EDITORIAL: The 10 best Irish-themed films

I felt obligated to update an editorial list I made five years ago in 2012 of the best Irish-themed movies in time for celebrating St. Patrick's Day. It was due for a dusting with two new additions. For this list, I opened the field to either movies set in Ireland or those that feature notable Irish characters or stories outside of the Emerald Isle. That possibilities spanned movies both foreign and domestic. Pour the Guinness, heat the corned beef, and enjoy my list of the 10 best Irish-themed movies!

2017, Column, Editorial, SPECIAL, LISTDon ShanahanMarch 16, 20172017, Irish films, Irish American films, Ireland, Northern Ireland, films set in Ireland, Irish, Irish-themed films, Ireland films, St. Patrick's Day, Gangs of New York, Good Will Hunting, Ryan's Daughter, David Lean, Martin Scorsese, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cork, Palme d'Or, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, The Commitments, Dublin, Best Irish Film of All-Time, Jameson Whiskey, British Academy Award, Unbroken, Jack O'Connell, '71, In the Name of the Father, Yann Demange, Jim Sheridan, Oscar nominee, Michael Collins, Liam Neeson, P.S., P.S. I Love You, Gerard Butler, The Departed, The Boondock Saints, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Brooklyn, Saoirse Ronan, The Quiet Man, John Wayne, John Ford, Editorial, Column, UPDATE, film commentary, movie commentary, List, 10 Best, Top 10 list, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, The IrishmanComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Minisode #16 on "Feelin' Film"

This week, I joined host Aaron White on the "Feelin' Film" podcast channel for a Minisode on "Kong: Skull Island." Mr. White was just pimped with full press credentials this past week in the Seattle market and we were both lucky to see "Kong: Skull Island" early. Listen for a lively and free discussion about the return of Kong to the big screen.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "CinemaJaw" podcast #315

This past week, I was honored to be a guest on the CinemaJaw podcast, hosted by Matt K. and "Ry the Movie Guy" and ran by the "Best in the Biz." Since 2009, the Chicago-based trio of Matt Kubinski, Ryan Jagiello, and engineer Eliaz Gonzalez have put together one of the best and entertaining movie podcasts in this or any city. I'm a big fan of their work and you should be too.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Feelin' Film" post-Oscars podcast

One of the perks of becoming a regular blogging contributor on a podcast site is getting the occasional chance to appear on the actual podcast. Aaron White, one of the hosts of "Feelin' Film," connected time zones to bring myself and Popcorn Confessional critic Steve Clifton together for an extended post-Oscar wrap-up show. Listen to our reactions, rants, loves, and heartbreaks to both the 89th Academy Awards and the website's first annual "Feeler's Choice Awards."

2017, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 28, 20172017, 2017 Oscars, 2017 Oscar Predictions, Academy Award nominations, Academy Award, Academy Awards, Academy Award winner, Academy Award nominees, Academy Award nominee, 2017 Academy Awards, 89th Academy Awards, 89th Oscars, 90th Academy Awards, 90th Oscars, Oscar hopefuls, Oscar surprises, Oscar bait, Oscar Checklist, Oscar nominee, Oscar nominations, Oscar race, Oscar snubs, Oscar contenders, Oscar, Oscar Predictions, Oscars, #OscarsSoWhite, Oscar talks, Oscar winners, Awards bait, Awards, Awards Talk, Feeler Awards, Feelin' Film, Aaron White, Steve Clifton, Popcorn Confessional, Twitter, Feeler, fan-voting, Awards seasons, Awards Tracker, Award Prediction, Awards Predictions, SAG Award, BAFTA, Best Sound, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Motion Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Actor, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress, Best Animated Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Animated Short Film, Best Animated Short, Best Animated Feature, La La Land, Moonlight, Manchester by the Sea, Best Art Direction, Best Production Design, Best Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Musical Score, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Live Action Short Film, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Costume Design, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Short Film, Best Live Action Short, Best Foreign Film, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

EDITORIAL: 18 films to watch for the 2018 Oscars

When one Oscar ceremony ends (and then is stopped and ends again), the race for next year's trophies have already begun. Next year will be the historic 90th Academy Awards and I expect Hollywood to spare no expense (especially in the accounting department) to ensure a banner event. For my fifth year in a row now, I have made it a tradition the day after the Oscars to gaze into the crystal ball and lay out some deep prognostication.

EDITORIAL: Final 2017 Awards Tracker and Oscar Reactions

Between the prestigious Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday and the Academy Awards on Sunday, here are the final tallies for the 2017 Awards Tracker and my overall Oscar reactions in each category. Enjoy and see you this November when we fire all of this up again for the 90th Academy Awards!

2017, Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 27, 20172017, 2016 films, 2017 Awards Tracker, 2017 Academy Awards, 2017 Oscars, 2017 Oscar Predictions, Oscar talks, Oscars, Oscar bait, Oscar hopefuls, Oscar nominee, Oscar nominations, Oscar race, Oscar contenders, Oscar, Oscar Checklist, Oscar Predictions, Oscar surprises, Oscar snubs, Oscar winners, #OscarsSoWhite, 89th Oscars, 89th Academy Awards, Best Picture, The race for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actress, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Song, Best Original Score, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Musical Score, Best Live Action Short, Best Live Action Short Film, Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Short Film, Best Animated Short, Best Short Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Documentary, Best Documentary Feature, Best Directing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Makeup and Hair-Styling, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Foreign Film, Best Visual Effects, Best Screenplay, Awards Tracker, Awards Talk, Awards seasons, Awards, Award Prediction, Awards Predictions, Academy Awards, Academy Award winner, Academy Award nominees, Academy Award nominee, Academy Award nominations, Academy Award, Awards bait, SAG Award, Editorial, Column, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017: My full and official list of predictions

The 2017 Awards Tracker is full, the teas leaves have been read, the races have been broken down, and every category has been analyzed. I've made my detailed picks in seven columns and editorials over the past week. Here's my complete and master list. I've said it all along. Stick with me and I will win you that Oscar pool at home or at work! Use this as your checklist and cheat sheet of choice!

2017, Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 23, 20172017 Academy Awards, 2017, 2017 Oscars, 2017 Oscar Predictions, 89th Academy Awards, 89th Oscars, Awards Talk, Award Prediction, Awards, Awards bait, Awards Tracker, Awards seasons, Awards Predictions, Academy Award winner, Academy Award nominations, Academy Award nominees, Academy Awards, Academy Award nominee, Academy Award, Oscar winners, Oscar bait, Oscar, Oscar contenders, Oscar Predictions, Oscar snubs, Oscar race, Oscar talks, Oscar surprises, Oscar nominations, Oscars, Oscar hopefuls, Oscar nominee, List, Checklist, Oscar Checklist, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Picture, The race for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Live Action Short Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hair-Styling, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Song, Best Original Score, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017: The race for Best Picture

In this seventh and final post, we have reached the top of the mountain: Best Picture. I've said this through this entire Oscar prediction series and season. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017: The male acting awards

In this sixth post, we look at the races for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

2017, Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 22, 20172017, 2017 Oscars, 2017 Oscar Predictions, 2017 Academy Awards, Academy Award nominations, Academy Award winner, Academy Award nominee, Academy Award nominees, Academy Award, Academy Awards, 89th Academy Awards, 89th Oscars, Oscar bait, Oscar, Oscar winners, Oscar Predictions, Oscar race, Oscars, Oscar nominee, Oscar surprises, Oscar hopefuls, Oscar nominations, Oscar contenders, Oscar talks, Oscar snubs, #OscarsSoWhite, Awards Talk, Awards, Award Prediction, Awards seasons, Awards bait, Awards Predictions, Awards Tracker, SAG Award, Male acting awards, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actor, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson Comment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017: The female acting awards

n this fifth post, we look at the races for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

2017, Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 22, 20172017, 2017 Academy Awards, 2017 Oscar Predictions, 2017 Oscars, Oscar talks, Oscar snubs, Oscar race, Oscar Predictions, Oscars, 89th Oscars, 89th Academy Awards, Oscar nominee, Oscar nominations, Oscar contenders, Oscar winners, Oscar surprises, Oscar hopefuls, Oscar bait, Oscar, Academy Awards, Academy Award, Academy Award winner, Academy Award nominations, Academy Award nominee, Academy Award nominees, Awards Talk, Awards bait, Awards, Awards Tracker, Awards seasons, Award Prediction, Awards Predictions, Female acting awards, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Actress, Best Actress in a Leading Role, female leads, female protagonists, strong female protagonists, strong female character, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017: The writing and directing awards

In this fourth post, we look at the writing and directing awards covering Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2017: The visual and artistic categories

In this third post, we look at the visual and artistic categories which include Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup and Hair-Styling. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!