GUEST COLUMN: All You Need to Know About "Drive Hard"

by Emma Wilson

Set in Queensland, Australia, Drive Hard was initially written for Jean-Claude Van Damme. The directors, led by Brian Trenchard-Smith, had to rework the entire script and bring in new faces. That's where the idea of casting John Cusack and Thomas Jane as lead actors came in. The movie received limited theatrical and wide home video distribution in the United States through Image Entertainment Company. We can't also downplay the role of Chad Law, Evan Law, and Brigette Jean Allen, who are all behind the movie's excellent screenwriting to make it a humorous and action-packed drama.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, GUEST CRITIC, Home MediaDon ShanahanNovember 12, 2021Comment

GUEST COLUMN: All About "Kid Cannabis"

by Emma Wilson

In the modern world, as Film Industry is increasingly making society understand the real values of cannabis, weed-themed shows get introduced with their subjects revolving around family, crime, love, cliques, and betrayals. There's absolutely no shortage of Films that have a weed-themed subgenre. Mention the one that people have marked as their all-time favorite is, “Kid Cannabis”.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, GUEST CRITIC, Home MediaDon ShanahanSeptember 23, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #70: Detroit

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, 2021Don ShanahanJuly 11, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #69: Nomadland

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, 2021Don ShanahanJune 21, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #68: The Ring

by Reo

The Ring is a Hollywood version of the Japanese popular horror film Ring, which had been released 20 years ago, and had a cult hit in Japan. The ring is a perfect movie for those who are looking to get the chills! It has that vibe that something bad is coming, but you can not predict when the bad thing will happen.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home MediaDon ShanahanJune 17, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #67: The Babadook

by Abhishek Shivgan

The Babadook is one of the best horror movies ever made. It is an Australian horror/thriller film starring Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman. The film is based on a short film by the same director, Jennifer Kent. The plot follows Amelia and her only son, Samuel. She is a widow who lost her husband in a road accident six years ago. One day her son Samuel asks her to read a storybook for him, titled “Mr. Babadook.” It tells the story of Mr. Babadook who lives in your house and he will come to visit you if you let him in. After a few days, both of them started feeling the presence of evil inside their house.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, Home MediaDon ShanahanJune 16, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #66: Promising Young Woman

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, 2021Don ShanahanJune 7, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #65: Judas and the Black Messiah

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 ShanahanMay 29, 2021Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: The "Escape Room" Movie

by Kevin Gardner

Escape rooms are like an adventure game brought to life. When you play them, you and a team of people are placed in a themed room and have to complete a mission to "escape." It has become a popular activity for team building, family outings and friendly competition among friends. The Escape Room movie took that concept and turned it into a horror film.

Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Independent FilmDon ShanahanMay 29, 2021Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: Little Women: The Veracity of Description

by Jessica Chapman

Many readers would admit that they have either not read or aren't fond of Little Women's novel. However, it is hard to believe that this is the opinion of most readers. It is even less believable given the number of women writers such as Patti Smith, JK Rowling, and Simone de Beauvoir, publicly claiming that this 19th century novel by Louisa May Alcott has inspired them. One character from the most inspiring story is Jo because of her strong will and how much of a heroine she is.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, StreamingDon ShanahanMay 27, 2021Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: A Review of "The Proposal"

by Kevin Gardner

The Proposal is a romantic comedy from 2009 starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. On the surface, it is cute in a formulaic way. Two people with no real attraction or fondness for each other are forced into a situation in which they have to get married to one another, and it is only after the engagement that they fall in love. It is a predictable plot based on a well-worn trope. The movie is a lot like cotton candy: Insubstantial, but sweet and enjoyable for the moment.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST CRITIC, GUEST EDITORIAL, Home Media, Vintage ReviewDon ShanahanMay 26, 2021Comment

GUEST EDITORIAL: A Take on "Cake"

by Kevin Gardner

Daniel Barnz’s Cake is a 2014 comedy-drama that centers around Claire, played by Jennifer Aniston, and her inability to accept her son’s death. By mixing humor with the seriousness of drug use, alcohol use, grief and suicide, Barnz encourages viewers to take a deeper look at Claire. Outwardly she is angry and sarcastic, and she continually pushes people away who care about her. However, her physical scars are symbolic of the cracks in this outer facade; she tries to hide it, but her compassion and loneliness shine through. Cake does a phenomenal job portraying a woman who has lost herself after losing her child. At the beginning, Claire is barely getting through each day. By the end, she comes to the realization that she was a good mother and finds the strength to live. This is a story of hope after an unthinkable tragedy.