GUEST COLUMN: 17 Best Relationship Lessons We Learned From Retro Movies

by Bethany Langston

Every film can provide us with some food for thoughts, especially those classic films with a simple plot and a natural range of emotions. Owing to the film plot, which represents any aspect of the relationship between people, we might not only get invaluable experience of acting in a certain situation but also collect plenty of powerful life lessons. So, let’s discover what are those relationship lessons we learned through watching old-fashioned films of the last century.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 20, 2020Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Tips for Creating the Ultimate Home Cinema

by Mike Cahill

Colder weather is approaching, and the average American’s options for outdoor activities are beginning to dwindle. While winter recreation can be a blast, there’s truly no better time to hunker down and enjoy the comfort of your own home. What better way to do that than building your own home theater? From cables and sound to projectors and comfy seats, we’re delivering the best tips on creating your perfect home theater from the professionals who know best. Whether you’re in Bedford or Portland, read on and learn how to create the best home theater experience on the block.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 11, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Redfin Blog Talking Home Theaters

My website was approached recently by the home buying website Redfin and their blogging area through writer Mike Cahill. They were looking for contributors to offer some insights on home theater setups to be included in a collected piece. Funny thing is, I’m not fancy. I don’t own a single 4K device or even a big screen TV either. What I do have is a 1080p-enabled DLP projector and a big blank white wall. That setup makes a 120-inch picture that costs half as much as a super-nice TV half that screen size. Call me a home cinema MacGyver because I’ll take that kind of look and savings. I impart a little of that recommendation in Redfin.

2019, Chicago Film Festival, EVENT, Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 11, 2020Quality ComixComment

FESTIVAL COVERAGE: Drive-In features come to the 56th Chicago International Film Festival

The 2020 edition of the Chicago International Film Festival will bring several of their Gala and World Premiere presentations to socially distant audiences from the comfort of their automobiles. The Chi-Town Movies Drive-In location in the trendy Pilsen neighborhood hosts the Opening Night documentary Belushi, the Closing Night Nomadland, and six more films in-between. Tickets are available only through online advance sales. The full festival runs from October 14-25.

GUEST COLUMN: Great Movies to Create a Retro Mood at Home

by Theresa Cofield

Whether you are a classic movie enthusiast or you simply enjoy retro style in movies, there are some movies for you to enjoy. Sometimes it is just needed, you want to stay at home and feel cozy. It’s also a great idea to enjoy retro settings with your friends or family members. Below you may find some interesting movies with descriptions. Check out these options, some of these movies are modern but create an unforgettable retro atmosphere. Others are retro movies considered to be the best masterpieces of all time.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 26, 2020 Comments

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" podcast and YouTube channel talking "A Face in the Crowd" for the ReelPolitik series

Throughout 2020, I’ve had the pleasure of being invited on Ian Simmons’ website “Kicking the Seat” to contribute to his year-long “Reelpolitik” series. Leading up to the hotly anticipated national election this November, Ian has been pulling aside classic films that exemplify politics with possible parallels to our present state today. This school teacher loves to talk on that kind of level. For my fourth appearance, Ian and I dive deep into Elia Kazan’s A Face in the Crowd from 1957, a punchy political satire starring a then-little known Andy Griffith in a shocking role far different than his future career peaks. Enjoy our discussion in podcast and video forms below!

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

GUEST COLUMN: Unbelievable Movies Based On True Stories That Deserve Documentary Status

by Kurt Waller

There are times when you search for great documentaries, but in the end, what you find are movies based on true stories that have enough in them to be called a documentary or be recorded as one but aren’t. These movies re-live those things that happened in real life over someone’s life. It could also be a global catastrophe or some other event, and they are amazing to watch.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, Social Media, SPECIAL, Video on DemandDon ShanahanSeptember 23, 2020 Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Top 10 Best College Movies

by Lewis Robinson

Whether you're in college, thinking about going to college soon, or just enjoy a good college flic, you may enjoy watching some of the movies on this list. Below are some of the top ten best college movies made in the last fifty years. Watch one tonight!

Column, Editorial, Essay, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Streaming, SPECIAL, Social MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 23, 2020Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Quality Comix discussing superhero diversity through "Black Panther"

I was approached recently for my second collaboration opportunity with 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 challenging history of superhero diversity. The people at Quality Comix enjoyed my perspective last time on Joker and wanted a contribution on Black Panther in respond to the passing of star Chadwick Boseman for their collected piece. I was happy to oblige speaking about that movie’s vast importance. Check out your boy!

2019, Chicago Film Festival, EVENT, Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 23, 2020Quality ComixComment

GUEST COLUMN: 4 Card Game Techniques Films Have Taught

by Kevin Gardiner

Playing a card game is a thrilling experience. It takes wits, luck and mastery of the body. Some of the best examples of well-played card games can be seen in film. Action heroes sit at a table and stare down an opponent. Tension fills the air as an entire life's savings is gambled. These scenes are not just thrilling cinematic moments. Each film with a high stakes card game contains the opportunity to learn. Film necessitates a clear cause of the hero's win or loss, so pointers on playing are nearly always provided. Here are 4 card game techniques films have taught.

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 12, 2020Comment

EDITORIAL: Movies and the 9/11 effect

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 11, 2020: In an update to my annual editorial (after the original post on the 10th anniversary in 2011), I’ve got new movie inclusions in several sections, including the most recent section of faded and relaxed sensitivity in films. I plan to make this an annual post and study for at least until the 20th anniversary in 2021.

Column, Editorial, LIST, Retrospective, SPECIAL, 2019Don ShanahanSeptember 11, 20209/11 anniversary, 9/11 films, 9/11, 9/11 movies, Movie based on 9/11Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Top Five Movies the Kids Will Love... (and Parents Too!)

by Devin Caldwell

Fall Time is always a special time of the year. It is the time of year where the weather begins to change and you are no longer able to play outside all of the time. This is the perfect time for you to grab a blanket, a bowl of popcorn, and snuggle up for a great movie. Here are some of the best movies for you and your family to watch this fall!

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanSeptember 9, 2020Comment