GUEST POST: "The Greatest Movie Never Made" by Creative Principles

By Hannah Thomas
The YouTube creator Creative Principles showcases new ideas on popular films and television. We wanted to share one of their latest videos that had a movie spin to it": What is “the greatest movie NEVER made?” Would-be projects include missteps from Pixar, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, David Fincher and various other icons of cinema... Some of these rumors, failures, and shelved projects are considered sequels or prequels, while many are adaptations, or just promises made when a writer or director was at the top of their game. So, what is "the greatest movie never made?" You be the judge..

2019, DOCUMENTARY REVIEW, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 23, 2019Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Was the film version of "The Lion King" worth it?

by Justin Osborne
Everyone remembers The Lion King, the great animated movie that was released by Disney in 1994. It features animals, from lions to meerkats and warthogs. It showed what “the Circle of Life” means and it rapidly gathered popularity among children and their parents. After 25 years, Disney decided to make a remake of the original animated movie and released the new animation in July. While the story is the same, the effects are impressive. But the reviews are both good and bad. So, was the film version of The Lion King worth it?

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanNovember 23, 2019 Comments

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "CinemaJaw" podcast #447

This past week, I was pleased as punch to be a guest on the CinemaJaw podcast, hosted by fellow Chicago Indie Critic members Matt Kubinski and Ryan Jagiello. On Episode #447, all three of us just got out of Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story and, boy, did we have feelings. As per tradition, the Top 5 segment was for each of us to list our best break-up, separation, and divorce movies. An extended trivia segment followed later centered on Tom Hanks. Enjoy their excellent show!

GUEST EDITORIAL: Top 10 Films Starring Only Two Actors

By Ashley Halsey

Most commercially successful films tend to have big budgets, large cast and action taking place over several locations. But there are some films which take the risk of featuring just two actors, often limiting the action to one location and placing the emphasis on dialogue and the delivery of memorable performances. These ten films are as notable for their captivating and often poignant content, as they are for the skillful, powerful performances delivered by just the two actors who carry the weight of the entire film.

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, LIST, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 17, 2019Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Ford V. Ferrari

For James Mangold’s sterling sports film, take your thesaurus toolbox and dump out all the synonym wrenches for the word “hubris.” This is a thrilling race of arrogance as much as it is one of high-performance automobiles. The acts of vanity, audacity, chutzpah, conceit, cockiness, insolence, nerve, pomposity, and exceptionalism fill every metallic and non-metallic element. All of this tuned-up and torqued testosterone makes for a one hell of an entertaining show.

2019, 4 STARS, Chicago Film Festival, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanNovember 17, 2019AMC River East 21Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” is Quentin Tarantino’s Special Universe

by Justin Osborne

There are lots of things that tie together Tarantino’s movies such as violence and bright colors to name a few. However, there is one clear that ties all his films together. And that is his special universe which is interconnected just like the popular 23 by Marvels. Tarantino’s universe is more of a theory than a proven fact. However, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is the center or acts as the hub that connects the other nine movies.

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 12, 2019 Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Lady and the Tramp

This new film is a wise and modest update to one of Disney’s best romances of its Silver Age. By utilizing actual dogs, many of which are rescued pets at that, with a mild computerized varnish, feels more tangible than fake in one of these Disney re-imaginings for the first time in a long time. This restraint of creative prudence is what defines its humble disposition and winning achievements. All year long, its mainstream blockbuster peers tried every costly artificial and technological height to be a blaring chorus of bells and whistles, when all that was really needed were some cute, real animals backed often by a swanky band.

2019, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, Video on Demand, Streaming, 4 STARSDon ShanahanNovember 12, 2019Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Knives Out

In a film of perplexing puppetry like this, the most engrossing quality of Knives Out is character creation. Half of that strength happens on the scripted page where writer-director Rian Johnson has created a deplorable and decadent cobweb of villainy. The other half of that draw comes from the ingenuity of the assembled ensemble. This cluster of spidery characters could have been stock archetypes played by obvious actors. Instead, there’s nuance dripping like venom from thirsty fangs all over the performance stage of Johnson’s cinematic charade.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Irishman

By the time the exhalation of the final minute of those 210 is reached, Frank remains in that same setting. Age has done its job on him and us in the audience. The sizzle has been squelched and the thrill is gone. The exquisite ruminations on display for over three hours build The Irishman into what feels like a conclusive coda for all of the veteran artists involved. Yet, the meandering pace of what all transpires reverberates with a slender essence no better than a hospice bedtime story.

MOVIE REVIEW: Playing With Fire

Anyone who has seen John Cena hamming it up, getting slimed, or both at his hosting gigs or talk show appearances knows he has the capacity to be the ripped glute of many a joke. Anyone who has followed his massive work with The Make-A-Wish Foundation knows he’s got a genuine and gigantic heart. John Cena is cut with cuteness and has all the charm necessary for Playing With Fire. The fact Cena can squeeze heartfelt smiles and laughs, whether covered in some mess or wearing a My Little Pony half-shirt, is more than good enough for a family-friendly movie option for the upcoming holiday season.

2019, 3 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanNovember 7, 2019AMC River East 21Playing With Fire, John CenaComment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 7 Best Movies about Cybersecurity and Hacking

By Betty Lockwood

Discover all-time cybersecurity movies that let you learn more about how hackers take advantage of peoples’ negligence and ignorance and what drives them to indulge in different cyber crimes. Cybersecurity is a concern of many governments that struggle with uncontrolled hacking activity. A few decades ago, it was just a thrilling picture you could enjoy at the movie theater. Today, it is no longer a made-up story on the big screen but a reality facing thousands of people falling victim to cybercrime.

2019, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 7, 2019Comment

COLUMN: Top 5 Business Movies to Stay Inspired

Business movies have become popular in recent years and more people want to watch some success stories where they draw their inspiration. If you want to succeed in the business world, you have to have a lot of knowledge and start focusing on technical things and specific behaviors in order to prepare for the journey. Nowadays, there are many films that tell a business story and all the challenges and triumphs the leaders encounter. It is a very good way to come up with an idea to improve your business or see new possibilities.

2019, Column, Editorial, Social Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanNovember 5, 2019Comment