Posts in Social Media
CAPSULE REVIEWS: The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival
CAPSULE REVIEWS: The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival

The 53rd Chicago International FIlm Festival brings over 1,000 films of all genres and sizes to our fair city.  There are premieres aplenty, between those making their world, North American, or Chicago debuts.  Opening with a red carpet premiere of Marshall, peaking with the centerpiece of Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, and closing with the Oscar contender The Shape of Water from Guillermo del Toro, the 53rd CIFF fills the AMC River East 21 for two weeks.  For the fourth year in a row, Every Movie Has a Lesson has been granted press credentials to cover the CIFF and here are my capsule reviews.

Read More
2017, CAPSULE REVIEW, Chicago Film Festival, Film Festival, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanThe 53rd Chicago International Film Festival2017, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, Chicago International Film Festival, 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, 53rd CIFF, CIFF, #CIFCCattheCIFF, Opening Night Gala, Opening Night Film, Special Presentations, U.S. Indies, City and State, World Cinema, Cinema of the Americas, Shorts, Marshall, Eman's Movie Reviews, Emmanuel Noisette, Chadwick Boseman, Sterling K. Brown, Jussie Smollett, Marina Squerciati, Reginald Hudlin, red carpet, red carpet coverage, MovieMob, Goodbye Christopher Robin, Simon Curtis, Blueprint, Daryl Wein, Jerod Haynes, Chasing the Blues, Scott Smith, Kevin Guilfoile, Liquid Truth, The Shape of Water, Lady Bird, Caroline Jabor, Daniel de Oliviera, Night Shift, Tunde Adebimpe, Gold Hugo, Gold Hugo AwardComment
MOVIE REVIEW: Liquid Truth
MOVIE REVIEW: Liquid Truth

The discolored and dingy tile grout at the bottom of a swimming pool and the imagery effect of rippling water seen under the surface bending the images above perspective starkly symbolize the many warped dimensions of Liquid Truth.  The truth in the title is as slippery as the water in director Caroline Jabor’s simmering social commentary.  The film may be foreign from Brazil, but it typifies all too many social media ills that would explode in a parallel fashion here in this country.

Read More
2017, 4 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Chicago Film Festival, Film Festival, Foreign Film, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social MediaDon ShanahanThe 53rd Chicago International Film Festival2017, Brazil, Liquid Truth, helicopter parenting, WeAreTeachers, Dr. Carolyn Daitch, Lucas Paraizo, Best Narrative Film, Rio International Film Festival, Aos Teus Olhos, Audience Award, Malu Galli, Stella Rabello, Luiz Felipe Mello, Marco Ricca, Facebook, Instagram, Luisa Arraes, Daniel de Oliviera, 53rd Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, World Cinema, Cinema of the Americas, Caroline Jabor, film review, movie review, foreign film, Foreign films, foreign langugage film, foreign films, life lessons from foreign films, movie critic, film critic, CIFCC, CIFF, #CIFCCattheCIFF, social commentary, social media platform, social media, life lessons, life lessons from movies, independent film, independent films, films of Brazil, film festival, Festival review, Festival coverage, festival preview, movie reviews, movie commentary, film commentary, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Lisa TrifoneComment
SHORT FILM REVIEW: Loyalty or Betrayal
SHORT FILM REVIEW: Loyalty or Betrayal

By design and in the name of essential effectiveness, a good short film has to cut to the chase.  Their tricks of cinematic shorthand in the exposition department are what make them entertaining.  When the micro-budgeted Loyalty and Betrayal opens on the imagery of a man on his bedroom floor putting a gun to his forehead, a chase has certainly been cut.  Writer/director Jonathan Vargas grabs us right there and locks our gaze.

Read More
2017, 3 STARS, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, SHORT FILMS, Social MediaDon Shanahan2017, Short films, short film commentary, Short Film, short films, short film review, short film, Loyalty and Betrayal, Richard Sosa, Steven D. Mairano, Robert Rios, Jonathan Vargas, life lessons from movies, life lessons from short films, life lessons, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, film review, movie review, film commentary, movie commentary, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment
MOVIE REVIEW: The Dunning Man
MOVIE REVIEW: The Dunning Man

Inspired by true events, which will cause a fun double take as the film transpires, The Dunning Man is adapted from the published short stories of producer Kevin Fortuna.  Precariously, at times, balancing somewhere between an urban drama and paperback crime novel, the film presents a seedy slice of Atlantic City calmed by nostalgic scene transitions of vintage footage of the city in its decadent heyday.

Read More
2017, 3 STARS, Chicago Film Festival, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social MediaDon ShanahanGene Siskel Film Center2016, 2017, The Dunning Man, Irish, Irish films, Irish-themed films, Irish American films, Irish American Movie Hooley, 2017 Irish American Movie Hooley, 3rd annual Irish American Movie Hooley, Ireland, Ireland films, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Hibernian Transmedia, Movie Hooley, Gene Siskel Film Center, Siskel Film Center, Opening Night Film, Mike Houlihan, Atlantic City, Dun, James Carpinello, Gotham, Tom Kemp, Manchester by the Sea, Luke Cage, Queen Sugar, Green Zone, Nicoye Banks, Langston Fishburne, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Matthew Rimmer, Scott Oakley, Kevin Fortuna, Michael Clayton, Petr Cikhart, San Jose Film Festival, Hoboken Film Festival, Emerald Loop Bar, film review, movie review, film commentary, movie commentary, film critic, movie critic, CIFCC, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, life lessons, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, life lessons from movies, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment
CAPSULE REVIEWS: The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley
CAPSULE REVIEWS: The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley

The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley is happening this weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center from September 29-October 1st.  This very writer and website was both lucky and honored to cover this event last year and has again been granted coverage access this year.  The event is comprised of three feature films, two of which are directorial debuts, all of whom are making their Chicago premieres.  Here are my capsule reviews of the three films.  Get your Irish on at the Siskel Film Center this weekend!

Read More
2017, CAPSULE REVIEW, Film Festival, Independent Film, Foreign Film, Social Media, SPECIALDon Shanahan2017, 2017 Irish American Movie Hooley, 3rd annual Irish American Movie Hooley, Irish, Irish films, Ireland, Ireland films, films set in Ireland, Irish American Movie Hooley, Irish-themed films, Irish American films, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Gene Siskel Film Center, Barbara Scharres, Mike Houlihan, Hibernian Transmedia, The Dunning Man, Michael Clayton, James Carpinello, Emerald City, Colin Broderick, John Duddy, John McConnell, John Keating, Rachel Broderick, The Young Offenders, Alex Murphy, Chris Walley, Peter Foott, Cork, Kevin FortunaComment
PREVIEW: The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley
PREVIEW: The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley

The Gene Siskel Film Center will host the third annual Irish American Movie Hooley from September 29-October 1st.  This year’s event is comprised of three feature films, two of which are directorial debuts, all of whom are making their Chicago premieres.   All screenings and events are at the Gene Siskel Film Center.  his very writer and website was both lucky and honored to cover this event last year and will again this year.  Stay tuned here for future capsule reviews and full reviews.  

Read More
2017, Film Festival, Independent Film, Foreign Film, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanGene Siskel Film Center2017, Irish, Irish American films, Irish American Movie Hooley, Irish films, Irish-themed films, Mike Houlihan, Gene Siskel Film Center, 2017 Irish American Movie Hooley, 3rd annual Irish American Movie Hooley, The Dunning Man, Emerald City, The Young Offenders, Barbara Scharres, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Colin Broderick, Kevin FortunaComment
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Underrated Podcast" loving on "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Underrated Podcast" loving on "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"

Two fine gentlemen of strong opinions that I've conversed with and debated often through my participation over at the Feelin' Film Podcast are Gabriel Green and James Hamrick, the creators and hosts of the "Underrated Podcast."  Their aim is field listener and guest selections of films that fit the underrated billing reflected either by low box office results or low critical review aggregate scores.  My pick and our show's topic was Ben Stiller's 2012 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Read More
2012, 2017, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIALDon Shanahan2017, 2012, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Podcast, podcast guest, podcast discussion, podcasting, podcast, Underrated Podcast, Gabriel Green, James Hamrick, Guest Critic, guest review, guest critic, vintage review, life lessons, Underrated, underrated films, underrated movies, Rotten TomatoesComment
GUEST CRITIC #25: It
GUEST CRITIC #25: It

Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews is an emerging film critic tackling both written and video reviews.  His YouTube channel is must-watch and automatic-subscribe material.  Emmanuel is one of the co-directors with me of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle. Between us two busy Chicago critics and working fathers, Emmanuel and I are orchestrating a trade of "guest reviews" for each other's sites.  Horror is not my cup of tea and he was all over It.

Read More
Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanAMC River East 21Emmanuel Noisette, Eman's Movie Reviews, Guest Column, guest critic, Guest Critic series, guest review, Guest Editorial, Guest Critic, It, Stephen King, film critic, film critics, movie critic, movie critics, CIFCC, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, Movie Mob, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, YouTube channel, film review, movie review Comment
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Page 2 Screen" podcast talking 20 years of "L.A. Confidential"
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Page 2 Screen" podcast talking 20 years of "L.A. Confidential"

 I joined Jeff York recently as his guest for a special 20th-anniversary 35mm screening of 1997's Oscar-winning L.A. Confidential at the storied Music Box Theatre as part of the Noir City Chicago Festival.  As an added treat, author James Ellroy was in the house to kick things off with an expletive-laden bang.  After the screening, he and I hunkered down in Frio Gelato near the theatre to share our admiration and examination of Curtis Hanson's masterpiece.

Read More
Film Festival, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, Vintage ReviewDon ShanahanFrio Gelatopodcast discussion, Podcast, podcasting, podcast guest, podcast, International Screenwriters' Association, ISA, Curious About Screenwriting, Curious About Screenwriting Network, Page 2 Screen, Page 2 Screen podcast, Jeff York, Jeffrey York, Jeff York Caricatures, The Establishing Shot, CIFCC, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, film critics, Post-film reactions, Post-film roundtable, Post-movie reactions, movie critics, movie critic, screenwriters, Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson, James Ellroy, Noir City, Noir City Chicago, Noir City Chicago Film Festival, Festival coverage, L.A. Confidential, film review, movie review, movie commentary, film commentary, vintage review, Top 5, Top 5 list, Frio Gelato, Music Box Theatre, life lessons from films, life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, 1997, 1997 films, 20th AnniversaryComment
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Discussing July and the top films of 2017 on the "Reel Talker" podcast
MEDIA APPEARANCE: Discussing July and the top films of 2017 on the "Reel Talker" podcast

Fellow CIFCC critic and director Jim Alexander of Reel Talker extended the invitation for me to co-host a new episode of his podcast.  On this installment of the Reel Talker podcast, Jim and I discuss the July movie releases and which we consider hits or flops.  Also, he and I disclose our Top 10 movie lists through the halfway point of 2017.  Jim and I had very different picks, chock full of surprises!

Read More
2017, Media Appearance, Podcast, SPECIAL, Social MediaDon Shanahanpodcast, podcast discussion, Podcast, podcasting, podcast guest, Reel Talker podcast, Reel Talker, The Reel Talker, Jim Alexander, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, CIFCC, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Dunkirk, Spider-Man: Homecoming, War for the Planet of the Apes, Best of 2017 (so far), Best of 2017, film critics, movie critics, movie discussion, film discussion, 2017 Summer Movies, critics roundtable, critics reactions, Post-film reactions, Post-movie reactions, Post-movie roundtable, Post-film roundtableComment
MEDIA APPEARANCE: "Feelin' Film" podcast minisode on "Detroit"
MEDIA APPEARANCE: "Feelin' Film" podcast minisode on "Detroit"

Kathryn Bigelow's new film Detroit deserves the attention and lightning rod attraction it hopes to receive.  Her historical drama is unrelenting in weight and topical in its parallels to similar and remaining mistreatment still happening today.  On the same night as seeing an advance screening, three critics got together to unpack and reaction to Detroit.  Aaron White, one of the hosts of the Feelin' Film Podcast, invited me and fellow Chicago critic Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews to put our thoughts and feelings into words.

Read More
2017, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanFeelin' Film, Feelin' Film+, Feelin' It, Feelin' Film Podcast, Minisode, podcasting, podcast guest, podcast, podcast discussion, Podcast, Eman, Eman's Movie Reviews, Emmanuel Noisette, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, CIFCC, Aaron White, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, film critics, movie critics, movie discussion, film discussion, critics reactions, critics roundtable, roundtable, Post-film roundtable, Post-film reactionsComment
MOVIE CLASSROOM: A Ghost Story
MOVIE CLASSROOM: A Ghost Story

If you remember from my recent appearance on an minisode of the Feelin' Film podcast, I cannot be the only person who needed a therapy session after this film.  David Lowery's film has been a transcendental experience for some audiences and something oddly impatient that sends others that will walk out scratching their heads.  See where I fall with the "Movie Classroom" version of my review

Read More
2017, Social Media, SPECIAL, VIDEO REVIEWDon ShanahanMovie Classroom, YouTube, YouTube channel, social media, social commentary, social media platform, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, ShowMe, interactive whiteboard, interactive whiteboard app, life lessons from movies, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, movie review, film review, video review, A Ghost Story, Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, David Lowery, A24, A24 Films, ghost storiesComment