Movie reviews of Don Shanahan

These are all the movies and series that Don has reviewed. Read more at: Every Movie Has a Lesson.

Number of movie reviews: 620 / 620

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Poor Things is a movie of unsavory urges and scratched itches that pull the viewer down a pernicious drain of unconscionable behavior. There is a dark comedy buried in the muck of Poor Things that curdles to the surface in the final third as our strong female becomes the master of her own fate, body, heart, and business. Review

8.0

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16 december

16 dec

This lovely approachability in a fabulous package should come as no surprise for a film directed by Paul King of two cherished Paddington films and co-written by his series partner Simon Farnaby. Review

7.5

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13 december

13 dec

With American Fiction, those emotions balance each other, and audiences get the best of both worlds with arguably the year’s best satire packaged within a tissue-pulling, affecting drama. Review

8.0

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12 december

12 dec

To say Bradley Cooper threw himself into his work is an understatement. He is a marvel to behold. The actor was operating with a spot-on imitation of Bernstein’s vocal annunciations, inflections, cadence, and tone. Review

10

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23 november

23 nov

The booming choral score of composer Martin Phipps evaporates to a weak flute motif, and scenes that should showcase the intellect and ignite sources of passion within the famous sovereign plod by, like the lead actor, with wincing disinterest. Review

4.0

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23 november

23 nov

Haynes is left with a mood piece of examining taboo with more taboo and it gets unattractively lost in just that very vibe. Review

4.0

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22 november

22 nov

The visual beauty of Wish does something surprising most Disney animated films do not normally do and that is outshine the musical bread-and-butter. Review

6.0

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18 november

18 nov

If anything, Trolls keeps growing and evolving with its audience. Review

8.0

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14 november

14 nov

Like the main character, The Killer and David Fincher unfurl a mercilessness honed of precision that is as impressive as it is disturbing. It is a movie that stalks its prey and you. Review

10

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11 november

11 nov

Thanks to heart-pumping peril and committed performances, Nyad evokes maximum inspiration possible. Review

8.0

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8 november

8 nov

Some of the greatest enjoyment of The Marvels comes from the three screenwriters playing wildly with an otherworldly version of the screwball body-swap movie plot device. Review

6.0

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8 november

8 nov

Priscilla is likely not trying to make apologies, sugarcoat, protect, sanitize, or hide the sordid truth from the matriarch’s own memoir, but maybe, just maybe, it was too soft. That likely falls on Sofia more than Priscilla herself. Review

6.0

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2 november

2 nov

Killers of the Flower Moon does not create sweep for its compelling history, lift a credible romance for an emotional anchor, or even formulate fearful evil to resonate with an audience. It breaks no new ground and settles on being an actor’s showcase for two titans who didn’t need the help. Review

4.0

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17 october

17 oct

Foe

There’s a creative slightness that does not escalate a trippy premise that needed some additional atmosphere. Review

4.0

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14 october

14 oct

The Burial merges these intersecting pushes and pulls into a tightly composed picture that checks all the boxes. Review

8.0

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13 october

13 oct

A film like Black White and the Greys shows that money doesn’t matter if passion and honesty exist for the story to tell. Thurman and Nelson have something truly special here that is as profound as it is painful. Review

10

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8 october

8 oct

About half of Saturday Night Inside Out is a simplistic quest towards the next drink or next joint. It’s living fairly in its moment and saving itself for the end. Yet, a movie like this could have used one more gear of energy akin to something like Swingers to raise the rooting interest and measurable excitement level for what the viewer feels could be coming. Review

6.0

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4 october

4 oct

Phoebe Dynevor, though, is the real find. Perfect for that prescribed mindset, Dynevor is unflinching to the task in just her third feature film. Keep an eye on her career. She’s going places. Review

8.0

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3 october

3 oct

This is a singular piece of original science fiction made for a manageable price with minority representation and solid world-building that is thankfully not interested in exhaustive sequels or franchises. Review

5.0

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29 september

29 sep

Even before it makes it to its “run through lightning with your dick out” metaphor, this pandemic time capsule stands tall as a sure-fire message movie for its time. Review

8.0

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25 september

25 sep

While the character evolution to lean on and bend stereotypes in Outlaw Johnny Black is admirable, that course saps the fun, satirical approach possible within Minns and White’s screenplay. Review

6.0

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20 september

20 sep

There’s not a second where this film’s heart is not in the right place, and this school teacher will take these submissions every chance he gets. Review

8.0

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16 september

16 sep

Any murder, at its garden variety face value, should be frightening enough, but A Haunting in Venice twists the knife further. Review

6.0

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12 september

12 sep

Matching Love and Mercy, Dreamin’ Wild celebrates private victories of redemption with a higher focus of importance than any adjacent public victories of fandom and popularity. Review

8.0

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2 september

2 sep

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