MEDIA APPEARANCE: Participant in "World of Reel" Critics Poll for best Christopher Nolan film

As I have grown in press credentials and professional affiliations nationally, I have found myself landing in circles with other film critics of various levels. Recently, I was included in a poll for voting critics for Jordan Ruimy of World of Reel, a fellow Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. His survey was to collect votes for the single best Christopher Nolan from over 110 critics and other industry folk. I was honored to chime in with my vote of Memento to be included with some very high professional company. Enjoy the article and list. Check out your boy!

Media Appearance, Social Media, SPECIAL, LIST, 2023, Best FilmsDon ShanahanJuly 27, 2023World of Reel, Jordan Ruimy, Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight, MementoComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Oppenheimer

Even with all of its impressive pomp and noise, nothing dramatically radioactive is going to ping your internal Geiger counter higher than a nominal level. And that, like Dunkirk and Tenet before this, is another missed opportunity from one of the best filmmakers in the industry. There’s a pair of lines offered to our main character in Oppenheimer that mirror some of the pushback analysis to Nolan’s good standing. They read, “Don’t alienate the only people in the world who understand what you do. You may need them.” The Brit has his hardcore devotees, but he might be losing more of the rest with each exhausting effort.

2023, 3 STARS, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJuly 21, 2023Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Benny Safdie, Ludwig Goransson, Jennifer Lame, Hoyte van HoytemaComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: YouTube guest on YPA Reviews talking all things "Dunkirk"

YouTube creator extraordinaire Mike Crowley of the "You'll Probably Agree" channel, a.k.a. YPA Reviews, invited me as an on-camera guest for the second time. This past May, we ranted on the overrated qualities of Terrence Malick. This time, we throw down on all things Dunkirk, including full reviews, fighting and tempering Christopher Nolan fandom, and the state of art house vs. Netflix. Mike's show can be digested in three parts: the Dunkirk review, the sidebar talk on Nolan, and the full uncut version of all topics.

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on Eman's Movie Reviews audio podcast for "Dunkirk"

If you're like me and friend-of-the-page Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews, you might be feeling masterpiece-labeling pressure and Dunkirk review fatigue. For Emmanuel, guest extraordinaire Harry Egbo, and I, the film didn't resonate with us emotionally, but we had plenty of superlatives to talk about mingling with the challenges and questions. This is a SPOILER-FILLED audio discussion and the ethnic music in the background is all bonus gravy!

MOVIE CLASSROOM: Dunkirk

As a big Christopher Nolan fan and supporter, this review was difficult. Critic after critic is calling Dunkirk Nolan's masterpiece and best film to date. I simply can't do that and no filmmaker should ever get a pass. In fact, it might be the worst of his films I have seen, but that's like slipping from a king-size Sleep Number mattress to a king-size pillowtop mattress. The fall isn't far. Allow me to explain. Here's my "Movie Classroom" interactive whiteboard presentation of the audio form of my written review as it appears posted on Every Movie Has a Lesson's YouTube channel.

2017, Social Media, SPECIAL, VIDEO REVIEWDon ShanahanJuly 19, 2017Kerasotes ShowPlace ICON X at Roosevelt Collections2017, Dunkirk, Battle of Dunkirk, The Little Ships of Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Fionn Whitehead, Kenneth Branagh, James D'ArcyComment

MOVIE REVIEW: War for the Planet of the Apes

A significant shift in attention and investment has occurred in this series. Our hearts and allegiances swayed from rooting for the madness of our own mankind to the superior traits of humanity exhibited by Caesar and his ape brethren. A transformation of empathy like that is downright miraculous. War for the Planet of Apes is a full-bodied epic of glory and pain that matches and then exceeds the moving importance and heart this rebooted franchise has established in two previous knockout films.

2017, 5 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJune 27, 2017ShowPlace ICON X at Roosevelt Collections2017, 2017 Summer Movies, Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes, Best of 2017, Andy Serkis, Caesar, Pixar, Toby Kebbell, Woody Harrelson, Ty Olsson, Terry Notary, Karin Konoval, Amiah Miller, Steve Zahn, Spartacus, Jurassic World, Michael Giacchino, Jerry Goldsmith, Lost, Matt Reeves, John Williams, Mark Bomback, Michael Bay, Transformers, The Batman, The Lord of the Rings, Gollum, Toy Story, Star Wars, The Godfather trilogy, Christopher Nolan, Peter Jackson, Special Achievement Oscar, Special Achievement Academy Award, Academy Award, Academy Award hopeful, film review, movie review, movie commentary, film commentary, life lessons, life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Star Wars trilogy, Movie trilogies, trilogies, superior sequels, sequels, reboot, remake, Reimagining, Donald Shanahan, Don ShanahanComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

Batman has evolved, but the long-standing love for that old TV show has only sweetened. The new WB Animation entry “Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders” unlocks a time capsule and reminds us why Batman can be just as fun when he’s not brooding and sulking. With the triumphant returns of original cast members Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar reassuming their Batman, Robin, and Catwoman mantles as voice actors, this new film possess audible and visual treats to behold.

2016, 4 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, Video on DemandDon ShanahanOctober 15, 20162016 Fall Movies, 2016, Batman, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, Batman TV show, Batman '66, Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Robin, Catwoman, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Neighbors, Batfleck, Frank Miller, Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, 1966, Kristopher Carter, Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmans, The Joker, Penguin, The Riddler, Dynamic Duo, Caped Crusaders, Jeff Bergman, Wally Wingert, William Salyers, Cesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, comic book movie, comic book films, comic book TV shows, Batman: The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight, The Bright Knight, DC Universe, DC Comics, WB Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, life lessons from movies, life lessons, Life lessons, movie review, film review, movie commentary, film commentary, animated films, WB, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

"Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" is constantly intense, powerfully suspenseful, and operatically enthralling on an emotional and sensory level. It is a remarkable experience on the big screen. We are in a new era with a new tone. There is room in the cinematic superhero landscape for important and formidable urgency like this. Let Marvel stick to the shiny sparkles and corner their piece of the market. This new franchise has chosen its mature path and they are showing the resolute fortitude to stick with it, haters be damned. What follows is spoiler-free!

MOVIE REVIEW: Interstellar

MY 300TH REVIEW: Like all truly ambitious science fiction of the highest order, "Interstellar" pushes the limits for personal interpretation of both the science and the fiction. Both genre elements are wildly heightened to a bold and epic scale to address the internal opposites between logic and spectacle, science and sentiment, and brains and emotion. Each of those ideals have their soaring high points and matching low points across the board in "Interstellar." It all comes down to your taste, which makes "Interstellar" easily the most polarizing film of the year. You will either love it to the core or hate it to the bone with very little room for a middle ground.

MOVIE REVIEW: Gone Girl

For the faithful readers of Gillian Flynn's 2012 bestseller of the same name, you will know the twists and turns that are coming. To the uninformed, "Gone Girl" was grab you hook, line, and sinker into a potently swirling world of ominous fear, mystery, and relationship quandaries. What follows, is promised to be SPOILER-FREE.

MOVIE REVIEW: The One I Love

“The One I Love” is a thinking film that skews much closer to the romantic comedy vein of its trailer, but offers just enough icy and sobering implications to get that hamster wheel moving in your head that will nudge you ever so slightly to the edge of your seat. You won’t be gripping your arm rest or partner’s hand in tension. Rather, you’ll be retreating to crossed arms of curiosity and chin-rubbing intrigue and attention. Clever smiles outnumber dropped jaws.

EDITORIAL: The 15 films to watch for the 2015 Oscars

Once one awards season ends, another one begins! The winners from last night's 86th Academy Awards can bask in the glow of immortality for a while. Meanwhile, business in Hollywood will quickly shift and move on to the 87th Academy Awards that will happen in February or March of 2015. Here are 15 films to watch for the 2015 Oscars.