MOVIE REVIEW: Happiest Season

The tug-of-war in Happiest Season between head and heart is everything. Even as a fictional holiday yarn, the setting of Clea DuVall’s comedy is rooted in a present social landscape where even the legalization of same-sex marriage five years ago has not reduced or healed all of the emotional risks and scars associated with being out on the matters of love. Poking fun at the hijinks of going back to a conservative home for Christmas is one thing. Layering the very tangible anxiety of LGBTQ+ societal fears within those laughs is quite another. Happiest Season earns worthy pride for its willingness and openness to hug out that daunting task.

2020, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on Demand, 2 STARSDon ShanahanNovember 23, 2020Happiest SeasonComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Run

The keys to the balance on the table are patience and precision. Suspense films with the composure of choosing its show vs. tell spots resonate better than smash-and-slash roller coasters and talkative bores. Chaganty and Ohanian came to Run with a strong premise that had depth of question marks to present behind it. Too many other thrillers never make it past their single starting idea. The duo slow-plays their escalating premise in a film that never seems to run out of constricting connections.

2020, 4 STARS, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanNovember 21, 2020Run Comment

COLUMN: Best User Choice of Video Downloader for Your Favorite Movies

Those days are gone when we buy CDs, and DVDs to watch our favorite movies. Now, in this modern world of technology, many people like to see movies online, and also, they have the facility to download them on their smart devices. In today's context, we are going to learn about the basic concepts of the best movie downloaders. Moreover, we will also concentrate on the tricks and values of the latest techniques. So, if you want to save your time, searching for the best video downloaders that can save movies, then read on!

2020, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, StreamingDon ShanahanNovember 19, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Fatman

You know what? I hear you. How can Fatman remotely be good? You watch that grim trailer that looks like something intentionally fake right out of Saturday Night Live’s penchant for such parody and shake your head. You consider the violent premise and think Fatman is going to all be schlocky pulp. And then, what to my wondering eyes did appear, this flick turned into something wholly unexpected, yet still with the meaty side of the lurid. Ring those f’n sleigh bells!

2020, 3 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanNovember 17, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Soaring higher than any fabric or falsetto are the uplifting themes of this rich fable written and directed by David E. Talbert. “Revolutionary” is the adjective it aims for and achieves. Seeing all the STEM skills and encouragement on display, some school teacher out there (OK, maybe this one) is going to love this movie and slap a “Growth Mindset” stick on it. Go right ahead, educators. A movie like this is squeaky clean and classroom-ready for repeat enjoyment and pertinent talking points. Yoke its energy and foster that creativity!

2020, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanNovember 15, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Freaky

If you picture Freaky’s premise before you and say “I can’t even,” just like a lazy Millennial, do a turnaround. Retort, as another future victim in the movie does, with “not with that attitude.” Say you “can” or “fo’ sho’” or whatever the whipper-snappers are saying these days to agree. Scripted by Christopher Landon (the two Happy Death Day movies) and Bordertown writer Michael Kennedy, this mashup of body swap comedy cliches and high school horror tropes turned out to be an artery-bursting romp.

2020, 3 STARS, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanNovember 12, 2020 Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Proxima

The dramatic heartstrings of Proxima lie in the realization and reflection of what one will miss from being away and isolated for an extended period of time. Once again, multiple the usual working parent woes. The emotional pain from the anticipation of departure outweighs the excitement. As a viewer, no matter man or woman, you cannot help but ask yourself if you could do what Sarah Loreau is attempting. Could you uncling from your own children? Could you break promises? Like her, you will wrestle your optimism of adventure and entertain your feelings and fears of what and who you would miss the most. That’s a worthy and powerful tale to witness.

2020, 2019, 3 STARS, Foreign Film, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Video on DemandDon ShanahanNovember 8, 2020 Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Best Movies For Bringing Your Sports Team Together

by Kevin Faber

It is a plain and simple fact that sports teams work better when each member feels some kind of bond with one another. This bond may have to be coaxed into existence by a team member who wants it or a coach who thinks his or her team will play better that way. It is definitely worth trying out, so no matter what sport you play, you should consider doing a team bonding activity. A great example of this sort of activity could be watching an inspiring sports film together. Over popcorn, sodas, laughter and maybe even some tears, you may find that your team becomes closer than ever before.

Streaming, SPECIAL, LIST, Home Media, GUEST EDITORIAL, Editorial, Column, 2020Don ShanahanNovember 6, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Sacha Baron Cohen, and a team of nine (yes, 9) other writers, resurrected his most successful and audacious disguise and snuck a production through the COVID-19 pandemic just in time for Election Day. His mocking aim matches Lesson #1. Through his hedonistic character once again gracing the U.S. of A., Cohen and company expose the problematic silliness of lies being lived to their fullest by fine people on both sides.

2020, 2 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, Independent Film, Video on Demand, StreamingDon ShanahanOctober 22, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Rebecca

The expression “hard act to follow” rings like a peal of bells both centrally and superficially when it comes to the new adaptation of Rebecca premiering on Netflix. Boy, that’s the movie and its new bride protagonist to a T. Matching the saying’s highest definition and less the vaudevillian one, Ben Wheatley’s film has to follow “something so exemplary that it overshadows anything that follows.” Even after 80 years, how does one follow the success and legacy of Alfred Hitchcock’s only Best Picture-winning film? The answer is easy. You can’t and you don’t. You stick to the source material and make your film your way.

2020, 3 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, Streaming, Home MediaDon ShanahanOctober 14, 2020 Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: A Rainy Day in New York

Appealing as it may be swinging from the affable to the morose, that mismatch is the glaring irregularity found in Allen’s new film A Rainy Day in New York debuting on Amazon Prime October 9th. The flow of uptown affluence and worldly whims spoken by the central figures of the film is perky and magnetizing. The words enchant to no end, yet are staggeringly uncharacteristic when you watch them coming from a cast of 20-somethings, even if they are played by talents like Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, and Selena Gomez.

2020, 3 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Home Media, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanOctober 9, 2020Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: On the Rocks

There are certain notable people who have created an aura where they can get by on charm alone. Their mere presence elevates and enlivens any occasion. The doyan of deadpan Bill Murray is one of those treasures. His ageless appeal can forgive a few bad traits or flaws. The movies Murray occupies can also often get by on charm. On the Rocks is most certainly one of them. It is playing on a limited theatrical release before debuting on Apple TV+ on October 23rd.