The Zone of Interest doesn’t go there, and it wasn’t going to. The cold and taciturn performances from Freidel and Hüller are designed to not create sympathy for the subjects, which is perfectly fine. Rather this film was just going to sit there and listen. That’s the experience it was aiming for, and, in doing so, it participates in a layer of its own “how could they.” The trouble is, like the Nazis portrayed in the film, the answers to that question are “quite easily” and “quite comfortably.” Because their needles don’t move, neither do yours against its painful pace.

MOVIE REVIEW: Molli and Max in the Future

Without looking, you would think the two titular romantic prospects were strolling through autumnal city parks wearing cozy knit sweaters and sipping cups of hot or cold refreshment. It’s when you open your eyes that perspectives radically change for Molli and Max in the Future because there’s not a tree or stitch of wool in sight. Instead, the last three words of the film's title come into play. Our two will-they/won’t-they lovebirds are two intergalactic citizens crossing spacefaring paths in a future stocked with aliens, demigods, and advanced technology.

AWARDS: Winners of the 2023 Windie Awards from Chicago Indie Critics

Finishing their eighth year as a recognized awards-voting body and haven for film critics of diverse backgrounds and talents, the Chicago Indie Critics have announced the 2023 winners of their Windie Awards. The voting film critic members completed their final 25-category ballots this past week. The Chicago Indie Critics presented their 2023 Windie Award winners on the evening of January 20, 2024 at a private invitation-only Awards Party at Chicago Filmmakers on Hollywood Avenue in Chicago.

2023, 2024, AWARDS, CIC, NEWSDon ShanahanJanuary 21, 20242023 Windie Awards, Windie Awards, Chicago Indie CriticsComment

PODCAST: Episode 140 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 140th episode, two non-Snyderbro film critics, two sci-fi dads, and two post-Winter Break teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, head over to Netflix to step in the streaming cowpie that is the latest tentpole from paragon of internet trolls: Zack Snyder. That's right, we're talking about Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire. We've got a double-hater episode for a candidate for the worst film of 2023.

MOVIE REVIEW: Origin

The movie is here to make people feel by beautifying truths, creating kindred spirits, and it does so without losing or skimping an ounce of the subject’s powerful commentary smoldering with fire-branded parallels spanning the globe. One now exists to enhance the other. Origin can and should be a door-opener to Wilkerson’s work and the immense amount of testimonies, reflections, and avenues of learning that do not fit in a single film or book. Few movies generate as much library homework as tissue boxes to replace, but here we are, lifted better in our lives for receiving both assignments.

2023, 5 STARS, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJanuary 20, 2024Origin, Ava DuVernay, Aunjanue EllisComment

AWARDS: Winners of the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards

Last weekend, the Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced the winners of the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards LIVE on The CW. Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the star-studded gala was held at The Barker Hangar in Los Angeles. Yours truly is an active member of the Critics Choice Association.

2023, 2024, AWARDS, EVENT, NEWSDon ShanahanJanuary 17, 20242024 Critics Choice Awards, CCA, Critics Choice AwardsComment

PODCAST: Episode 139 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 139th episode, two roughneck film critics, two corporate dads, and two status-kept teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, returned to the deep space of the Alien series for their second rewatch stop with an episode on 1986's Aliens sequel by James Cameron. The two enjoyed a comparative discussion on where they rank this one with the first one and the rest of the series.

COLUMN: My 10 Best Movies of 2023

For me, 2023 was the embodiment of the Ferris Bueller quote: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Yup, that was my year as a husband, father, school teacher, podcaster, editor, and movie critic. The continuing stresses of my work-life balance occasionally morphed into joys where, when the flow was right, chasing movies didn’t matter. Normally, I would regret the blind spots, but this was a year where I didn’t completely.

10 Best, 2024, 2023, Column, Editorial, LIST, Best FilmsDon ShanahanJanuary 1, 202410 Best, 10 Best Films of 2023, ListComment

Fortune's Spin Ballet: Dancing through Jackpot Wins

Slot is a term referring to any narrow opening or groove in hardware, or its equivalent such as television shows. Additionally, slots refer to positions or timeslots within shows on television or radio that could potentially serve as venues for shows that air on them.

2023, Column, EditorialDon ShanahanDecember 30, 2023Comment

20 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE: The Best of the Rest of 2003

In an annual series, Every Movie Has a Lesson is going to look back twenty years to revisit, relearn, and reexamine a year of cinema history to share favorites, lists, and experiences from the films of that year.

2023, Editorial, LIST, Retrospective, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 29, 2023Best of 2003, 2003, 10 Best, 10 Best Films of 2003, Best of the RestComment

20 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE: The 10 Best Films of 2003

In an annual series, Every Movie Has a Lesson is going to look back twenty years to revisit, relearn, and reexamine a year of cinema history to share favorites, lists, and experiences from the films of that year. When measuring back as far as twenty years or more, I feel like “favorites” that have stood the test of time have aged to become some level of “best.” I feel like a bunch of those populate my reflective look back at the best of 2003.

2023, Editorial, LIST, Retrospective, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 29, 2023Best of 2003, 2003, 10 Best, 10 Best Films of 2003Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Society of the Snow

Society of the Snow is what this writer calls a “thank your lucky stars” movie. It depicts the kind of true story experience that is frighteningly unfathomable to comprehend. You watch it constantly trying to determine what you would do in the characters’ places and reach an overwrought point where all you can do is, hence the nickname, “thank your lucky stars” you didn’t have to go through what you saw on-screen echoing history. The survival you watch fuels and trumps your own.