ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Speaking of poker, if "Iron Man 3" is a hefty full house and "Thor: The Dark World" is a handsome straight, then "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is a straight flush. I will echo the early reviews coming in and say that this is arguably Marvel's best made film to date. The movie is a kinetically smart clash of political espionage set on a superhero action stage. There's not a wasted moment of non-importance and the twists and turns triple anything attempted by "Iron Man 3" or "Thor: The Dark World."

MOVIE REVIEW: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Anderson's hot streak at winning me over has now extended to two films in a row with "The Grand Budapest Hotel." Richly detailed in every sense of possible style, this is a superbly entertaining little caper film that should yield more success for Wes Anderson and earn even more new fans. I know it's just March, but I'm going to go out on a limb right now and say that this is the best written film you will see all year. The script is brilliant beyond measure and a star-studded cast rarely misses a beat to make those words shine and leap off the page and screen.

EDITORIAL: The 15 films to watch for the 2015 Oscars

Once one awards season ends, another one begins! The winners from last night's 86th Academy Awards can bask in the glow of immortality for a while. Meanwhile, business in Hollywood will quickly shift and move on to the 87th Academy Awards that will happen in February or March of 2015. Here are 15 films to watch for the 2015 Oscars.

2014, Column, EditorialDon ShanahanMarch 3, 20142015 Oscars, 87th Academy Awards, Whiplash, Sundance Film Festival, M, Miles Teller, Philip Seymour Hoffman, A Most Wanted Man, John le Carre, Anton Corbjin, The American, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright, Magic in the Moonlight, Emma Stone, Woody Allen, Colin Firth, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson, Ralph Fiennes, Serena, Bradley Cooper, Brothers, Jennifer Lawrence, Gone Girl, David Fincher, Ben Affleck, Get on Up, James Brown, Chadwick Boseman, Tate Taylor, The Help, Oscar Predictions, Oscar nominations, Oscars, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Editorial, Column, movie commentary, Interstellar, Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Christopher Nolan, Fury, David Ayer, End of Watch, Shia LeBouf, Logan Lerman, Exodus, Noah, Darren Aronofsky, Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Bible, Inherent Vice, Paul Thomas Anderson, Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, P.T. Anderson, The Hobbit, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, Peter Jackson, Into the Woods, Disney, Rob Marshall, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Unbroken, Angelina Jolie, Louis Zamperini, Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleason, Jai Courtney, Garrett Hedlund, Cameron Crowe, Danny McBride, John Krasinkski, Bill Murray, Will Smith, Annie, Quvenzhane Wallis, Clint Eastwood, Jersey Boys, Frankie ValliComment

EDITORIAL: Final 2014 Awards Tracker and Oscar Reactions

In my final update of this year's Awards Tracker, here are the final tallies, Oscar winners, and my reactions. The Oscar winners in each category are in bold. See you next year for another data session and season!

2014, Column, EditorialDon ShanahanMarch 3, 2014Award Prediction, Awards Predictions, Awards Tracker, Awards Talk, 86th Academy Awards, Oscar nominations, Oscars, Oscar Predictions, 2014, 2014 Oscars, Best Motion Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Animated Feature, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Sound Mixing, Best Picture, Best Documentary Feature, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Animated Short, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Score, Best Actress, Best Live Action Short Film, Best Original Song, Best, Best Screenplay, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Original Screenplay, Best Animated Short Film, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Supporting Actress, Best Directing, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Musical Score, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, The race for Best PictureComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Stalingrad

In one of the largest and most expensive Russian film productions ever attempted, the simply-titled "Stalingrad" makes its debut in U.S. theaters this weekend to put their personal and emphatic voice to their proud history. "Stalingrad" was Russia's entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar competition for this weekend's 86th Academy Awards. It is also the first Russian and first non-American film to be shot in IMAX 3D. Last year, the film became Russia's largest modern box office success. No matter what you think of Russia or what you know about the Battle of Stalingrad, this often impressive film can play in the big boy's pond.

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2014: The race for Best Picture

In this seventh and final post, we have come to the big finish. Here is my breakdown for the race for Best Picture. This is the big one and the cherry on top for my prediction series. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool. Let's go!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2014: The male acting awards

It's time to make my formal predictions. In this sixth post, we are deep into the major award categories. Here are my picks for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool. Let's go!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2014: The female acting awards

It's time to make my formal predictions. In this fifth post, we are deep into the major award categories. Here are my picks for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool. Let's go!

2014, Editorial, ColumnDon ShanahanFebruary 28, 2014Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine, Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle, Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave, Julia Roberts, August: Osage County, June Squibb, Nebraska, Scarlett Johansson, Her, Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actress, Actress, Supporting Actress, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Gravity, Judi Dench, Philomena, Meryl Streep, Adele Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Colour, Brie Larson, Short Term 12, Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks, SAG Award, Golden Globe Awards, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Oscar nominations, Oscar Predictions, Oscars, 2014 Oscars, Awards Talk, Awards Predictions, Awards Tracker, Award Prediction, 86th Academy AwardsComment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2014: The visual and artistic categories

It's time to make my formal predictions. In this post, we look at the visual and artistic technical categories that include cinematography, costumes, makeup, editing, visual effects, and editing. Let's go!

2014, Column, EditorialDon ShanahanFebruary 26, 2014Best Visual Effects, Visual Effects, Production Design, Art Direction, Set Design, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Film Editing, Film Editing, Editing, Cinematography, Best Cinematography, 2014 Oscars, 86th Academy Awards, Oscar Predictions, Oscar nominations, Oscars, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Column, Editorial, Awards Talk, Awards Tracker, Awards Predictions, The Grandmaster, Gravity, Inside Llewyn Davis, Nebraska, Prisoners, Roger Deakins, Pheldon Papamichael, Bruno Delbonnel, Philippe Le Sourd, Emmanuel Lubeski, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Man of Steel, Iron Man 3, Pacific Rim, Star Trek Into Darkness, American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, 12 Years a Slave, The Great Gatsby, HerComment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2014: The music and sound categories

It's time to make my formal predictions. In this post, we look at the music and sound technical categories that include song, score, editing, and mixing. Let's go!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2014: The minor film categories

It's time to make my formal predictions. In this post, we look at the minor film categories that include foreign, documentary, and animated features. Let's go!

MEDIA APPEARANCE #3: Guest on "Day at the Movies" weekly radio show!

On February 24th, I was a special guest on the show as we discussed our Oscar predictions. My 2014 Awards Tracker was put on the spot to share a little data as well. Hear us lay out the favorites and help you win your Oscar pool!