3 Movies That Fit Perfectly with Your Game Night

Game night is always an exciting way to end the work week with friends and family. This night doesn’t always have to be centered on your and your buddies wasting the night away by playing poker, darts, pools, board games, and other exciting activities. Other people spice things up by playing some great movies to go along with the other activities. Of course, there are some films that are better-suited game night. You wouldn’ t want to play a horror film for such a fun night wouldn’t you? Well, if you’re having trouble picking a movie, here are a few movies that deserve a spot on game night.

Column, Editorial, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 30, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 5 Simple Ways to Set Up a Successful Student Movie Night

by Arthur Evans

When you are in college, you are always on the lookout for cheap and simple ways to have fun during your free time. It can be relieving to forget about your exams, assignments, and projects for a couple of hours and have fun. Movie nights are amazing because you have them any time of the year. Therefore, if you want to host your friends in the middle of the semester or over the summer break, you won’t have any problems with the school administration or your tutors. So, how do you go about setting up a movie night? Here are five simple tips:

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 29, 2021Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Little Things

The very accomplished Denzel Washington is and has been many superlative things throughout his illustrious career. His signature intensity and ardent commitment to character have filled trophy cases and made him a magnetic draw across five decades now. One thing you could never call him was boring. Sure, the same can’t be said about all of his movies, but he was never (and I mean never) part of the dullness. Well, after nearly 50 films, there’s a first time for everything and John Lee Hancock’s The Little Things, debuting on HBO Max, is the culprit.

2 STARS, 2021, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanJanuary 29, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 5 Inspirational Sports Movies You Should Check Out

by Kevin Faber

Not everyone can play sports but everyone can enjoy a good sports movie. The challenges involved in athletics can be viewed as metaphors for larger human struggles that people face on a day-to-day basis. This makes these stories relatable even for those who do not participate in sports. Sports movies can also be inspiring because they are often based on a true story, illustrating how real people can rise above adversity in their chosen arena, whether athletic or otherwise.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 28, 2021Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Dig

It’s rare, as rare as the ancient treasure trove shown in the movie at hand, but sometimes you encounter a “based on a true story” movie that may have been more compelling and richly told as a documentary than a theatrical drama. The Netflix new release, The Dig, is one of those. Why? Call it subject matter versus character and the pendulum of revealed truths against manufactured melodrama. Sometimes, the dramatic licence amplifies the impact of the embedded facts, but in other instances the injected theatrics water down the truism. While bolstered by a fine cast, Simon Stone’s The Dig is too much of the latter.

2021, 2 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanJanuary 28, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Cinematic Underdogs" podcast talking "Moneyball"

Through mutual social circles within the Facebook group of the Feelin’ Film Podcast, I was approached by Paul Keelan, one of the hosts of the Cinematic Underdogs podcast, to be a guest on their program. Joined by Jordan Puga, they’ve been targeting sports films for extended conversations. They pitched me to talk about Bennett Miller’s 2011 gem Moneyball, continuing a streak of behind-the-scenes sports movies. Talking with Paul as the “bonus episode” following the main show, our conversation went on to cover film criticism tropes, my hot take of The Tree of Life, and eventually, as planned, our impressions and musings on Moneyball.

2021, Home Media, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 27, 2021Quality ComixComment

GUEST COLUMN: Movie Lessons in Pet Ownership

by Adrian Johansen

If you’ve ever loved an animal, you know that they’re not just an accessory to your life. They’re very often the centerpiece of your life story, your entire family history. And that’s probably the reason why pets aren’t just ubiquitous in American homes. They’re also the heroes of Hollywood, the stars of some of the greatest, most iconic, and highest-grossing films. But animals on screen aren’t just about entertainment. If you’re a pet owner, there’s a lot to be learned by turning to the silver screen. This article looks at some of the best and worst examples of pet ownership in movies — and what you and your furry companion might take away from them!

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 21, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 3 Reasons Why You Should Start Watching Foreign Films

by Kevin Gardner

Each country or culture has a unique way it approaches filmmaking. Moviegoers worldwide enjoy settling in for lengthy mental escapes to unknown lands and new characters. It is a visual art form that can be drastically different from one country to the next. Watching a foreign film will immerse you into a microcosm in which you are highly unfamiliar. It allows you to experience new landscapes, food, and customs. Get away from the familiar and delve into the world of international film. Here are three good reasons to make an effort to see films from far-away lands.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Independent Film, StreamingDon ShanahanJanuary 19, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 5 Inspirational Films To Help You Take On 2021

by Devin Caldwell

By every measure, 2020 was a challenging year, from the COVID-19 pandemic to extreme weather and wild politics. The new year, luckily, provides everyone with a fresh start. But when many students are still learning from home, workers are spending their days in Zoom meetings and every day feels like “Groundhog Day,” how can we find inspiration to move forward? The answer? Watch a movie. Stories can inspire us and help us move forward when times are tough. For centuries, leaders have employed storytelling as a way to motivate teams. A teacher, for example, might explain to students how Albert Einstein had to fail in order to succeed.

2021, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Column, LIST, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 14, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 20 Best Winter Movies to Watch With a Warm Blanket and a Cup of Cocoa

by Sandra Manson

Movies that embrace you with coziness and warmth are exactly what is needed during cold snowy evenings. We have chosen 20 films that will create a winter mood and the feeling that magic is just around the corner. So wrap yourself up in a warm blanket, grab a cup of cacao, and enjoy watching

2021, Column, GUEST EDITORIAL, Editorial, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 14, 2021Comment

COLUMN: Best Movies That Can Inspire Kids to Be More Active

by Sandra Manson

Kids are naturally fast learners, and they quickly grab information, especially when they are between the age of one to four. Training your kids has moved on from pointing out pictures to them on hardcopy books — you can now do more, thanks to the TV. Unlike in the past, when televisions were a symbol of luxury and not a necessity, you can actually afford a TV now, and what's more, is that you can use it to teach your kids several things.

2021, Column, Editorial, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 5, 2021Comment

EDITORIAL: A Celebration of Tom Tykwer, Germany's Finest Renaissance Man

Perhaps best known for the terrifying, yet romantic film Perfume, Tom Tykwer has many other titles up his sleeve. There are few people in the world of blockbusters who do so much of the work themselves. However, there aren't so many people who have even heard of Tom Tykwer. Though he is most famous for his directing accolades, he's also a composer, editor and sits on the board of Berlin's International Film Festival. This is a celebration of Tom Tykwer, a true renaissance man, and a selection of his most brilliant films.

2021, Column, Editorial, Foreign Film, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 5, 2021Comment