SPECIAL: First annual CIFCC Awards nominations

Capping off their inaugural year, the members of newly-formed Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, of which I am a director and co-founder, have announced their nominees for their first annual CIFCC Awards. Their voting membership of 28 members strong completed ballots over the holidays with the goal of three final nominees in 25 categories. They will commence a final round of voting ending on January 1, 2017 and host an invitation-only awards banquet at Transistor Chicago on January 8, 2017.

2016, Best Films, Column, Independent Film, SPECIALDon ShanahanDecember 29, 2016Transistor Chicago2016, CIFCC, Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, CIFCC Awards, Best Independent Film, Best Studio Film, Moonlight, La La Land, Jackie, The Handmaiden, Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Yorgos Lanthimos, Jacqueline Stewart, Deborah Stratman, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Animated Film, Best Undistributed Film, Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Ensemble, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Chicago Film, Best Microbudget Film, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Foreign Film, Chicago, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Donald ShanahanComment

EDITORIAL: The Best of 2016 (so far)

Many of my personal most-anticipated picks and my crystal ball Oscar prognostications are still coming, but I have been lucky enough to see over 50 film films in the first half of 2016. Since it's only been a half-year, I'll split a year-end "10 Best" list into a Top 5. True to this website's theme, I present you my picks for the "Best of 2016 (so far)" coupled with their best life lesson from my full reviews.

2016, Editorial, Best Films, 10 Best, Column, SPECIALDon ShanahanJune 30, 2016most anticipated movies, Lo and Behold, Everybody Wants Some, Best Movies of 2016, Deadpool, 2017 Oscar Predictions, Louder than Bombs, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Life Animated, 2016 films, 2017 Oscars, Oscar contenders, 10 Best, Top 5 list, Column, Coming Through the Rye, most anticipated films, Race, Oscar hopefuls, Born to Be Blue, Best of 2016 (so far), 2016, Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World, Elvis & Nixon, High-Rise, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, SXSW Film Festival, Kung Fu Panda 3, Sundance Film Festival, In a Valley of Violence, Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes, 10 Best Films of 2016, Hail Caesar!, Midnight Special, Editorial, Best Films of 2016, Captain America: Civil War, Cannes Film Festival, La Belle et la Bete, Beauty and the Beast, Top 10 list, Best of 2016, List, The Invitation, The American SideComment

COLUMN: The 10 Best Films of 2015

I prefer to be strict enough with my mind and my heart to rank the best and not just give some alphabetical list. This was a difficult list to settle on for an order. After 84 films this year, I think I've seen all I need to see to give out a complete and legitimate "10 Best" list. Here are my picks and, in the spirit of this site, each of the "10 Best" are paired with their best life lesson. Enjoy!

MOVIE REVIEW: The Big Short

Closing out 2015, you will find the most argumentative and ballsiest movie of the year hitting wide theatrical release over the Christmas holiday. The real film in question to bear those bold superlatives is "The Big Short." Headlined by a star-studded cast and directed by one of the most unlikely of sources, this legitimate must-see film tip-toes audaciously between biting satire and topical cautionary tale. You won't know whether to be pissed or be entertained and that's a powerful quality to pull off.

2015, 5 STARS, MOVIE REVIEW, Best FilmsDon ShanahanDecember 29, 2015Classic Cinemas Lake TheatreThe Big Short, Adam McKay, Charles Randolph, Michael Lewis, Moneyball, Anchorman, Step Brothers, The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, Ryan Gosling, Jared Vennett, Greg Lippmann, Michael Burry, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Mark Baum, Steve Eisman, Hamish Linklater, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, FrontPoint LLC, Morgan Stanley, Charlie Gellar, John Magaro, Charlie Ledley, James Mai, Jamie Shipley, Finn Wittrock, Ben Rickert, Ben Hockett, Brad Pitt, Cornwall Capital, Scion Capital, Financial crisis, Housing market bubble, housing market collapse, life lessons, life lessons from movies, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, movie review, movie commentary, 2015, 2015 Holiday Movie Preview, 2015 Holiday Movies, film review, film commentary, satires, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Donald Shanahan, Don ShanahanComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

No matter where today's "Star Wars" fans come from, all of them want the same thing out of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Everyone wants an inspired, entertaining, and compelling fantasy adventure. They want a return of the emotions, wonder, and heartstrings that stirred and inspired their souls when they first encountered these science fiction fantasies. With great pleasure and a nearly pitch perfect blend of innovation and reminiscence, J.J. Abrams promised, and now has delivered, all that anyone could hope for with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

2015, 5 STARS, Best Films, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanDecember 18, 2015Marcus Addison CinemaStar Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars, Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VII- The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams, Star Trek, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleason, Adam Driver, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO, Darth Vader, Finn, Snoke, Poe Dameron, Chewbacca, BB-8, Bill Hader, Rey, John Williams, Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Arndt, George Lucas, Gwendoline Christie, Captain Phasma, Kylo Ren, General Hux, The First Order, Movie trilogies, Simon Pegg, Lupita Nyong'o, Warwick Davis, Daniel Mindel, Rick Carter, Michael Kaplan, The Force, The Force Awakens, 2015, 2015 Holiday Movies, 2015 Holiday Movie Preview, Rogue One, Disney, Lucasfilm, Industrial Light and Magic, ILM, movie review, movie commentary, film review, film commentary, Science fiction, Fantasy films, life lessons, life lessons from film, life lessons from films, life lessons from movies, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Don Shanahan, Donald ShanahanComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Spotlight

The extraordinary new film "Spotlight" answers the motivating historical benchmark set by "All the President's Men" nearly four decades ago to make a truly transcendent film about real print journalism and true history. Chronicling another Pulitizer Prize-winning case of investigative journalism, director Tom McCarthy's fifth directorial effort is nothing short of a new masterpiece. "Spotlight" is, far and away, the best film about the media since Clooney's "Good Night and Good Luck" and the best about print journalism since Pakula's landmark classic. This film will make people rewrite "best of" lists.

ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: Brooklyn

"Brooklyn" is an forthright, approachable, and esteemed historical drama where the dignity and honesty soar to heavenly heights to shine on the plights of love and independence. This tremendous film nestles a powerful love triangle within a touching immigrant and independent woman's saga from the 1950s. More than just being some high-end chick flick, "Brooklyn" stands as one of the finest films of the year and an immediate Oscar contender.

MOVIE REVIEW: Room

"Room" is, without a doubt, one of the most resonating and difficult films this writer has ever seen. It is a "welcome to my world" scenario that no one should ever have the unfortunate ability to match with full empathy that comes from shared experience. For it to transcend that and blossom to enrapture you the way it does is something completely spellbinding. You will not find a more powerful film experience this year.

MOVIE REVIEW, 2015, Best Films, 5 STARSDon ShanahanOctober 28, 2015Brie Larson, Larry Abrahamson, Sean Bridgers, Emma Donoghue, Jacob Tremblay, Room, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, Tom McCamusComment

EDITORIAL: The 10 Best Films of 2012

With 2012 now in the books, it's time to reflect on the best films of this past year. I feel that, for the second year in a row, I've been lucky enough to catch as many of the best and brightest movies of 2012 as just a regular guy, without the flashy access that most big-wig critics get with their advanced screenings and special events.