The holiday movie season is already in full swing, and if you are not in the mood to brave the multiplex, feel free to sample some of these holiday film treats, from the delightful to the deranged, in the cozy comfort of your home:
Why not get started with a Tim Burton double feature?
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Dazzling director Tim Burton produced and conceived this stop motion dark fantasy musical film that tells the story of Jack Skellington and his adventures in “Halloween Town” and “Christmas Town.” Longtime Burton collaborator Danny Elfman provides the unforgettable score.
Edward Scissorhands (1990) Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as an artificial man named Edward who has scissors for hands. Director Burton demonstrates his usual flair for combining quirky characters and situations with generous doses of humor and heart. The film is bolstered by a strong supporting cast that includes Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Kathy Baker, Alan Arkin, and screen legend Vincent Price in one of his final screen appearances.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) This classic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical tells the story of a family living in St. Louis, Missouri, during the 1904 World’s Fair. It is important to note that the film’s director, Vincente Minnelli, met star Judy Garland on the set and later married her. This family treat debuted the classic songs “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which are still beloved today.
Black Christmas (1974) This cult classic, generally regarded as one of the earliest slasher films, features murder and mayhem in a sorority house during the holiday season. It stars Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder and John Saxon. This is definitely not your typical Christmas movie fare.
Love Actually (2003) This Christmas-themed romantic comedy film explores different aspects of love as shown through 10 separate, yet inevitably intertwined stories. Set primarily in London, Love Actually has become a holiday film staple in many homes. The sparkling, all-star cast includes Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Keira Knightley.
While You Were Sleeping (1995) The double punch of the blockbuster hit, Speed, and this film helped Sandra Bullock ascend to box office queen. Bullock shines as Lucy, a lonely Chicago Transit Authority token collector whose heroic actions lead to love and laugher and happy ever after. Peter Boyle, Glynis Johns, Jack Warden, Bill Pullman and Peter Gallagher round out the cast for this endearing and delightful box office winner.
Babes in Toyland (1961) I adored this Walt Disney Christmas musical as a child primarily because of my childhood crush on its star, Annette Funicello. Based on a 1903 operetta, this Disney treat still captivates viewers today.
Scrooged (1988) Bill Murray brings his manic comic energy to this modernized remake of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. The film was produced and directed by Richard Donner (Superman the Movie, Lethal Weapon, and The Omen).
Home Video Roundup
The final weeks of 2015 are also an excellent time to purchase or rent the newest releases in home video entertainment.
Amy (2015) This acclaimed British documentary depicts the life and death of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. The film covers the gamut of Amy’s struggle with substance abuse, which eventually caused her premature death, as well as provides insights into her true musical genius.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 25th Anniversary Edition (1989) Since its release, Christmas Vacation has often been labeled as a modern Christmas classic. The film stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid, with Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki as the Griswold children.
Mississippi Grind (2015) This dramedy features a down-on-his-luck gambler (Ben Mendelson) who teams up with a younger gambler (Ryan Reynolds), hoping to change his luck for the better. Several scenes were filmed in Mobile, especially around Mobile Greyhound Park. Ryan Reynolds has raved in recent interviews about how he fell in love with the city of Mobile while filming there. Go, Alabama!
90 Minutes in Heaven (2015) Based on the bestselling biographic novel by the same name, this inspiring film features the story of Don Piper (Hayden Christensen) who is pronounced dead after a horrific car crash but returns to life 90 minutes later and claims to have seen Heaven.
Ant-Man (2015) The Marvel Comics superhero comes vividly to life in this blockbuster starring Paul Rudd as the title character, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll and Michael Douglas in the role of Dr. Pym. The film received positive reviews and has enjoyed mammoth box office receipts.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) The fifth installment in the Mission: Impossible series stars Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames and Alec Baldwin. In the film, IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is on the run from the CIA, and viewers are holding onto their seats throughout this non-stop action flick.
Fantastic Four (2015) Based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, this reboot of the Fantastic Four film franchise received negative reception from critics and audiences and quickly sank during its theatrical release last summer. Perhaps home video will resurrect this misbegotten saga.
So, while preparing the menus for your holiday feasts, why not sample a few of the holiday film treats from this month’s list? Happy Holidays!
~Dr. Jeff Langham is State Assistant Superintendent for External and Governmental Affairs and a lifelong lover of film.
