Ten Christmas Films that are not the Usual Fare.
Dec 18 '05
The Bottom Line My rather jaded look at the Christmas holidays in ten, not-so-traditional films.
After looking over many of my co-epinionators lists of holiday films, I decided to take my own look at the season. Now, I do confess, that I am not a fan of the holiday season, and tend to look at it with a rather jaundiced eye, having slaved for many years in the advertising business, which to be honest, will suck all of the joy out of anything.
The one common theme I noticed in these ten films is that they're all set somewhere around the holiday season, but don't make the holiday the principal push of the movie. Instead, there's little touches of Christmas here and there in the film, from holiday trees, talking about the holiday, or out shopping, but the films really deal with relationships, good or bad. Some of these are downright twisted, talking about families that are so impossible to cope with you wonder if anyone is going to be alive come New Years.
In no particular order, they are:
The Lion in Winter
It's Christmas in the twelfth century, and King Henry of England, the most powerful man in Europe has a crisis on his hands. He has just buried his eldest son, the one that he thought would be king after him, and now has to decide among his remaining sons who will inherit. Add into the mix his strong willed wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who he has locked up since she led a rebellion against him, and to say that there's conflict in store is an understatement. What shall we hang, the holly or each other?
Moonstruck
A woman is engaged to one brother, but gets mixed up with the other one. The holiday touches are subtle here, mostly cards and decorations, and you see one man carrying a tree over his shoulder in one quick shot. Still, falling in love over the holiday season, and magic is already in the air, well, why not? Still one of the best romantic films around.
Eyes Wide Shut
Yep. This very adult look at two messed up lives happens around the holidays. A married couple who seem to have it all find out that they each have secrets that are perhaps, best kept hidden. Not for the younger set, what with the language, nudity, an all-out orgy in the Hamptons, drug use, and what have you. Still, for those who like the wildness of things, this could fit the bill nicely.
Love Actually
Many people, in a long series of vignettes that explore all sorts of relationships, from two actors who are the body doubles, a father and child, a marriage that is slowly skidding into disaster, and a possible love affair that just might go right. It's a rather disjointed film, but charming in its own way.
Die Hard
The first one is still the best, with terrorists turning an office Christmas party into the holiday from hell. This one made people notice Alan Rickman and Bruce Willis, and for those of you who like shoot-'em-ups, this one has it all. Check out Millinocket's review for some of the pointers that make this a good choice for the action fiend in your house.
A Christmas Story
This is about as sentimental as I will get. It's become my favorite of all the various films out there, and the only one that I can sit through without itching to change the channel. Every year TNT runs it for twenty four hours straight, and you get an additional bonus by having the author, Jean Shepard, narrating it, which makes it all fit right. The infamous lamp, bad dogs, the bunny suit, and one kid's quest for the ultimate christmas gift.
The Shop Around the Corner
This is one you've probably never seen, unless you're a fan of the TCM channel on cable, or a Jimmy Stewart fan. The Christmas touch comes at the end of the film, and this is a great film about two people who slowly fall for one another in a series of letters, without the other one knowing about it. Yes, You've Got Mail is based on this one.
The Ref
Insane, funny, film about a burglar and a couple that he takes hostage on the eve of Christmas. Check out mfunk75's review of this black, black comedy.
Christmas with the Kranks
This is the one for everyone who's fed up with the lights, and the holiday frenzy as everyone tries to outdo one another. Based on the book "Skipping Christmas" this is one that is for the Tim Allen fans out there. Check out Rock_On's review of this one.
"Noel" -- The West Wing
Ok, so technically, this one is not a movie. But it's one of the best bits on tv that catches the right feel of the holidays for some of us. Josh (Bradley Whitford) finds himself with a long talk with a psychiatrist (Adam Arkin) during the holidays. It catches some of the frenzy, the noise, and I was crying my eyes out at the end because it hit so damn close to home for me. The other episodes that this series has done that are set in and around the holiday season are just as good.
So, if you're tired of all those gooey, ooey, holiday films that focus on the sticky sentiments of the season, pop one of these into the dvd or vcr, and watch the fireworks start.
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Member: Rebecca Huston
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