MOVIE OF THE WEEK December 27, 2024: HO HO HOLIDAY VIEWING
As the year draws to a close in late December, and holiday spirits of hope for the new year prevail, include viewing movies with family and friends as part of your seasonal celebrations. Good movies provide respite from the world’s worries — or, as an alternative, they deliver insight into ways we might make progress in overcoming them. And so we present for your viewing enjoyment Team Movie of the Week’s richly varied list of recommended movies for your ho ho holiday viewing. The MOTW roster features romance, comedy, thrills and an abundance of good food. Team MOTW has selected films that are upbeat, inspiring and spirited, although not all are directly connected to traditional holiday celebrations. Read our mini reviews of all the selected titles, punch up the trailers and pick those with the greatest appeal. Or, better yet, watch them all. — Team MOTW
A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Nell Minow
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite books. I listen to the Tim Curry audio version every year. I also watch at least a couple of the movies, with the 1938 MGM version (the best portrayal of Scrooge’s nephew Fred) and the Mr. Magoo version (the best songs) near the top of my list. But unquestionably the very best is the British 1951 version, with Alistair Sim as the ultimate Scrooge, utterly compelling as the “Bah, humbug” miser who hates Christmas, as the young man who is crossing the line into avariciousness, and, thrillingly, as the repentant Christmas morning Scrooge who is overjoyed by his chance to do better. He is wildly happy as he tells the young boy to get the prize turkey and gives his housekeeper a raise. But the look on his face as he hesitates before going into Fred’s party is brimming with hope and heart. Sim’s performance is brilliant, but the movie also has the best Christmas Carol screenplay, by Noel Langley, who was also the main screenwriter for The Wizard of Oz. Watch the trailer
CAROL – Loren King
Carol is a Christmas movie and not just because of the heroine’s name or the rich palette of reds and greens. It’s in the weaving of melancholy and longing with flashes of joy and anticipation and the rushes of despair. It’s in, finally, the hope. Todd Haynes’s film begins in the days leading to Christmas. The lonely season is a fitting time for two souls trapped in 1952 to meet and fall in love. Therese (Rooney Mara), wearing a company-issued Santa hat, works the toy counter at a department store in Manhattan. In the crowd, she spots what’s the highlight of her day in the form of fur coat and scarlet lipstick wearing Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett). At Therese’s suggestion, Carol buys a train set instead of a doll for her daughter. She leaves her luxurious leather gloves on the counter. This leads into the heart of the film: the road trip they take together. It’s a flight from convention, toward freedom that culminates in a motel room on New Year’s Eve where they make love in rush of release and connection. Bookending the opening, in an homage to Brief Encounter, is the film’s magnificent last scene. Therese moves through another crowded room; a man and a woman, wearing red, cross her path but give no notice to her. As red candles shimmer on the tables, Carol looks up. Their eyes lock in silent connection as love emerges from the shadows. Read the full review. Watch the trailer
BABETTE’S FEAST — Jennifer Merin
Although it’s not specifically themed for the holiday season, I always crave filmmaker Gabriel Axel’s very delicious Babette’s Feast at this time of year. This 1987 femme-centric cuisine classic is a marvelous celebration of the spirit of giving and of lifting of the spirits by experiencing the enormous pleasures of a gourmet feast. The scenario is set in a small, isolated and repressively religious Danish village where Babette, a French emigree who is fleeing difficult circumstances at home, comes to work. The restrained yet discernible clash of cultures — French joie de vivre and dour Danish fundamentalism — is resolved in a glorious and transformative act of Babette’s extraordinary material and spiritual generosity. Without being preachy, the story of Babette’s Feast advocates for us to welcome ‘others’ to our table to partake of the bountiful pleasures of life. What a beautiful and meaningful message for the holiday season — or for any time of the year. And here’s a viewing tip: dine before watching or stock up on snacks. preferably of the haute gourmet variety. Watch the trailer.
HAPPIEST SEASON — Betsy Bozdech
Mix the basic elements of every Hallmark Channel Christmas movie you’ve ever seen with a hearty dash of Meet the Parents and a splash of The Wedding Banquet (or maybe The Birdcage), and you’ve got Happiest Season, director Clea DuVall’s sweet, semi-autobiographical holiday-set romcom. Twilight veteran Kristen Stewart stars as Abby, whose girlfriend, Harper (Mackenzie Davis), invites Abby home for Christmas. But things get complicated when Harper confesses that she’s not yet out to her family – a boisterous, well-meaning group that includes parents played by Mary Steenburgen and Victor Garber and quirky sisters played by Alison Brie and Mary Holland. There are also Harper’s exes to contend with, especially the slyly knowing Riley (Aubrey Plaza). The end result is charming without being totally sappy, festive without hitting you over the head with tinsel and eggnog, and important in its message of acceptance, unconditional love, and being brave enough to share your whole truth with the people who matter most. Watch the trailer.
LOVE ACTUALLY — Cate Marquis
I don’t know what it is – maybe it’s the wonderful cast that includes Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney and a very crazy Bill Nighy. Most movies with that kind of all-star cast would sink from the shear weight of that, but this one always floats along brightly. Love Actually is set at Christmas, but it isn’t really about Christmas, it’s about love – not just the “meet cute” romantic love or rom coms, but love of a father for his son, the love between sister and brother, puppy love and childhood crushes and, yes, romantic love too. The film has various story lines that seem mostly unrelated, until they all connect at the end. Despite the sometimes too-familiar movie situations, there is an honesty in the feeling between the characters, in their emotions, thanks to that gifted cast. I still don’t know why this one sticks with me after all this time, but I’m not alone in that – as others share a fondness for his seemingly-ordinary tale, which has become a perennial favorite of the holiday season. Watch the trailer.
THE BISHOP’S WIFE – Leslie Combemale
I’m surprised so many people I come across haven’t seen The Bishop’s Wife. It’s a 1947 classic. If you think Jude Law is a hottie in The Holiday, he’s got nothing on the guy on which his performance was based, Cary Grant, who is at his most handsome and charming as an angel who falls in love with the wife of his ward. The film also stars the luminous Loretta Young, an oh-so-uptight David Niven, and co-stars the always wonderful Monty Woolley, Gladys Cooper, and James Gleason, each one of whom could carry a film on their own. What star power! It’s a charming story, and I challenge you not to fall in love withy Cary Grant and/or Loretta Young over the course of its 109 minutes. It even has an element that celebrates women below the line, with Monica Collingwood getting an Oscar nomination for her work as he film’s editor. It’s currently playing on Amazon Prime for free, but you can always rent or buy it. It will make your holiday far warmer and fuzzier, I promise you. Watch the trailer.
THE FAMILY STONE – Liz Whittemore
The Family Stone boasts some of the most culturally impactful movie stars to have teamed up for a film that wasn’t a CGI-generated summer blockbuster, from its 2005 release until now. Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Elizabeth Reaser, and Rachel McAdams are all A-list romantic icons. Joining them on screen are Craig T. Nelson, Dermott Mulroney, and Luke Wilson, each of whom has starred in some of the most successful family dramas and romcoms. All that chemistry together in one film makes for instant magic. One performance that never gets the credit it deserves comes from Tyrone Giordano. It is heart-melting stuff. Filmmaker Thomas Bezucha’s fleshed-out and flawed characters captivate you with their relatable antics, anxieties, and messy, ever-evolving love for each other. The film is sharp, laugh-out-loud funny, and brings you to tears by the end. The Family Stone will make you want to call your parents and spend time with your siblings, no matter how eye-roll-inducing they can be. It is a film that hits you differently as you age, with each consecutive watch delivering some new life lesson. That is the very definition of a holiday movie classic. Watch the trailer.
THE SILENT PARTNER – Pam Grady
Santa’s here and he’s packing heat. Elliott Gould stars in this 1978 Canadian import as Toronto bank teller Miles who realizes something is up with the department store Santa (Chrisopher Plummer) who’s behaving strangely in the mall. Guessing correctly that his branch is about to be the victim of a Yuletide heist, Miles piggybacks his own larceny, knowing Santa will be blamed. He doesn’t expect St. Nick’s reaction when the bank reports as stolen $50,000 more than his take from the robbery and that he can identify the second thief. Santa wants all the money or he’ll deliver to Miles something worse than a lump of coal. Miles may be mild-mannered, but he’s not a pushover. If he’s already on the naughty list, he might as well keep the cash. Penned by future Oscar winner Curtis Hanson and scored by jazz great Oscar Peterson, The Silent Partner is a taut thriller, buoyed by Plummer’s chilling performance as an implacable psychopath and Gould’s evocation of a man taking full advantage of people’s tendency to underestimate his intelligence. There are not a lot of ho-ho-hos in this caper but it’s the perfect seasonal treat for those seeking nail-biting suspense in their holiday stocking. Watch the trailer.
WHITE CHRISTMAS – Sandie Angulo Chen
White Christmas is the quintessential Christmas movie, seamlessly blending heartfelt nostalgia, dazzling performances, and timeless music. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye shine as the charismatic song-and-dance duo Wallace & Davis, their chemistry and humor infusing warmth into every scene. Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen are equally unforgettable as the talented Haynes sisters, delivering the playful and iconic anthem “Sisters.” Irving Berlin’s songs, particularly the titular “White Christmas,” remain a cherished part of holiday celebrations 70 years later. Director Michael Curtiz’s 1954 classic is a sentimental favorite, as my late mother, three older siblings, and I watched it together every December. My sister and I adore “Sisters” so much that we’ve even exchanged gifts quoting its lyrics. White Christmas is more than a movie—it’s a reminder of family, tradition, and what makes the holiday season so special. Watch the trailer.
YOU’VE GOT MAIL – Sherin Nicole
There must be a compulsive magic spell woven into this movie. It’s not Nora Ephron’s best, or even second best. Those spots belong to Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally. Yet, You’ve Got Mail is weirdly enthralling. Maybe because it inherited good bones from its ancestors. It was originally a 1937 play by Miklós László called Parfumerie. In 1940, it became the enchanted The Shop Around the Corner, featuring Margaret Sullavan and Jimmy Stewart, followed by the 1947 musical In the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland and Van Johnson. Some say You’ve Got Mail is blessed by Jane Austen’s touch due to similarities to Pride and Prejudice. With artistic DNA like that, this movie was starry-eyed from the start, AND it’s a Christmas romance where a haplessly wonderful manchild puts his persnickety yet lovely rival out of business. Only to discover they’ve been sharing their hearts as anonymous email pen pals. Catfish me, baby. How could you resist cuddling this movie while sipping hot chocolate with a candy cane in it while winking at that cutie in the coffee shop? The magical compulsion is too strong; I MUST watch You’ve Got Mail whenever it comes on. Watch the trailer
