Top 6 Lessons We Can Learn from Casino Movies

There are several reasons why people get involved in casinos or gambling. Apart from playing to win, they are forms of entertainment and ways of relaxing the mind. However, there are lessons that people take for granted while playing in casinos. As they say, some of the essential life lessons always come from what you experience. Through playing in casinos, one gets several information and lessons that get applied in real-life experiences. Winning or losing a bet gives you some useful lessons. Here is a list.

2020, Column, Editorial, Home MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 14, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Blackbird

Quite quickly into Roger Michell’s Blackbird, Susan Sarandon stamps exactly what kind of terminally ill character this film intends to portray. You may see the Academy Award winner’s aged luminosity but, let me tell you, this is far from a retread of her beloved 1998 film Stepmom. Her Lily is tired of the pretend pleasantries as she summons her extended family to her and husband’s beachfront homestead. She is done with the constant “who are you” questions, “are you OK” observation checks, and her own cordiality to retort with “glad you’re here.”

2020, 2019, 3 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Film Festival, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanSeptember 13, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 4 Card Game Techniques Films Have Taught

by Kevin Gardiner

Playing a card game is a thrilling experience. It takes wits, luck and mastery of the body. Some of the best examples of well-played card games can be seen in film. Action heroes sit at a table and stare down an opponent. Tension fills the air as an entire life's savings is gambled. These scenes are not just thrilling cinematic moments. Each film with a high stakes card game contains the opportunity to learn. Film necessitates a clear cause of the hero's win or loss, so pointers on playing are nearly always provided. Here are 4 card game techniques films have taught.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 12, 2020Comment

GUEST CRITIC #32: Blue Valentine

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

2019, 2020, 3 STARS, GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 12, 2020ClemencyComment

The Uniqueness of "Rain Man"

In this story a lot of complicated stories are raised, sometimes they are able to touch to the core of the soul, but it is necessary to gain courage and watch the film to the end, because together with the main characters we go through a long, complex, thorny path. This applies to the director, actors, and spectators, who have revealed in front of themselves completely unusual facets of human society. And I want to believe that the example shown by the creators in Rain Man and inspiration by the biography of Kim Peek, will be interesting and useful for more than one generation.

2020, Editorial, Essay, Home MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 12, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Top Five Movies the Kids Will Love... (and Parents Too!)

by Devin Caldwell

Fall Time is always a special time of the year. It is the time of year where the weather begins to change and you are no longer able to play outside all of the time. This is the perfect time for you to grab a blanket, a bowl of popcorn, and snuggle up for a great movie. Here are some of the best movies for you and your family to watch this fall!

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 9, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 6 Life Lessons We Learned From High School Movies

by Lucy Miranda

Many of us watch movies for entertainment but they are capable of much more. Movies can inspire us to be a better person. They can comfort us with a positive outlook and restore our faith in humanity and everything beautiful. Most importantly, they are an assurance that everything will make sense in the end. High school movies are one such genre that is delicate, engaging, fun, relatable and entertaining, all at the same time. For years many high school or teen-movies have been made with characters that closely represent how teenagers are in real life. These movies not only connect with us but also teach us some valuable lessons that can help us shape ourselves for better.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 8, 2020Comment

When Female Protagonists Take Over: The New Black Panther & More

Recently, rumours and murmurs throughout Hollywood have made the rounds, discussing certain roles that should be taken over by a female actor, yet this is nothing new. From the possibility of a female Bond to a questionable decision to recast all of Ghostbusters as women, the thought of playing with gender roles is nothing new, yet films like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel and shows like Fleabag and Stranger Things have showcased just how well the choice to have female leads as showstoppers can be.

2020, Column, Editorial, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 6, 2020Comment

Understanding the Success of the "Rocky" Series

Since the first installment released in 1976, the Rocky series has developed into a global phenomenon that has been enjoyed throughout the generations. It has spawned a further seven films, inspired millions to whack a punching bag, and it even saw creator and Rocky Balboa himself, Sylvester Stallone, being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

2020, Column, Editorial, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 5, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube channel talking the new "Mulan"

Way back in March, Ian Simmons and I put some Skype video time on his “Kicking the Seat” channel to talk about the 1998 Disney animated film Mulan. The two of us thought we’d be seeing the new live-action re-imagining on the big screen in a matter of weeks. Well, then came the COVID pandemic. Niki Caro’s Mulan stood to be delayed indefinitely only to magically get tabbed as an extended PVOD option for this September. Ian and I jumped at the chance to finish the circle and we brought David Fowlie of “Keeping it Reel” to chime in as a third. Enjoy this YouTube presentation!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanSeptember 5, 2020AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on "Feelin Film'" FF+ podcast for "Mulan"

Friend of the page Aaron White, co-host of the Feelin’ Film podcast and member of the Seattle Film Critics Society, has reignited his FF+ brand of smaller plate podcast episodes. His goal is to collect spoiler-free discussions of several current movies combined into one show. Rather than fly solo, he’s using his FF+ platform to invite other critics to share in the chat. For this episode, Aaron invited me with his usual co-host Patrick Hicks to fawn over Disney+’s Mulan. He sure didn’t have to twist my arm.

GUEST CRITIC #31: Clemency

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.