest project "Marry Me" arrives in theaters and on Peacock tonight.  

Owen Wilson's Filmography Ranked:

28.The Royal Tenenbaums (D-)

27.Bottle Rocket (D)

26.The Big Year (D+)

25.Anaconda (D+)

24.Armageddon (D+)

23.Cars 2 (C-)

22.You, Me and Dupree (C)

21.Little Fockers (C)

20.Night at the Muesum (C+)

19.Drillbit Taylor (C+)

18.Zoolander 2 (C+)

17.Father Figures (B-)

16.No Escape (B-)

15.Masterminds (B-)

14.Wonder (B-)

13.The French Dispatch (B-)

12.The Internship (B-)

11.The Grand Budapest Hotel (B-)

10.Hall Pass (B)

9.Shanghai Knights (B)

8.Meet the Fockers (B)

7.I-Spy (B)

6.Starksy & Hutch (B)

5.Shanghai Noon (B)

4.Wedding Crashers (B+)

3.Midnight in Paris (B+)

2.Meet the Parents (A)

1.Zoolander (A)

Top Dog: Zoolander (2001)

I don't feel like Ben Stiller gets enough credit for all the great stuff he's been involved with over the years. In the 2000's alone, he starred in and/or directed some transcendent pieces of comedy including Tropic Thunder, Meet the Parents and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. In my eyes, the crowning achievement from Stiller's finest decade as a creative is Zoolander. There's something about its particular brand of absurdity and seeing so many incredible comedic performers (Stiller, Wilson, a pre-super stardom Will Ferrell, Ben's late father Jerry) in top form sharing the screen that makes it even more deeply hilarious and rewatchable than the other aforementioned standout Stiller comedies. 

Lowlight: The Royal Tennenbaums (2001)

Although my disdain for the work of Wes Anderson has softened considerably as of late, The Royal Tennenbaums is still a film that I hate with a fiery passion. The level of smugness and insufferable eccentricity on display in this portrait of a dysfunctional New York family is irritating to the point where even the presence of a host of magnetic, likeable actors (Gene Hackman, Wilson, Owen's brother Luke, Ben Stiller, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Danny Glover) can't soften the pain of the grating images and sounds that are beaming off the screen.

Most Underrated: Shanghai Noon (2000)

Rush Hour has and will always be recognized as Jackie Chan's most impactful American film and rightfully so as it's a fun, energetic buddy action comedy. But Shanghai Noon-which uses a similar formula to finds its success-certainly deserves more shine than it currently gets. Chan and Wilson are completely in sync as a straight man/wild card hero duo and the mix of western and Hong Kong martial arts elements is an inspired genre blend that makes it feel really unique.    

Most Overrated: The Royal Tennenbaums (2001)

What's written above pretty much sums up why I strongly disagree with the popular stance that this is one of Anderson's best films.

Top Childhood Classic That I Probably Shouldn't Re-Watch as an Adult: I-Spy (2002)

One of my favorite movie-related hobbies that's emerged in recent years is looking back at some movies that meant a lot to me as a kid that aren't exactly widely regarded as essential viewing. A top highlight from this group of distinguished late 90's to early 2000's classics is the infamous spy comedy bomb I-Spy, which stars Wilson as a government spy and Eddie Murphy as a brash boxing superstar who are forced to team up to stop the sale of a stolen stealth bomber. I watched I-Spy a handful of times from 2002-05 and it was even the first DVD I ever purchased. As amusing as it would be to revisit it after 17 years or so, I have a pretty strong suspicion that the level of joy it brought me then wouldn't translate to the present and I'd like to permanently preserve the reverence I have for this widely forgotten film that was at one point in time viewed as the death kneel for Murphy's acting career.          

A Movie That I Legitimately Forgot Existed Until Last Week: The Big Year (2011)

If you're like me and either forgot or don't what know The Big Year is, I'll break it down for you real quick. This film is a dramedy aimed at the older set that was released back in October 2011 that centers around a trio of avid birdwatchers (Wilson, Steve Martin, Jack Black) who are aiming to a set new record for "The Big Year"-which is a competition within the birding community of the United States in which competitors aim to identify and document the most birds in a calendar year. Does this setup lead to anything particularly funny or emotionally rewarding? I think the fact that I forgot that it existed despite watching it roughly 10 years ago provides a telling answer to that question. 

2021 NFL Year-End Awards and All-Pro Teams +Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Inductee Predictions

MVP: Cooper Kupp (Rams)

There was a lot of upheaval within the Rams offense over the course of the season. The running back position was a revolving door with Darrell Henderson Jr., Sony Michel and Cam Akers all earning starter reps over the course of the season, #2 wideout Robert Woods tore his ACL in mid-November, DeSean Jackson came and left by the time Halloween hit, Odell Beckham Jr. joined the team unexpectedly in November after requested a release from the Browns and Tyler Higbee and Van Jefferson Jr. saw their usage dramatically fluctuate on a weekly basis. The lone thing that Matthew Stafford could rely on every single week was that Kupp was going to go out there and play his ass off. The slot receiver extraordinaire was a reliable top target to his quarterback and consistent thorn in the side of opposing defenses as he put together one of the most dominant WR campaigns (145 REC/1,947 YDS/16 TD's-all league highs) in NFL history.      

Honorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Tom Brady (Buccaneers), Joe Burrow (Bengals)

Offensive Player of the Year: Jonathan Taylor (Colts)

If the Colts hadn't choked away their playoff spot in the final 2 weeks of the season, Taylor would've been my MVP pick. Not only did the 2nd year player from the University of Wisconsin have to solely compensate for a passing attack that was below average on a good week by muscling his way through stacked boxes nearly every time he got a backfield touch, but he also outplayed and outproduced every other back in the league (his league-leading 1,811 rushing YDS and 2,171 scrimmage YDS topped the 2nd place backs by margins of 552 and 504 YDS respectively and his 20 total TD's tied him with Austin Ekeler for the most by an RB) to a degree that is downright comical.    

Honorable Mentions: Deebo Samuel (49ers), Davante Adams (Packers), Justin Jefferson (Vikings)

Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt (Steelers)

Watt tied Michael Strahan's single sack season record of 22.5 despite only appearing in 15 games and playing with the single worst overall defense he's been a part of since entering the league back in 2017. This is the type of dumbfounding, extraordinary accomplishment that should finally earn the likely future Hall of Famer his 1st real life Defensive Player of the Year as well.

Honorable Mentions: Myles Garrett (Browns), Aaron Donald (Rams), Kevin Byard (Titans)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals)

While not without its notable low points (a well-documented slump from late October through early December, amassing 9 drops-which tied him with Keenan Allen for the most in the league), Chase shook off his brutal preseason/training camp showings and reminded the world why he was one of the most decorated receiving prospects of the past decade by establishing himself as a versatile playmaker and reestablishing the magic connection that he and Joe Burrow had at LSU at the pro level basically right away. Ultimately, his 2021 campaign (81 REC/1,455 YDS/13 TD's) was good enough to top the rookie receiving YDS and TD records his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson set in 2020, which only further highlights how incredible he was this year.    

Honorable Mentions: Creed Humphrey (Chiefs), Rashawn Slater (Chargers), Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons (Cowboys)

I'd like to use this space to formally state that I was dead wrong when I said Parsons was the most overrated player in the 2021 Draft. His ability to blow up plays in the backfield and rush the passer from both the middle linebacker spot and off the edge is simply incredible and the deployment of his unique skill set by DC Dan Quinn is a major reason why the Cowboys defense made huge strides forward after a dismal 2020.

Honorable Mentions: Jevon Holland (Dolphins), Patrick Surtain II (Broncos), Nick Bolton (Chiefs)

Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow (Bengals)

Putting together a borderline MVP-caliber season as a 2nd year player coming off a torn ACL is just absurd. Outside of some early trouble with picks (14) as he shook the rust off, Burrow was terrific (4,611 YDS, 34 TD's, a league-high 70.4 CMP% in 16 games) this season-displaying incredible poise, command and efficiency as he led the Bengals to their 1st AFC North title since 2015, 1st playoff victory since 1990 and 1st Super Bowl appearance since 1988.

Honorable Mentions: Nick Bosa (49ers), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Joe Mixon (Bengals)

Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel (Titans)

Vrabel has cemented himself as a terrific coach ever since he was hired by the Titans back in 2018, but his work this season was easily his best to date. Despite battling through historic roster turnover on account of injuries and COVD (91 players suited up for them during the regular season) and missing several key pieces including Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, Bud Dupree, Julio Jones, Taylor Lewan and Amani Hooker for extended periods during the season, he led the Titans to an AFC-best 12-5 record and a 2nd straight division title before getting knocked out by the eventual AFC Champion Bengals in a tough Divisional Round showdown. 

Honorable Mentions: Zac Taylor (Bengals), Kyle Shanahan (49ers), David Culley (Texans)

All-Pro Teams:

Quarterback:

1st Team: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

2nd Team: Tom Brady (Buccaneers)

Running Back:

1st team: Jonathan Taylor (Colts), Joe Mixon (Bengals)

2nd team: Austin Ekeler (Chargers), Nick Chubb (Browns)

Wide Receiver: 

1st team: Cooper Kupp (Rams), Davante Adams (Packers)

2nd team: Deebo Samuel (49ers), Justin Jefferson (Vikings)

Tight End:

1st team: Mark Andrews (Ravens)

2nd team: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

Tackle:

1st team: Trent Williams (49ers), Tristian Wirfs (Buccaneers)

2nd team: Rashawn Slater (Chargers), Lane Johnson (Eagles)

Guard:

1st team: Joel Bitonio (Browns), Zach Martin (Cowboys)

2nd team: Joe Thuney (Chiefs), Shaq Mason (Patriots)

Center:

1st team: Creed Humphrey (Chiefs)

2nd team: Corey Linsley (Chargers)

Defensive End:

1st team: Myles Garrett (Browns), Maxx Crosby (Raiders)

2nd team: Nick Bosa (49ers), Cameron Heyward (Steelers)

Defensive Tackle:

1st team: Aaron Donald (Rams), Christian Wilkins (Dolphins)

2nd team: Chris Jones (Chiefs), Vita Vea (Buccaneers)

Outside Linebacker:

1st team: T.J. Watt (Steelers), Darious Leonard (Colts)

2nd team: Micah Parsons (Cowboys), Robert Quinn (Bears)

Inside Linebacker:

1st team: De'Vondre Campbell (Packers), Lavonte David (Buccaneers)

2nd team: Demario Davis (Saints), Fred Warner (49ers)

Cornerback:

1st team: Jalen Ramsey (Rams), A.J. Terrell (Falcons)

2nd team: Darius Slay (Eagles), J.C. Jackson (Patriots)

Safety:

1st team: Kevin Byard (Titans), Micah Hyde (Bills)

2nd team: Marcus Williams (Saints), Antonie Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers)

Kicker:

1st team: Justin Tucker (Ravens)

2nd team: Daniel Carlson (Raiders)

Punter:

1st team: A.J. Cole (Raiders)

2nd team: Bryan Anger (Cowboys)

Return Specialist:

1st team: Braxton Berrios (Jets)

2nd team: Kene Nwangwu (Vikings)

Special Teamer:

1st team: Ashton Dulin (Colts)

2nd team: J.T. Gray (Saints)

2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Predictions:

Devin Hester, kick/punt returner, wide receiver (Teams: Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks)

Torry Holt, wide receiver (Teams: St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Richard Seymour, defensive end/tackle (Teams: New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders)

Zach Thomas, inside linebacker (Teams: Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys)

DeMarcus Ware, defensive end (Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos) 

Who I'd Vote for If I Could Cast a Ballot:

Torry Holt

Richard Seymour

Zach Thomas

DeMarcus Ware

Patrick Willis, inside linebacker (Team: San Francisco 49ers)

Movie Review: Jackass Forever

Time will eventually prevent Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and the rest of the remaining original Jackass crew from doing the dangerous and disgusting stunts that have made them some of the most beloved figures in comedy world. There's only so many medicine balls to the crotch, charges from a bull and rigged porta potty explosions that the human body can withstand before it breaks down for good, especially when the individuals participating in said activities are all currently between the ages of 45 and 53. But what the existence and content of the founding members likely swan song Jackass Forever confirms is that their brand of comedy is already timeless. 

Courtesy of a new group of cast members (Too Stupid to Die star Zach Holmes, social media daredevil Sean "Poopies" McInereny, Odd Future member/Loiter Squad star Jasper Dolphin, pro skateboarder Eric Manaka, stand-up comic Rachel Wolfson-all of whom fit in seamlessly) being collectively inspired to enter the stupid stunt business by watching these guys and the demented, idiotic genius that's once again on display in this latest round of bits, the Jackass crew have become unlikely comedic pioneers with a quietly rich legacy that should easily outlive the company of lovable idiots that built it. Not even the sad absences of the late Ryan Dunn and Bam Margera-who was fired from the production of Forever on account of his continued substance abuse problems could screw up the magic that the Jackass crew makes together. They're in the business of making themselves and audiences around the world laugh by subjecting themselves to shit that 99.99% of the global population would want no part of and neither the prolonged gap of time between movies (Jackass 3D was released in October 2010) or their now advanced age made any impact on the beautiful sense of camaraderie, slapstick wackiness and bravery that makes their comedy every bit as joyful as it is hilarious, painful and obscene. Jackass Forever is perhaps the most welcome family reunion in the history of the world, and I'm beyond thrilled that this iteration of the franchise will be able to ride off into the sunset on such a perfect note.      

Grade: A

Oscar Nomination Predictions

Some clarity on a largely murky field of contenders will finally be provided tomorrow morning when the Oscar nominations are announced. Here are the films and individuals that I believe have the best odds of competing for Oscar glory this year.

Best Picture:

Belfast

CODA

Don't Look Up

Dune

House of Gucci

King Richard

Licorice Pizza

The Power of the Dog

tick, tick...Boom!

West Side Story

Locks: Belfast, Dune, Licorice Pizza, The Power of the Dog, West Side Story

Toss-Ups: CODA, Don't Look Up, House of Gucci, King Richard, tick, tick..Boom!

Other Possibilities: Being the Ricardos, Drive My Car, The Lost Daughter, Nightmare Alley, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Worst Person in the World

Best Director:

Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza)

Kenneth Branaugh (Belfast)

Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)

Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)

Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)

Locks: Kenneth Branaugh, Jane Campion

Toss-Ups: Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Steven Spielberg

Other Possibilities: Joel Coen (The Tragedy of Macbeth) Sian Heder (CODA), Adam McKay (Don't Look Up), Guillermo del Toro (Nightmare Alley), Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), Denis Villeneuve (Dune)

Best Actor:

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)

Leonardo DiCaprio (Don't Look Up)

Andrew Garfield (tick, tick... Boom!)

Will Smith (King Richard)  

Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth)

Locks: Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Smith

Toss-Ups: Leonardo DiCaprio, Andrew Garfield, Denzel Washington

Other Possibilities: Mahershala Ali (Swan Song), Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos), Nicolas Cage (Pig), Bradley Cooper (Nightmare Alley), Peter Dinklage (Cyrano), Jude Hill (Belfast), Cooper Hofmann (Licorice Pizza), Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car)  

Best Actress:

Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye)

Lady Gaga (House of Gucci)

Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza)

Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos)

Kristen Stewart (Spencer)

Locks: Lady Gaga, Nicole Kidman

Toss-Ups: Jessica Chastain, Alana Haim, Kristen Stewart

Other Possibilities: Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter), Penelope Cruz (Parallel Mothers), Jennifer Hudson (Respect), Emilia Jones (CODA), Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World), Tessa Thompson (Passing), Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) 

Best Supporting Actor:

Mike Faist (West Side Story)

Ciaran Hinds (Belfast)

Troy Kotsur (CODA)

Jared Leto (House of Gucci)

Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog)

Locks: Ciaran Hinds, Troy Kotsur, Kodi Smit-McPhee 

Toss-Ups: Mike Faist, Jared Leto

Other Possibilities: Ben Affleck (The Tender Bar), Bradley Cooper (Licorice Pizza), Jamie Dornan (Belfast), Woody Norman (C'mon C'mon), Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog), J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos)

Best Supporting Actress:

Caitriona Baife (Belfast)

Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)

Kristen Dunst (The Power of the Dog)

Anjanue Ellis (King Richard)

Marlee Matlin (CODA)

Locks: Caitriona Baife, Ariana DeBose, Kristen Dunst

Toss-Ups: Anjanue Ellis, Marlee Matlin

Other Possibilities: Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley), Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), Judi Dench (Belfast), Ann Dowd (Mass), Dakota Johnson (The Lost Daughter), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), Ruth Negga (Passing)

Best Original Screenplay:

Being the Ricardos

Belfast

Don't Look Up

Licorice Pizza

King Richard 

Best Adapted Screenplay:

CODA

Drive My Car

The Lost Daughter

The Power of the Dog

West Side Story

Best Animated Feature:

Encanto

Flee

Luca

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Raya and the Last Dragon

Best International Film:

Drive My Car

The Hand of God

A Hero

Flee

The Worst Person in the World

Best Documentary Feature:

Flee

Procession 

The Rescue 

Summer of Soul

The Velvet Underground

Best Cinematography:

Belfast

Dune

The Power of the Dog

The Tragedy of Macbeth

West Side Story

Best Film Editing:

Belfast

Dune

Licorice Pizza

The Power of the Dog

West Side Story

Best Score:

Don't Look Up

Dune

Encanto

The French Dispatch

The Power of the Dog

Best Original Song:

"Be Alive" (King Richard)

"Dos Orguritas" (Encanto)

"Down to Joy" (Belfast)

"Just Look Up" (Don't Look Up)

"No Time to Die" (No Time to Die)

Best Costume Design:

Cruella

Dune

House of Gucci

Nightmare Alley

West Side Story

Best Production Design:

Dune

The French Dispatch

Nightmare Alley

The Tragedy of Macbeth

West Side Story

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:

Cruella

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Dune

House of Gucci

West Side Story

Best Sound:

Dune

No Time to Die

A Quiet Place Part II

tick, tick...Boom!

West Side Story

Best Visual Effects:

Dune

Godzilla vs. Kong

The Matrix Resurrections

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Best Animated Short:

Only a Child

Robin Robin

Step Into the River

Us Again

The Windshield Wiper 

Best Documentary Short:

Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker 

The Queen of Basketball

Three Songs for Benazir 

Terror Contagion 

When We Were Bullies 

Best Live Action Short:

Censor of Dreams

Frimas

The Long Goodbye

Tala'vision 

When the Sun Sets

Halle Berry 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 Halle Berry-whose latest project "Moonfall" hits theaters tonight. 

Halle Berry's Filmography Ranked:

20.Catwoman (F)

19.Kings (D-)

18.Die Another Day (D)

17.Movie 43 (D)

16.The Flintstones (D+)

15.New Year's Eve (D+)

14.Kidnap (C-)

13.Bruised (C)

12.Robots (C+)

11.X-Men: The Last Stand (B-)

10.Bulworth (B-)

9.X-Men (B)

8.The Call (B)

7.Monster's Ball (B)

6.Swordfish (B+)

5.Kingsman: The Golden Circle (B+)

4.The Last Boy Scout (A-)

3.X2: X-Men United (A)

2.X-Men: Days of Future Past (A)

1.John Wick-Chapter 3: Parabellum (A)

Top Dog: John Wick-Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019)

Parabellum became an unexpected touch the sun moment for the John Wick franchise because it managed to do the seemingly impossible: greatly improve an already terrific product. How did it achieve this? Simple: It upped the ante on the creativity and consistent quality of its signature elaborate action sequences, brought in some amazing new characters (Berry's Sofia, Mark Dacascos' Zero, Asia Kate Dillon's The Adjudicator, Anjelica Huston's The Director) and ended with a bonkers plot twist that set up an epic showdown for the franchise's (reportedly) final two films. 

Lowlight: Catwoman (2004)

This is something that I haven't declared too often on the internet or in real life, so here it goes: Catwoman is easily the worst movie I've ever seen. With its brutally slow pacing, completely incoherent storytelling, abysmal acting from people that really shouldn't be stooping so low (Berry, Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt, Frances Conroy, Alex Borstein) and gratuitously frantic editing that induces a headache faster than consuming a bottle of Merlot, Pitof has assembled a fecal fortress so vast and endlessly stinky that it deserves to be preserved in the National Film Registry so future generations of Americans will always a tutorial on how not to make a movie available to them.   

Most Overrated: N/A

The bizarre, hot and cold structure of Berry's career has made her immune to appearing in overrated films. Whether it was via her own questionable decision-making or Hollywood just only offering her garbage to star in at various points of her career, she's appeared in a number of really awful movies (Movie 43, Kings, Die Another Day, New Year's Eve, The Flintstones) that have earned their terrible reputations. At the same time, her most popular/acclaimed work (the X-Men movies, John Wick 3, Monster's Ball) are projects that I enjoyed to varying degrees and there's also some effective-if not notably underrated genre movies (The Call, Swordfish) buried between her more widely recognized hits and whiffs.  

Most Underrated: The Last Boy Scout (1991)

While The Last Boy Scout might be needlessly convoluted for an adrenaline-fueled buddy action comedy, that doesn't prevent it from the being arguably the most slept-on gem from the genre's golden era of the late 80's to early 90's. Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans have an organic-feeling combative rapport that makes them the ideal reluctant buddy pairing, Taylor Negron's performance as primary antagonist Milo is a master class in over-the-top cartoonish villainy, Shane Black's writing is at its cynical, snarky peak and the late Tony Scott directs with the gloriously chaotic flare that made him a beloved cult figure in the action/thriller space.  

Biggest Major Franchise Embarrassment: Die Another Day (2002)

Pierce Brosnan's largely well-liked tenure as James Bond ended on about as poor of a note as it possibly could've. Die Another Day makes the fatal mistake of going too far down into the cartoonish Bond movie rabbit hole and it results in something that's overwhelmingly corny and cheap looking without being even remotely fun. 

The Potential Springboard to Dramatic Acting Stardom That Inexplicably Led to Nothing: Monster's Ball (2001)

Just a hair over 20 years ago, Berry won an Oscar for her performance as Leticia Musgrove in Monster's Ball. Her work as a widow who develops an unexpected relationship with the prison guard (Billy Bob Thornton) who aided in the execution of her convicted murderer husband (Sean Combs) is vulnerable, powerful and absolutely gut-wrenching. Being showered with awards for a career-defining performance is something that usually brings about many more exciting challenges and opportunities for an actor. For Berry, this somehow never happened.  

Was she denied this chance to become a widely decorated performer because she was a black woman entering her late 30's at a time where discrimination on a race and age basis was even more widespread than it is currently or just an example of her picking a few notoriously bad projects to lead in the immediate aftermath of the win (Die Another Day, Gothika, Catwoman) that subsequently squandered much of the good will she picked up from it? More than likely, it was some combination of the two and that just isn't fair. Even today as her career is trending upwards again, she hasn't received the type of dramatic vehicle that features the quality of material necessary to show off the full extent of her range and ability in quite some time. Maybe Berry's upcoming Netflix sci-fi drama The Mothership from Bridge of Spies writer Matt Charman will prove to be the next serious acting showcase for her and if it isn't, hopefully she'll finally receive that long overdue opportunity sometime in the near future.       

Movie Review: Home Team

It's super bizarre that the at least somewhat true story of Sean Payton joining the coaching staff of his estranged son's pop warner team in Texas during his season-long NFL suspension for his role in the Saints Bountygate scandal back in 2012 got turned into an Adam Sandler-backed family comedy that stars basically all of his friends (Rob Schneider, Taylor Lautner, Kevin James-who plays Payton) and relatives (wife Jackie, nephew Jared, brother-in-law Christopher Titone) that are struggling to find work elsewhere now. In a development that shouldn't really come as a shock, Home Team really isn't any less weird in practice. Depending on the scene, the film is either a cheesy 90's sports movie a la The Mighty Ducks or The Big Green, a sort of sweet story about a father and son reconnecting after a significant amount of time apart or a below average Sandler/James/Schneider/Spade gross-out slapstick comedy from 2 decades ago with really lazy jokes that have aged as well as Ron Burgundy's cheese wheels. 

What's perhaps even weirder is that despite its jarring mishmash of genres and generally poor attempts at comedy is that Home Team isn't exactly a terrible product. James is at his most likeable as a version of Payton that is eager to reconnect with his son and get the opportunity to still coach football during his time way from the NFL, the kid actors do a pretty decent job of selling the goofball underdog dynamic and the actual sports sections of the story are reasonably compelling. Considering the messiness of its setup and how low the quality floor of a James/Schneider/Lautner project can go, Home Team materializing as an average film with multiple redeeming qualities should be viewed as a minor triumph akin to when a bad football team puts together a stronger than expected performance in a loss against a much better opponent. 

Grade: C

Movie Review: The Fallout

Directing your first film is a hell of an undertaking, particularly for an actor by trade whose preparation for the gig mostly consisted of observing how the projects they've worked on are made. Megan Park-best known for her roles in the popular teen drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager and the indie romantic comedy What If?-decided to up the level of difficulty by also handling the writing duties and making a film about a group of teenagers dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting. To her credit, Park handles this tough task with a level of grace and skill that would be admirable for a veteran filmmaker, let alone a first-time feature director.

The most welcome element of The Fallout is how understated the storytelling is. By approaching things from a raw, human level, Park is able to focus on the psychological and social effects of the aftermath and avoid the contrived melodramatic trappings that many less capable filmmakers would've gladly embraced. The script takes into account that no two people are going to process the event the same way and why that's a natural, acceptable response to a traumatic situation while also making some really thoughtful observations about how the shocking horrors of the act itself and the public discourse that follows can effectively erase the memories of the people that lost their lives because of it and the parents of the survivors feel kind of helpless since they can't relate or fathom what their child is going through in that moment. School shooting films are practically guaranteed to become more prevalent in the future as people (especially in the United States) continue to grapple with these senseless tragedies on an alarmingly regular basis and I really hope that the bulk of them will approach the subject with a similar level of nuance and compassion as The Fallout does.  

However, Park's handling of the subject proves to be a double-edged sword. Despite being a very conscious creative choice that mirrors the protagonist Veda's (Jenna Ortega-further bolstering her ascending stardom and impressive range with a haunting, uniquely commanding performance) emotional state, there's a certain numbness present in the scenes between the shooting sequence early in the film and the final moments where all of her suppressed feelings come rushing out in an explosion of profound sadness and grief that undercuts some of the story's potentially abundant emotional power.

Veda's response to the events is to effectively cut certain people off (her parents and younger sister-who are brilliantly portrayed by Julie Bowen, John Ortiz and Lumi Pollack respectively and best friend Nick- played by Will Ropp-who has become a David Hogg-like advocate for gun law reform in the weeks following the shooting) and developing deep, empathy-filled connections with the two people that she hid in a bathroom stall (Maddie Zeigler, Niles Fitch) with during the shooting. As easy as it to empathize and understand where Veda is coming from, this approach doesn't exactly make for the most emotionally resonant cinema. Whether it's through her interaction with others or solo moments of reflection, there's a heavy volume of scenes here that portray a feeling of distance and uncertainty that fail to capture the full burden of what Veda and her peers are going through. To be completely fair to Park, portraying the process of trying to comprehend such a brutally specific brand of trauma and grief by having someone behave in a cold, stoic fashion is the most authentic, respectful way to explore this topic-especially when it's being told through the eyes of someone who's in the middle of their formative years as a human being-that doesn't really have a feasible alternative. I'm going to have to revisit this at some point before year's end to see if having the complete knowledge of Park's approach going in causes it to become a more striking and powerful piece of work.

The Fallout marks a very rare instance where I honestly feel bad that a film didn't connect with me more. It's an intelligent, thoughtful film that was made with great care and respect about a subject matter that is incredibly difficult to tackle in such a way. And yet that same raw, realistic approach is what ends up limiting its emotional impact. Even if my muted yet admiration-filled response to the film doesn't change over time, The Fallout is something that people really need to see and hopefully they will head over to HBO Max to check it out very soon.    

Grade: B