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.

ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: August: Osage County

August: Osage County brings an outstanding story peppered with howling laughs and poignant family drama that blend tremendously better than expected. The film is fantastically acted to make this popular story very absorbing. This film is tailor-made as a holiday hit-to-be upon its upcoming Christmas weekend release and a sure-fire Oscar contender in many categories come next year. It is undoubtedly one of the best films of 2013 and will be among this website's "10 Best" of the year.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Way Way Back

The Way Way Bank isn't going for American Pie-style raunch to prove its comedy. It would rather charm you with heart. That's what makes it great.

"2013", 2013, 5 STARS, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJuly 21, 2013Chicago, IL, USAThe Way Way BackComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Argo

Argo is a heroic story without requiring a studly action hero. Like its declassified true story, a team effort is conducted and celebrated with Argo. While this film will become "timely" by circumstance, once again, it earns its merit, attention, and appreciation without needing the boost.

"2012 Fall Movies", "5 STARS", "Argo", "Ben Affleck", "Movie Review", 2012, 5 STARS, 10 Best, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanOctober 13, 2012Comment

VINTAGE REVIEW: E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial

Movies have always been considered magic on some level, to make fiction appear to come to life. Some movies, though, just flat-out have more magic than others. Steven Spielberg's E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial is one of those movies. The film has more heart, finesse, performance, and magic in single scenes than some movies have in their entire running time, and does it with an animatronic special effect as a main character.

VINTAGE REVIEW: Singin' in the Rain

Co-directed and starring Gene Kelly, Singin' in the Rain is commonly regarded as the greatest Hollywood movie musical. It topped the American Film Institute's list of movie musicals and was most recently their #5 overall greatest film of all-time.

2012, 5 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, SPECIAL, Vintage ReviewDon ShanahanJuly 13, 2012Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Avengers

The movie, whether your are a fan of the comics and previous movies or not, is infectious summer blockbuster fun. Those going in casual may just come out a fan. The Avengers delivers the comic book action, beefy heroics, impressive special effects, and 3D spectacle as advertised. When put up against the previous movie greats of the genre, The Avengers might just chisel out its own spot on the Mount Rushmore of comic book movies

VINTAGE REVIEW: Titanic

This month in 2012, just in time for the 100th anniversary of the ship's fateful maiden voyage and the 100th birthday of Paramount Pictures, Titanic has been meticulously re-mastered for a 3D re-release to movie theaters around the world.

2012, 5 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, Retrospective, SPECIAL, Vintage ReviewDon ShanahanApril 4, 2012 Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: 50/50

50/50 will have you packing your tissue box to wipe away both tears of sorrow and tears of laughter. It's more than a numbers game, though, in balancing humor with drama. It's not about adding up equal parts. It's about timing your jokes to fall in dramatic places when you need them and in funny places where they work like magic.

2011, 5 STARS, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanOctober 31, 2011Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Moneyball

Through Pitt’s performance, Moneyball has that outstanding character study that all great sports movies have to have. In a way, Moneyball feels like Jerry Maguire without the romantic comedy, where the smoothly-written business side of a sport trumps the game and players on the field. For those looking for a sports movie with a brain, that will impress you and spark your interest. If you need thrills and camaraderie, you're going to have to look somewhere else.

2011, 5 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanSeptember 25, 2011Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America: The First Avenger

The Captain America character stirs your patriotism in the audience as a guy you really root for to save the day and get the girl. For all that, Captain America: The First Avenger is, far and away, the best comic book movie this summer and acts as an outstanding final springboard piece to Marvel's mega-event Avengers team-up next May.

2011, MOVIE REVIEW, 5 STARSDon ShanahanJuly 22, 2011Comment

DOUBLE FEATURE MOVIE REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2

Beyond all that, the real progress that made the movie series tick is the dual-growth of Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the three actors that played them. The classic aspects of teenage coming-of-age storytelling have always been present in the Harry Potter series, but on two distinct fronts. As the characters, they have grown to find their skill, importance, and desires as to what really matters in the grand scheme of all that has transpired around them. As actors, Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint have gone from unknown cute-faced children playing borderline stereotypes to mature and capable performers we genuinely care about and root for through this decade within their characters' shoes and robes.

2011, 2010, 5 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJuly 15, 2011Comment