CHECKLIST: 21 films to watch for the 2021 Oscars

In what has become an annual Monday morning Oscar hangover, this website looks down the calendar and into the crystal ball to prognosticate which 2020 films could be contenders for the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021. Who could possible top the history that was Parasite? Many will try and they may very well come from this scouting report. No sooner than the sun rises and coffee pots turn on, the next Oscar season starts now! Here’s your eighth year of advance scouting courtesy of Every Movie Has a Lesson.

2019, Column, Editorial, LIST, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 10, 2020Comment

FEATURE: Final 2020 Awards Tracker

Welcome to the ninth year of Every Movie Has a Lesson's "Awards Tracker." My goal every year is simple: Help each and every one of you win your Oscar pools. As a member of three recognized awards-voting bodies of film critics (OFCS, OFTA, and Chicago Indie Critics), it’s a pleasure and honor to see my own picks made it into the award season discussion. Here's how this little page of my personal interest works. I find value in tracking the trends and following the tea leaves of the all the minor lead-up awards before the Oscars. I chart the winners of each category with listed winners and comments on the surrounding buzz.

FINAL TAKE: Prediction-wise, I was a so-so 16 of 24. Not great, but not bad. I’ll take being wrong to watch a night of history honoring women and international film!

2020, 2019, Best Films, Column, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 9, 2020Comment

CHECKLIST: My full predictions for the 92nd Academy Awards

All of the tea leaves on my 2020 Awards Tracker have been seeped in the cups of buzz. The analysis and breakdown from my seven editorial columns of detailed picks are complete using my head more than my heart. These aren’t my personal choices of what “should” win. It’s what I think “will” win because you and I have got Oscar pools to dominate! Here are my complete and official predictions for the 92nd Academy Awards. Feel free to use this as your cut-to-the-chase checklist and cheat sheet of choice!

2019, Column, Editorial, LIST, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 7, 2020Comment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020: The race for Best Picture

The short turnaround 92nd Academy Awards arrive host-free for the second consecutive year on Sunday, February 9th, barely a month after nominations were announced. The pace has added excitement and urgency right on down to my website’s 2020 Awards Tracker. Let’s start calling some winners. You have made it until the end. This last chapter column examines the Best Picture race. As I say every year, stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

2019, Column, Editorial, Foreign Film, Independent Film, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 6, 2020Comment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020: The male acting awards

It’s time to breakdown each category and put some stone cold predictions into digital ink. Throughout the busy awards season, this website’s 2019 Awards Tracker has been my workspace to tally all the early award winners. That prognostication data is cited in these predictions. This column examines the races for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. As I say every year, stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

Column, Editorial, SPECIAL, 2019, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 6, 2020Comment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020: The female acting awards

It’s time to breakdown each category and put some stone cold predictions into digital ink. Throughout the busy awards season, this website’s 2019 Awards Tracker has been my workspace to tally all the early award winners. That prognostication data is cited in these predictions. This column examines the races for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. As I say every year, stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

2019, Column, Editorial, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 6, 2020Comment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020: The writing and directing awards

It’s time to breakdown each category and put some stone cold predictions into digital ink. Throughout the busy awards season, this website’s 2019 Awards Tracker has been my workspace to tally all the early award winners. That prognostication data is cited in these predictions. This column examines the screenplay and directing awards. As I say every year, stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

Column, Editorial, SPECIAL, 2019, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 6, 2020Comment

OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020: The minor film categories

The short turnaround 92nd Academy Awards arrive host-free for the second consecutive year on Sunday, February 9th, barely a month after nominations were announced. The pace has added excitement and urgency right on down to my website’s 2020 Awards Tracker. Let’s start calling some winners. This column examines the minor film categories of international, animated, and documentary films. As I say every year, stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

2019, Column, Editorial, Foreign Film, Independent Film, SPECIAL, SHORT FILMSDon ShanahanFebruary 5, 2020Comment

EDITORIAL: Who the odds favor for the 92nd Academy Awards

Even if we feel very sure about which name is going to come out of an Oscar envelope on the stage of Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, there is still a frozen moment of anticipation. The outcome could elicit two results of satisfaction. First, we are either rooting for a personal favorite that carried our hopes. Alternatively and second, we want to have our predictions come true to validate our opinions. With the awards season coming to an end, there are many potential Academy Award winners for its upcoming 92nd annual ceremony that feel like foregone conclusions or leadpipe locks. Why? Well, there are odds and trends to examine in many directions.

2020, Editorial, SPECIALDon ShanahanFebruary 3, 2020Comment

CAPSULE REVIEWS: The 2020 Academy Award nominees for Best Animated Short

They may not get much attention when they’re not made by Disney and not appearing in front of their animated tentpoles, but the artistry and creativity is alive and well in the field of animated short films. This year’s five nominees for the 92nd Academy Award are some of the most stark and unique entries I’ve seen in the years I’ve been able to cover the annual best. Below are my capsule reviews of this year’s final five for Best Animated Short. Naturally, my niche of life lessons are included. Like the documentaries and live-action shorts in other Oscar categories, the animated films are presently collected in a single program to watch on the big screen at Landmark Theatre locations nationwide, including the three venues here in Chicago.

GUEST COLUMN: 7 Best Movies About Advertising and Marketing That You Must Watch

by Marie Barnes

Do you watch movies just for fun? Well, we are sure that movies may have a more significant influence than only amusement. What’s more, some of them may even reflect on our careers and teach us valuable lessons. Here is a list of 8 best movies for those who are into advertising and marketing. The movies mentioned below can teach us many valuable marketing lessons. They are just a few examples that can trigger all sorts of marketing insights and motivation. What movies have been useful in your career as a marketer or have inspired your inner marketer?

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 31, 2020Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Go See a Movie

by Kevin Gardner

Going to the movies used to be a special event. Getting there early enough to get the best seats was a plus. Buying a big tub of popcorn drenched in salt and "butter" and of course a giant-sized soft drink to wash it down was a must. However, something has changed in the last several years. Streaming services such as Netflix or Hulu are offering more and more stay-at-home fare for one low monthly price. Now it seems staying home with family or a group of friends seems to be the way to go for many people.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 28, 2020Comment