ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: Spectre

With the arrival of "Spectre" for Daniel Craig's fourth outing as 007 and the returning follow-up of Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes, questions arise to the notion of raised and renewed expectations. How do you top "Skyfall?" How do you improve or follow a game changer like that? The first answer is you can't. The best this film can do is continue the momentum and build to the next game changer. "Spectre" stands as exactly that precise first step down from a summit on its way to find the next mountain and next great challenge.

2015, 4 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanNovember 3, 2015Spectre, SPECTRE, James Bond, James Bond theme, SkyfallComment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Middle Distance

51st Chicago International Film Festival special presention

There is a tangible and winsome spirit that emerges through this quick 80-minute journey of "The Middle Distance." First-time director Patrick Underwood rightly sticks to artistic vision and solid storytelling over cheap tricks and the urge to throw monkey wrenches at everything for the sake of standing out. A easy story such as this doesn't need overindulgence.

ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: The Walk

The definition of "marvel" can be given as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means "something that causes wonder, admiration, or astonishment." When used as a verb, marvel means "to wonder of be curious about." Several aspects about the true story behind "The Walk" spell out both definitions of marvel. Just hearing about the daredevil feat orchestrated by Frenchman Philippe Petit, walking for an hour on a high-wire 110 stories up across the former twin towers of the World Trade Center, evokes a "He did what?!" head-turning reaction where you acknowledge the wonderment and want to learn more. While not perfect, "The Walk" astonishes enough visually bringing this historic stunt to life to captivate movie-going audiences.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Because of the box office clout of James Bond and Ethan Hunt and plenty of failed imitators in between, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and its small stature roots already have difficulty standing out as a ripe property for viable franchise possibilities. It would have to hit on its own unique style to succeed and stand out. Ritchie's film does exactly that to be an easy and breezy companion to the foreboding likes of the modern spies. If you feel the spy game has gotten too ominous over the years, slide over to "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and have a good time.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Gift

Movies are the place of fantasy where the realities of normal domestic life can be bent and distorted. In the genre of thrillers, that quality can swing from peaks like "Rosemary's Baby" and "Fatal Attraction" to the gutter of cheesy TV films on the Lifetime Channel. Independent of their quality is their suspension of disbelief towards the fictional elements of each film. Some movies do too much and descend towards ridiculousness from a sharp premise that is supposed to hook us in. Every now and then, a mystery/thriller hits the right chords to haunt you just enough to both harrowing and still tangible.

MOVIE REVIEW: Shaun the Sheep

In the current cinematic landscape filled with modern technology and instant gratification, there is a lost appreciation for hand-done work. Traditional animation, stop-motion, and claymation have become a dying art form with the advent of computer animation and modern tools. It's easy to look past the old and simple in favor of the new and shiny toy, but sometimes the old and simple can show up the new and pretty with ease. That's the beauty of something like "Shaun the Sheep."

MOVIE REVIEW: Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

There are certain things Tom Cruise does absolutely right and playing Ethan Hunt is one of them. Like him or not as a person outside of the multiplex, Cruise remains the undisputed and penultimate action star in the world today, if not in all of the history of cinema. He pushes the envelope like no one else and, as a producer in this series, he puts his money where his safety harness is. What he dares to do on-screen pays off in superior results.

MOVIE REVIEW: Love and Mercy

Come to "Love and Mercy" for the music but stay for the involving double-barreled saga of creative energy, new-found redemption, and growing companionship. This film relishes the understated vibe it seeks. It's not earth-shatteringly profound as a story or a film. It's not going to jump off the screen or crush your emotions. However, this film will impress you and gain your respect. That's better than 90% of the tired biographical films that hit cinemas every year. Enjoy a winner right here.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dope

The next sure-fire addition to any list of possibly great coming-of-age films is "Dope," the fifth feature film from writer-director Rich Famuyiwa ("Brown Sugar," "The Wood'). "Dope" debuted in dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival and was selected as the prestigious closing film of the Director's Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival in France last month. Those are prominent feathers to have in any film's cap. Better yet, they are kudos that are more than earned by this film's energetic brilliance.

MOVIE REVIEW: Jurassic World

Spectacle defines "Jurassic World" perfectly. Just as the dictionary definition states, the blockbuster is unusual, notable, and entertaining in an eye-catching, dramatic, and very public way. It is loud and dumb, but, hot damn, it sure is fun. More discerning tastes will definitely gravitate to the "object of curiosity and contempt" version of the definition and they wouldn't be wrong in doing so. In the end, the simple definitions seal "Jurassic World" too. It is an very impressive monster movie and it will indeed attract attention and shock.

MOVIE REVIEW: Good Kill

Technology may change in warfare but what doesn't change are the human themes. The dramas, successes, fears, and results of victories and failures still apply, only the scope and scale has changed. "Good Kill," the new film written and directed by Andrew Niccol, typifies that signature human impact of war. Reunited with his "Gattaca" muse Ethan Hawke, Niccol delivers a very timely and provocative slow boiler with a great deal to say about the current modern state of warfare.

MOVIE REVIEW: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Raising the stakes and swinging for the fences like a good film sequel should, Joss Whedon’s latest Marvel film pays off the studio’s Phase 2 initiative with both a new level of groundbreaking effort beyond the first peak three years ago and a continued dedication to the master blueprint of a grander big picture.

EVERY MOVIE HAS A LESSON

by Don Shanahan

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