Movie reviews of Don Shanahan

A dramatic thumbnail depiction of a growing section of this nation’s culture that many may not want to admit exists, let alone condone. Review

There’s a special simplicity to what Robert and Jane do that doesn’t require fluff, pomp, or melodrama. Review

The journey’s brevity becomes a satisfying delight. Review

May not have the volcanic fury of Sicario or the emotional punch of Arrival, but it resonates nonetheless on its own frequency. Review

Te Ata is the kind of story young women of today need to see, hear, and experience. Review

Flabbergasted energy blasts out of both of them and it’s a hoot to watch. Review

Hardscrabble set in the concrete jungle. Review

Cruise plays Seal with a relaxed range of agape befuddlement and southern charm. Review

The film presents a seedy slice of Atlantic City calmed by nostalgic scene transitions of vintage footage of the city in its decadent heyday. Review

Stronger’s touching tone carries unmistakable courage and inspires an unshakeable stir of appreciation. Review

Quite the dramedy, showing the reverberations of pressure, passion, and responsibility placed on King’s stalwart shoulders. Review

Faces the familiar dramatization tightrope walk between sugarcoated hero worship and biting character study. Review

The dramedy carries a message, a fair and good one mind you, but one that will, unfortunately, fall on multiple deaf ears. Review

Missing clear substance to go with all of this style. Review

Begs endless questioning. Still, surviving and absorbing the film becomes a maddening experience. Review

The Shakespearean love story angle comes across as conveniently nosey and unnecessary next to the bigger global picture... Review

With restrained focus and narrative efficiency, it shoulders a sobering presence to both impress and inspire. Review

A red-hot poker prodding for provocative reactions. Review

Displays an astute microcosm experience of such disquiet and paranoia. Review

Because everything derivative is done with so much spunk, sizzle, and precision, the end result is still a bountiful amusement of zesty kicks. Review

No matter how hard the narrative gets, you won’t be able to look away. This movie will hit you. Review

Tighter than Hell or High Water and more humane than Sicario... Review

No matter how on the nose it can be in brief moments, the overall messages delivered by Al Gore ring incredibly true and cognizant... Review

The ineffective length, the nonsensical plot, threadbare mythology, leashed acting, and limited thrills... Review