The best new classic holiday movie is Love Actually
Every year, we're irradiated by the same movies beamed onto the tube at Christmastime. It's a Wonderful Life is rerun so often that I consider going out on a bridge to look for Clarence myself. (Honestly, have you ever watched it? Until the final act, it's a very depressing movie.)
But there are alternatives. There are films that feature a healthy dose of the Christmas spirit without the accompanying treacle. Over the holidays, as you're considering grabbing that turkey fork and jamming it into your arm just to take your mind off things, here's a list of DVDs you can pop into the player instead.
5. Die Hard. OK, sure, it's a little violent for the season of peace on earth, good will etc. But as one of the greatest action films of all time, it's a welcome change from the usual Lifetime movie-of-the-week stuff. Plus, you can't argue with how John McClane teaches the terrorists the true meaning of Christmas: "Now I have a machine gun -- Ho Ho Ho."
4. The Sure Thing. This often-forgotten flick features the major motion picture debut of John Cusack as a college freshman traveling across country over Christmas break to jump in the sack with a much younger Nicolette Sheridan. Of course, he's accompanied by the girl who should really be the love of his life (played by Daphne Zuniga). But aside from the trip down Gen X memory lane, there are some fantastic lines, especially in Cusack's monologues on life and junk food, appearances by Tim Robbins and Anthony Edwards, and detailed instructions on how to shotgun a beer.
3. Scrooged. This update of the Charles Dickens tale is hilarious, not least because it features Bill Murray playing the kind of guy only he does best -- a reprobate forced to discover his heart of gold. There are a couple painful reminders of the '80s -- "Your basic top-of-the-line VCR!" and Mary Lou Retton spring to mind -- but I defy anyone not to tear up a little at the end.
2. The Ref. A holiday tradition in our house every Christmas eve. We sit down and watch Denis Leary, as a cat burglar on the run, take Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis hostage. What Leary doesn't know is that the two are on the brink of divorce, and their mutual unhappiness is more than enough to make him consider giving himself up to the cops. It's sort of like eggnog spiked with tequila. Even if the feel-good parts feel a little forced, there's still enough kick to get past that. (Best line: "I thought mothers were sweet and nice and patient. I've met loan sharks more forgiving than you.")
1. Love Actually. A brilliant, funny and touching collection of intertwined stories featuring the best actors working in British fim speaking the sharp lines of a script written by Richard Curtis (who also directed). Hugh Grant plays a Tony Blair-like Prime Minister; Emma Thompson is his sister, married to a magazine editor, Alan Rickman, considering cheating on her; Liam Neeson is particularly great as a recent widower dealing with his stepson's first crush. Bill Nighy has a fantastic turn as an over-the-hill pop star getting one more shot at fame. Plus Keira Knightley is there, looking luminously pretty. Again, there are some moments that don't ring true in light of how history actually worked out -- remember when anyone thought it was possible that Tony Blair would stand up to Bush? Yeah, me neither. But overall, it's the kind of engaging, absorbing comedy-drama-love story that convinces you life, for all its heartbreak, is still a pretty great deal.
Comments
Yes! For years I've been telling people Die Hard is a Christmas movie! love Actually is on Stile's Dec 24th Christmas Eve tradition list. Well done.
Stile --
Oh, absolutely. Die Hard is all about Christmas: the good guys win, the family is reunited, and the Eurotrash terrorists are horribly killed. Pure awesome.
I like parts of Love Actually however it is not something I would show my kids. It's also got an anti American slant to it, big time. Nothing like bashing Americans at Christmas time. I do love the creative cute love stories in it. Not a family classic for Christmas at all. Maybe for your female friends.
No, I think in the Love Actually movie it's Bill Clinton, the womanizer, that is being mocked, not GW, who is ethical and loves his family and his country. No, it's not a Christmas classic, but it's a movie I've watched over and over
With the exception of Scrooged none of the movies mentioned deal with Christmas except to place the movie at a specific time of year. I enjoyed Die Hard (tremendously) and Love Actually (nice movie), but "Christmas Classic"? And using The Ref and classic in the same sentence in any context other than negative should compel the the writer to turn in his reviewer's credentials.
It should be noted that It's a Wonderful Life wasn't really a Christmas movie either. When it was released in 1946, it was in the middle of summer and bombed at the box office. How it came to be known as a Christmas movie is that after the movie fell into the public domain, local TV stations started showing it at Christmastime in the 70s-80s. The rest is history.
While I have seen all of these movies except The Ref, I have a big issue with the premise of this article. These are all good flicks, no doubt, but to call them "Christmas Classics?" This is ridiculous. Besides Scrooged, you wouldn't want to watch any of these with your grandparents or 10 yr. old. Most people when they think of a "Christmas Classic," we think of a film we can gather 'round with the whole family, pop up the popcorn, and sit back and relax. We don't want to see blood and gore, t and a, not to mention the promotion of premaritial sex in the Cusack flick. Are they good picks for ADULTS to enjoy during the holidays? Sure, just not for the family. And that's what makes a true classic. A family movie that you all share. Also, not to be too nitpicky, again, Diehard, my favorite action movie, is not really a Christmas flick, it seems the party is just there for want of a better reason to place all of the employees in the building at night, while the CEO in on holiday.
Those may be your favorite Christmas movies, but don't you think your list is awfully subjective. You are no more qualified to pick movies than me. My top 5 Christmas movies would be "Auntie Mame," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "A Christmas Story," "Christmas With the Krumps," and of course, "It's a Wonderful Life." My list is better, I think.
Upon further review, I found that the reference to summer was to when filming was completed rather than when it was released. My error. It premiered on Dec. 20 and went into wide release after Christmas to mixed reviews.
Title of the article should be Christmas movies you can't watch with the whole family, and he missed one of the best ones you can't watch with kids We're No Angles with Penn/DeNiro very very funny.
Our family still likes the first two Home Alone Movies and Tim Allen's Santa Clause. Then for chick flicks you have Sleepless in Seatle and While You Were Sleeping. Tom Hanks didn't waist his time doing Polar Express for nothing. You need to reconsider you list and check it twice!! Cheers!
All --
Thank you for your comments and for reading the article. Yes, the list is subjective. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary, etc. Everyone has their own favorites, and these are mine. I call them new classics, you may not. But merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.
PS -- Michael, that's very interesting about It's a Wonderful Life. I didn't know the history. Thanks.
i wouldn't expect anything better from a gay writer who knows nothing about Christmas. DOH! smacks writer upside head. How about Moonbeam does the Ca Constitution? Take your left gay liberal, anti family, anti america agenda and stick it where the sun dont' shine , buddy. Better yet, go duct tape yourself to a lamp post on Santa Monica bldv. at midnight.
doh!
PS merry christmas btw
i wouldn't expect anything better from a gay writer who knows nothing about Christmas. DOH! smacks writer upside head. How about Moonbeam does the Ca Constitution? Take your left gay liberal, anti family, anti america agenda and stick it where the sun dont' shine , buddy. Better yet, go duct tape yourself to a lamp post on Santa Monica bldv. at midnight.
doh!
PS merry christmas btw
Notice that 2 movies on the list star Alan Rickman, Die Hard and Love Actually. Yippee-Ki-Yay!
Nice list -- I might have flipped "The Ref" with "Love Actually," but I don't mind it's top billing specifically because of Bill Nighy's work there. Two great ones.
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