Movies to watch in the Christmas Holiday Season (that you won’t find on Netflix):

1)     It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

AKA: The classic one.

Frank Capra’s Christmas fantasy drama about a disillusioned business man and overall good person (James Stewart) who has dedicated his life to helping others and decides to commit suicide on Christmas Eve, an action an angel (Henry Travers) tries to stop him from executing, is one that features prominently on Christmas movie lists. However, our (entirely empirical) surveys show very few people under the age of 40 have watched it. Now’s the time to spend 135 minutes of your time in this old Hollywood gem.

Sure, it is long and old fashioned, but truth be told they don’t make them movies like this anymore. There is a charming leading couple; Donne Reed play’s James Stewart’s wife, a fantastic dance sequence, a solid plot and just the right amount of the metaphysical element.

Watching it today is a fulfilling experience, especially comparing it to the lukewarm Christmas romcoms Netflix seems to make by the dozen each year. However, I can’t finish this description without commenting on the fact that a lot of the values and role models not so subtly promoted in the film are very outdated and can keep you from happily enjoying the it.

2)      The Family Stone (2005)

AKA: The subtle understated one your mom will like

So, this family dramedy by Thomas Bezucha has a 6,3 score in IMDB and stars Sarah Jessica Parker, but hear me out, this is actually a good film that exudes the best of intentions and has an A-lister cast. Isn’t this what Christmas is all about? Probably not, but this Trashworthy editor will not rest until she convinces you this is a gem disguised as trash by the confused internet.

The story is simple. A family of completely different characters: Sarah Jessica Parker, a tight business executive, Dermot Mulroney, her like- minder fiancé, Claire Danes, her free-spirited sister, Rachel MacAdams, a teacher that does not mince her words, Luke Wilson, a chill Luke Wilson type of character, Craig T. Nelson the father and Dianne Keaton the troubled matriarch gather at the same house for Christmas. Also, the older sister actress from The Haunting of Hill House (Elizabeth Reaser) plays the older sister here as well. Finally, extra kudos to the casting director for giving the role of the deaf gay son to deaf actor and Tyrone Giordano. Brian White plays his boyfriend.

The movie balances well the happy and sad moments and saves its most heartbreaking one for Dianne Keaton, who makes a great speech about the fear that comes with disease. All in all, there is never a dull moment in this down to earth kind hearted (family) stone.

3)      Die Hard

AKA: The one to watch with your male boomer relatives

The jury of film critics nobody hired has decided this is a Christmas movie and we agree.

Indeed, John McTernan’s iconic action thriller takes place around Christmas time in sunny 80s California. Bruce Willis is a New York cop who must save the day and is wife from a group of secretly capitalist terrorists that crash the company’s Christmas party. The terrorist’s leader is delightful Alan Rickman with a German accent.

This too is a classic off course. Compared to more recent films of the same genre it feels grittier and earthier. The dialogue is sharp and the action just enough and as intense as needed to never feel tiring. All in all, it’s big fun.

4)      Frozen 2

AKA: The one for the nostalgic sophisticated millennials disguised as the one for the children

Frozen 2 is not a Christmas movie and neither was Frozen 1. I have added it here because it feels like one because of all the snow. I highly recommend watching it at the cinema, because the animation is beautiful and worthy of a big screen. And your kids or nieces and nephews will love it, so take them with.

Better than the animation itself, is the story by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck. Elsa, the queen of a small kingdom that possesses the magical powers of freezing things and the singing voice of Idina Menzel is enjoying a peaceful life, along with her sister Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, the latter’s fiancé and a whimsical magical snowman Olaf, until a random singing voice urges her to discover a lost enchanted kingdom.

The sequel to the critically acclaimed and box office hit Frozen takes all the good stuff from its predecessor and goes bigger, funnier, more magical and dare I say more Princess Mononoke (as far as Disney could go off course).

The only thing missing is big catchy song like Let it Go from the first film, but we can’t have everything, even at Christmas.

5)      The Snow Queen (1976)

AKA: The weird 1970s trippy one for your arty friends

Back in the 1970’s the BBC was using its high budget to experiment with animation and live action causing mixed results which range from Monty Pythons animations to this really strange film which I find weirdly aesthetically pleasing.

Also, it is the closest a film has gotten to the actual tale of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen. Fun fact: Frozen is actually a very loose adaptation of the same tale.

The story follows the quest of Gerda, shockingly badly played by Linda Slater, to find her brother who has been physically and mentally kidnapped by the Snow Queen.

On her trippy journey she meets magical creatures like talking flowers and reindeers, sweet looking evil old ladies, criminals and princesses while walking around hand drawn theatre sets, vintage animation and known works of art. The uncredited music designed especially for the film makes it even more magical.

Marina Meli

13/12/2019