PODCAST: Episode 223 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 223rd episode, two gun-totting critics, two bath-soaked dads, and two too-old-for-this teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, come out of the Christmas season with a special gift shared from them to all of you. They are in the camp that considers Lethal Weapon a Christmas movie. Well, this year, the podcast bestows to you a special episode that covers all four films of the Lethal Weapon series. They cover their heroes, villains, explosions, gags, and moments from what has become an action movie time capsule that will never be made the same way again.

PODCAST: Episode 222 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 222nd episode, two Catholic-bred critics, two suspicious dads, and two investigative teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, let Netflix tell them what to love and enjoy for one week. Hopping to something current, our hosts watched and compared their examinations for Wake Up Dean Man, the latest whodunit from Rian Johnson, who has very quickly mastered the murder mystery genre. Get a taste of this comfort food murder mayhem.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Prime Timer "Signing Tony Raymond"

It took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a few quotes of mine on the college football recruitment-centered 2026 release Signing Tony Raymond were recently cited on the media site Primetimer.com. Writer Santanu Das wrote a piece to explain the film’s plotlines and ending. The quotes from from my review on Every Movie Has a Lesson and Film Obsessive.

Media Appearance, Social Media, 2026Don ShanahanJanuary 23, 2026Media Appearance, Signing Tony RaymondComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's YouTube Channel Talking "Is This Thing On?"

Continuing to plod through “awards season,” Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel circled Bradley Cooper’s newest directorial effort, Is This Thing On?. The dramedy follows a separated married couple played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern as they find new outlets while single, including standup comedy.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's YouTube Channel Talking "Boogie Nights"

Diving into the physical media front, Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel sought to cover Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 classic Boogie Nights. Several critics, including myself and Ian, received the new 4K-UHD disc edition of the film and took that opportunity to talk as cleanly as possible for YouTube censors, PTA’s ins-and-outs of the 1970s and 1980s porn scene of southern California.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Dutchman

Less would have been more, and less was already enough with The Dutchman. The movie never had to leave the train or the topics unleashed there. The originally intended inescapable struggle is demystified the moment it treads away from it. Worse, by leaving and constantly pointing at the fact that the very theatrical setting exists and supposedly still looms large, it negates what made it powerful and great in the first place.

2025, 2026, Independent Film, Media Appearance, 2 STARSDon ShanahanJanuary 3, 2026The Dutchman, Andre Holland, Kate Mara, Zazie Beetz, Andre GainesComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Daily Mail UK piece for "Pride and Prejuduce"

It took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a quote of mine on the excellent 2005 Joe Wright film Pride and Prejuduce was recently cited on the media site Daily Mail UK. Showbiz report Emma Guinness wrote a piece to cover the film’s streaming status on Netflix and used it as the crux of the headline.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Included in Rotten Tomatoes "First Reviews" for "Anaconda"

Every now and then for the big new releases, Rotten Tomatoes will collect the tip-of-the-spear “first reviews” and highlight them in an editorial news column piece. If I can get my work in fast enough and it gets noticed, I have the chance of being selected and included in these round-up features. Recently, I was cited for Anaconda.

Media Appearance, 2025Don ShanahanDecember 24, 2025Rotten Tomatoes, Every Movie Has a Lesson, AnacondaComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the Kicking the Seat's YouTube Channel Talking "Song Sung Blue"

Every week, Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel is looking for something like that, and he sure found one this week, just in time for Christmas. The movie in question is the crowd-pleasing, toe-tapping, and heart-moving Song Sung Blue, the musical biopic—not of Neil Diamond—but of a Wisconsin-based Neil Diamond tribute band starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted by Sky Cinema for "Mad Max: Fury Road"

It took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a quote of mine was used by the Sky Cinema Railyard location in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They are currently advertising a special showing of the 2015 action epic Mad Max: Fury Road.and used my blurb from Rotten Tomatoes. They didn’t ask for my permission, but I don’t mind. Thanks for the reference and clicks!

2025, Media Appearance, Social MediaDon ShanahanDecember 23, 2025Media Appearance, Rotten Tomatoes, Sky Cinema, Mad Max: Fury RoadComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Metro UK piece for "Pride and Prejuduce"

It took receiving a Google Alert on my name to see that a quote of mine on the sumptuous 2005 Joe Wright film Pride and Prejuduce was recently cited on the media site Metro. TV reporter Charlotte Minter wrote a piece to cover the film’s streaming status on Netflix and how it would be perfect for home viewing during the Christmas holiday.

PODCAST: Episode 221 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 221st episode, two football fan critics, two sobbing dads, and two motivated teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, enjoy a little corner of football while the NFL season is chugging towards the playoffs. The two venture in the realm of a classic TV movie with Brian's Song, starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Both of our hosts have personal connections to the college it was filmed at, which the Chicago Bears used to call their training camp home for decades. Come learn more and stay for the mutual love and respect that fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!