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MOVIE REVIEW: Roofman — Every Movie Has a Lesson

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · 19d

NEW REVIEW on Every Movie Has a Lesson: Channing Tatum gives arguably his best complete performance to date as a charming rogue in a story ripped from the headlines so wild it could only be true. everymoviehasalesson.com/blog/2025/10...

You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried, and even if you could, how many people would believe you? Better yet, how many folks would offer the classic exclamatory reaction of “They need to make a ...

@criticschoice.bsky.social #CriticsChoice #SOFEE

#IfIHadLegsIdKickYou

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · 20d

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · 20d

Beautiful!

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: John Candy: I Like Me — Every Movie Has a Lesson

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · 22d

NEW REVIEW on Every Movie Has a Lesson: This documentary justifies its idolization and will make you see every movie, clip, skit, or scene with John Candy in a whole new light. everymoviehasalesson.com/blog/2025/10...

The film’s energy comes from how Candy’s co-stars and collaborators talk about him. Leaning heavily on his old SCTV mates Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, and the continuing ...

Good Night and Good Luck-The Power of Peaceful Protest

Reposted by Don Shanahan

YPA Reviews @ypareviews.bsky.social · 28d

While Leo and PTA are having their revolution through bloodshed, take a look at the power of the spoken word. 7pm CST. Tonight! #goodnightandgoodluck #EdwardRMurrow #georgeclooney @casablancadon.bsky.social @jeffyorkwriter.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1HE...

YouTube video by YPA Reviews

www.youtube.com

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Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · 29d

NEW REVIEW on Every Movie Has a Lesson: How many times have we collectively written off Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson? He established a hulking heap of new credibility with this one. everymoviehasalesson.com/blog/2025/10...

MOVIE REVIEW: The Smashing Machine — Every Movie Has a Lesson

Still, how many times have we written Dwayne Johnson off? How many times have folks rolled their eyes at another beefy piece of blockbuster cheese with his name at the top of the poster? Well, those d...

Good Night and Good Luck-The Power of Peaceful Protest

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · 29d

See you tomorrow!

YPA Reviews @ypareviews.bsky.social · Oct 1

This Thursday at 7pm CST @casablancadon.bsky.social and @jeffyorkwriter.bsky.social look back at George Clooney's 2005 depiction of Edward R. Murrow's heroic fight against the government and network censors to try to stop the spread of tyrannical fear www.youtube.com/live/P1HEE-O...

YouTube video by YPA Reviews

www.youtube.com

@criticschoice.bsky.social

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · 29d

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 28

NEW REVIEW on Every Movie Has a Lesson: After THELMA last year, I'll watch anything the 94-year-old June Squibb wants to do. In this case, it's actress Scarlett Johanssons strong and emotional directorial debut: everymoviehasalesson.com/blog/2025/9/...

MOVIE REVIEW: Eleanor the Great — Every Movie Has a Lesson

Thanks to a strong third act monologue from Ejiofor speaking on approaching loss as the “inevitable outcome of the love that unites us all,” we want what we he wants and have to remove cynicism to acc...

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 28

NEW EPISODE of @cinephilefilm.bsky.social: Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is one of those cornerstone films that demand required viewing. One of us was had it as a blind spot, and one of us is done trying to watch it and call it a necessary classic. open.spotify.com/episode/45uq...

2001: A Space Odyssey

open.spotify.com

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 26

Shameless self-promotion: If there are any movie-loving families out there who might find themselves bored this coming weekend, I’m hosting a community movie talk this Sunday at 3pm at the Elmwood Park Library. Come on over!

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 20

Yes and no. It just means the effort must be larger as well, and I don’t think we’re going to get that from Jimmy Kimmel support alone.

A Farewell To 'Hollywood's Golden Boy'

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 19

The hard part is Disney is so ginormous in their revenue streams that they are practically “too big to fail.”

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Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 18

I penned a tribute Robert Redford for the Elmwood Park Advocate and to the mother who introduced him to me. www.elmwoodparkadvocate.org/p/a-farewell...

Don Shanahan, the newsletter's resident movie critic, offers this tribute to heartthrob and screen legend Robert Redford, who died at the age of 89 on September 16.

www.elmwoodparkadvocate.org

Reposted by Don Shanahan

Carrie Courogen @carriecourogen.bsky.social · Sep 17

wrote about robert redford bit.ly/redfordfamin...

a famine of beauty

Robert Redford represented all that was good—and fleeting—about America

bit.ly

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Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 14

NEW REVIEW on @filmobsessive.com: My September struggle catch-up continues with solid romantic drama LOVE, BROOKLYN, out in theaters now. filmobsessive.com/film/new-rel...

Love, Brooklyn Chooses Its Selected Emphasis With Heart

LOVE, BROOKLYN makes a choice between focusing on a romantic love triangle or a modern treatise on culture.

Noir City 2025 Spotlights Legacy Of Women Who Shaped Classic Genre

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Sep 3

My latest entertainment piece for the Elmwood Park Advocate: Noir City 2025 Spotlights Legacy Of Women Who Shaped Classic Genre www.elmwoodparkadvocate.org/p/noir-city-...

Resident movie critic Don Shanahan previews the 2025 "Noir City" film festival happening at Music Box Theatre in Chicago from September 5-11. While it's a drive, this annual festival is worth your whi...

www.elmwoodparkadvocate.org

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Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Aug 29

Being a school teacher by day, I don't know how I thought I was going to have spare time and energy to review a pair of movies last week or this week with the start of school. #underwater #filmcriticproblems

Highest 2 Lowest Creates Homage From One Master to Another

Reposted by Don Shanahan

Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · Aug 25

Illinois Gov. Pritzker vows to pursue Trump officials who participate in an illegal National Guard deployment to Chicago:

"If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me - not time or political circumstance - from making sure that you face justice under our constitutional rule of law."

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Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Aug 13

NEW REVIEW on @filmobsessive.com: Two things in movies that always go right together are Denzel Washington and Spike Lee. It's been a long 19 years since INSIDE MAN, and HIGHEST 2 LOWEST has the two genuflecting to Akira Kurosawa for a modern ransom thriller. filmobsessive.com/film/new-rel...

HIGHEST 2 LOWEST unites Oscar winner Denzel Washington with provocative storyteller Spike Lee to remake Akira Kurosawa.

The 2025 70mm Film Festival Arrives at Chicago's Music Box Theatre

Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Aug 8

The annual 70mm Film Festival is underway at the Music Box Theatre. Here's my preview piece on it for @filmobsessive.com: filmobsessive.com/film/film-ne...

The 70MM FILM FESTIVAL features 11 large-format films at Chicago's Music Box Theatre from August 8 to August 21.

Fan Expo Brings Top Pop Culture Talent to Chicago This August

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Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Aug 8

Genre fans of all types! Get your tickets for FAN EXPO Chicago in team for next weekend. Here's my preview piece on the event on @filmobsessive.com filmobsessive.com/film/film-ne...

FAN EXPO CHICAGO comes to Rosemont, Illinois with a stacked lineup of fan favorite guests from film, TV, comics, and animation.

Shoshana Observes Its Complicated Love and Politics

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Don Shanahan @casablancadon.bsky.social · Aug 8

NEW REVIEW on @filmobsessive.com: When you have a film talking about difficult history, this one sticks to the titular figure as the right measure of sidestep. filmobsessive.com/film/new-rel...

SHOSHANA guides its dramatization through a strong Jewish woman romantically involved with a Brit in Mandatory Palestine.