Posts tagged Forest Whitaker
MOVIE REVIEW: Rogue One
MOVIE REVIEW: Rogue One

Lags of preparation and mounting conflict aside, there is more than enough big-screen excitement infusing the gravitas that give way to pathos.  "Rogue One" smoothly delves into an untold narrative while providing clever and catchy callbacks and nods to the expanded universe we know is on the other side of the horizon.  Fleshing out key history, “Rogue One” instantly becomes an indispensable companion piece to “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope.”  Watching this mini saga and seeing the seeds it plants makes one appreciate the fruits of the 39-year-old classic’s triumphs even more.

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2016, 4 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanAMC River East 212016, 2016 Holiday Movies, Rogue One, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Gareth Edwards, Tony Gilroy, Chris Weitz, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Forest Whitaker, Donnie Yen, Michael Giacchino, John Williams, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn, Star Wars, Death Star, Saw Gerrera, Jyn Erso, The Theory of Everything, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, Genevieve O'Reilly, Jimmy Smits, Maldives, Iceland, Greig Fraser, Alan Tudyk, life lessons from films, life lessons, Life lessons, movie review, film review, movie commentary, film commentary, Science fiction, space opera, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment
MOVIE REVIEW: Arrival
MOVIE REVIEW: Arrival

To reveal more of the emotional and scientific obstacle course would take away from the engrossing experience to be had by “Arrival.”  This is the anti-”Independence Day,” so don’t expect a populist romp.  Instead, open your mind to a stimulating and provocative mindbender that may require more than one viewing to grasp and appreciate.  The trippy events unfolding out of the screenplay tangle the puppeteer’s strings and play with narrative and filmmaking forces few are daring enough, and smart enough, to wield.

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2016, 4 STARS, Chicago Film Festival, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanAMC River East 212016, 2016 Holiday Movies, Arrival, Denis Villeneuve, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Johann Johannsson, Bradford Young, Eric Heisserer, Hours, Sicario, Light's Out, Ted Chiang, Story of Your Life, novella, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Science Fiction films, Science fiction, Science Fiction, Science, Linguistics, film commentary, movie commentary, film review, movie review, life lessons from movies, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, life lessons, Life lessons, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment
MOVIE REVIEW: Southpaw
MOVIE REVIEW: Southpaw

If you've seen one boxing movie, you've seen them all.  They are their own formula, cliche, and sub-genre of sports movies.  If you've seen one rags-to-riches triumph or riches-to-rags-back-to-riches redemption, you've seen them all.  If you've heard one trash talking villain or one sage mentor/trainer/coach jaw on their own, you've heard them all.  If you've seen one smoothly-edited training montage that leads to the big, loud and predictable ending fight, you've seen the all.  "Southpaw" sadly brings nothing new to the table.

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ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, 2015, MOVIE REVIEW, 2 STARSDon ShanahanAMC River EastForest Whitaker, Antoine Fuqua, Kurt Sutter, Rachel McAdams, 50 Cent, The Fighter, Rocky, Jake Gyllenhaal, life lessons, Curtis Jackson, Oona Laurence, Sons of Anarchy, Million Dollar Baby, sports movies, life lessons from movies, life lessons from films, Donald Shanahan, sports films, Boxing movies, Don Shanahan, Olympus Has Fallen, Every Movie Has a Lesson, The Equalizer, Southpaw, Miguel Gomez, boxing films, Raging BullComment