Matt's Movie Musings

Okay so obviously, 2020 has been a weird year and even though the film industry has (rightfully) been put on pause, there have still been some great films released. I can honestly recommend you check out every film on this list as you're bound to find something to help pass the time but I've also included trailers to help you make your choice. 10) THE RENTAL (Dir. Dave Franco) For just over an hour, Dave Franco's directorial debut plays out as an increasingly tense character focused thriller with great performances from Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Toby Huss and Shiele Vand. If the film maintained that tone through the final scenes, I think it would be receiving far more acclaim. As it is, there is a sudden shift in the last 15 minutes that will make or break this film for many people. Personally, while the ending doesn't quite work for me, I can't deny that I have been thinking about this film a lot since watching it and I was engaged enough by the relationship drama ...

It's time for the final countdown. But first... 100 - 91:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite.html   90 - 81:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_16.html   80 - 71:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_31.html   70 - 61:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_89.html   60 - 51:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_22.html   50 - 41:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_24.html   40 - 31:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_46.html   30 - 21:  https://mattcsmoviemusings.blogspot.com/2020/04/matts-mat-musings-my-100-favourite_59.html   20 - 11:  https://mattcsmoviem...

We're into the Top 20 now and we have not one, but two Lucha Underground appearances. Only one more to go after this... 20) Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuiness        ROH Driven 2007 Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuiness were perfect opponents for each other. Both men favoured highly technical ringstyles with strong European influence and an emphasis on strikes with Danielson's slight skill advantage balanced out by McGuiness size advantage. Yet despite how hard they worked, they were never quite portrayed as equals. Danielson was the "once in a generation" genius with McGuiness trapped in his shadow, the Mozart to Nigel's Salieri, and each bout between the two built upon this relationship. But they were never closer to being considered equals than in this No 1 Contender's match. Danielson was rebuilding himself after losing the ROH World Title to Homicide and taking time away from the ring due to injury. McGuiness meanwhile had spent that time going from...

While a lot of this list is subjective, I'm confident in saying that every entry on this instalment is a definite Match Of The Year candidate. 30) Royal Rumble Match       WWE Royal Rumble 2020 Every year, the Royal Rumble is one of the most anticipated events on the WWE calender and this is entirely thanks to the match of the same name. For anyone who might not know, the Royal Rumble match is a contest between 30 wrestlers, who enter at timed intervals, with eliminations occuring when a competitor is thrown over the top rope and both feet conect with the floor. In additition, since 1993 it has been tradition that the winner of the match gets a highly sought after championship match at the company's biggest show of the year, WrestleMania. Most of the enjoyment of the show comes from unexpected entries into the match, or confrontations between talent on different shows, to be completely honest the matches themselves are very rarely of a high quality. This is mostly ...

This entry has taken a little longer to get out as I found myself stopping to rewatch each match as I was writing about them. Now a terribly efficient way to work but a great way to pass the time. 40) Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (Submission Match)       WWF WrestleMania 13 1997 Purely in terms of match quality, there's a solid argument to be made that Bret Hart and Steve Austin had the greatest rivalvry in WWF history. Their excellent first match in November 1996 lead to a hugely entertaining collision during the 1997 Royal Rumble and an excellent 4 way bout (also featuring Vader and The Undertaker) at In Your House: Final Four. They would would be involved in at least 2 more memorable matches in 1997 but of all their clashes, this one is justifiably the most famous. Infamously, this match was never in the plans but Shawn Michaels controversial decision to take time away from the company, nixed the planned WrestleMania rematch with Hart so Austin got the match. Even th...

Here we are, into the Top 50 and to be perfectly honest, I would say that all of these matches are essential viewing for any modern wrestling fan. 50) Randy Savage vs Hulk Hogan       WWF WrestleMania V 1989 For better or for worse, these two men define wrestling in the 1980's for me. Hulk Hogan, the megastar, and Randy Savage, the superworker, each had charisma to spare and it's little surprise that their careers would be entwined for much of the following decade. Vince McMahon recognised the potential in this match and showed that rarest of things in the wrestling industry, restraint. The build for this match began in early 1988 when multiyear champion, Hogan, lost the WWF Championship due to referee Dave Hebner's "evil" twin brother Earl. The Giant then "sold" the title to Ted Dibease and subsequently it was declared vacant, Savage ultimately won the WWF Championship in a one night tournament at WrestleMania IV with help from Hogan and the two...