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 ShanahanFebruary 5, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 5

Bounding out of the stride-breaking fourth episode last week, the fifth episdoe of Marvel’s WandaVision on Disney+ increased the conflict and suspense both inside the “hex” and out. The creators are packing this show with mounds of details each time out and the actors are increasing their committed character work. 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 stand to be “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. We’ve been loving where this show is going and think you will too. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our chat for Episode 5:

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanFebruary 5, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" live YouTube recap for "Wandavision" Episode 4

The fourth episode of Marvel’s WandaVision playing on Disney+ sharply broke stride from the sitcom format to be one of the most sophisticated “clips” episodes you’ll ever see for any show. Histories were formed, theories were destroyed, and any lollygagging that annoyed casual viewers was smoked with new stakes. 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 stand to be “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” conducting LIVE “wecap” shows on YouTube. Catch us every Friday at 8:30pm CST! Here’s our talk for Episode 4:

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJanuary 29, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

INFOGRAPHIC QUIZ: Guess the film or TV show car in the classifieds

Some movies and series would be nothing without the cars – Doc Brown would’ve had some trouble getting back to the future without his DeLorean and David Hasselhoff couldn’t have done much crime fighting without K.I.T.T. Whilst some cars have been replicated for real life use (The Hoff’s own Knight Rider Pontiac is up for auction!) many only live on in our dreams. What if you could have all the bullet-proof, time-travelling, flying car tech in real life – how much would it cost to insure it? Admiral have analysed our fave pop culture cars and their owners to provide an insight into insurance considerations! These quotes were inspired by Admiral’s latest quiz – shop famous cars and homes in the Classifieds once you’ve done your research!

2021, Column, Editorial, Infographic, Social MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 29, 2021Comment

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