MOVIE REVIEW: King Richard

Almost predictably, some folks are not going to key into the bold messages of King Richard. What’s cloying for some is exactly the rightful heft and positive intentions for others. Even if the movie is too long in its gradual sculpture of its future stars, the movie means to inspire and has the perfect popular subjects for celebration to do just that. King Richard will mean something, and that’s the greater success than filmmaking. There’s too much good truth to share, both in the biographical department and in the familial saga of prime life lessons. Once again, passing on it all would be a mistake.

2021, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanNovember 19, 2021Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Harder They Fall

Readying its eager and loose dramatic license, the opening message of The Harder They Fall begins with “While the events of this story are fictional…” and changes to proclaim “These. People. Existed.” fading in one word at a time with those table-slamming periods. Consider that an emphatic shout to be heard that is louder than any broken bone or gunshot that follows in this Netflix release. The indignation seething from this movie is warranted and gladly received.

MOVIE REVIEW: South of Heaven

Anyone who’s watched Sudeikis knows the Everyman archetype suits his charm and talent. The independent film South of Heaven from Big Bad Wolves director Aharon Keshales challenges Jason to take a podunk pariah that has been pushed into a corner and unravel him to commit violence to defend himself and the honor of the woman he loves against his better judgment and softhearted morals. It is indeed a very valiant turn within a movie that tailspins wide of the mark behind him.

2 STARS, 2021, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanOctober 18, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: CBD Documentary "Grass Is Greener": Know All About It

by Emma Wilson

According to the federal government, even as marijuana gets legal in most states, it remains a Schedule-I drug, whether for medical or recreational purposes. So, how did that happen? In his new documentary Grass Is Greener, legendary rapper Fab 5 Freddy examines how cannabis has influenced the Black music scene from the dawn of jazz to the present day, as well as the government's rationale for taking possession of it illegally.

2021, Column, Documentary, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, StreamingDon ShanahanOctober 12, 2021Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Surge

The answers to those measured questions are what makes Surge starring the award-winning Ben Whishaw so alarming and downright terrifying. Set over the course of just under two days in London and shot guerilla-style with handheld cameras that weave through the crowds and shifting locations, Surge careens through one man’s unpredictable downward spiral and the isolated damage it causes. These kinds of movies are certainly not for everyone, but this one is a fascinating test of stamina and understanding.

2021, 4 STARS, Film Festival, Home Media, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanSeptember 24, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 5 Movies To Spice Up Your Date Night

by Kathy D

We can all relate excitement builds throughout the week as you anticipate your weekend date night. You're going to nestle in, settle down and get all cozy together and watch a movie. But, Friday night comes around, and the pair of you can't pick a genre, you're not sure what to watch, you don't know if the chosen one will be good, and all of a sudden date-night excitement seems a little flat. But fear not, we are here to take the effort out of picking a movie for date night so that you don't have to. Whether you're a sucker for a romance movie, love a rom-com, or perhaps you prefer the chills of good old horrors. Stick around because we have something for everyone.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, StreamingDon ShanahanAugust 31, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 6 Horror Movies to Watch When High

by Kathy D

There’s one thing that we can all agree about in life. It’s that few things are as satisfying as getting high from weed and watching horror movies. Movies and weed go together like hot chocolate and marshmallows. It’s the perfect movie to watch in an ideal setting that can turn regular vaping of various vaping liquid flavors into a real party. You might then wonder the reason one would watch a horror movie when high. Cannabis can make you paranoid. In most cases, we cannot do without this paranoia.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, StreamingDon ShanahanAugust 25, 2021Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Nine Days

The possible branched and multiplied interpretations, unanchored to any specific religion or philosophy, are innumerable. So few films hit true existentialism this strongly. Nine Days is an intellectual treasure that moves your heart and mind greater than some many other things you can watch and absorb from a couch or theater seat. With brevity and profundity wholly rooted in the preciousness of life, Nine Days leaves its mark as one of the best films of 2021. Discover this unique and crushingly beautiful gem immediately.

2021, 5 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanAugust 8, 2021Nine DaysComment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Movies Make Money Beyond the Box Office

by Kevin Gardner

A common assumption is that motion pictures that die at the box office are simply forgotten and written off by the studio's accounting department, which is really not the case. Even the worst stinker at the local cinema has a streaming service waiting for it somewhere. Beyond streaming, other revenue sources spin forth from movies as well. You might assume that movies are all about fantasy, about distracting the movie-goer from the problematic real world for 90 minutes. In reality, motion pictures make up an incredibly profitable industry that interfaces with other big-ticket industries as well.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, StreamingDon ShanahanAugust 7, 2021Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 10 Movies For Fitness Lovers

by Kevin Gardner

Movies can have a significant impact on everyday life. Although their primary focus is to entertain, their influence affects your mood, behavior and sometimes even your speech. For fitness enthusiasts, some films inspire them to push harder in a workout or experiment with a new technique. The movies aren’t limited to ones with fitness-related plots, but they typically feature a well-known actor in excellent shape performing amazing feats. Here are the top ten films that fitness experts love.

Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, StreamingDon ShanahanAugust 7, 2021Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: How Movie Sets Make Money Outside Of Ticket Sales

by Kevin Gardner

From independent films to big budget action movies, movie production is an incredibly expensive venture. This is especially true when you think of large Hollywood films, but most film production can still cost a pretty penny regardless of what kind of company produces it. While most big budget films can usually rely on a projection of the value that they’ll gain from attendants to the movies, those projections are only a guess and can never be completely called in correctly until after the movie has been produced and released. For budgetary reasons, most film sets want to ensure that there will be a return on the initial investment. This is why it’s so important for movie sets to find other ways to make money so they can cover the initial cost of the price of producing the film. Here are just a few ways outside of movie ticket sales that movies make money.

2021, Column, Editorial, Home Media, StreamingDon ShanahanAugust 7, 2021Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Jungle Cruise

Look, Jungle Cruise knows exactly what it is, much like the brand of comedy coming from Dwayne’s skipper that’s called out by Blunt’s pragmatic presence. The jokes are corny, the hijinks aim for hilarity, and the spectacle is large. Like its theme park inspiration and Pirates of the Caribbean walking so this movie could run, Jungle Cruise is meant to be a ride that puts a smile on your face, and it sure is a zippy one. That’s right where it’s supposed to be.

2021, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanJuly 27, 2021Jungle CruiseComment