MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Cinematic Underdogs" podcast talking "Moneyball"

Through mutual social circles within the Facebook group of the Feelin’ Film Podcast, I was approached by Paul Keelan, one of the hosts of the Cinematic Underdogs podcast, to be a guest on their program. Joined by Jordan Puga, they’ve been targeting sports films for extended conversations. They pitched me to talk about Bennett Miller’s 2011 gem Moneyball, continuing a streak of behind-the-scenes sports movies. Talking with Paul as the “bonus episode” following the main show, our conversation went on to cover film criticism tropes, my hot take of The Tree of Life, and eventually, as planned, our impressions and musings on Moneyball.

2021, Home Media, Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 27, 2021Quality ComixComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Quoted on Urban Parks discussing Boston movies

I was approached recently for my third collaboration opportunity with Quality Comix, a successful comic sales website which puts out their own editorial content alongside their marketplace. Working for a tangent website of Urban Parks, the edutosr there were looking for the best Boston movies. From a big list of possibilities, I picked out a good five to contribute to their list: Good Will Hunting, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Verdict, The Town, and Spotlight. They came to the right place. Check out your boy!

2019, Chicago Film Festival, EVENT, Independent Film, Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 24, 2021Quality ComixComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 3

After two stylishly establishing episodes, the third episode of Marvel’s WandaVision playing on Disney+ looks to jump a little more on that springboard of grabbing interest. The questions and the role players are multiplying with this comic book deep dive and I’m along for the ride. “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” have punched their streaming ticket for this ride! Each week, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat will host our usual quartet, including myself, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our talk for Episode 3:

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJanuary 22, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

GUEST CRITIC #56: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanJanuary 21, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #55: Mank

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanJanuary 21, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episodes 1 and 2

Marvel’s brand-new foray into episodic television with WandaVision playing in Disney+ has brought out a first for me here on Every Movie Has a Lesson, namely talking television instead of movies. Ask anyone who knows me as a long-time cable cutter. I don’t consume anywhere near the content volume of the average viewer. Getting to talk about comics-based fun with “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” the way we do after movies created an easy exception to give TV a try. Each week, Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat will host our usual quartet, including myself, Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews, and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJanuary 18, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube channel talking "Wonder Woman 1984"

Back in December, I took my place among “Earth's Mightiest Critics” on Ian Simmons’ YouTube channel for Kicking the Seat to close out 2020 with the bizarre and divisive Wonder Woman 1984. Myself, Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and Emmanuel Noisette of E-Man’s Movie Reviews threw our lassos around the mixed back of a sequel. Enjoy our spoiler-packed round table digs into comics origins, missed opportunities, surprisingly effective heart-over-head moments, and the down side of politically charged comic-book movies.

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJanuary 17, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

GUEST CRITIC #54: Hillbilly Elegy

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanJanuary 15, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: An Ultimate Guide to Write Movie Scripts

by Jessica Fender

Writing a movie script may sound like a super-easy and fun thing to do. You’ve got an idea in your mind so, how hard can it be? But, talent and great ideas aren’t sufficient for writing a great movie script. It’s certainly an obligatory precondition, but it takes more than being super-creative and imaginative. Apart from that, you need to know how to develop the storyline and cover all the elements of writing a great movie script. That’s why we’ve put together this guide with all the steps you need to make. We’ll teach you what you need to do and what order to follow when creating brilliant movie scripts. Let’s take a closer look!

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Social MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 12, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #53: Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanJanuary 8, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #52: The Players Club

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanJanuary 3, 2021Comment

SPECIAL: Winners of the fifth annual Chicago Indie Critics Awards

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted from August Wilson’s stage play, dominated this year’s CIC Awards, winning seven of its nine nominations. Topmost, the Netflix original film was named the Best Studio Film in a tie with another offering from the streaming leader, Best Director winner Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom also won awards for adapted screenplay, lead actor, lead actress, ensemble cast, costume design, and makeup.