Movie reviews of Don Shanahan

Better than many works by peers and contemporaries, Nickel Boys longs for us to hold dear the bonds of protective brotherhood with a fascinating filmic experience. Review

Because of its empathetic and transformative journey, The Fire Inside is engrossing entertainment perfect for this time of the year and stands out as a must-see sports film in an era with a dearth of quality in the genre. Shields and Crutchfield repped for their folks. Review

Thanks to the sensational flair of Chalamet and Barbaro crooning and swooning, A Complete Unknown won’t let old purists and new fans make that previous mistake. They’re going to remember this film as the place they caught their own spark. Review

The result is a difficult and no-less-impressive film that smashes the spirited human condition against aspects of fulfilling independence people should never take for granted. Review

Appreciably, Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce are formidably locked into their roles and stalwart in their respective characters’ competing visions and varying sins of pride. However, big moments get unsuccessfully needled while small ones get overly demolished... Review

With great surprise and frankness-breaking humor, Reijn twists those old expectations to her advantage instead of decking them in the teeth. Review

This 95-minute voyeuristic thriller morphs into a solemn drama right on cue for a powerful viewing experience, granting moments for the cast to shine and react with the historical swerve occurring before them. Review

As his own master of the horror genre who set out to achieve a decade-plus passion project, Eggers unleashed his vision in an unshackled and uninhibited way only he could accomplish. Review

Amy Adams runs with every one of Nightbitch’s surreal twists and turns in an incredible physical and emotional performance, worthy of another ticket to the Oscar soiree. Review

Presenting this martyr’s journey in film form with some nonlinear hopscotch, Bonhoeffer is a difficult and laborious film from an entertainment standpoint, though it earns and cements its strong case of worthy cinematic hero worship for Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Review

Without hesitation, the two-time Oscar winner turns Gladiator II into his own smorgasbord, quite frankly because he can. Despite noble sternness from Pablo Pascal and Connie Nielsen and the springboard vaulting the All of Us Strangers indie darling Paul Mescal to the mainstream stratosphere as an action star, Washington outclasses every actor he shares the screen with, again, quite frankly because he can. Review

The film roots that on in touching and realistic ways without overly grandiose swings. Review

Altogether, Summer Shelton has composed a pungent expanse of reflective maturity with You & I that puts honesty on the “what if” sliding doors many viewers may feel when comparing their own histories of love. Review

With every chapter, Music by John Williams defines and stamps the maestro’s brilliance, even if the running time could be doubled or tripled to peel back even more “how does he do it” storytelling and clinical breakdowns from film to film and era to era. Review

Here may not be the fully judicious beacon it fashions itself to be, but the thoughtfulness and plenty of poignant care it attempts with its lyrical finesse is still worth welcoming and appreciating. Review

Lindy has struck indie film gold creating a wholly original genre amalgamation with these two fresh leads. Review

Even though a fair share of great liberties were taken to change how the actual Dating Game episode played out, the palpable lift and principled spotlight given to Sheryl’s perspective and struggle raise Woman of the Hour above a plodding true crime story or a period-era costume party. Review

Exhibiting Forgiveness is as emphatic and resonating of a father-son conflict as any other in recent memory. For many, it will stick with you and hit home like a sledgehammer. More than everything, all of this hurt is worth every reflective second of the artistically melded experience. Review

Thanks to the nonlinear flow, none of it transpires in a simple fashion, and, goodness gracious, tissues are an absolute must for this crusher. Review

What pushes back against those typical pitfall tropes is the spine of youthful righteousness crafted by the Luce creative team of director J.C. Lee and co-writer Julius Onah. This is their second outstanding and frighteningly intense teen-scene banger in a row. Review

The answer to how to make an appealing biopic about an unsavory character is to have a hell of an actor or actress embody them. After that, The Apprentice strives strongly in its quest to expose and air out a few dirty laundry chapters of Donald Trump’s past. Review

If audiences take this raucous ride and seek out more behind-the-scenes facts to dispel the embellishment, part of the mission of Saturday Night is accomplished. Review

Lee is at its most impactful during Miller and Scherman’s suspenseful journeys during the World War II portions of the overall narrative. When the film is away or leaves those harrowing memories and settings, it looses a little bit of the grit and edge. Review

When it’s all said and done, you’ll be blotting tissues against the corners of your eyes and have a new contender for the best animated film of 2024. Review