In the final scene of David Oyelowo’s directorial debut The Water Man, a teenage son looks to his father and asks him a purposeful question: “Would you…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: The Water Man Uses Fantasy to Thrive in Despair”

There’s a very pleasing moment, one of many in Here Today, right around the middle where Billy Crystal’s decorated comedy writer character Charlie Berns is sharing a…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: The Comedy of Here Today Gives More Than It Takes”

I don’t even have to ask. I know we’ve all done what sets off the basis of The Outside Story. We’ve all locked ourselves out of something,…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: The Outside Story Lifts Spirits and Heals Flaws”

If your experience with movies and TV shows based on Tom Clancy novels is predominantly filled by the five actors called upon to play the famous Jack…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: Without Remorse is the Proper Franchise Starter for Clancy Fans”

At first glance, be it the poster of car-riding mayhem or a closer look at the textured exaggerations of the animation style amid the slick futuristic adversaries,…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: The Mitchells vs. The Machines: More Heart Than Mechanics”

One of the few “lyrics” in the “Techno Syndrome” theme created by the Belgian EDM duo of The Immortals that accompanied the Mortal Kombat video game and…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: Mortal Kombat Commits to Mythology and Clout”

This is going to get confusing, but critiquing Voyagers calls upon several illustrative conflicts. First off, science fiction is the realm of high-minded concepts of fantasy, and…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: Voyagers Clashes Too Many Mixed Dichotomies”

Going through the bulk of Melissa McCarthy’s filmography leading up to Thunder Force hitting Netflix this weekend makes this writer ponder a question. What’s the female equivalent…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: Thunder Force Emphasizes the Female Manchild”

The disaster movies love to take the well-worn “Murphy’s Law” of “anything that can go wrong will go wrong” as pseudo-logical permission to get excessively creative with…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: The Tunnel Balances The Spectacles of Danger and Heroics”

To be a more astute and informed moviegoer when it comes to satires, one really should do the background homework to understand what is being satirized in…… Read more “New from Don Shanahan on 25YL: Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq Proves Satire Has Its Topical Bite”