Movie reviews of Don Shanahan

Because of all of this glowing style and sensational suspense, Black Bag is never dull, meaning Steven Soderbergh and his avant-garde arthouse tendencies are never pedestrian either. Review

When it’s all said and done, Queen of the Ring nailed the big fight feel in its 1954 climax that bookends the film, and they put on a barnburner. Review

It is a shame the rest of Picture This around Simone Ashley could not equal her level of vividness. Review

The majority of Riff Raff is a disjointed and boring intersection of Vincent’s present and past families. Too wide of a pendulum is swung between reflective complications and the trigger-happy dark comedy the movies probably should have been the whole time. Review

Thanks to Gretchen Mol, Minnie Driver, and Julianna Marguiles, Millers in Marriage stages a performative pageant of strength and sentiment. Review

Thankfully, Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller look just as good sharing lusty gazes as they do with a deadly rifle on their shoulder while being put through their paces by stunt coordinator Brycen Counts and fight coordinator Shahaub Roudbari. Review

It goes to show that, even with a tremendously polished and solid effort that quite honestly sells itself on brand name alone, Marvel still can’t help themselves. Review

Those who lean to and shine with the positive latter will be rewarded with a lovely odyssey of warmth fighting back bleakness. Review

The linchpin of the new release dramedy Suze isn’t the nicknamed middle-aged female title character played by comedienne and Saturday Night Live alum Michaela Watkins. The overall course is made unexpectedly and tremendously more interesting by the inclusion of a celebrated archetype that’s harder to pull off than audiences realize: the himbo. Review

With its idyllic morals and rural accoutrements, Green and Gold champions hopeful and wholesome vibes. Review

Surging with peppy vibrancy, Dog Man is a delightful and easy-going blast fit for entire fleets of minivans and family sedans arriving at multiplexes this winter. Review

While Wish You Were Here may not fully succeed for many, she deserves more chances in the big chair. Review

Those astute and excellent creative choices put strength on the restorative over the reactive, because, in the end, things can get better, and that journey has led to over 10 festival jury prizes Anna’s important film. Review

Whether it was written on the page or pulled by the actress fleshing out a character for comic relief trying to become wiser by the end of the movie, the physical neuroses, teacher-’splaining rants, and preposterous decision-making bring down the film’s zest detrimentally. Review

Somewhere in Montana reveals its true dramatic colors which are mature, pertinent, and valuable in their intrinsic quality. Review

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