My Holiday Viewing List

I am a creature of habit.  That’s not a secret, in fact the quite the opposite.  My movie habits tend to hall in with this fact.  For instance when it snows I tend to enjoy movies with a bit of bulk in its runtime.  Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction at 154 minutes tends to be a favorite as well as David Fincher’s brilliant The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with a runtime of 166 minutes.

Holiday viewing has titles I watch every year as well.  Two I tend to watch every year around thanksgiving and five around Christmas.  With the holidays practically here I need to get cracking on this list.  Without further ado my holiday viewing list with a little blurb about each.

THE THANKSGIVING DUO:

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles

Steve Martin & John Candy star in the comedy about two strangers traveling together to get home for Thanksgiving.  Every year I laugh at the same jokes and that makes for one enjoyable comedy.

And the other Thanksgiving flick is Trading Places starring Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy.  Yes its set around Christmas but I still watch at Thanksgiving.  It makes for a great transitional movie between the two holidays, despite the fact it is the one I watch first.

THE CHRISTMAS FLICKS:

The Polar Express is the one I watch as I wrap Christmas gifts and once again later during the season.  I love the story of a magical train ride to the north pole.  

Next up is Scrooged starring Bill Murray and Karen Allen of Indiana Jones fame.  What’s Christmas without A Christmas Carol?  The comedic version is my favorite. 

 Following this is another comedy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and what a classic it is.  I love watching Chevy Chase put on the perfect family Christmas.  If you haven’t seen this one do yourself a favor and watch it.

Number four on the list is the immortal classic from 1947 Miracle on 34th Street.  It reminds me of the magic of the holidays.  Not to mention what a fantastic movie it is.

Rounding out the list Silent Night Deadly Night.  This one also fits in for Halloween but the fact that the killer dresses up as Santa during the holidays.  That logic makes it more of a Christmas movie for me.

Honorable mentions of course go to Home Alone and It’s A Wonderful Life.

So Happy Holidays and please feel free to watch one of the list with me!

12 Years A Slave

There are some movies that one considers good and other movies that one considers bad.  Regardless, for better or for worse, the movie will leave some sort of imprint on the viewer.  

(Chiwetel Ejiofor & Michael Fassbender
in 12 Years a Slave)

One rainy early November afternoon I had the privilege of seeing a movie that left an unforgettable impression.  That movie was director Steve McQueen’s (Shame) 12 Years A Slave.  The true story follows a Chiwetel Ejiofor’s(2012) character, Solomon North, struggle as he is captured, forced into slavery, endures the hardships of the time, and his struggle to regain his freedom.  Along the way he encounters many characters both sympathetic - Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek Into Darkness) - and unflinchingly evil -Michael Fassbender (Prometheus), Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine).

The imagery is far from subtle in its brutally and creates an emotional upheaval that is impossible to ignore.  It adds a powerful since of realism to the story.

The crafted story is one of triumph despite the odds and a honest, often brutal, look at a part of American history.  I can not recall seeing slavery presented in such an honest light.

The movie is a must see for anyone and everyone but be cautious when you see it due to brutal images.

Patiently I wait to see what this incredible movie will do come Oscar season because the bar has now been set.