Reviews

Ultimately this movie will never topple other Christmas classics as It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story or even Scrooged but I think it is one of the funniest, most entertaining Christmas movies out there. What is known about this movie is that it had no script when production began, it was shelved for a year and that it was one of quickest theatre to DVD turnovers ever. What seems to be mostly unknown is that it is, in addition to all of that, really very funny. Affleck has a certain charm. Many critics and audiences dislike him for a reason I can't really understand. I feel his choices undermine his talent. Forces of Nature is not good, plain and simple. There are many questionable choices on his resume and this may be why most dismiss his abilities. I will say that Glory Daze, Chasing Amy, Good Will Hunting and Changing Lanes show he has got some talent, not a lot, but some. What Surviving Christmas provides us with is an obviously over the top, "hammy" performance. There is nothing in this performance that says that he is trying for nuance, what he is doing is being goofy. The plot is a guy going back to his childhood home to relive Christmas he never had. This would, and should bring out the kid in anyone. I am a goofball when it comes to Christmas. Affleck is hamming it up the whole time with big toothy grins and throwaway one liners that make me laugh EVERY TIME I see this movie. I watched it twice today in fact. It is one of mine and my coworkers favorite holiday movies. The trailers were weak, the plot is laughable and the ending gets a bit overwrought thus making it difficult to get anyone to see it but it's been my experience that once someone DOES see this movie they like it. I work at a video store and I play it often and every time I play it, while it is on the screens, someone asks if they can rent it as they had been watching it, caught a funny bit and wanted to see more. They are shocked to find it is a Christmas movie, with Ben Affleck and it is funny.

Those who watch it will not be disappointed.

In a year of beautiful, elegant, powerful films Magnolia stands as the most beautiful, elegant and powerful. Having experienced this film twelve times in th eTheatre and immediately purchasing the dvd upon it's release I feel confident enough to state that movies do not get much better than this. It has exactly what movies should have; believable characters, real situations honest emotion. Every character is somebody we all know or know of. The movie unfolds slowly not allowing ourselves to gloss over the complexities of the characters. P.T. Anderson has made a film that is unabashedly personal, not just to him but to his audience. Many people in my life live with the regret of things gone wrong. "The book says we may be through with the past but the past ain't through with us." These words should be heeded. Words as true as those are rarely heard on screen. For those who dislike the length go and Dude, where's my car which clocks in at below 90 minutes and will not challenge you in any way. Pearl Harbour has just been released and it clocks in at just around the time Magnolia did and yet offers none of the beauty and magistry of P. T. Anderson's directing. Magnolia will forver stand as a movie that people were just not willing to enjoy beacuse, perhaps, it hit a little too close to home.