COLUMN: Three Interesting Films That Reveal A Lot About Water

Seventy-one percent of the Earth is covered with water, and according to scientists, the planet has approximately 326 million trillion gallons of it in total. It is no wonder that several movies include the unforgiving sea either as its protagonist or its villain. It is also interesting to note that many of the water-related films released in the past few decades incorporate it as a metaphor. Three films in particular offer several lessons that moviegoers can apply in their daily lives. These are Titanic, Cast Away, and Jaws.

2021, Editorial, ColumnDon ShanahanJanuary 21, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Movie Lessons in Pet Ownership

by Adrian Johansen

If you’ve ever loved an animal, you know that they’re not just an accessory to your life. They’re very often the centerpiece of your life story, your entire family history. And that’s probably the reason why pets aren’t just ubiquitous in American homes. They’re also the heroes of Hollywood, the stars of some of the greatest, most iconic, and highest-grossing films. But animals on screen aren’t just about entertainment. If you’re a pet owner, there’s a lot to be learned by turning to the silver screen. This article looks at some of the best and worst examples of pet ownership in movies — and what you and your furry companion might take away from them!

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 21, 2021Comment

SPECIAL: Nominees for the 24th Online Film Critics Society Awards

The largest group of online film critics has spoken! Today, the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS), of which I am a member representing Every Movie Has a Lesson, announced their nominees for their 24th annual film awards. The OFCS, which is comprised of nearly 300 film critics from around the world, will be announcing the final winners on January 25, 2021. Here’s the list of nominees from OFCS. I think the voting body did an outstanding job celebrating 2020’s best.

2020, 2021, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 19, 2021Comment

COLUMN: How to Make an On-Screen Outfit Shine

If you want to appear flattering while standing out on-screen, then you must take the time to think about each item of clothing. It’s not enough to choose an outfit that looks fantastic in the mirror; you must also consider how the camera will alter its appearance. If you are to appear on film, here are a few ways to make your outfit shine.

2021, Column, EditorialDon ShanahanJanuary 19, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 3 Reasons Why You Should Start Watching Foreign Films

by Kevin Gardner

Each country or culture has a unique way it approaches filmmaking. Moviegoers worldwide enjoy settling in for lengthy mental escapes to unknown lands and new characters. It is a visual art form that can be drastically different from one country to the next. Watching a foreign film will immerse you into a microcosm in which you are highly unfamiliar. It allows you to experience new landscapes, food, and customs. Get away from the familiar and delve into the world of international film. Here are three good reasons to make an effort to see films from far-away lands.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Independent Film, StreamingDon ShanahanJanuary 19, 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

MOVIE REVIEW: The Ultimate Playlist of Noise

There is a small delight many viewers may share with Marcus, the main character of Hulu’s The Ultimate Playlist of Noise played by emerging actor Keean Johnson of Midway. This writer is one of them. Marcus’s narration brings up his enjoyment watching the facial expressions and body language of people hearing any array of sounds. Be it directly or voyeuristically, he’s astounded and inspired by the captivation seen among those listeners. He’s right. Try it yourself.

2021, 4 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, Independent Film, Video on Demand, Streaming, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJanuary 15, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 5 Inspirational Films To Help You Take On 2021

by Devin Caldwell

By every measure, 2020 was a challenging year, from the COVID-19 pandemic to extreme weather and wild politics. The new year, luckily, provides everyone with a fresh start. But when many students are still learning from home, workers are spending their days in Zoom meetings and every day feels like “Groundhog Day,” how can we find inspiration to move forward? The answer? Watch a movie. Stories can inspire us and help us move forward when times are tough. For centuries, leaders have employed storytelling as a way to motivate teams. A teacher, for example, might explain to students how Albert Einstein had to fail in order to succeed.

2021, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Column, LIST, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 14, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 20 Best Winter Movies to Watch With a Warm Blanket and a Cup of Cocoa

by Sandra Manson

Movies that embrace you with coziness and warmth are exactly what is needed during cold snowy evenings. We have chosen 20 films that will create a winter mood and the feeling that magic is just around the corner. So wrap yourself up in a warm blanket, grab a cup of cacao, and enjoy watching

2021, Column, GUEST EDITORIAL, Editorial, Home MediaDon ShanahanJanuary 14, 2021Comment

COLUMN: The 10 Best Movies of 2020

Nothing seems to define 2020 like a long sigh and a deep breath. This past year likely makes the record books with all kinds of trivia nuggets and asterisks. Folks didn’t get to see all the movies they hoped for, but I’ve been telling people all year that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” The last movie I saw in a theater was Onward on March 2nd, adding up to 304 days (and counting since) without a visit to the big screen. Sure, I miss it as a guy that used to go out 2-3 times a week, but movies can wait and so will I. After all, we’re surviving a pandemic and movies count as #firstworldproblems.

2020, Best Films, Column, Editorial, LIST, SPECIALDon ShanahanJanuary 13, 2021Comment