Movie reviews of Don Shanahan

One of the many beauties of the film is that its teachable value doesn’t end with those pet hallmarks. Storm Boy is as much about its people and settings as it is about its a boy and the bird that never leaves his side. Review

It’s wonderful to see Metz with a healthy lead role that really suits her strengths. Adding to a soundtrack of praise and worship, Chrissy Metz even sings the closing credits song to add to her positive display of talent. Review

The Public makes a worthy stump speech for its checklist of modest societal issues. Review

There’s no need to blast this story with gothic glitter for the sake of shade. It’s an endearing elephant baby that flies for wide-eyed spectators. That’s sparkle enough. Review

Plenty may find Shazam! to be as dim as its himbo hero from time to time. Nonetheless, by the end, far more zingers impress than depress thanks to the boundless charm of the headlining lead. Review

For all of the combined artistic talent at work in front of and behind the camera, something about their finished presences fade rather than forge resonance. This delight is all too slight. Review

This is an entirely unique film with different tones, scopes, and concepts. Review

This documentary’s depth and newness comes from unreleased 70mm large format footage of the rocket’s launch and the mission’s ocean recovery. The revealed insight and details are substantial. These exclusive camera views and angles put you there for every tense challenge. Review

Finding Steve McQueen carries the boasting superlatives of the detailing the “largest bank heist in U.S. history” and, according to director Mark Steven Johnson, one of “the greatest stories never told.” Don’t expect a film of that kind of scope and size. This is a big crime orchestrated by small people who think they are bigger than they really are. Review

Like the railed, ridden inventions it depicts, Wonder Park has clever ideas and solid foundations, but too many trim brakes, suspensions, bumps, dead spots, and other hits of filmed friction slow the glee and weaken the poignant pillars attempted. Review

Spanning Room, Short Term 12, The Glass Castle, and more, Brie Larson has proven a level of palpable poise greater than most of her acting peers for the better part of a decade. That poise and spirit occupies a new stage now. Review

Through its motivating attitude, rich pathos, and indomitable spirit, the final chapter of How to Train Your Dragon celebrates the substance that has made this series triumph. Review

Fighting with My Family greatly succeeds in showcasing how good success stories like hers are everywhere on the WWE roster and woven into the history of its not-so-little-anymore cottage industry. Review

Peter Hutchings’ comedy Then Came You presents romance entangled by terminal illness. That topic seeped in gallows humor is far from new territory, meaning this is not a very deep film. Review

A parade of entertaining animation surprises to go with all the underlying human complexion construction at work. Review

Somewhere along the way, this lavish project needed some course correction before finishing. Review

The languishing pace of Glass keeps the Samuel L. Jackson burn down to mere smolders and the Bruce Willis fortitude stuck in placid ponds for too long until business picks up. Review

The winsome and touching delights spreading from the remembrances and respect found here in Stan & Ollie make for amiable and meaningful engagement. Review

Swells to include multiple layers of love that even become titles for tracks on Britell’s soundtrack. Spreading against many contexts, the religious agape, sensual eros, and brotherly philia all merge with Baldwin’s optimistic sensibilities for themes that go deeper and wider than simplistic other sagas. Review

His mumbles rumble as Bale takes the groused character movements and creates a searing performance. Review

The charming zeal of this revisionist prequel stands as the beacon signal to welcome back those who wrote this series off (including this very writer) years ago. Review

A bona fide comic book adventure with all the proper melodrama, pathos, heroics, and world-building amplified to a fantasy level of the highest order. Review

A love letter to bowling alleys. Review

In the end, the boredom and dryness still dominate to blast away chances for connection like buckshot through a targeted pigeon’s feathers and flesh. Review