GUEST COLUMN: The Best American Baseball Movies

by Devin Caldwell

Ever since Americans began to fall in love with the game of baseball in the early 20th century, filmmakers have brought the sport to life on the big screen. Most baseball films have focused on the sport’s legendary athletes, historical games or scandalous events. Although several fine films have been produced on the subject, a few excellent baseball movies stand apart from the rest and are considered more than just sports films. With the exception of 42, the following iconic films are not based on factual events or players, but they personify why Americans love baseball.

2020, Column, Editorial, Home Media, LIST, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 6, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 10 Films to Motivate You to Study and Improve Yourself

by Esther Crowder

Good results in studies are the result of constant effort and dedication. The bad thing is that despite all the work you put into your duties, it may happen that the results are not what you expected. In those moments, you may have feelings of despair or frustration, which, although natural, may make you think that maybe you will not achieve your dreams. But it is not so! You have to understand that life is made up of victories and defeats. Something that also teaches us that is the cinema. Through its stories, many films have shown us that constant struggle can lead to triumph. For the same reason, and so that you can rejoice in your academic goals, we will leave you with this list of 10 films that will help you get ahead and surpass yourself.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LISTDon ShanahanOctober 30, 2020Comment

COLUMN: Best Stoner Movies You Need to Watch This Year

These days, a lot of people are stuck at home due to social distancing. While it might be a dream for some of us, it's clearly not for everyone. If you are a typical stoner who's looking for ways to keep yourself entertained and ease anxiety, a good stoner movie won't disappoint. To help you narrow down your list, here are the best pot-themed movies recommended by American Marijuana you might want to check out:

2020, Column, Editorial, Home Media, LISTDon ShanahanOctober 28, 2020Comment

EDITORIAL: A Review of "Gemini Man"

If you're an avid movie-goer, you don't go to see action flicks expecting your worldviews to be changed in their foundations. Action movies are there to give us an hour or two of a good time, to get our blood racing, and to make us talk to about them a couple of days. However, apart from a select number of titles, not many action movies end up being evergreen and worthy of numerous rewatches. With that being said, Gemini Man is a pleasant watch if you go to see it for what it is: a thrilling and captivating action film that offers a bit more than you're used to with these types of media, but not enough for your jaw to drop on the floor.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, Home MediaDon ShanahanOctober 20, 2020Comment

COLUMN: Five Most Impactful Movie Speeches of All-Time

For years, magnificent movie speeches stand-and-delivered by top actors have been making their way from the movie screen right to the hearts of the viewers, inspiring people for real changes, accomplishments, and acts of bravery. Indeed, they have gained a legacy status and have been carved in human minds for many years to come. Many movie speeches are worth mentioning, but these five are the most memorable and affecting ones.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 20, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 17 Best Relationship Lessons We Learned From Retro Movies

by Bethany Langston

Every film can provide us with some food for thoughts, especially those classic films with a simple plot and a natural range of emotions. Owing to the film plot, which represents any aspect of the relationship between people, we might not only get invaluable experience of acting in a certain situation but also collect plenty of powerful life lessons. So, let’s discover what are those relationship lessons we learned through watching old-fashioned films of the last century.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 20, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Rebecca

The expression “hard act to follow” rings like a peal of bells both centrally and superficially when it comes to the new adaptation of Rebecca premiering on Netflix. Boy, that’s the movie and its new bride protagonist to a T. Matching the saying’s highest definition and less the vaudevillian one, Ben Wheatley’s film has to follow “something so exemplary that it overshadows anything that follows.” Even after 80 years, how does one follow the success and legacy of Alfred Hitchcock’s only Best Picture-winning film? The answer is easy. You can’t and you don’t. You stick to the source material and make your film your way.

2020, 3 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Home MediaDon ShanahanOctober 14, 2020 Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Tips for Creating the Ultimate Home Cinema

by Mike Cahill

Colder weather is approaching, and the average American’s options for outdoor activities are beginning to dwindle. While winter recreation can be a blast, there’s truly no better time to hunker down and enjoy the comfort of your own home. What better way to do that than building your own home theater? From cables and sound to projectors and comfy seats, we’re delivering the best tips on creating your perfect home theater from the professionals who know best. Whether you’re in Bedford or Portland, read on and learn how to create the best home theater experience on the block.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 11, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: A Rainy Day in New York

Appealing as it may be swinging from the affable to the morose, that mismatch is the glaring irregularity found in Allen’s new film A Rainy Day in New York debuting on Amazon Prime October 9th. The flow of uptown affluence and worldly whims spoken by the central figures of the film is perky and magnetizing. The words enchant to no end, yet are staggeringly uncharacteristic when you watch them coming from a cast of 20-somethings, even if they are played by talents like Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, and Selena Gomez.

2020, 3 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Home Media, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanOctober 9, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: "Feelin' Film" FF+ 1999 Fantasy Movie Draft

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.

MOVIE REVIEW: On the Rocks

There are certain notable people who have created an aura where they can get by on charm alone. Their mere presence elevates and enlivens any occasion. The doyan of deadpan Bill Murray is one of those treasures. His ageless appeal can forgive a few bad traits or flaws. The movies Murray occupies can also often get by on charm. On the Rocks is most certainly one of them. It is playing on a limited theatrical release before debuting on Apple TV+ on October 23rd.

2020, 3 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanOctober 4, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 10 Car Makes and Models in Classic Films That Can Be Bought

by Kevin Gardiner

For many movie-goers, timeless films are remembered for two things - the plot and the style. Particularly, the style of the cars that are driven. Cars are an iconic staple of a time period, and owning a well-known one is a dream come true. Here are ten car makes and models from classic films that can be purchased (even if it's only in an auction).

2020, Column, Editorial, Home Media, GUEST EDITORIAL, LISTDon ShanahanOctober 3, 2020Comment