Archive for December, 2009

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) has it all – the cute, precocious kid (Natalie Wood), a fantastic Santa Claus (Edmund Gwenn) that makes you want to believe, and an awesome story to boot. There have been remakes of course – including television productions in 1955 and 1979 and a 1994 feature film but nothing beats the original.

From the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/

Commentary to follow.

I admit I have a soft spot in my heart for British Romantic comedies … Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Starter for Ten, Four Weddings and a Funeral and my third selection for my Christmas Pix blogs, Love Actually.

It is a fun film to watch – not necessarily the best film ever made but the interesting stories and characters make it a worthwhile watch for the holiday season!

Love Actually (2003)

My next selection is a film that I have bee watching for over 20 years now. Before the 24 hour marathons and later plaudits A Christmas Story would receive, there was simply a great movie that I watch with my dad and one of my brothers on VHS:

A Christmas Story (1983)

What I enjoyed about this film is that it harkened to a time and place that was so far removed from my own experiences growing up. In addition, as we watched the film my “old man” relayed some of his own personal relatable experiences growing up during the similar time that this story takes place. So my pleasure in this film goes beyond the film itself but is inextricably tied to my own Christmas memories.

The 40 Biggest Stinkers of the Decade (10-1) – Inside Movies.

In the days leading up to the holiday, I hope to post “one movie (or more) a day” that is among my personal favorite in its celebration of Christmas. They will be featured in no particular order because each of them hold a special place in my heart and I cannot bring myself to order in lists of “best” or “favorites.”

For Volume 1,  I have chosen to feature not necessarily a motion picture but more of a feature made for television:

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Also available in [Blu-ray]

While the running time is only slightly over 20 minutes it still packs a meaningful touch for me. As a youth and even now as a youth at heart, I am touched by the sincerity of Charles Shultz’s capturing of the true spirit of the season.

Great article in the NY Times ….

http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/the-politics-of-oscar-campaigning/

What do you all think?

Here is a book which also elaborates on the thesis of the above-mentioned article, All About Oscar: The History and Politics of the Academy Awards.