Movies You Must Watch This Christmas

I would like to mention some movies which had beautiful Christmassy moments in them and they are definitely a nice watch for anyone this Christmas. These movies have made Christmas more elegant and heartwarming and they remind us about the importance of family, love and laughter which rests in the kernel of this eve.

Home Alone (1990)

This is an American family comedy directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter 1 and 2) starring Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister who is an eight-year-old boy who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation. 

We have all seen this movie a number of times and it never ceases to make us laugh. Till 2009, it was the highest-grossing comedy of all time. This movie made Culkin as the most successful child star since Shirley Temple and he then went on to appear in films like Home Alone 2 (1992) and Richie Rich (1994). This movie shows the beautiful love between a mother and a son. 

The most Christmassy moment in the film is when the mother takes a lift home with The Kenosha Kickers so that she can be with her son on Christmas Eve.

Love Actually (2003)

This is a British romantic comedy written and directed by Richard Curtis. The movie stars a number of great actors like Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kiera Knightley, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Billy Bob Thornton, Rowan Atkinson and many more who are spread over ten separate stories with some of them linked to each other. 

The movie depicts different aspects of love through varying perspectives and generations in the countdown to Christmas Eve. 

There are many Christmassy moments in this film from grand family gestures to quite family bonds to love proposals.

In Bruges (2008)

This is a British-American crime-black comedy film written and directed by Martin McDonagh. It stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. 

The film is set in the Belgian city of Bruges. Farrell and Gleeson are two Irish hitmen who are hiding in the city after a shooting went wrong with Fiennes playing their gangster boss. The film has repartee and esprit dialogues with dark humour which makes it an entertaining watch. The movie is notable for its screenplay and beautiful music. 

The most Christmassy moment is the film is the picture-postcard look of Bruges itself.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

This is an American erotic thriller loosely based upon Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Dream Story directed, produced and co-written by legendary filmmaker Stanley Kuberick. This was the last film directed by Kuberick and he died six days after showing the final cut to Warner Brothers Studios which distributed the film. The movie stars then husband-wife Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as a couple struggling with their sexual relations. 

The film spent a long time in production and it holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous film shoot period at 400 days. The film is notable for its screenplay and direction and the masked orgy scene is one of the famous scenes of the movie. The film is set during the time frame of Christmas which gives a dynamic setting to the film. 

With a Christmas tree in every scene, the movie provides an ironic reflection on gift-giving as even a man who has everything wanders off to find a little extra.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

This is a crime-comedy film written and directed by Shane Black (Iron Man 3). It stars Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan and Corbin Bernsen. 

Downey plays a crook who stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while running from the cops and wins the part and lands up in Hollywood. The story then wraps itself in a murderous conspiracy involving Kilmer, Monaghan and Bernsen. The film has tongue-in-cheek satire with sharp and clever comedy performances delivered by Downey and Kilmer. 

The most Christmassy moment in the film is Michelle Monaghan in a Santa suit.

No Shave MOVies novEMBER

        For this No Shave November, I have compiled a list of a few characters from the movie world whose facial hair are a symbol of something profound. So, hold on to your beards and read on...

     Tom Hanks (Cast Away – 2000 film) - Chuck Noland

This movie was one of the most brilliant performances by the legendary actor Tom Hanks. He is the kind of actor who can make you feel the humanness of the soul. In this movie, he starred as a FedEx employee who got stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash. It is directed by Robert Zemeckis of “Back to the Future” film series fame. The whole movie is carried by the remarkable acting of Hanks who is the solitary character. The insanity, silence, chaos and forlornness are some of the heartfelt emotions portrayed in the movie. This beard depicts his castaway from civilization and the straw to hold onto reality. It is one hell of a movie.

Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover – 2009 film) - Alan Garner

As hard as it is to pronounce this weird comic’s unusual name, his beard is one eye-catcher. We all know him as that disgusting, socially inept and an eerie maniac from “The Hangover” film series. He has portrayed a lot of funny roles over his career like in Due Date (along with Robert Downey Jr.) and The Campaign (along with Will Ferrell) but his beard has been a constant. He is an amazing comic whom we won’t ever miss by any chance.

Shahid Kapoor (Haider – 2014 film) - Haider

Shahid Kapoor was magnificent as the titular protagonist in this ardent tragedy by Vishal Bhardwaj. Every once in a while, Bollywood churns out a notable film and this is it. This movie is set amidst the insurgency hit Kashmir conflicts of 1995 and civil disappearances. The story, music, acting, directing and cinematography is sensational. This look of Haider gives us the insight into mind which is devolving into chaos at the thin line between saneness and insanity. It gives us an insight into the mind of a son who cannot control the circumstances, his force to find his father and the irateness of the revenge from his uncle. This is one of the bold looks and character portrayed by Shahid Kapoor.

Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln – 2012 film) – Abraham Lincoln

This was one of the iconic roles portrayed by the marvellous Daniel Day-Lewis in his role of President Abraham Lincoln directed by genius Steven Spielberg. Day-Lewis is considered to be a method actor who spends months preparing and researching for his roles. His devotion to the character often becomes so strong that he remains completely in character during the shooting of his films often leading to ill-health. He is the recipient of three Academy Awards for Best Actor, a feat that makes him the only male actor in history to garner three wins in the lead actor category. Even being an English actor of Irish descent, he portrayed the role of an American President with utmost passion and dynamism. He has established his work as a paragon and is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. This beard is a symbol of the great work done by Abraham Lincoln who preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government and modernized the economy. He was one of the greatest U.S. presidents.

Conviction (2010)

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

Conviction is an American 2010 legal drama film based on the true story of Betty Anne Waters, a single mother trying to free her wrongfully convicted brother, Kenny indefatigably. The film is directed by Tony Goldwyn and stars Hilary Swank as Betty Anne Waters, Sam Rockwell as Kenny Waters, Minnie Driver as Abra Rice and Melissa Leo as Nancy Taylor. Kenny is screwed by the justice system in a brutal murder case and his sister, Betty works tirelessly to free him. She pushes herself through law school to become a lawyer and handle the case herself.

The film is driven by the two major performances given by Swank and Rockwell along with a compelling story. Hilary Swank portrays the character with sleek humanness and makes you ascertain the hardships, struggle and labours of a person battling against a flawed system. Her character attends law school, works in a bar and ministers her two sons while her family life suffers and the marriage falls apart but her devotion and allegiance to her brother remains mettlesome. Rockwell portrays a person who is hackneyed over the false hope of his freedom over the course of 18 years of a malfeasant sentence. He shows the frustration and dejection of such a person intelligibly. Driver and Leo supply the crucial support to the story candidly.

The direction of the movie is smooth with a well written script by Pamela Gray. The sequence of scenes along with the flashbacks are placed befittingly. The cinematography by Adriano Goldman is eyeful.

Overall, the movie is a must watch for legal drama lovers and fans of Swank and Rockwell. It has a heartwarming and beautiful true story with undying and eternal brother-sister love at its heart. The marrow of the movie is its ending scene which satiates your heart with ardor. 

State of Play (2009)

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

State of Play is a 2009 American political thriller film adapted from the six-part British television show of the same name which aired on BBC One in 2003 with the plot’s location changed to Washington, D.C. It is directed by Kevin Macdonald and stars Russell Crowe as Cal McAffrey, Ben Affleck as Stephen Collins, Rachel McAdams as Della Frye, Robin Wright Penn as Anne Collins and Helen Mirren as Cameron Lynne. The story is about Cal, a journalist and his investigation into the suspicious death of a woman related to the Congressman Stephen Collins. It explores topical subjects like politics, power, media, journalism, war related contracts with private companies and privatization of American Homeland Security.

The crux of the movie lies in its plot with impetus by superb acting and fine direction. Russell Crowe portrays the character of a journalist swiftly dealing with the ambiguity of balances of life of a journalist and his main task of being an objective professional. Ben Affleck plays the moral politician too well to be sure and drives the suspense of the movie. Rachel McAdams shows the enthusiasm of an aspiring journalist. The direction by Macdonald of ‘The Last King of Scotland’ fame with the precise camera positions and handling gives the movie credibility of a thriller. The plot of the movie deserves acclaim for the surprises and the suspense it builds up.

Although, it was not as lauded as its original, but condensing a six-hour plot in a two-hour format has been done fairly well by Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy, Peter Morgan and Billy Ray, who wrote the screenplay for the movie and did a nifty job. They did not leave out substantial points and made a dandy thriller story.

Overall, the movie is gripping and provides for an amazing thrilling experience. It is a must watch for people who enjoy political or corporate conspiracies, journalistic investigation and are fans of Crowe, Affleck or Macdonald.