10 Best Christmas Movies

 10 Best Christmas Movies

A "Christmas" movie is defined as a film that has a "Christmas" theme or takes place sometime during the "Christmas" holidays (Nov 30th- Jan 2nd). Christmas refers to either the commercial holiday of gift-giving or the religious holiday when Christians believe that Christ was born.  

"Christmas" movies are a time-honored tradition that teach a life lesson and are fairly heart warming, often family friendly.  The following are my "Ten Favourite Christmas Movies". Enjoy!

10. Santa Clause Conquers the Martians (1964)

9. Gremlins (1984)

8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

6. The Bishop's Wife (1947)

5. Shop Around the Corner (1940)

4. A Christmas Carol (1951)

3. Meet Me in St.Louis (1944) 

2. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

1.It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

10 Best Films of 2022

10 Best Films of 2022

This year I haven't watched as many films due to my local cheap theatre, Town Cinema 8 ($5 tickets) "temporarily" closing. In addition, I missed out on Toronto International Film Festival due to a new career change. Thankfully, I did manage to find some time to watch some great pictures.

While I feel like last years' top 5 was stronger than this year (I liked Spielbergs' West Side Story more) I do think my #1 pick will be a standout for many decades to come. I'm beginning to love Cannes' Palm D'or winners. 

1. Triangle of Sadness

2. The Tragedy of Macbeth 

3. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story

4. Belle

5. The Fablemans

6. Decision to Leave

7. Nope

8.  EO

9. Elvis

10. Everything Everywhere All At Once

Triangle of Sadness (2022) Review

Title: Triangle of Sadness
Year: 2022
Director: Ruben Ostlund
Country: Sweden
Language: English

One of my favorite filmmakers is Luis Bunuel. I love how his pictures, specifically Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1971) dissect class in a satirical and absurd way. Ruben Ostlund explores similar territory in very unsubtle, yet hilarious ways in Triangle of Sadness. The picture is a treasure; it's a much needed jolt of cinema as society is slowly coming out of the pandemic. 

Celebrity model couple, Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), are invited on a luxury cruise for the uber-rich, helmed by an unhinged boat captain (Woody Harrelson). 

Triangle of Sadness is a shot of madness; it's a remarkably entertaining satire that allows a tremendous amount of enjoyment in mocking the rich & dismantling our odd societal structures. It takes familiar ideas (see: Lord of the Flies) and catapults them into uncharted territory. Though the themes may not be original takes, the script uses them in clever and creative ways.

This movie has one of the most outrageous, memorable 30 minute scenes you'll see in the entirety of film history. It left me amused, bewildered and delighted. Triangle of Sadness is incredibly well made, featuring tremendous cinematography, excellent acting and a script that is completely off the rails. This is a weird movie. 

Triangle of Sadness won the Palm D'or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and I can certainly see why. It is an absurd piece of social commentary. Some may not enjoy the over-the-top message, but I am all for it. 

She Said (2022) Review

Title: She Said
Year: 2022
Director: Maria Schrader
Country: US
Language: English

In October 2017, the expose Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades was published in the New York Times. The story, investigated by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, led to 80+ women coming forward with allegations about Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct and lit the fuse for the culture's incredibly important #MeToo movement. 

Like Spotlight (2015), the film is a retelling of how the reporters slowly unraveled incredibly shocking stories of sexual abuse. This time, it's about Harvey Weinstein. 

She Said recounts much of the information and publicly recorded statements that are already available in the original story and subsequent book. It's a well made picture, but it is a bit bland because it takes few creative risks. It is so straightforward in its storytelling & characters that this might as well have been a traditionally made documentary. 

She Said is very familiar if you've seen more than one picture about investigative journalism. It hits all the same beats. The only real emotional difference you'll feel in these movies (She Said, Spotlight, The Report, The Post, Zodiac etc.) will be based on your personal interest in the subject matter. If you are disgusted by perverted men like Weinstein, then this film will successfully anger you. 

Many movies include "Based on a True Story."  to give themselves creative freedom to loosely play with reality. For instance, very little in Amadeus (1984) actually happened. It's strange to see films like She Said be so matter-of-fact about the truth. Some will adore the film for its honest take, but I thought it would have used more movie magic to raise the stakes for these journalists. They talk a little about how "Weinstein might have people watching us." but I wanted it to go further. 

Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) Review

Title: Meshes of the Afternoon
Year: 1943
Director: Maya Deren
Language: N/A
Country: US

Clocking in at 14 minutes, Meshes of the Afternoon was the shortest entry in this decades' Sight and Sound Greatest Films Poll. On the Critics' list it made #16. Curious, I checked it out on Criterion Channel. Although a soundtrack was later added, Criterion presented the film as it originally played without sound. It is quite a peculiar picture; made during Hollywood's Golden Era, the film is unlike anything made at the rime.

In this, a woman (Maya Deren) returning home falls asleep and has vivid dreams that may or may not be happening in reality.

Maya Deren's Meshes of the Afternoon is a standout in 1940's cinema, because of how avant-garde it is. It's disorienting due to its surreal imagery and complex psychological themes. It's a feminist picture because of how it dissects oneself and the female psyche. Through visual techniques and symbols we see her innermost desires. 

The handheld POV shots, mixed with uncomfortable closeups and remarkable medium compositions tell a remarkable story that is only intensified with innovative editing and German Expressionistic set design. Depicting fragments of the unconscious mind; Meshes of the Afternoon is one of the rare "dream" films that actually feels like a dream. Its atmosphere is uncanny and one will have to look hard to find anything like it.

Very long, very remarkable essays have been written about this film since its inception. It would be fun to view Meshes of the Afternoon in a psychology class & see what interpretations come out of this art. I found myself in awe; this will certainly have a lasting impression on my mind. 

No Rating

Pinocchio (2022) Review

Title: Pinocchio
Year: 2022
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Country: US
Language: English

Ever since Walt Disney's Pinocchio impressed audiences in 1940, there have been a whole slew of imitators and remakes. The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996) clearly being the worst of them all. Even Disney couldn't spare with their original with their live action remake in 2022. Guillermo Del Toro, however, is a remarkable filmmaker, and has managed to inspired with the latest version of the Fabled classic. 

This whimsical, stop-motion musical directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson follows the mischievous and disobedient adventures of Pinocchio in his pursuit of a place in the world.

Pinocchio (2022) is fairy tale for adults; a picture that is optimistic and cautionary in equal measures. Blending fantasy with real world conflict (this picture is set in Benito Mussolini's Italy) it's a story with big emotions that perfectly blends the innocence's of being a child with the heartache of adulthood expectations. 

The film differs from the Disney 1940's version in many ways, not attempting to be merely a remake of the material. Del Toro's themes are more sociological and the moral, the key to being a "real boy", is far more thought provoking and philosophical. Despite having more mature themes; Pinocchio is vibrant and stunning film. It is full of imagination. 

The production design is stunning; the stop motion is remarkable; the music is creative. I love that Ewan McGregor plays Jiminy Cricket. Every scene is a meaningful work of art, masterfully crafted by a master director. You must see this. 

The Ten Greatest Films of All Time

TEN GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME

(ACCORDING TO GOODBADCRITIC) 

In 1952, Sight and Sound decided to ask critics and directors from all over the world to name their greatest films of all time. It became a tradition, with a new list coming out every decade. This year was its largest ever, with 1639 participants submitting their own "top ten" ballot. There was only one problem with this endeavor; they didn't ask The Good, The Bad, and the Critic. 

Therefore we have gone rouge and have created our own list, free from "woke" titles like The Searchers. Did anybody ask for it? No, but we're giving the list away anyway!

10. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick, 1968)

9.  Fallen Angels (Kar Wai, 1994)

8. Roma (Cuaron, 2018)

7. Bringing Up Baby (Hawks, 1938)

6. Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Demy, 1964)

5. Citizen Kane (Welles, 1941)

4. Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (Bunuel, 1971)

3. All About Eve (Mankiewicz, 1950)

2. The Seventh Seal (Bergman, 1957)

1. Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story (2022) Review

Title: Knives Out 2
Year: 2022
Director: Rian Johnson
Country: US

Language: English

I had tickets to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story (hereby called Knives Out 2) at Toronto International Film Festival in 2022. Unfortunately I couldn't go, so I sold the tickets...for $100 each! The film was so anticipated that it had sold out in hours & tickets were selling second-hand for as high as $300. In a few weeks it will be out on Netflix, but I knew I had to see this picture on the big screen so I went to my local Cineplex,

Famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) travels to Greece at the behest of an eccentric billionaire (Edward Norton). 

Knives Out (2019) was a breeze because the murder mystery at play was a tour de force in showmanship and storytelling. We're never meant to be amateur sleuths playing a guessing game, but rather on a whodunnit? rollercoaster. Knives Out 2 (2022) carries over this formula in a stranger setting (eccentric billionaire's island) with even weirder characters (Batista as a twitch superstar).

Throughout the picture Director Rian Johnson makes us chuckle with scattered bits of humor that seem random at first, but become more important during the second half. Much of the enjoyment come from the actors playing such quirky characters so straight & having such barbed dialogue being thrown at their ineptitude. "One should not confuse speaking without thought for speaking the truth."

Rian Johnson's approach to the murder mystery- setting expectations and then defying them, add to a riveting picture that, like an onion, has layers upon layers. There's an undeniable pleasure in watching the script unfold in ways that add more nuance to the story and characters within. Every "twist" is intelligently thought out, even if the characters are dumb as bricks. 

The Fabelmans (2022) Review

Title: The Fabelmans
Year: 2022
Director: Steven Spielberg

Country: US

Language: English

My fascination with cinema has given me a love-hate relationship with the filmography of Steven Spielberg. At times I feel like he's phoning it in; making a picture just to appease his corporate masters (Kingdom of the Crystal Skill). At times I know he is a master of his craft; creating awe inspiring works that deeply affect me (Schindler's List). When Spielberg is at his best it's a sight to behold. The Fabelmans is one of his best.  

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret.

As autobiographical as Spielberg can get; The Fabelmans is a remarkable self-mythologizing picture that explores Spielbergs' childhood & deep dives into the power of cinema. Film can expose us to harsh truths about ourselves and the world around us. Film can expose our vulnerabilities. It can bring us together or be used purely for escapism.  

The Fablemans is an incredibly well made picture; I'm certain it will be nominated in nearly every technical category at the Oscars. It's a deceptively "normal" film (in the sense that it isn't a visual spectacle like Wakanda Forever) that quietly plucks away at your wall of security. Rarely do we get a picture so touching and mature. 

It's hard to gather words to describe a picture as nuanced as The Fablemans. I was thoroughly impressed & I would certainly re-watch it as there is much I likely might have missed my first viewing. It's a great film. The best film that is currently playing in theatres. 

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022) Review

Title- Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Year: 2022
Director: Eric Appel
Country: US
Language: English

Co-written by Weird Al himself, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story delivers on its premise of being very weird indeed. Lately musical bio-pics have become incredibly trendy in Hollywood, 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody was a great critical and commercial success, and this film seeks to deconstruct those films by satirizing the hell out of them. It's humour is on the level of the cult classic This is Spinal Tap (1994).

The film explores every facet of Yankovic's life, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like Eat It and Like a Surgeon to his torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle.

Weird is an absurd comedy that takes you on an unexpected ride and keeps you on your toes throughout the run-time. Even though you know it's a comedy, some scenes will have you in awe, "that didn't happen in real life!" It's stupid, I'll admit, but a joyful stupid that speaks to the creative spirit in us. 

The actors do a great job at playing their roles as straight as possible. The actors give outrageous lines, like "Give up your hopes and dreams." & "Were you playing the accordion in the closet!?' with the upmost sincerity, which adds to the comedy.  I like that the movie doesn't break the fourth wall or wink at its audience. We are smart enough to "get" what is going on.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is an enjoyable movie that left me in a great mood after watching it. It's hard to reveal much of the plot without spoiling any hilarious moments. I expected this film to be good and it went above my expectations. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) Review

Title: Wakanda Forever
Year: 2022
Director: Ryan Coogler
Country: US
Language: English

After Chadwick Boseman's death, Marvel could have decided not to make a sequel to Black Panther (2018) and nobody would have blamed them for it. This film directly addresses' his death in the opening credits and the story is thematically about the nature of grief. Each character deals with their grief in a variety of ways which drives an ever-growing conflict about Wakanda's resources.

Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), and the rest of the Wakandans fight to protect the kingdom of Wakanda from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death.

With Black Panther (2018) I enjoyed the socio-political conflict at the heart of the movie; "Should Wakanda use their resources to help the World?" I particularly liked that the villain, Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan)., was not entirely in the wrong & that our hero had to learn a lesson. This grey area of socio-politics also translates to Wakanda Forever. The central issue has no easy solution and the Wakandan Kingdom has some deep seated issues to fix. 

Despite my praise for the grief driven story, I felt there were a lot of obvious technical issues with Wakanda Forever. The lighting is terrible; too many dark scenes that had me squinting, wondering what I was supposed to see. The cinematography lacked a sense of space; the lack of depth was very apparent. Event shots of supposed "expansive" kingdoms felt small and claustrophobic. 

I didn't particularly like all the shouting matches that were going on in Wakanda Forever. How did any of these people become leaders when they're so obviously mentally unstable? The film does tell an intriguing story & has important themes, but it's presented like a picture with 1/10th of its budget. 

Town Bloody Hall (1979) Review

Title: Town Bloody Hall
Year: 1979
Director: D.A Pennebaker
Country: US
Language: English

Town Bloody Hall compares having a debate to a wrestling/boxing match. It is a fascinating time capsule from an era where even the most controversial subject matter was still civilly discussed, as people were legitimately curious about understanding -and discussing- opposing ideologies. Rather than squash thought, people sought to expand their mind. 

In Town Bloody Hall  infamously macho author Norman Mailer shares a 1971 NYC panel with an audience of intellectual women and famous feminists discussing the socio-pollical discourse of the women's liberation movement. 

Mailer is joined onstage by feminists Jill Johnston, Jacqueline Ceballos, Diana Trilling and Germaine Greer. Though the feminists all share a disdain for Mailer, each one has a remarkably diverse argument that is not necessarily aligned with the other. It's an intellectually proactive discussion that makes political theatre quite thrilling. 

The cameramen of Town Bloody Hall weren't actually allowed inside New York's Town Hall and thus the secretive hand-held camerawork feels as raw and vigorous as the debate it captures. Rarely still, the camera does a great job at panning across the stage and audience; giving us revealing shots regarding the mood of the crowd and panelists. This improvisatory type of filmmaking is quite an achievement. 

Despite the incredibly dated views of Norman Mailer (in a documentary provided with the Criterion edition it seems he changed some of his ways) Town Bloody Hall is a fun picture that will inspire you to write a socio-pollical article or join a debate team. Pre-Twitter and MAGA, these "civil" yet disruptive debates seem to be a relic of the past.