MEDIA APPEARANCE: David Ehrlich's IndieWire Critics Survey on November 4, 2019

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What streaming platforms do you currently subscribe to, and why?

This was nice and informative question this week and I was glad to brag on finding free things. Folks, let me tell you the power of a regular library card. You can’t beat FREE. Look locally if your library or library system supports the Hoopla Digital and Kanopy streaming services. The wealth of content available is outstanding for something that doesn’t cost you a dime. If you’re a frugal working dad and cord-cutter like me, I cannot recommend them enough. I was the one person this week namedropping Hoopla and one of only three touting Kanopy. Seek them out.

Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2019Don ShanahanNovember 4, 2019David EhrlichComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Quality Comix discussing "The Evolution of The Joker"

I was approached recently for a collaboration opportunity by Quality Comix, a successful comic sales website which puts out their own editorial content alongside their marketplace. They were working on a long-form article on the 80-year history of Batman’s greatest nemesis, The Joker. The writers there enjoyed my Joker review and I was thankful to be considered and included. The lead question for a short blurb was a character analysis outlining major actions, motivations, or character developments throughout the character’s film incarnations.

2019, Chicago Film Festival, EVENT, Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 4, 2019Quality ComixComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Jojo Rabbit

Those beautiful and gracious moments, slowed way down in between all the hustling hilarity in Jojo Rabbit, let you know exactly where the heart of this movie truly lies underneath the scathing satire. It is in the benevolence of helping people rather than warring with them. The titular young boy needs every ounce of such affection and the combat boots of Waititi’s movie are the clown shoes. Gusto meets gravitas in one of the most oddly poetic and beautifully brazen movies you may ever see.

MOVIE REVIEW: Miss Virginia

One does not have to dig very far on an internet search to find pressing current issues in American’s public education system. In an eye-opening and apropos way, there are so many that Education Week magazine maintains an active A-Z list to sort and track them. You could sing “The Alphabet Song” and ring a bell on just about every letter for matching examples from the real-life inspiration of Miss Virginia chronicling the emergence of school advocate Virginia Walden Ford.

2019, 4 STARS, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Video on DemandDon ShanahanOctober 23, 2019Miss Virginia, Uzo AdubaComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: David Ehrlich's IndieWire Critics Survey on October 14, 2019

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best 21st Century movie about capitalism and class anxiety?

I gotta say, this topic was much tamer and quite the switch from the dangerous inquiry last week. Every generation and decade has their bumper crop of movies about our American capitalizm. In my lifetime, I point to Wall Street in the 80s and Boiler Room in the 90s. For this century, I went sentimental more than combative. The Big Short was a tempting second place choice.

Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2019Don ShanahanOctober 15, 2019David EhrlichComment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Lighthouse

Nothing about this place, its natural topography or its man-made constructs, looks, sounds, or feels comely. The disquiet is palpable. All the atmosphere is there in Robert Egger’s torturous and pin-pricking thriller. The unfortunate struggle is that the suspense ends there. There is not enough compelling story, mystery, or perversion to fill or overwhelm this eerie environment. All of the portending, however attuned it is to its sense of art, registers as pretentious.

2 STARS, 2019, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanOctober 14, 2019AMC River East 21The LighthouseComment

SHORT FILM REVIEW: Loyalty

As a school teacher by day beyond this role as a film critic, let me say that there can never be enough messages sent about the troubling epidemic of bullying. All are necessary. All are helpful. We need every personal testimonial. We need every pamphlet. We need every artistic measure of expression that can gather attention, provoke thoughts, and change a few hearts. The Chicago-made short film Loyalty from filmmaker Ira Childs is one of those necessary contributions. The short recently played at the 25th Black Harvest Film Festival at the Siskel Center.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: David Ehrlich's IndieWire Critics Survey on October 7, 2019

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the most “dangerous” movie of this century?

I’m not a believer that movies can incite violence, but I am a big believer that they can incite stupidity. Just like the poor fitness and health that comes from when all you eat is garbage, a mind can be trashed the same way. I put the school teacher hat on for my response to this week’s survey question and I don’t care if I get laughed at. Danger to me is seeing the youth of America in my classrooms accepting the Minions as high quality entertainment worth their screen time.

Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2019Don ShanahanOctober 9, 2019David EhrlichComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: David Ehrlich's IndieWire Critics Survey on September 30, 2019

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best biopic performance of all-time?

After a month off to accomodate the heart of festival season for David Ehrlich, the IndieWire Critics Survey returned this week to point at Renee Zellweger’s raved performance in Judy. The question was posed of what is the best biopic performance of all-time. A year ago, the question of the best biopic movie has been done on this survey (where I picked Raging Bull). For single performance, I went more musical.

Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2019Don ShanahanOctober 1, 2019David EhrlichComment

REVIEW COLLECTION: 5th annual Irish American Movie Hooley

As an Chicagoan of strong Irish descent myself, let me step in and play the part of “good authority.” I have it on good authority that the annual Irish American Movie Hooley is a boisterous event with a trio of buried treasure movies that normally wouldn’t grace American screens. Just as the event’s name translates: “When a party gets rowdy, the Irish call it a ‘hooley.’” You need to join the 5th edition of this artistic autumnal party at The Gene Siskel Film Center over the weekend of September 27–29. Come for the scene. Consume some friendly and fascinating culture. Here are my capsule reviews!

2019, Chicago Film Festival, EVENT, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 25, 2019Gene Siskel Film CenterComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted in Reel Chicago for the short film "A Sisterhood of Signatures"

I’ve know film critic and now filmmaker Okema “Seven” Gunn for a few years now. She is someone I recruited into the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle for a time. When she tabled her review writing to work on her passion project of making a film, I told her I would first in line to give her work a proper review. Her film, A Sisterhood of Signatures, premiered at the Black Harvest Film Festival and recently had another showing at the Oak Park International Film Festival. I’m happy it’s getting itself out there, and I’m glad the words of my positive review could be a benefit for the film, as seen in recent coverage featured in Reel Chicago written by Daniel Patton:

MOVIE REVIEW: Auggie

There is a fine line when using the verb “titillate.” Broadly, the word can simply mean “excite” or “thrill.” Taken more seriously, the word sharpens closer to “arouse” or “stimulate.” Context, ahem, is key. Auggie, the feature directorial debut of actor Matt Kane, walks that fine line of titillation and deftly blurs where to place its context on that line. This shrewd and stellar work creates a viewing effect in Auggie that tantalizingly bounces your comfort level between intimacy and voyeurism. This moral rattler deserves attention and praise as indie gem.

2019, 4 STARS, Independent Film, Video on DemandDon ShanahanSeptember 21, 2019Comment