Movie reviews of Don Shanahan

Ratchets up palpable tension.

2017, Animation, Drama, Mystery

A marvelous moving picture.

Comedy

An easy and worthwhile short hike to climb.

2017, Drama

An enormous victory of engaging movie entertainment.

2017, Drama

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

2017, Drama, Love

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

2017, Drama

The journey’s brevity becomes a satisfying delight.

2017, Suspense, Science fiction, Mystery

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

2017, Drama

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

2016, Comedy

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

Drama

Hardscrabble set in the concrete jungle.

2017, Drama, Action, Comedy, History, Crime

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

Drama, Comedy, Crime

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

2017, Drama

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

2017, Drama, Comedy, History

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

2017, Drama

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

2017, Drama, Comedy

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

2017, Drama, Action

Missing clear substance to go with all of this style.

2017, Drama, Horror, Mystery

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

2017, Drama, History

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

2017, Drama

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

2017, Drama, Crime

A red-hot poker prodding for provocative reactions.

2017, Drama

Displays an astute microcosm experience of such disquiet and paranoia.

2017, Drama, Action, Comedy, Crime

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