Nicolas Cage Ranked

Welcome to the latest edition of "Ranked"-where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out related accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of Nicolas Cage-whose latest project "Willy's Wonderland" hits VOD services on Friday.

Nicolas Cage's Filmography Ranked:

26.Adaptation. (D-)

25.Next (D)

24.Season of the Witch (D)

23.Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (D+) 

22.Windtalkers (C-)

21.Ghost Rider (C)

20.Teen Titans! Go to the Movies (C+) 

19.Red Rock West (B-)

18.Primal (B-)

17.The Croods (B-)

16.Color Out of Space (B-)

15.Leaving Las Vegas (B-)

14.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (B)

13.Snowden (B)

12.Mom and Dad (B)

11.National Treasure (B)

10.Drive Angry (B)

9.National Treasure: Book of Secrets (B+)

8.Lord of War (B+)

7.Gone in 60 Seconds (B+)

6.Face/Off (B+)

5.Raising Arizona (B+)

4.The Rock (B+)

3.Con Air (A-)

2.Mandy (A)

1.Kick-Ass (A)

Top Dog: Kick-Ass (2010)

Matthew Vaughn provided the world with the first mainstream R-rated "superhero" movie back in 2010 and nearly 11 years later, nothing from the subsequent surge of films that meet that criteria has been able to match the brilliance of Kick-Ass. With its darkly comedic snark, morally dubious yet highly entertaining characters and brutal action scenes, Vaughn created a colorful, grime-ridden world where vigilante heroes and maniacal unchecked criminal figures are able to thrive together in beautifully chaotic harmony.    

Lowlight: Adaptation. (2002)

Adaptation. is the type of smug, self-satisfied arthouse garbage that could've only come from the mind of someone with the ego and inflated view of their own intelligence that film snob god Charlie Kaufman possesses. Everything from the meta elements about the difficulties of adapting a screenplay from someone else's work down to the nose-thumbing at perceived "lesser" genres like thrillers that drives the latter portion of the movie is so relentlessly masturbatory that it made me want to vomit and somehow get in touch with Kaufman just so I could personally tell him to fuck off for being such a condescending prick.        

Most Underrated: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

The final entry in Cage's delightful action blockbuster run of the late 90's/early 2000's is a borderline classic piece of dumb fun with great car chases/heist sequences, wall-to-wall energy and a plethora of game performances from talented performers (Giovanni Ribisi, Angelina Jolie, Delroy Lindo, Chi McBride, Timothy Olyphant, Will Patton, Robert Duvall, Christopher Eccleston, Vinnie Jones) who knew exactly what type of movie Gone in 60 Seconds was aiming to be.

Most Overrated: Adaptation. (2002)

Charlie Kaufman is a pretentious clown and this self-absorbed shitpile of a movie represents him at his most insufferable.  

Most Nicolas Cage-Friendly Movie: Mandy (2018)

It's no secret that Cage has a tendency to seek out the wildest projects possible, but even for an actor with a filmography where nuttiness is the norm-Mandy stands out. Part surrealist romance, part revenge/vigilante splatterfest,-Mandy is a singularly bonkers movie elevated by Cage's ability to tackle unhinged rage and quiet moments of visible grief with equal proficiency, stunning psychedelic visuals that adds a layer of visceral beauty to a story that's overflowing with grotesque ugliness and a dread-filled score from the late Johan Johannsson that complements the insanity on screen perfectly.          

Greatest 90's Action Movie: Con Air (1997)

Con Air sincerely may be the greatest piece of big budget B-action insanity ever made. The plot is an absurd, tongue-in-cheek masterpiece (a group of dangerous inmates hijack the plane they're being transferred to a new supermax prison on), the primary actors (Cage, John Malkovich, John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, Colm Meaney, Danny Trejo, M.C. Gainey, Mykelti Williamson) deliver nothing but flawless overacting and above all, the insanely over-the-top highlight reel moments that makes types of movies so fun hit with impressive frequency until the credits roll. 

Movie That Was in Desperate Need of More Cage Mania: Next (2007)

The synopsis for Next reads like the perfect bonkers Cage movie: A small-time Las Vegas magician (Cage) who can see 2 minutes into the future is tasked by an FBI agent (Julianne Moore) to foil a Russian terrorist syndicate from detonating a nuclear weapon in downtown Los Angeles. To put it lightly, the potential of that nutso premise isn't even close to being fully realized. Next is a sloppy, overly serious movie with a bafflingly stoic turn from Cage and far too prominent of an emphasis on a corny romantic subplot involving a woman (Jessica Biel) Cage's character is forced to track down that derails any chance of fun arriving on the scene to liven up this dull mess.

2021 NFL Mock Draft (Post Super Bowl/Pre-Combine)

 1.Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, quarterback (Clemson)

2.New York Jets: Zach Wilson, quarterback (BYU)

3.Miami Dolphins: Penei Sewell, tackle (Oregon)

4.Atlanta Falcons: Gregory Rousseau, edge rusher (Miami)

5.Cincinnati Bengals: Micah Parsons, inside linebacker (Penn State)

6.Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Farley, cornerback (Virginia Tech)

7.Detroit Lions: Ja'Marr Chase, wide receiver (LSU)

8.Carolina Panthers: Justin Fields, quarterback (Ohio State)

9.Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II, cornerback (Alabama)

10.Dallas Cowboys: Kyle Pitts, tight end (Florida)

11.New York Giants: DeVonta Smith, wide receiver (Alabama)

12.San Francisco 49ers: Jaycee Horn, cornerback (South Carolina)

13.Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, tackle (Northwestern)

14.Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, tackle (Virginia Tech)

15.New England Patriots: Trey Lance, quarterback (North Dakota State)

16.Arizona Cardinals: Levi Onuwuzurlike, defensive tackle (Washington)

17.Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, inside/outside linebacker (Notre Dame)

18.Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle, wide receiver (Alabama)

19.Washington Football Team: Mac Jones, quarterback (Alabama)

20.Chicago Bears: Allijah Vera-Tucker, tackle (USC)

21.Indianapolis Colts: Kadarius Toney, wide receiver (Florida)

22.Tennessse Titans: Zavean Collins, inside linebacker (Tulsa)

23.New York Jets: Najee Harris, running back (Alabama)

24.Pittsburgh Steelers: Carlos Basham Jr., edge rusher (Wake Forest)

25.Jacksonville Jaguars: Kwity Paye, defensive tackle (Michigan)

26.Cleveland Browns: Azezz Ojulari, inside linebacker (Georgia)

27.Baltimore Ravens: Rondale Moore, wide receiver (Purdue)

28.New Orleans Saints: Kyle Trask, quarterback (Florida)

29.Green Bay Packers: Nick Bolton, inside linebacker (Missouri)

30.Buffalo Bills: Jalean Phillips, edge rusher (Miami)

31.Kansas City Chiefs: Christian Barmore, defensive tackle (Alabama)

32.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rashod Bateman, wide receiver (Minnesota)

Movie Review: Malcolm & Marie

A car pulls into the driveway of a scenic, secluded home on a quiet summer evening. Cut to the inside of the house where Malcolm (John David Washington)- an up-and-coming director-is pouring himself some celebratory drinks after the successful premiere of the acclaimed movie that seems set to launch him into superstardom while his girlfriend Marie (Zendaya)-seeming dejected and distant-quietly opens the screen door to smoke a cigarette then offers to make her very drunk partner some macaroni and cheese. After listening to Malcolm continue to indulgently soak up the praise he was receiving and discuss what his next move will be as a filmmaker will be now that's he "made it", Marie reveals that she's upset with him after he failed to thank her when he took the stage after the screening despite the fact that protagonist in his movie seems to based on her and the mood suddenly shifts from jubilation to to combative as the couple's long hidden gripes boil over to the point where they're forced to evaluate the status of their relationship. This is the simple yet tense stage writer/director Sam Levinson (best known for HBO's Euphoria) sets for the claustrophobic relationship drama Malcolm & Marie and, thanks to his sharp pen/direction and a pair of incredible performances from the perfectly cast actors, he creates an eerily effective snapshot of a young couple's volatile relationship that may or may not be able to survive long term.

Using a real time-style narrative that takes place in one setting is the greatest weapon that Malcolm & Marie has. With the post-opening credit establishing shots that slowly pan from outside the first floor windows of the rented home they're staying at that, the audience gets an immediate taste of the two very different emotional spaces the couple are in after the premiere. As the camera shifts from Malcolm's euphoric smiling and dancing to Marie's quiet anger, it's clear that the energy in the room is combustible and once Marie finally confronts Malcolm after she finishes her much-needed reflective smoke break, the odds of this night ending on a positive note for either party officially go down to zero. 

While there are unsurprisingly some asides that are only going to apply (ex: Malcolm's vitriol-fueled rant towards critics after reading one of the initial reviews for his movie and their debates about the importance of authenticity in art) to conversations between people that work in the industry (Marie is an aspiring actress who hasn't booked any significant gigs to date), there's a certain combative rhythm and slowly escalating ugliness to the conversation that should feel familiar to anyone that's participated in or observed a prolonged argument between a couple during their lives. 

What starts as a petty, seemingly small disagreement over a small action eventually morphs into a brutal verbal cage match that blows the fucking lid off of whatever long-buried issues the two people have with each other. Both parties are actively preying on the egos, insecurities and past mistakes of the other in order to inflict as much as emotional pain on the other person as humanly possible. It's the type of knock down drag out, empty the whole clip confrontation where even the moments of silence are laced with anger and the brutal sting of the wounds they've been inflicting on each other for hours, and the future of the relationship immediately comes into question. As exhausting and occasionally indulgent as watching a 105-minute argument between two people that are frequently showing off the worst of themselves can be to watch, bringing this common life event to the screen in such excruciatingly vivid, lifelike detail is the type of towering accomplishment that solidifies Zendaya, Washington and Levinson as fearless masters of their respective crafts.      

Grade: A-

Super Bowl 55 Prediction

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

Overall Record: 8-4

Kansas City Chiefs over Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 

Heading into Super Bowl 55, all of the momentum is trending towards the Bucs. They have the unprecedented luxury of playing the Super Bowl in their home stadium, their defense-which is coming off back-to-back strong performances-has increased odds of being able to contain the Chiefs explosive offense now that left tackle Eric Fisher is out of the lineup and the already hungry Tom Brady has extra motivation to show out after posting a 3 INT 2nd half against the Packers that could've cost his team the game.

While I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the Bucs were able to capitalize on all of those advantages, I still believe in the Chiefs too much to pick against them. They've lost just 1 game where their starters weren't resting since November 2019, the back end of their defense doesn't have a blatant weak link like Kevin King that Brady can consistently exploit all game long and most importantly, they've won games in every way imaginable this season-which gives them the adaptability required to overcome the potential offensive limitations they'll have with a reshuffled o-line. Knocking off a Brady-lead team with a pretty strong defense that's been playing near their peak of late isn't going to be easy and it's likely going to come down to the 4th quarter, but Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the other key leaders of this Chiefs team (Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Tyrann Mathieu, Tyreek Hill) have the mental grit to head into the lion's den and beat the greatest champion the NFL has ever seen.   

 

2020 NFL Year-End Awards and All-Pro Teams+ 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame Predictions

MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

The Packers selecting Jordan Love in the 1st round of last year's draft proved to be one hell of a motivational tool for Green Bay's longtime franchise quarterback. Rodgers worked his ass off to put together what very well could've been the most efficient, confident and downright dominant season of his illustrious career thus far-finishing the regular season with 4,299 passing YDS, 48 TD's (a career high) 5 INT's, a 70.7 CMP% (also a career high) and a 121.5 QBR.   

Honorable Mentions: Josh Allen (Bills), Derrick Henry (Titans), Aaron Donald (Rams)

Offensive Player of the Year: Deshaun Watson (Texans)

If Watson wasn't on a 4 win team, he would've been battling Rodgers and Josh Allen for MVP. What he was able to do this season with a wretched offensive line, revolving door at wide receiver (Brandin Cooks-who only missed 1 game with injury-was the only WR to appear in more than 11 games this season), largely nonexistent running game (31st in the league) and a league-worst defense that frequently undercut his big time play was nothing short of astonishing. Watson posted an absurd 4,823 YDS, 70.2 CMP%, 33 TD's and 7 INT's (a career low) while only throwing 544 times in 16 games (10th most in the league). Any organization would be lucky to have such a dynamic talent as their quarterback and the Texans should be disgusted with themselves that they managed to rapidly piss away their relationship with the only great QB they've ever had.  

Honorable Mentions: Derrick Henry (Titans), Davante Adams (Packers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald (Rams)

Even in an "off year", Donald was able to maintain his reign as the best defensive player in football. He continued to blow up plays in the backfield (14 TFL's, 45 total tackles), get after the quarterback (13.5 sacks/28 QB hits) and consistently open up holes for his teammates to get sacks/TFL (Leonard Floyd, Morgan Fox and Troy Reeder all had career best years) at an exceptionally high clip-which was essential in helping the Rams become the league's best defense in 2020.  

Honorable Mentions: T.J. Watt (Steelers), Jaire Alexander (Packers), Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Justin Herbert (Chargers)

A freak incident involving a botched pregame pain injection that took veteran gap starter Tyrod Taylor out of the lineup with a punctured lung forced Herbert onto the field much earlier than expected (Week 2 to be exact) and the kid absolutely seized the opportunity. Shattering several rookie records including TD passes (31) and most consecutive games with multiple TD passes (7), Herbert's combination of poise under pressure, better than expected accuracy and ability to make difficult throws that rookie don't tend to make made him a much-needed bright spot on a Chargers team that was plagued by poor coaching, an embarrassing lack of discipline and some of the worst offensive line/special teams play you'll ever see on an NFL team. If new head coach Brandon Staley can clean up the stupid penalties they committed under Anthony Lynn and he can get even some semblance of protection from the group upfront, there's no reason to believe that Herbert isn't capable of becoming one of the best QB's in the league within the next few years.     

Honorable Mentions: Justin Jefferson (Vikings), James Robinson (Jaguars), Jonathan Taylor (Colts)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Chase Young (Washington Football Team)

All of the hype surrounding Young coming into the league proved to be completely justified. The #2 overall pick in the draft commanded the type of attention typically reserved for the best edge talent in the league right away and still managed to consistently impress by flashing elite playmaking ability (42 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 10 TFL's, 12 QB hits, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 passes defensed and a TD in just 14 full games) that gave Washington the type of multi-faceted wrecking ball they desperately needed up front. 

Honorable Mentions: Antoine Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers), L'Jarius Sneed (Chiefs), Kamren Curl (Washington Football Team)  

Coach of the Year: Kevin Stefanski (Browns)

While certified clown Freddie Kitchens wasn't exactly a tough act to follow, Stefanski impressed right away by bringing in a strong offensive system, overhauling the culture and establishing the strong, disciplined work ethic that evaded them during their ugly 2019 campaign that resulted in the Browns ending their league-leading 19-year playoff drought and more importantly, instilling a warranted sense of optimism for this team for the first time since they re-entered the league in 1999.

Honorable Mentions: Brian Flores (Dolphins), Sean McDermott (Bills), Ron Rivera (Washington Football Team)

Comeback Player of the Year: Jason Verrett (49ers)

In an ironic twist of fate, the oft-injured Verrett-who only played in 6 total games from 2016-19 after dealing with season-ending Achilles, ankle and a pair of knee ailments in consecutive seasons-stepped up big for a depleted 49ers squad by starting in the final 13 games of the year for them and reminded the world why he was once regarded as one of the best young corners in the league during his time with the Chargers by finishing the season grading out as a top 10 corner in the league according to Pro Football Focus. 

Honorable Mentions: Aldon Smith (Cowboys), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Alex Smith (Washington Football Team) 

All-Pro Teams

Quarterback
1st team: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

2nd team: Josh Allen (Bills)

Running Back

1st team: Derrick Henry (Titans), Dalvin Cook (Vikings)

2nd team: Alvin Kamara (Saints), Aaron Jones (Packers)

Wide Receiver 

1st team: Davante Adams (Packers), Stefon Diggs (Bills)

2nd team: DeAndre Hopkins (Cardinals), Tyreek Hill (Chiefs)

Tight End

1st team: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

2nd team: Darren Waller (Raiders)

Tackle

1st team: Garett Bolles (Broncos), Jack Conklin (Browns)

2nd team: David Bakhitiari (Packers), Ryan Ramcyzk (Saints)

Guard

1st team: Quenton Nelson (Colts), Wyatt Teller (Browns)

2nd team: Ali Marpet (Buccaneers), Shaq Mason (Patriots)

Center

1st team: Corey Linsley (Packers)

2nd team: Frank Ragnow (Lions)

Defensive End

1st team: Myles Garrett (Browns), Leonard Williams (Giants)

2nd team: Chase Young (Washington Football Team), Joey Bosa (Chargers)

Defensive Tackle

1st team: Aaron Donald (Rams), DeForest Buckner (Colts)

2nd team: Cameron Heyward (Steelers), Chris Jones (Chiefs)

Outside Linebacker

1st team: T.J. Watt (Steeler), Khalil Mack (Bears)

2nd team: Hasson Reddick (Cardinals), Za'Darius Smith (Packers)

Inside Linebacker

1st team: Bobby Wagner (Seahawks), Fred Warner (49ers)

2nd team: Lavonte David (Buccaneers), Blake Martinez (Giants)

Cornerback

1st team: Jaire Alexander (Packers), Xavien Howard (Dolphins)

2nd team: Jalen Ramsey (Rams), Darious Williams (Rams)

Safety

1st team: Jessie Bates (Bengals), John Johnson III (Rams)

2nd team: Justin Simmons (Broncos), Marcus Maye (Jets)

Kicker

1st team: Jason Sanders (Dolphins)

2nd team: Younghoe Koo (Falcons)

Punter

1st team: Jake Bailey (Patriots)

2nd team: Jack Fox (Lions)

Return Specialist

1st team: Cordarrelle Patterson (Bears), Gunner Olzewski (Patriots)

2nd team: Andre Roberts (Bills), Jakeem Grant (Dolphins)

Special Teamer:

1st team: Matthew Slater (Patriots)

2nd team: George Odum (Colts)

NFL Hall of Predictions (*indicates a lock)

Alan Faneca, guard (Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers/New York Jets/Arizona Cardinals)

Peyton Manning*, quarterback (Teams: Indianapolis Colts/Denver Broncos)

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

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

Charles Woodson*, cornerback/safety (Teams: Oakland Raiders/Green Bay Packers)

Who I Would Voted for if I Had a Ballot:

Alan Faneca

Calvin Johnson, wide receiver  (Team: Detroit Lions)

Peyton Manning

Zach Thomas

Charles Woodson

Pixar Ranked

Welcome to the latest edition of "Ranked"-where I rank a franchise or filmography from worst to best and hand out related accolades. This week, I'm profiling the work of animation juggernaut Pixar.

Pixar's Filmography Ranked:

Haven't seen: Cars, Cars 3, The Good Dinosaur, Incredibles 2  

19.The Incredibles (D+)

18.Cars 2 (C-)

17.A Bug's Life (C-)

16.Onward (C)

15.Inside Out (C)

14.Wall-E (C)

13.Brave (B-)

12.Monsters University (B)

11.Finding Dory (B)

10.Ratatouille (B)

9.Finding Nemo (B)

8.Toy Story 2 (B+)

7.Toy Story 4 (A-)

6.Monsters Inc. (A-)

5.Up (A-)

4.Coco (A-)

3.Soul (A)

2.Toy Story 3 (A)

1.Toy Story (A+)

Top Dog: Toy Story (1995)

It's not a particularly astute or original observation to note that Pixar has amassed an impressive filmography that is full of beloved titles that have gone onto become classics. Of the many gems they've mined over the years, their inaugural film still shines brightest to me. While nostalgia unquestionably plays a role in my admiration for it, Toy Story is mostly so special because it cemented the Pixar formula of constant laughs, stunning visuals and a huge heart within a story that appeals to kids and adults alike and to date, has done it better than anything else they've put out.    

Lowlight: The Incredibles (2004)

I'm well aware that not liking The Incredibles is a wildly unpopular take since it's been firmly established as one of Pixar's beloved films for at least 15 years. To me, The Incredibles marks the only occasion to date where Pixar got literally nothing right on a project. It basically just takes the hallmarks of a bad superhero project (flat heroes, cheesy villain, meandering plot) then adds some kid-friendly jokes and attempts to pull at the heartstrings that wouldn't be out of place in an offering from another animation studio that soullessly tried to mimic Pixar's formula. There isn't a laugh, smile or even a hint of sincere emotion to be found here-which makes it a complete betrayal of the defining characteristics of the brand that produced it.   

Most Overrated: The Incredibles (2004)

See above.

Most Underrated: Toy Story 4 (2019)

Was Toy Story 4 a completely necessary film? No. Toy Story 3 would've been an incredible, bittersweet note to end on if they had chosen to. Does this mean Toy Story 4 wasn't worthwhile? Far from it. It's a very entertaining, frequently hilarious adventure with great new characters (miserable runaway spork Forky voiced by Tony Hale, chaotic carnival prizes Ducky and Bunny voiced by Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele, the scene-stealing inept Canadian stuntman Duke Kaboom voiced by Keanu Reeves), a satisfying re-introduction to the Bo Peep character (voiced by Annie Potts) that was absent from Toy Story 3 for no previously explained reason and an emotionally potent ending that feels like a firm ending for this brilliant franchise (for real this time!).  

The Only Pixar Title That Reduced Me to a Puddle: Coco (2017)

Since exiting the early years of childhood, I've hardly ever cried. To put it simply, tears are just not how I traditionally express myself when I'm sad. However, if you had happened to be in my house while I was watching Coco for the first time, you would've thought I wept on the regular. The final sequence where Miguel returns from The Land of the Dead and sings "Remember Me" for his great-grandmother Coco literally destroyed me since it reminded me of my relationship with my grandfather-who had passed in 2012. I've lost my grandmother as well during the time since I've watched Coco last, so a return to Waterworld would likely be in the cards if/when I choose to rewatch it. 

Most Puzzled I've Been by People Crying at a Pixar Movie: Inside Out (2015)

Now here's where I cement myself as the cold, heartless prick I truly am... Seemingly every few months or so, somebody will tweet out something like "What's one movie moment that always makes you cry?" and one of the most frequent replies to those posts is the scene from Inside Out where Riley's childhood imaginary friend Bing Bong (voiced by Richard Kind) falls into the "memory dump" in her brain and becomes permanently forgotten. My response to this is always the same: Really? How the "death" of a teenage girl's already basically forgotten imaginary friend that has maybe 10 minutes of screen time in the entire time managed to fuck up so many people's emotions is just something that I will never be able to comprehend.   

A Tribute to the Fallen

Artists and athletes have a profound way of touching people's lives that is really unlike anything else in the human experience. As trivial as their contributions to the world may be in the grand scheme of things, the thrill that comes from watching a master of their respective craft or how through the sheer power of their words or sharing their emotions can directly relate to something someone experienced in their own life establishes a connection that is as uniquely impactful and deeply felt as any other important relationship in life. In 2020, we lost a lot of these people that brought joy and comfort to the masses. Losing these beloved public icons just added an extra layer of shit to a year that was defined by tragedy, mass loss of life and unprecedented emotional and economic suffering. As I wrap up my 2020 year-end entertainment retrospectives, I felt it was appropriate to briefly honor the legacies of a handful of pop culture figures that passed away in 2020 that meant a lot to me. 

Kobe Bryant (died: January 26th) 

It pains me to admit this as a Celtics fan, but Kobe Bryant was the first player to spark my interest in basketball. It seemed like every time you'd turn on Sportscenter during the NBA season in the late 90's/early 2000's, you'd see him effortlessly dropping 40 points with a string of absolutely ridiculous shots or beating up on opponents in the playoffs alongside Shaq to help establish the next chapter of the Lakers dynasty. As I grew older, I only grew to appreciate him more. He's the only player I've ever seen drag a team to a title by exclusively being a scoring juggernaut and had an intellect and work ethic that was greater than any of his peers. Even when injuries robbed him of his ability to take over games at will and subsequently the Lakers ability to be perennial title contenders during the final act of his career, his willingness to challenge his teammates to be great and freely discuss how much he hated losing through sarcastic deadpan humor in press conferences just added more notches to his deep resume. Basketball hasn't been and will never the same without him, but the tenacity and confidence he played with every time hit the floor will continue to inspire players across the world for generations to come.

Fred Willard (died: May 15th):

Guarantees are few and far between in life, but among that elite company is Fred Willard getting laughs every time he appeared on screen. His jovial demeanor and unbelievable willingness to commit to any absurd gag that was thrown his way made him a consistent scene-stealer in everything from Christopher Guest movies to Netflix's demented sketch comedy show I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Even on the rare occasion he'd agree to appear in something awful (Epic Movie, Date Movie), he'd make things better just by being there for a couple scenes. He was a timeless comedic weapon with a devastatingly high kill rate and his reliable presence in dumb comedies or even throwaway monologue sketches on Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be sorely missed.   

Eddie Van Halen (died: October 6th): 

Any "Greatest Guitarist of All Time" conversation will likely be headlined by names such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn. For me, the answer to that hotly debated question is  Eddie Van Halen. Van Halen wasn't just a technical wizard capable of melting frets on both electric and acoustic guitars, he played the instrument with a level of maximalist flare that hadn't been seen before. Everything from the riffs to the solos to the bravado that he carried himself was larger than life and that embrace of all things excess conjured up this level of spellbinding magic every single time he played that was just exhilarating to behold. I wouldn't be the indulgent guitar fiend that I am today without hearing Van Halen's playing so much growing up and I'd like to thank him for cementing a love of over-the-top guitarwork that has already brought me enough joy to fill several lifetimes.  

MF Doom (died: October 31st): 

With an abstract style and genuine mystique that was manifested through his supervillain alter ego, MF Doom changed the rules of what hip hop could be. Dropping bizarre rhyme schemes over off-kilter production that's loaded with grainy samples from old movies gave Doom an unapologetic weirdness that allowed him to entertain and enlighten in equal measure. Even though his post-Born Like This projects didn't grip me the same way that his early material did, Doom was the all too rare example of a rapper that successfully challenged the boundaries of the genre and carved out a sound that was truly one of a kind. 

Alexi Laiho (died: late December): 

It's surreal that Eddie Van Halen and Alexi Laiho died a couple months apart because Laiho was a direct descendant from the Van Halen. Laiho was the flamboyant ringleader of a sinister circus known as Children of Bodom who brought theatrical cheese to the world of extreme metal. He wrote every solo like he was going to have a spotlight shined over his head while playing it in front of a sold out crowd and belted out every anthem about the Grim Reaper, Satan or death by supernatural entity with as much as gusto as a scream can possibly emote. In a genre that can take itself too seriously at times, Laiho was always having fun and that spark plug energy along with his immense talent as a frontman/guitarist allowed him to amass one of the most impressive discographies in the history of metal.