MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube channel talking movies in the time of quarantine

With all the multiplexes shut down and mainstream releases postponed for the foreseeable future, the #firstworldproblems life of your rank-and-file movie critic has become pretty rough in the time of the COVID-19 quarantine. A question was posed among us of what are we up to stuck in our pajamas with movies to dig through at home. Well, I was unshy about my beautifying bedtime ritual to get on camera in my bedroom attire with Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews for Ian Simmons and his Kicking the Seat YouTube channel to talk movies being consumed during our social distancing time! Enjoy!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanMarch 23, 2020AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast talking "Onward"

Boy, I tell you. You get right three men together with the right movie and hearts overflow. That was Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and myself sharing our experiences with Pixar’s Onward. All three of us are dads. All three of us are brothers in our families. The movie’s hearty feels won each of us over and it was a blast, as always, to talk about it on Ian’s recorded airwaves. Enjoy a good film-loving session!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanMarch 8, 2020AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Feelin' Film" podcast for "If Beale Street Could Talk"

As a special for Black History Month, I was honored to join Aaron White and Patrick Hicks of the Feelin' Film Podcast for an opportunity to love all over my #1 film of 2018, If Beale Street Could Talk from Moonlight Oscar winner Barry Jenkins. Joining me as another guest and bringing the dais to four was Kolby Mac, the new host of FF’s “Black Label” podcast. This was such a wonderful episode! Listeners are in for a treat! Take a listen to the episode here or below:

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "The Cinescope Podcast" reflecting on "John Carter"

This past week, I was invited and welcomed back to The Cinescope Podcast, hosted by Chad Hopkins. With appreciation for its zest and its history, Chad and I shared our love for Andrew Stanton’s 2012 Disney adventure John Carter. It was an excellent chat. This was my third time on Cinescope after previous episodes on E.T the Extra Terrestrial and The Karate Kid. I look forward to the next chance to join Chad. Enjoy the podcast! Listen or download below!

Media Appearance, MOVIE REVIEW, Podcast, Retrospective, Social Media, SPECIAL, Vintage Review, 2020, Home MediaDon ShanahanFebruary 14, 2020John CarterComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast and YouTube talking "Birds of Prey"

One thing that doesn’t need a title change is Ian Simmons’ Kicking the Seat podcast. The same cannot be said of Birds of Prey (and the Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. That movie was the discussion subject of the recent 499th episode of Ian’s program. He, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and I passed around the hair tie to talk about the colorful and not-to-soft Suicide Squid sequel and spin off. Enjoy us comic fans putting forth some insight and regret!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 14, 2020AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Feelin' Film" FF+ podcast for "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero"

Aaron White and Patrick Hicks of the Feelin' Film Podcast were offered the chance to review Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero from animator and voice actor Jordan Beck. With its educational aims, the two brought me in to be the third man and the teacher voice in their interview with Mr. Beck. The three of us loved the film, its values, and its themes. It was a please to speak with Jordan, who couldn’t have been more gracious and accomodating! Take a listen to the episode here or below:

APPEARANCE EVENT: Co-hosting a "Field of Dreams" seminar at SoxFest 2020

As part of SoxFest 2020, the Chicago White Sox will be promoting this August’s "Field of Dreams" game against the New York Yankees, presented by GEICO, in Dyersville, Iowa at the site of the famous and beloved 1989 movie. On Friday, January 24th at SoxFest, fans can join Chicago Indie Critics members Leo Brady of AMovieGuy.com and myself for a seminar discussing Field of Dreams and its significance to the White Sox organization. Come out and support the White Sox, the excellent movie, and the Chicago Indie Critics!

2020, CIC, EVENT, Media Appearance, RetrospectiveDon ShanahanJanuary 22, 2020SoxFest 2020Comment

SPECIAL: Fourth annual CIC Award Winners

I was among the 20 prolific members of Chicago Indie Critics who cast their final ballots last week to declare the winners of 23 categories for their fourth annual film awards. At a special ceremony open to the public last evening at the Cards Against Humanity Theater in Chicago hosted by stand-up comedienne and former film critic Katie Baker, the CIC film critics, fans, and guests gathered to celebrate milestones, commiserate among peers and professionals, and honor the very best from 2019.

2019, CIC, EVENT, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 6, 2020Cards Against Humanity TheaterCIC, CIFCC, Chicago Indie CriticsComment

SPECIAL: Fourth annual CIC Award Nominations

Leading all films with an impressive eight nominations is Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women. Two of those nominations highlight Gerwig’s work as a director and screenwriter. Following next with seven nominations each is the quartet of The Irishman, Marriage Story, 1917, and Parasite. On an individual level leading the field, Parasite’s Bong Joon-ho earned five personal nominations and Lulu Wang of The Farewell earned four across the 23 categories. In all, 43 films are represented with nominations for the 2019 CIC Awards.

2019, CIC, EVENT, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 29, 2019Cards Against Humanity TheaterCIC, CIFCC, Chicago Indie CriticsComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast and talking "All the President's Men" for the "ReelPolitk" series

If the two of us were paid for doing this stuff, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat and I would be following the money for All the President’s Men. For a little something different than our usual big roundtables for new movies, Ian and I put the recorders on to mix politics and movies together. The dark parking garage was optional. For nearly an hour, we build bridges between old brilliance and analog journalism to our 24-hour news cycle and current times with this masterpiece being the mold. Enjoy this very topical and jovial shared conversation!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2019Don ShanahanDecember 23, 2019AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, JokerComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast and YouTube talking "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

The dead speak! On an early morning in advance of its much ballyhooed release, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat assembled the clones of myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and Mike Crowley of You’ll Probably Agree to put all of our Midichlorians on the table to immediately react to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. There’s so much forceful spirit on this dais, you would think it’s the real versions of all of us. Enjoy this podcast episode!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2019Don ShanahanDecember 23, 2019AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, JokerComment

GUEST COLUMN: Christmas Movies for Couples: Make Your Christmas Ideal

By Cheryl Hearts

When the weather outside is cold, the best way to enjoy your stay with your partner indoors is by watching a romantic Christmas movie with them. Nothing beats having a homemade dinner or a well-baked pizza, a bottle of quality wine, a dark room, and a huge TV for Christmas with your partner. This kind of romantic atmosphere helps you build a new level of intimacy that would strengthen your relationship and make you cherish the value of being with your partner.