MOVIE REVIEW: Becky

The tale-of-the-tape of Becky is as preposterous as the promised twisted violence that follows. In one corner, you have the middle-aged comedian Kevin James taking a dare for his first “dramatic role” as the escaped Neo-Nazi criminal Dominick. He’s hulking, tatted-up, bearded, and armed with stern rhetoric and an itchy trigger finger. In the other corner, you have the titular Millennial 13-year-old played by Lulu Wilson of The Haunting of Hill House. She’s angry, mournful over the passing of her mother, and, due to the home invasion circumstances than transpire, motivated for every hell-raising level of vindication possible. Before Bruce Buffer screams into a microphone, who do you got in this cutthroat clash that hits VOD June 5th?

MOVIE REVIEW: The Vast of Night

There exists a wide range of adjectives between the pleasurable place of “thrill” and unpleasant extreme of “terrify” that one could apply to stimulating movie experiences. Just like the films themselves from indies to blockbusters, joys or jitters come in all shapes and sizes. For the festival darling The Vast of Night being streamed on Amazon Prime, the proverbial needle of its excitement amplification lands on a very nifty word: TINGLES.

2020, 5 STARS, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanJune 1, 2020The Vast of NightComment

MOVIE REVIEW: End of Sentence

Gosh, that is such a smooth and stirring way to express something profound. Rarely veering to hardest of hard or the ugliest of ugly, there is much more of that homely wisdom to be had in Elfar Adalsteins’ debut feature film. Identifying the “rebels” from the “kind-hearted” is relatively easy. The challenges become to what degree agitation within the malcontent can be healed and where strength can develop next to grace in the kindly. End of Sentence is available on VOD from Gravitas Ventures and it is a worthy dramatic experience.

2020, 4 STARS, Home Media, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanMay 30, 2020End of SentenceComment

COLUMN: 5 Tips For Taking Family Film Photographs

Pictures are a way to capture the moment into a frame. If it is for any special occasion or just randomly, people love to take photographs. Most of us love to take pictures of our family to cherish the moments in the future. Nowadays, we prefer to take pictures using our smartphones. But to get the best capture, it is ideal to use a DSLR camera. These cameras tend to cost a lot of money, so you can use the BecexTech promo code to get fantastic offers. People can also avail extra discounts if they are students. When purchasing the cameras online, you will get the option to show your student ID. This will help you get a student discount.

2020, Column, Editorial, Social MediaDon ShanahanMay 29, 2020 Comments

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast talking the politics of "Election"

As a teacher (pants optional during this current work landscape), it was a pleasure to discuss Alexander Payne’s 1999 film Election with Ian Simmons on his Kicking the Seat YouTube channel. It was my second spin for his “Reelpolitik” series after a previous appearance discussing All the President’s Men. The setting and scope is far different and far more fictional here. Election is as much a teacher movie as it was a political one. Enjoy our video conversation on the movie and be sure to follow Ian Simmons on his YouTube channel this week!

MOVIE REVIEW: The High Note

Each time Maggie’s employers, the fictional world-renowned recording artist Grace Davis played by Blackish’s Tracee Ellis Ross and her manager Jack Robertson played by Ice Cube, summarily dismiss her to stay in her lane or fetch some inconsequential thing, The High Note gets better because the real talent is allowed to emerge. To love underdog moxie, or any moxie for that matter, you have to have it. The flimsy Dakota Johnson doesn’t. She, and the movie, would be better served by her getting out of the way just like her shunned Maggie.

COLUMN: 7 Features of the Perfect Date Night Movie

by Kevin Gardner

Of course you can have too much of a good thing. Date night movies probably shouldn't be too long, and you probably don't want to watch a movie with an unsatisfying or frustrating ending. The end of a movie is what's going to influence the rest of your evening, after all. The swelling music and a romantic kiss is probably going to create a better date night impression than a sad ending and a death. Ideally, you want an ending that's going to leave you and your partner in a good mood, ready to get on with your romantic evening and enjoy the rest of your date.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanMay 24, 2020Comment

COLUMN: 10 Best Movies for Career Inspiration

Pursuing career goals may be a daunting experience, especially when you get repeated disappointments in the process. During such times, one may need intriguing successful stories about careers for encouragement. In most cases, when people face challenges in their career paths, they usually turn to TED talks and motivational writings. However, you cannot overlook the power of films in inspiring career objectives; there are various storylines on career success in film form. A good fascinating success story may be what you need to churn ideas and push you to reach your career goals. Here are some movies to inspire you career-wise.

2020, Column, Editorial, Home Media, LIST, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanMay 23, 2020Comment

EDITORIAL: Comedy Writing Tips From Professionals

Humor is what saves us from boredom and negative thoughts. It is the reason why we watch comedies after a hard day. But what stands behind these funny stories and witty joke? (Spoiler: it is not just a fun thing). Specialists from writing-help.org, providing essay help and paper writing assistance online, know the answer. If you decide to write a comedy, check out their professional tips.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanMay 23, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "You'll Probably Agree" podcast talking the future for movie theaters

Back in March, I joined Mike Crowley’s You’ll Probably Agree podcast with Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat and Pat McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com in listing and recommending movies to cope with the COVID-19 quarantine. Now, two months later, society is starting to loosen. Ian, and I return to YPA to look at the damage done to the movie theater business with a prognosticating curiosity towards their possible future. Enjoy this heady and rich conversation of our fears, wonders, and predictions for what could be the new normal or the broad future. Give Mike’s YouTube channel a new subscriber, his Facebook page a like, and his Twitter a follow!

Social Media, SPECIAL, Podcast, Media Appearance, 2020, Home Media, DOCUMENTARY REVIEW, Independent FilmDon ShanahanMay 23, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube channel talking "The Lovebirds"

Right in the same vein of Date Night and Game Night, one could do worse for a good COVID “Netflix and Chill” couch movie than The Lovebirds. Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat and I agree that this one has some wit, heart, and fun worth your time at the low price of 86 minutes. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani flow with fresh chemistry for a zany “one wild night” movie. Enjoy our video conversation on the movie and be sure to follow Ian Simmons on his YouTube channel this week!

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast talking "Scoob!"

COVID-19’s loss is our VOD gain with the new Scoob! from Warner Bros. I can’t say I was a huge Scooby Doo nut as a kid, but I have seen more enough in my years to know what is the essence of that lovable franchise. That gave me a little fandom leg up on Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast, a guy who spent more time in Eternia with He-Man an on Cybertron with the Transformers than hanging out with snacks in the back of the Mystery Machine. We both weigh in on what worked and what didn’t while fighting the urge to say zoinks far more than necessary.