Recently, I have had mixed feelings about the over exaggerated hype of the Christmas season. I feel the true meaning of Christmas is lost in today’s commercialized and self-involved world. Not to mention, for the past 4 years I have spent the month of December cramming for college finals. This resulted in a lack of participation in Christmas festivities and some carelessness. Even when I attempted to enjoy the season I was always distracted. For example, last year my roommates and I visited the Yankee Candle Factory where we spent over two hours exploring the store. For the entire two hours I not only left my keys in my car in the parking lot but, I left my car running. If that’s not winning I don’t know what is.
This year is the first time in that I have been home for the month of December. Being home allows me time to bake cookies, decorate the house and watch some of my favorite holiday movies. Without fail, certain holiday movies continue to inject me with the holiday spirit. The movies I watch at Christmas time make me thankful, grateful and joyful for my friends and family.
Below I have a list of my favorite holiday movies:
Last Christmas, my family and I spent our entire Christmas vacation watching Foyles War which we quickly became obsessed with. I was introduced to a different style of cinema that I think is commonly used by British film. It is all about the importance of the pause. I noticed in Foyles War and in my new obsession, Downton Abbey the story unfolds slowly and intricately. For this type of cinema it is more about the plot than the fast paced high action film that is over seen in contemporary Hollywood cinema. British cinema emphasizes the value of the story, the talent of the actors and the combination of both elements to make a compelling, entertaining and captivating TV series.
Downton Abbey chronicles the numerous stories of both the family and servants of an early 1900s English manor. The first season starts the morning after the Titanic sinks and ends at the announcement of the First World War. I didn’t expect to become completely enthralled with this series but I couldn’t help myself. I adore all the characters and was impressed with all the actors. The best part of a TV series is that there is time to develop the characters and that is exactly how Downton Abbey presented itself. I found myself at times becoming too involved with each character that resulted in girlish squeals and gasps.
The drama at times can be extreme but it’s hard to resist the pull of the narrative. I truly enjoyed all the characters, even the secondary ones; it was a well casted series. Maggie Smith is a hoot and plays one of my favorite characters in the show. I highly recommend watching this series, and leave some time in your schedule because it is addicting!
I am now counting down the days until Season 2 premieres!
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Recently I watched two classic Black and White movies- The Apartment and Bringing Up Baby. Both films are on AFIs Top 100 movies list, a list that my friend, Madison and I have been trying to complete for the past 3 summers. I enjoyed The Apartment very much, while Bringing up Baby I was a little disappointed.
The Apartment stars Jack Lemmon a workaholic named C.C. Baxter, who is desperately seeking to rise in his company. In order to climb up the latter of success he lends out his apartment to four managers for their extramarital affairs. Shirley MacLaine, Fran Kubliek, plays the adorable and sassy elevator operator who catches the eye of Baxter. However, Baxter is not the only man who is charmed by Fran’s personality. Mr. Sheldrake, the head of the company, is cheating on his wife with Fran. Once Mr. Sheldrake discovers Baxter’s apartment operations he promotes Baxter and exclusively uses his apartment for his affair with Fran.
As the plot unfolds in a surprisingly refreshing, and yes a little dramatic way, Fran attempts suicide in Baxter’s apartment when Mr. Sheldrake leaves her for his family. To Baxter’s surprise he returns home to find an unconscious Fran who had previously stood him up. Baxter nurses her back to health and the two get to know each other. Fran finally grows a backbone and dumps Mr. Sheldrake and realizes her love for Baxter. I enjoyed the ending because when Fran runs to the apartment, on New Years Eve to see Baxter I was afraid it was going to be a typical, formulaic ending with a romantic kiss. But, there is no mushy embrace or dramatic entrance. The two just pick up where they ended while she was staying at his apartment. They drink champagne and play cards; it’s sweet and refreshingly simple. I always enjoy any Billy Wilder’s pictures. While the story is predictably, like most romantic comedies, it’s wholesome and pleasant and when anybody needs a pick-me-up I suggest trying this movie.
Bringing Up Baby stars two of my favorite actors, Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. I assumed I’d love this movie purely because of the actors. Grant plays a mild mannered archeologist who is on the brink of completing the skeleton of a Brontosaurs. Hepburn plays a free spirited woman and the niece of Mrs. Random who is considering donating a substantial amount of money to Grant’s characters museum.
An addition to the cast is a leopard named Baby who responds on to the song, “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” It is a quick and witty comedy and while it probably is one of the best romantic comedies I couldn’t take Hepburn or Grant seriously they were spastic and chaotic. I like Grant the best when he plays the suave and charming leading man. I admire Hepburn when she plays the strong, confident, engaging young woman. That is when they are the best, and I’ll stick to watching them at their best.
