Thanks to their committed and brave performances of showing life’s difficulties parallel to the carefree and united fun, the question isn’t “will-they” or “won’t-they” like other rom-coms. It’s should they because of the prudence being paced so smoothly and realistically next to the pleasures. Built that way, any fulfillment found in it all becomes much more rewarding.
Read MoreFor their 238th episode, two firefighting film critics, two propeller-driven dads, and two very much still alive school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, follow up last week's blockbuster episode about a couple of heroic pilots with another featuring the same profession. On the heels of a new Steven Spielberg film last month, the two pointed their compass to 1989's Always, a Spielberg blind spot for Don that needed to be doused with fire-extinguishing podcast time
Read MoreIn the film critic and podcast circles I’ve come to be a part of, sometimes you find fascinating peers and, other times, they find you. Through my station at Ruminations Radio Network’s Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast, I was recruited by the hosts of PopFilter’s “Movie of the Year” podcast to guest on an episode breaking down a hit from the year 2006. The featured film is the indie darling Little Miss Sunshine. On the show, the hosts and guests score points for good jokes, intelligent responses, or correct trivia answers.
Read MoreFor their 237th episode, two alien-punching film critics, two crop-dusting dads, and two speechifying school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, saw it fit to celebrate our nation's 250th birthday with the 30th anniversary of Roland Emmerich's Independence Day. Both hosts consider it one of the best pure summer blockbusters ever made and something that should be as annual a staple for the titular holiday as BBQs and fireworks.
Read MoreThe sleepaway setting has long been a comedy and horror staple, from Meatballs, Friday the 13th, and The Parent Trap to Heavyweights and full-on satires like Wet Hot American Summer, and the delightful and crass new comedy The Floaters follows that in the same vein. It doesn’t matter the specialty or type of camp, assembling a hodgepodge group of characters is a foolproof and fast way of multiplying the classic coming-of-age arc we know and love.
Read MoreFor their 236th episode, two sword-wielding film critics, two chainmail-wearing dads, and two gore-friendly school teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, continue on a sword-and-sandal deep dive by pairing together a pair of remakes of some 1980s cult classics. Last year in 2025, streaming services (and too few theaters) were graced with reboots of Red Sonja and Deathstalker.
Read MoreLucky Strike makes two cardinal mistakes in its first two scenes, which, in turn, dilute the rest of the movie. It’s a shame, too, because The Last Castle and The Contender director Rod Lurie, filming in the thick woods of Bulgaria, utilized striking wintery location shooting to put his actors through their paces and make us feel every cold snap of this movie’s little piece of the famed Battle of the Bulge during December of 1944.
Read MoreAs aforementioned, the premise of Rose of Nevada, bobbing our two strapping young men to the mercy of the seas of time, carries the “potential” of a story. Unfortunately, potential can only reach so far without actual progress. Try as George McKay can to unravel with his wide eyes to find an exit for Nick from this spiral, the oddness and downright tediousness of the plot never reach a true mindfuck level.
Read MoreWith the grand release of Toy Story 5, Mike Crowley of the You’ll Probably Agree website and YouTube channel wanted to look back at the entire series while giving an initial review of the fifth entry. Joining as guests were fellow Chicago Indie Critics members Al and Linda Lerner of Movies and Shakers. Representing three different generations and critics, we each brought a unique perspective and appreciation to all things Toy Story.
Read MoreFor the Carolina Caroline screenplay to even entertain these more mature themes is a testament to its quality and uniqueness amid the sea of film noir and neo-noir mirrors and imitators. Anyone can put a hot girl and a studly man together with a couple of guns and fire off some ill-advised bullets and Cupid’s arrows. Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner, like their characters, forge something stronger than a fleeting fling, and that weight means the world.
Read MoreFor this movie, the foreboding existence of a big, bad sea monster capable of thorough destruction is enough. There’s no need to channel Michael Bay or Roland Emmerich and blow every cinematic wad in the world. No massive crowds are running for their lives ahead of massive property damage. No one is screaming, “It’s the Kraken!” That’s improved patience and confidence to make your own thrills count.
Read MoreFor their 235th episode, two film critics, two dads, and two school teachers who definitely have the power, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, are starting to scratch a sword-and-sandal itch. Semi-included in that subgenre, and just in time for the remake/reboot, is 1987's Masters of the Universe from Cannon Films. Starring the beloved and out-of-his element Dolph Lundgren, one of our hosts was absolutely the target audience for this nearly 40 years ago, and the other is watching it for the first time in 2026.
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