Movie reviews of Don Shanahan

Where the typical pulse rate of this kind of story opens and ends with a bang between a tedious, saggy middle, Knives Out is all about that rich center. What an equally delectable and sinful treat it is! Review

The trouble is the regality becomes the smoke in your eyes. There is delight to be had in these details, time capsule performances, and in the pointed plodding through dramatized history, but we have seen so much of this before from Scorsese and in better concentrations. Furthermore, different temperaments and tastes are going to project their own inflated values all over this morose movie. Review

John Cena is cut with cuteness and has all the charm necessary for Playing With Fire. The fact Cena can squeeze heartfelt smiles and laughs, whether covered in some mess or wearing a My Little Pony half-shirt, is more than good enough for a family-friendly movie option for the upcoming holiday season. Review

Gusto meets gravitas in one of the most oddly poetic and beautifully brazen movies you may ever see. Review

The formula used may be simple, complete with a dollop of a Hollywood-ish pivotal climax, but the effort and dedication is as true as the deserving light being shed on the unvanquished history at hand. Review

No matter if the version of The Lion King being shown is sketched or coded, we too may bow to the grand splendor on display. Review

The Lighthouse is more mundanity that madness, which is surprising given the pedigree involved. Review

One could play Loyalty in any classroom setting, urban, suburban, or rural and the life lessons would ring true. That’s a fantastic accomplishment from a humble, yet determined source. Review

Gemini Man, with all its finely sharpened pixels, cannot lacerate our enthusiasm. Review

Despite the immense talent shining from the recording studio and the animation workshop, the traits and choices of Toy Story 4 lack being worthwhile. Review

Joker’s artistically seedy aesthetic for moral decline and unchecked depravity creates the proper cesspool for energizing the corrupt title character. Review

Its success also fueled a star’s rise (Costner), secured another’s lasting legacy (Connery), and reminded audiences just how sharply talented its steward was. Review

It takes a special kind of acting to make every bite on-camera look orgasmic while still carrying the throwaway sexual humor and scripted lines. Review

This shrewd and stellar work creates a viewing effect in Auggie that tantalizingly bounces your comfort level between intimacy and voyeurism. This moral rattler deserves attention and praise as indie gem. Review

All the sheen and shine of Ad Astra matter not without Brad Pitt’s committed lead performance. Review

This story, in movie form, fails to make one care. Anything that lingers feels extraneous at best. Review

Yes, it is wonderful Disney sought people of color for this ethic fairy tale, but the clout of their portrayals and the substance of their actions are not improvements. If you’re going to do the right thing by diversity, go all the way, not just halfway or selectively. Dare to combat stereotypes completely. Review

Knightley’s work makes Official Secrets and its restrained tightness a measure of hero respect not blatant hero worship. Straightforward was exactly the necessary bearing. Review

In seventeen simple and soulful minutes, Gunn’s female-centered story cuts to the core with calmness and intrinsic merit. To chronicle and distill a year’s worth of personal growth within this group of girls in this tidy amount of time is an extraordinary accomplishment for the writer and filmmaker. Review

The fits and spurts of how far to raise eyebrows comes out in the film’s unevenness. Luckily, the acting is steadfast and satisfying. Review

Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz have made an exceptional adventure that emphasizes people over spectacle. The tonal details in every narrative corner are positively winsome and carry their own uniqueness. Review

Hell no, you don’t have to be a superfan of Springsteen to enjoy Blinded by the Light, but it sure helps. Even if The Boss is not your ideal vibe, the sprightly emotions on-screen cannot help but target and trigger your own matching passionate feelings... Review

Luce is unequivocally brazen with its volatile elements of societal commentary. Review

Its laid-bare steps of empathy, led by a star-making performance from Aldis Hodge, are essential to witness and entirely worth promoting. Review