My favourite thing about Christmas is having a break from your usual routine (University in my case), getting home to rummage through the Radio Times and deciding exactly which films you’re going to watch for the next fortnight. At the best of times I am an absolute film junkie, in particular I love independent cinema and horror films, but Christmas gives me the opportunity to watch everything imaginable. Whether its a brand new film or a golden oldie, something you’ve heard of but never seen or something that you’ve watched to death, you can guarantee that almost everyone will settle to watch some kind of film at Christmas. Here is a little selection of what I watched over the festive period.
Mr Magorium’s Wonder Imporium – 2007
Who will enjoy this?
The young at heart.
This stars Dustin Hoffman as an eccentric toy store owner and Natalie Portman as his assistant. In a tale that is magical, ridiculous and very quick witted, it is the perfect film for all of the family to enjoy. Natalie Portman brings her usual combination of subtlety and quirky chic to the role. Is anyone else incredibly excited to see her in Black Swan? I follow Raindance Film Festival @raindance_fest on Twitter and they sent me the script today. Be sure to follow them for similar treats! I also got Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere the other day.
Enchanted – 2007
Who will enjoy this?
Anyone sarcastic and girlie girls.
Enchanted stars Amy Adams as a fairytale princess lost in a modern New York city. Completely naive to everything that she encounters, this princess leaves a trail of destruction everywhere she goes. People think that she is too pleasant to be true and assume that she is joking with them in everything that she does, and all that she does is approach everything with a high spirit! It is a really funny demonstration of how pesimistic the world is and well worth watching.
Carrie – 1976
Who will enjoy this?
Anyone who loves to be scared and likes to laugh at 70s special effects!
Carrie tells the unnerving tale of a young girl who is bullied at school and further tormented by her mother when she goes home. It is eerie and unusual throughout – definitely not one to watch alone or in the evening. Special effects in this film are hilarious, as is the appearance of a very young John Travolta. Keep this one on the list for your next Halloween party.
Whip It – 2009
Who will enjoy this?
Independent cinema fans, feminists, rebels.
Film goddess Drew Barrymore stars in and directs this tale of a young girl (Juno‘s Ellen Page) who is desperate to escape the sickeningly sweet lifestyle her mother seems hellbent on exposing her to. Rather than swanning off on a motorcycle and staying out until all hours drinking like the usual fictional rebel, she joins a roller blading team and attempts to outskate the likes of the Licks’ Juliette Lewis. A little slow at the beginning but absolutely brilliant as it goes on, I dare you to watch this without wanting to skate or steal into the night in some scandalous act of outrgage.
Death Becomes Her – 1992
Who will enjoy this?
Anyone that wants the jazz of Disney and the drama of Jeremy Kyle.
Featuring a much younger Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis, Death Becomes Her is a fantasy tale of two rival best friends who seek eternal beauty and youth, fighting over a man along the way. With a segment in which Goldie Hawn lives in a flat riddled with cats and eating ice cream all day, this film was also of particular use to me as it gave a very clear visual of what the future holds for me.
Itching to watch a classic now? Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on ITV2 tomorrow at 6.45pm tomorrow if you’re yet to indulge a magical movie this holiday.
