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Don Shanahan

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Don Shanahan is a Chicago-based film critic serving Film Obsessive as the Editor-in-Chief and Content Supervisor. He also writes for his own website, Every Movie Has a Lesson, and is one of the hosts of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast on the Ruminations Radio Network. As a school teacher by day, Don writes his movie reviews with life lessons in mind, from the serious to the farcical.

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Remember the Titans (2000) 72% EDIT “One of those movies that should be shown to every sports team and coach in the country.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Jan 24, 2026 Full Review Atropia (2025) 41% 2/5 EDIT “In Atropia’s type of satire, where war—and all its ugly realities—is being practiced as a performance for misplaced dominance, more than one mouthpiece is needed. Shawkat’s oppositional firebrand is not enough.” – Film Obsessive Jan 24, 2026 Full Review Signing Tony Raymond (2025) 82% 3/5 EDIT “Clever comeuppance is not the same as legitimate consequences, and that’s where the stiff reality of real-life outside the dramedy movie crashes the party. ” – Film Obsessive Jan 20, 2026 Full Review OBEX (2025) 96% 2/5 EDIT “It is a course that regrettably shrinks the contagious wonder the premise of this daring jaunt could have generated. ” – Every Movie Has a Lesson Jan 13, 2026 Full Review Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) 54% EDIT “Jet Li, in his American introduction for many, adds imposing clout and an entirely new threat than any of the previous films. Leave it to Chris Rock to steal his scenes too.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Jan 13, 2026 Full Review Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) 61% EDIT “The addition of Rene Russo add so much to this already-classic dynamic.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Jan 13, 2026 Full Review Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) 82% EDIT “This adrenaline-injected sequel flirts with being bigger and better than the original.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Jan 13, 2026 Full Review Dead Man's Wire (2025) 91% 4/5 EDIT “Because "Dead Man’s Wire" is candidly presents the positive and negative facets of those caught up in this frenzy, the even-handed movie grants intelligence to rub your chin, perk your ears, and question whether judgment or justification can be granted.” – Film Obsessive Jan 10, 2026 Full Review The Dutchman (2025) 57% 2/5 EDIT “The movie never had to leave the train or the topics unleashed there. The originally intended inescapable struggle is demystified the moment it treads away from it.” – Film Obsessive Jan 3, 2026 Full Review Anaconda (2025) 48% 3/5 EDIT “Raising the stakes and, thereby raising the snakes, means camp more than chomp whirling through the slimy special effects.” – Every Movie Has a Lesson Dec 23, 2025 Full Review Brian's Song (1971) 86% EDIT “"Brian's Song" gets to the heart of true men in the most touching way without dwelling on unnecessary external conflicts.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Dec 21, 2025 Full Review The Housemaid (2025) 74% 4/5 EDIT “When things get harsh and dicey, and the roasting commentary on privilege becomes more apparent, Paul Feig still varnishes with a suave coolness that is undeniably appealing.” – Film Obsessive Dec 21, 2025 Full Review Song Sung Blue (2025) 78% 4/5 EDIT “Diamond’s catalog gets shown off by big-time voices, and viewers get to engross themselves in a story detached from familiar and indulgent fame.” – Film Obsessive Dec 19, 2025 Full Review Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) 66% 2/5 EDIT “Shockingly, a copy machine was used in place of a springboard, and the disappointing storytelling results show—no matter how pretty it all looks. ” – Film Obsessive Dec 16, 2025 Full Review Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) 77% EDIT “The uptick in showy budget and meaner energy make this a unique entry in the franchise. ” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Dec 15, 2025 Full Review Ella McCay (2025) 22% 2/5 EDIT “Dilute the very intelligence of the character to possess little to no wherewithal and continuously pile on the exhausted disinterest from everyone else. By orchestrating this massively dismissive environment, the momentum does not support the underdog.” – Film Obsessive Dec 10, 2025 Full Review Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) 87% EDIT “A perfect extension of its television roots and a sequel with visceral stakes.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Dec 7, 2025 Full Review Marty Supreme (2025) 93% 3/5 EDIT “We have to find a way to root for an asshole. Worse, depending on your own contempt or adoration for the debate of formality of table tennis versus ping pong, we have to root for an asshole playing that predominantly inconsequential sport.” – Film Obsessive Dec 1, 2025 Full Review Rebuilding (2025) 93% 4/5 EDIT “You are not looking down on any perceived lack of ceremony or decorum, because what’s there and the people putting together this personal tribute are beautiful and caring in their own right. Rebuilding crafts this level of care into its entire narrative.” – Film Obsessive Nov 29, 2025 Full Review A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) 94% EDIT “A defining step in the history of horror.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Nov 29, 2025 Full Review Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) 78% EDIT “Meta work from Wes Craven before meta became cool.” – Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast Nov 29, 2025 Full Review Is This Thing On? (2025) 86% 5/5 EDIT “Is This Thing On? asks incredible and intelligent questions that actually get chewed on with civility and dignity, ignoring the urge to shout hot drops of dialogue to the rhetorical rafters solely meant to let an actor show off.” – Film Obsessive Nov 27, 2025 Full Review Hamnet (2025) 86% 5/5 EDIT “A reaction-inducing climax and conclusion like that could only come from an equally important effort to establish the beautiful and challenging humanity of the people going through their ordeal.” – Every Movie Has a Lesson Nov 26, 2025 Full Review Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) 92% 4/5 EDIT “With each new bite at the Benoit Blanc apple alongside his muse of Daniel Craig, Rian has scripted his own grand narratives that demonstrate how diverse the murder mystery genre is.” – Every Movie Has a Lesson Nov 25, 2025 Full Review Rental Family (2025) 87% 4/5 EDIT “With those glowing and disarming traits, the lovable Oscar winner could capture the hearts of the most bulletproof and armored tickers of any crowd. ” – Every Movie Has a Lesson Nov 22, 2025 Full Review
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