Christmas comes but once a year, take out the tinsel and don’t despair, alternately, eat the tinsel and tear your hair… whatever feels more comfortable.
PENELOPE CRUZ LIVENS UP PROCEEDINGS-HERE WITH PAUL WALKER IN NOEL
One thing about the holidays, there is a great deal of variety. I’ve avoided the more tediously contrived Christmas fare as well as all the Barbies. Like Christmas Carols, Christmas Movies reach their sell by date soon after the turkey cools. But there are some exceptions…
SUSAN SARANDON
Noel [SABC3.Friday.21.30] could have been a chestnut; good acting from a splendid cast saves the day. Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Alan Arkin and Robin Williams conspire to conceive a delightful piece of festive fluff— with just the right amount of serious intent.
PUNCH DRUNK
The Family Stone [e.tv. Thursday. 20.30] is off key and even more fun with an extra glass of Christmas Cheer; that way, even Diane Keaton almost stops irritating. Seriously, the cast, which includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes and Luke Wilson, is first –rate.
LUKE WILSON
Last week I accused Owen Wilson’s brother of playing rugby and taking his wedding vows in a kilt; I called him Luke Watson, my sincere apologies to all concerned.
DICKIE IN THE REMAKE
Richard Attenborough inherits Edmund Gwenn’s beard and suit and does a fair job of playing Kris Kringle. Mara Wilson plays the Natalie Wood role and the film is of course, Miracle on 34th Street [e.tv.Saturday.14.40].
I LOVE THE ORIGINAL
I’ve included a really horrible movie because I live in an area where this Yuletide phenomenon is on the rise; i.e.: millions of Christmas lights all over the house and garden; blinding neighbours, onlookers and small animals. Deck the Halls [SABC1.Friday.22.00] stars Danny deVito and Matthew Broderick tripping the light fantastic…
WHERE'S THE DOOM?
A host of stars; among them, Nicolas Cage, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep lend their voices to The Ant Bully [SABC2.Friday.08.00], a morally sound lesson in animation; with a sweet ending.
PRETTY AS A PICTURE
Sticking with animation; Disney this time; The Princess and the Frog [M-Net.Sunday.20.05] is the old favourite, spruced up with a dusky heroine; music by Randy Newman and input from Oprah.
DIRECTOR MARC FOSTER
As usual, at this time of the year, there are a couple of reruns; Marc Foster made a more than adequate version of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner [M-Net.Thursday.00.30]; the kite flying imagery is thought provoking and the central theme of timeless bonding, love and trust is, of course, universal. In view of Foster’s later career move, Bonding is a rather apt word
KATE WITH JACK BLACK
The idea behind Nancy Meyers The Holiday [SABC3.Friday.19.30] is perky without being that original. Flawless acting, as always, from Winslet and Cameron Diaz.
SHIRLEY WITH NICOLE KIDMAN
Bewitched [e.tv.Wednesday.21.00] directed by Nora Ephron, must have seemed a good idea at the time; original enough for the likes of Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine to lend a helping hand in the acting department.
IN AMERICAN LIVING ROOMS DURING THE 60S
Inspiration for the story was drawn from an old American TV series, never shown in this country, which doesn’t help South African veiwers one bit. But, when all is said and done, Nicole Kidman is all wrong and the film just doesn’t work.
DANNY BOYLE
There are a couple of feel good movies, in gear with the holiday spirit; starting with Danny Boyle’s Millions [SABC3.Saturday.21.30], made after Trainspotting and before Slumdog Millionaire. The movie is a bright piece of celluloid, based loosely on The Million Pound Note, but snappier than that oldie ever was.
BOYLE AT HIS BEST
This is a real tale for the 21st century, where people are prepared to do the most incredible things, often in public, just to walk away with a bucket full of money. Don’t get me wrong, Millions is more punchy than preachy, with lightness and froth to spare.
LOVELY TO LOOK AT
Tuck Everlasting [SABC2.Tuesday.08.00] takes a peep at immortality; there is excellent acting from Alexis Bledel, Sissy Spacek , William Hurt et al and a soothingly sustained script, based on the Natalie Babbitt novel. This is certainly an intriguing way to start the third last day of the year.
FATHER AND DAUGHTER IN PAPER MOON
Con tricks are as old as the wheel; moviemakers and audieces love them… just think of... Paper Moon, The Lavender Hill Mob,The Sting….
RACHEL AND FRIENDS
THE BROTHERS BLOOM [M-Net.Friday.21.30] is a clever one, with an energetic cast full of kinetic energy. Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz sparkle, while Mark Ruffalo is becoming more impressive with each passing flick. He was very impressive as the confused sperm donor in The Kids Are Alright.
JESSICA TANDY DURING HER SECOND CAREER
I loved batteries not included* [SABC2.Sunday.13.30], there is something so satisfying about the underdog winning; in this case, with help from an unlikely source.
TANDY AND CRONYN
Real life married couple, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy enjoyed each other and a special kind of international fame that came late in life. People tend to forget that before Fried Green Tomatoes and Driving Miss Daisy, Jessica Tandy had a highly successful Broadway career and created Blanche Dubois.
AS BLANCHE; BRANDO IN BACKGROUND
She was the only cast member of A Streetcar Named Desire who did not recreate their role in the Hollywood version. Unlike Marlon Brando, she had to wait nearly 40 years for screen success.
SIMON PEGG
Full blown comedy from both sides of the Atlantic; Run Fatboy Run [M-Net.Saturday.01.10] stars Simon Pegg and Dylan Moran, both so memorable in Shaun of the Dead. Thandie Newton co stars, and again we find an underdog running against the odds; the movie has a very British tone, wit and flavour.
JOAN CUSACK JOINS THE FIRM
On the other hand, Addams Family Values [e.tv.Monday.09.30] is as American as turkey consumption in November. I love the Family; this second installment is more of the same, but with the added attraction of the very wonderful Joan Cusack.
ONE OF THE CHARACTERS MET BY BUD AND LOU
Comedy from the achieves comes via Abbott and Costello being eaten alive by Charles Laughton as Captain Kidd in Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd [SABC3.Wednesday.02.30].
WAS DUMONT A STRAIGHT WOMAN?
Groucho Marx once called Bud Abbott the greatest straight man ever; in those days, straight had nothing to do with sexual orientation—the straight man was the sounding board and butt for the comic. Groucho spoke from the heart, no straight men in Marxian parlance; it was every man (iac) for himself.
GROUCO, CHICO, HARPO AND A FRIEND
This week brings two of the Marx Bros best, A Night at the Opera [SABC3.Tuesday.00.30] and A Day at the Races [SABC3.Tuesday.02.30]. Yup, Freddie Mercury and the lads helped themselves to both titles in the 70s. Groucho, Chico and Harpo; sans Zeppo ( in their MGM years), are directed or should that read held in check by Sam Wood, with Margaret Dumont at the very peak of her prowess
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CHAOS REIGNS
Night is better, tighter and better rounded than Day, but both are true Marxian adventures of the absurd. Night contains the achingly funny ‘Is My Aunt Minnie in There?' sequence, a scene never bettered anywhere, on any level.
COWBOY BOB
Sam Wood, who was one of the directors who Selznick hired and fired from GWTW, ended his long career in 1950, directing Bob Taylor and John Hodiak in an old fashioned Western, Ambush [SABC3.Monday.03.15].
JEAN HAGEN ON THE RIGHT
For old fashioned read racist and sexist. In among the warring Cowboys and Indians, you might spy Jean Hagen, just before she transmuted into Lena Lamont.
STEIGER WITH SCAR AND AN ATTITUDE
Rod Steiger does a hysterical reading of gangster Al Capone in a 1959 biopic neatly titled Al Capone [SABC3.Thursday.00.30]. Steiger really does give Scarface a syphilitic edge.
THE REAL THING
Capone’s character, such it was, has had better readings, notably by both Al Pacino and Robert De Niro; while Paul Muni made a chilling Scarface, way back in the early 30s.
CABIN FEVER
My Pick remains in the mists of time; for anyone out there still seeking Aunt Minnie, enjoy A Night at the Opera [SABC3.Tuesday.00.30] and to all, Joyeux Noel.
And, last words from a hippie Christmas Carol, dating from my youth:
Santa Claus Wears a Red Suit,
Must be a Communist,
Long Hair and a Beard,
Must Be a Pacifist,
What’s In That Pipe He’s Smoking…
ARLO GUTHRIE WROTE THAT ONE