The banter and B.S. traded back and forth between Alex Murphy and Chris Walley is as hysterical as it is pleasurably uncouth. It’s an absolute wonder to realize that The Young Offenders is mutually their first on-camera film roles. Alex and Chris’s chemistry through sarcasm and shared shenanigans feels and looks effortless. Flabbergasted energy blasts out of both of them and it’s a hoot to watch. Seeing the two young actors operate these over-the-top losers with reckless abandon while still injecting a little coming-of-age heart for good measure, makes the film highly entertaining.

2017, 2016, 3 STARS, Chicago Film Festival, Foreign Film, Film Festival, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanOctober 3, 2017Gene Siskel Film Center2017, The Young Offenders, Children's Act of 2001, Urban Dictionary, Knacker, Alex Murphy, Chris Walley, hijinks, Dominic MacHale, Shane Casey, Hilary Rose, Trainspotting, Danny Boyle, Conor MacSweeney, Jock Murphy, Euro, Peter Foott, Irish, Ireland, Ireland films, films set in Ireland, Irish American Movie Hooley, Irish films, Irish-themed films, Irish American films, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Hibernian Transmedia, Movie Hooley, Gene Siskel Film Center, Siskel Film Center, Mike Houlihan, CIFCC, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, 3rd annual Irish American Movie Hooley, movie critic, film critic, foreign film, independent film, independent films, heist films, coming of age, movie review, film review, movie commentary, film commentary, Festival coverage, festival preview, closing night, comedy, life lessons, life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, life lessons from films, life lessons from foreign films, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Emerald City

I know it’s the clickbait haven of Buzzfeed, but this list of jobs well-known celebrities had before they hit it big is pretty humbling and eye-opening at the same time. Once the millions roll in and we see the red carpets and flash bulbs, we forget the lucky breaks and hard work it took to get there, and that for every one of those matinee idols a thousand never make it. Upon seeing Emerald City at the 3rd annual Irish American Movie Hooley, I’ll gladly raise my glass in hopes that Colin Broderick’s minimum wage days are over.

2017, 2016, 4 STARS, Chicago Film Festival, Film Festival, Independent FilmDon ShanahanOctober 3, 2017Gene Siskel Film CenterColin Broderick, Emerald City, Buzzfeed, Irish American films, Irish American Movie Hooley, Irish, Irish-themed films, Irish films, 2017 Irish American Movie Hooley, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Gene Siskel Film Center, Siskel Film Center, John Keating, Boardwalk Empire, John McConnell, The Departed, John Duddy, Hands of Stone, Rachel Broderick, Jacqueline Kealy, independent films, independent film, foreign film, foreign films, CIFCC, movie critic, film critic, Movie Hooley, 3rd annual Irish American Movie Hooley, Mike Houlihan, film reivew, film review, movie review, film commentary, movie commentary, life lessons, life lessons from films, life lessons from movies, life lessons from film, hardscrabble, New York City, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Hibernian TransmediaComment

MOVIE REVIEW: The Dunning Man

Inspired by true events, which will cause a fun double take as the film transpires, The Dunning Man is adapted from the published short stories of producer Kevin Fortuna. Precariously, at times, balancing somewhere between an urban drama and paperback crime novel, the film presents a seedy slice of Atlantic City calmed by nostalgic scene transitions of vintage footage of the city in its decadent heyday.

2017, 3 STARS, Chicago Film Festival, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 28, 2017Gene Siskel Film Center2016, 2017, The Dunning Man, Irish, Irish films, Irish-themed films, Irish American films, Irish American Movie Hooley, 2017 Irish American Movie Hooley, 3rd annual Irish American Movie Hooley, Ireland, Ireland films, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Hibernian Transmedia, Movie Hooley, Gene Siskel Film Center, Siskel Film Center, Opening Night Film, Mike Houlihan, Atlantic City, Dun, James Carpinello, Gotham, Tom Kemp, Manchester by the Sea, Luke Cage, Queen Sugar, Green Zone, Nicoye Banks, Langston Fishburne, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Matthew Rimmer, Scott Oakley, Kevin Fortuna, Michael Clayton, Petr Cikhart, San Jose Film Festival, Hoboken Film Festival, Emerald Loop Bar, film review, movie review, film commentary, movie commentary, film critic, movie critic, CIFCC, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, life lessons, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, life lessons from movies, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

CAPSULE REVIEWS: The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley

The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley is happening this weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center from September 29-October 1st. This very writer and website was both lucky and honored to cover this event last year and has again been granted coverage access this year. The event is comprised of three feature films, two of which are directorial debuts, all of whom are making their Chicago premieres. Here are my capsule reviews of the three films. Get your Irish on at the Siskel Film Center this weekend!

PREVIEW: The third annual Irish American Movie Hooley

The Gene Siskel Film Center will host the third annual Irish American Movie Hooley from September 29-October 1st. This year’s event is comprised of three feature films, two of which are directorial debuts, all of whom are making their Chicago premieres. All screenings and events are at the Gene Siskel Film Center. his very writer and website was both lucky and honored to cover this event last year and will again this year. Stay tuned here for future capsule reviews and full reviews.

SHORT FILM REVIEW: The Debt

2017 Chicago Irish Film Festival: Short Program II

Kids not only say the darndest things, but do the darndest things too. “The Debt” is a highly charming short film illustrating a child’s view of courtship and love. The romantic ways of the world are foreign to the young, so they make up their own ideas. Engaging and well-acted by youth performers, this short film will charm you to pieces.

2017, 4 STARS, Chicago Film Festival, Film Festival, Foreign Film, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, SHORT FILMSDon ShanahanMarch 19, 2017The Logan Theatre2017, 2017 Chicago Irish Film Festival, Chicago Irish Film Festival, film festival, Festival review, Festival coverage, The Debt, Susie Power, Lee O'Donaghue, Eabha Last, Helen Flanagan, Denis Clohessy, Short Film, short film commentary, short film review, short films, Short films, Ireland, Irish-themed films, Irish, Irish films, Irish American films, independent films, foreign film, foreign films, Foreign films, life lessons from film, life lessons, life lessons from movies, life lessons from short films, life lessons from foreign films, life lessons from films, film review, movie review, film commentary, movie commentary, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

SHORT FILM REVIEW: More Than a Barbershop

2017 Chicago Irish Film Festival: Shorts Program II

In the world of poker, they say all you need is a chip and a chair to play and be a factor. For a musician, all you need is a time and a place. Your voice and instruments can do the rest. Not every concert needs to be in front of hundreds or thousands of adoring fans powered by a stadium’s worth of light and speakers. A singer and a microphone can fit just about anywhere. Well, how about a barbershop, and not the quartet variety?

SHORT FILM REVIEW: Blackbird

2017 Chicago Irish Film Festival: Shorts Program I

Diverting from the other short films in this program at the Chicago Irish Film Festival, “Blackbird” leans to the existential and experimental. The abstract feel and weighty themes are in place to knock one’s socks off. However, in an ironic fashion, this is a short film that feels too short.

EDITORIAL: The 10 best Irish-themed films

I felt obligated to update an editorial list I made five years ago in 2012 of the best Irish-themed movies in time for celebrating St. Patrick's Day. It was due for a dusting with two new additions. For this list, I opened the field to either movies set in Ireland or those that feature notable Irish characters or stories outside of the Emerald Isle. That possibilities spanned movies both foreign and domestic. Pour the Guinness, heat the corned beef, and enjoy my list of the 10 best Irish-themed movies!

2017, Column, Editorial, SPECIAL, LISTDon ShanahanMarch 16, 20172017, Irish films, Irish American films, Ireland, Northern Ireland, films set in Ireland, Irish, Irish-themed films, Ireland films, St. Patrick's Day, Gangs of New York, Good Will Hunting, Ryan's Daughter, David Lean, Martin Scorsese, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cork, Palme d'Or, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, The Commitments, Dublin, Best Irish Film of All-Time, Jameson Whiskey, British Academy Award, Unbroken, Jack O'Connell, '71, In the Name of the Father, Yann Demange, Jim Sheridan, Oscar nominee, Michael Collins, Liam Neeson, P.S., P.S. I Love You, Gerard Butler, The Departed, The Boondock Saints, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Brooklyn, Saoirse Ronan, The Quiet Man, John Wayne, John Ford, Editorial, Column, UPDATE, film commentary, movie commentary, List, 10 Best, Top 10 list, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, The IrishmanComment

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: The Lark's View

Ireland is a proud country where a pagan history has been blended with Christianity for two millennia. Mythology has merged with scripture and history has absorbed legend. “The Lark’s View” is a documentary reflecting the current and lost traditions on the century anniversary of the significant Easter Rising conflict of 1916.

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: A Doctor's Sword

A masterfully powerful documentary, “A Doctor’s Sword,” chronicling the reflective and jarring tale of Irish World War II veteran Aidan MacCarthy, recently played as part of the second annual Irish American Movie Hooley at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. One half of this fine film is an astounding you-wouldn't-believe-it-if-I-told-you true story of World War II survival that would make "Unbroken" look like a nursery rhyme. Its calmer other half takes place in a present day where two proud families and two proud countries are forever bonded by shared history.

2016, 5 STARS, DOCUMENTARY REVIEW, Foreign Film, Independent Film, SPECIALDon ShanahanOctober 13, 2016Gene Siskel Film Center2015, 2016, Irish films, Irish American Movie Hooley, Irish American films, 2nd Annual Irish American Movie Hooley, Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, Ireland, World War II, Battle of Dunkirk, Nagasaki bombing, A Doctor's Wars, A Doctor's Sword, Aidan MacCarthy, documentary review, Documentary filmmaking, documentary commentary, documentary, Best Documentary, Gary Lennon, Ronan Coyle, Unbroken, POW, Castletownbere, Beara Peninsula, County Cork, life lessons from film, Life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, life lessons from documentaries, life lessons, Life lessons, movie commentary, film commentary, film review, movie review, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Beneath Disheveled Stars

Kevin Baggott’s darkly comedic film “Beneath Disheveled Stars" was a favorite of the Cork Indie Film Festival and Brooklyn Underground Film Festival. The film recently opened the 2nd annual Irish American Movie Hooley at the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago. As a self-made film from a self-made man, there are qualities to appreciate from this quixotic wild goose choose.

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