MOVIE REVIEW: Jay Kelly

Jay Kelly muses on the celebrity lifestyle without preening as a glorified vanity project solely existing to shower bouquets on George Clooney and give him a fun co-star he can shoot hoops with in between trailers on a lavish European shoot. Because of its striking amplification of the titular legend’s insecurities and the people affected by them, Baumbach’s film finds refreshing drama amid all the comedic frolic of watching a famous person navigate a little bit of the public wild to better define a work-life balance.

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: John Candy: I Like Me

The film’s energy comes from how Candy’s co-stars and collaborators talk about him. Leaning heavily on his old SCTV mates Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, and the continuing Murray, no one is reading from an encyclopedia entry or reciting a biography. This circle of talent speaks about living those moments and what it was like to collaborate beyond when the cameras were rolling. Their asides and memories help frame a fuller picture of John Candy’s mindset and spirit.

MOVIE REVIEW: Death of a Ladies' Man

What could have been a morose, listless slog about a bitter whiner is energized into something of a soul-stirring seance in many layers and moments. If you’re taken away for 100 minutes to think about your life—what you’ve done and haven’t done—and what kind of man or person you want to be, one could do far worse than swoon to Gabriel Byrne and groove to Leonard Cohen.

2020, 2025, 3 STARS, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanOctober 4, 2025Death of a Ladies' Man, Gabriel ByrneComment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Map That Leads To You

In a movie where being present without the cares of future jobs or the outside world becomes a unifying emotional investment sought by two normally different people, The Map That Leads to You is missing a little bit of that extra level of dramatic bond. Jack’s path of tracing the journal’s exploits—a noble endeavor for sure—feels one-sided at times, more than something broadened to include Heather or a tsunami of pure destiny and rapturous swoon.

MOVIE REVIEW: Predator: Killer of Killers

Larger than that, though, what transpires bends time and expands on previously unseen lore for the franchise, revealing borderline revisionist prophecies to the history and purpose of the whole shebang and saga. They mark a progression that promises to continue in Dan Trachtenberg’s next live-action film, Predator: Badlands, coming this November. Love them or hate them, the implications made by Dan and company are awesome and huge, and precisely the mature and heady injection this franchise sorely needed

MOVIE REVIEW: Fountain of Youth

Putting those stars together with that concept surely has to generate some sizzle with the history and mythology crowds, right? Well, with all pun intended, leave it to Apple and professional retreading screenwriter James Vanderbilt (currently stewarding Netflix’s Murder Mystery series and the legacy sequel vapors of the Scream franchise) to go back to a fading Hollywood well, leap in, and find it dry.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "You'll Probably Agree" YouTube show talking about 20th Anniversary of "Revenge of the Sith"

With the 20th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Mike Crowley of the You’ll Probably Agree website was very eager to talk about the blockbuster’s legacy. He, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and I ignite our lightsabers and reminisce about the best George Lucas’s prequel finale had to offer. Time has been kind to the movie and so were we. May The Force Be With You!

JustWatch: Finn Cole on "Last Breath"

JustWatch spoke to acclaimed British actor Finn Cole on his latest film Last Breath, a gripping true survival story that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. Best known for his roles as Michael Gray in Peaky Blinders and Joshua "J" Cody in Animal Kingdom, Cole shares his thoughts on what makes Last Breath a must-watch movie experience.

2025, Column, Editorial, Home Media, InfographicDon ShanahanApril 8, 2025Finn Cole, Last Breath, JustWatch, InterviewComment

INFOGRAPHIC: JustWatch's Post-Oscars Streaming Trends

JustWatch, the world’s largest streaming guide, has analyzed how the Academy Awards influenced streaming preferences in the U.S. Following Hollywood’s biggest night, audiences turned to their favorite platforms to catch up on the most celebrated films, leading to significant shifts in streaming rankings. While several top contenders remained popular, the post-Oscars data reveals noticeable changes in audience preferences. New titles surged in viewership, while others saw renewed interest based on award wins, nominations, and critical buzz.

2025, Column, Editorial, Home Media, InfographicDon ShanahanApril 8, 2025JustWatch, 97th Oscars, OscarsComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Let's Talk About Flix" podcast chatting about "The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot"

Mike Osborn and Curtis Menke of the irreverent and laugh-filled podcast “Let’s Talk About Flix are weekly appointment laughs for me and pod I support on Patreon. Mike and Curtis have become two full members of the Chicago Indie Critics group that I co-direct. For the second year in a row, I was honored to be asked on as the return guest during their “Patreon Picks” month. For that guest’s choice theme, I brought them 2018’s The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot starring Sam Elliot. Enjoy our chat! Follow their show on podcast platforms and YouTube!

MOVIE REVIEW: Riff Raff

Many would say, going by that selection of talent thrust together in this predominantly single-setting premise, the stars were aligned for a peppy crime comedy in Riff Raff. The potential combinations offer interesting mixes of presences and styles. It’s too bad because the script and the director cannot align characters and tones with any semblance of congruency. Simply put, everyone is in a different movie from their scene partners.

2 STARS, 2024, 2025, 5 STARS, Independent Film, Home Media, MOVIE REVIEW, StreamingDon ShanahanFebruary 27, 2025Riff Raff, Bill Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, Lewis PullmanComment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Gorge

Deeper though, what compels us for certain heroic movies beyond these dreamboats with best-of-the-best skill sets? First, it depends on the stars chosen. Radiant charisma and a touch of romance sure help when it comes to letting the beautiful people win. An interesting opponent, or predicament would help even more. Luckily, The Gorge offers enough of those enhancers to give us a good time with marquee names.