GUEST EDITORIAL: What Movies About Real-Life Scandals Can Teach Us

by Adrian Johansen

Everyone loves a good scandal on the big screen. Heist movies are always popular. Thrillers never go out of style. Fictional tales of celebrities and political figures in hot water draw in huge audiences. But, what about movies that depict real-life scandals? Plenty of films are based on true stories. Although many take some creative licenses, popular movies like The Big Short, American Hustle, The Informant!, and even Erin Brockovich have given moviegoers a peek into real-life scandals that changed the course of history in one way or another.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanMarch 3, 2022Comment

AWARDS: Winners for the 5th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards

Last night, the Hollywood Critics Association, founded by Scott Menzel, bestowed their fifth annual film awards in Los Angeles at the Avalon Hollywood. I am a newly elected member of this fine group and I’m endlessly impressed by the quality, impact, and diversity of this year’s winners. CODA was the Best Picture recipient next to acting winners Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Troy Kotsur, and Ariana DeBose. The HCA put on an excellent event. Someday, you’ll find me at that awards show covering them in person! Someday!

2022, AWARDS, EVENTDon ShanahanMarch 1, 2022Hollywood Critics AssociationComment

PODCAST: Episode 52 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

For their 52nd episode, eye-liner wearing film critics, non-murdered dads, and nocturnal teachers Will Johnson and Don Shanahan have landed the big one! Folks have been waiting years for The Batman reboot from Matt Reeves starring Robert Pattinson, or Bobby Bats as the cool people call him. We stay spoiler-free for our opening five-minute turns and go FULL SPOILERS after the break for the full discussion. See where Defender Don and Marvel Shill Will fall on this new incarnation dressed in black.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Batman

Not to sound like a barista at a coffee shop, but we’ve reached a point after 83 years of character history across innumerable pages and screens that one has to ask, “How do you take your Batman?” Do you need emblematic cream, sugar, ice, extra caffeine, froth, or some similar fancy twist? If you take it black, filmmaker Matt Reeves has a trenta special called The Batman with your name on it.

PODCAST: Episode 51 of "The Cinephile Hissy Fit" Podcast

Horns up! It’s the 51st episode of Cinephile Hissy Fit and today is a weird one. Replacing Don Shanahan today is Art House Film Wire film critic, music enthusiast, and single cat dad (c’mon ladies) Jeff Mitchell who joins professor of metal Will Johnson to discuss the horror-rock comedy extravaganza that is Studio 666 (presented by the Foo Fighters). What exactly is going on with this movie? Is it KISS and the Phantom of the Park or this generation’s A Hard Day’s Night but with zombie raccoons?

Cinephile Hissy Fit, Podcast, 25YL, Media AppearanceDon ShanahanFebruary 27, 2022Aaron White, Passengers, Feelin' FilmComment

What Discounts Can You Get at ShopRite?

Thanks to the broad range of products that ShopRite has on offer and the fact that there are more than 300 stores across New York, New Jersey, and several more states, it’s not hard to see why this grocery store is so popular among many US citizens. ShopRite also offers some excellent discounts on their products, which could help you to save quite a bit on your everyday shopping needs – and much more.

2022, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, ColumnDon ShanahanFebruary 27, 2022Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Family Squares

While Family Squares is respectfully dedicated to all those who have lost someone during this awful pandemic, Laing’s movie allows us some much-needed, profanity-laced laughs. Playing out a dramedy fitting and formed by our current plight, the movie can be seen as a future time capsule for our shared mini-era. Not all the tangents work or are worthwhile, but the salute to collective solidarity is there.

3 STARS, 2022, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanFebruary 26, 2022Comment

GUEST COLUMN: 5 Exciting Filming Locations For Your Next Movie

by Andrew Adams

A movie can be a lot of things. It can make you laugh, cry, and feel something in between those two extremes. But sometimes it doesn't need to be all that complicated to produce an emotional reaction from the audience. All it has to do is look good. A film set is full of beautiful scenery that translates into amazing visuals on screen if done right. And this article will provide you with five locations worthy of your next production!

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanFebruary 25, 2022Comment

How to Host the Perfect Movie Night

We all love movie nights, a great way to unwind and experience awesome entertainment. Watching movies is more fun together which is why these kinds of nights can be so much fun. If you want your movie night to be just perfect, it’s worth doing a little planning. To help you with the organization, these easy tips will help.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanFebruary 25, 2022Comment

GUEST COLUMN: "Pitch Perfect": A Tired But Catchy Tune

by Kevin Gardner

Pitch Perfect, the first movie in a 3-part series, was a favorite of high school and college-age students alike when it first hit the screen in 2012. Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, and others in an ensemble cast. This movie ended up being a sleeper hit, making over $115 million worldwide. It is clear that Pitch Perfect was a crowd-pleaser, but it was also far from being a flawless show.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanFebruary 25, 2022Comment

GUEST COLUMN: "Hoot": Everything You Didn't Know You Wanted to Know About This 2006 Film

By Kevin Gardner

Made in 2006, "Hoot" is a family comedy based on Carl Hiaasen's novel. Wil Shriner wrote and directed the movie, and Walden Media and New Line Cinema produced it. The film stars include Robert Wagner, Luke Wilson, Tim Blake Nelson, Brie Larson, Logan Lerman, and Neil Flynn. Much of the filming occurred in Florida, home to the Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale. While the film was considered a "bomb" at the box office and got mixed reviews from critics, there's no question that kids of this era loved it.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanFebruary 25, 2022Comment

GUEST COLUMN: Top 5 Movies and TV Shows Every Kratom Entrepreneur Should Watch

by Nancy R. Fernandez

Entrepreneurial success stories are intriguing. Entrepreneurs' tales are distinctive and full of passion and devotion, with unusual ups and downs. Through their distinct thinking and hunger for more, their stories convey the raw strength of human desire. Films about entrepreneurs are made in a number of styles. While some films portray firm founders in a factual documentary format, others adopt a more outrageous approach in the form of a blockbuster drama. Here are some of the best entrepreneurial movies and TV series over the previous ten years.

2022, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIALDon ShanahanFebruary 24, 2022Comment