Category: Christmas

Christmas, Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Indie Film, Reviews, Short Film, Women in Film, World Cinema

Mini Review: Like the Ones I Used to Know

Year: 2022 Runtime: 18 minutes Director/Writer: Annie St-Pierre Actors: Lilou Roy-Lanouette, Steve Laplante By Caelyn O’Reilly “Like the Ones I Used to Know” (or “Les Grandes Claques”) is the latest short film from Quebecois director Annie St-Pierre. An emotionally hard-hitting tale of a distant father and daughter at Christmas. First off, I love the way the two titles each use their different connotations to hit … Continue reading Mini Review: Like the Ones I Used to Know

Caelyn O'ReillyLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 24. The Muppets Christmas Carol

By Joan Amenn There are few stories so inextricably linked to the holidays than Charles Dickens’ tale of one man’s redemption of his many faults just in time to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. That it was a ghost story and genuinely creepy in some chapters didn’t disturb the Victorians a bit. Dickens developed a one man show of reading his “Carol” aloud to … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 24. The Muppets Christmas Carol

jmamennLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 23. Miracle on 34th Street

By Joan Amenn There is something about New York City at Christmas. Skating at Rockefeller Center under the huge Christmas tree, hot pretzels sold on the street corners to keep your hands warm and of course, the stores decorated for the holidays. Not too long ago there were a lot more department stores, each vying for the most exquisite window designs with the most complicated … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 23. Miracle on 34th Street

jmamennLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 22. Meet Me in St. Louis

By Morgan Roberts “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944) is not strictly a Christmas film, but it does leave an everlasting imprint on the holiday. “Meet Me in St. Louis” has always been a Christmas Eve staple in my household.  We very much live our own version of “The Family Stone.”  The film holds so much nostalgia.  It does not hurt that the absolutely divine … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 22. Meet Me in St. Louis

msmlrobertsLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 18. Rare Exports

By Joan Amenn Do you like your holiday entertainment a little on the dark side? Maybe you’re just tired of the same old sickly sweet films year after year? Well, we have the antidote to all that and you better watch out, better not cry because “Rare Exports” (2010) is going to blow your mind with its take on the origin of Santa Claus. A … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 18. Rare Exports

jmamennLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 16. Lethal Weapon

By Joan Amenn Turns out there is more than one film that references Christmas with guns, explosions, mayhem and world weary but good-hearted cops. No not THAT one, we’re talking about “Lethal Weapon” (1987). The first of a very profitable series directed by Richard Donner, which is strangely also the name of one of Santa’s reindeer, “Lethal Weapon” certainly doesn’t skimp on its action scenes. … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 16. Lethal Weapon

jmamennLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 15. Babe

By Joan Amenn “Christmas means carnage!” For farm animals, Christmas is far from a holly, jolly good time. They may very well find themselves on the menu as “Babe” (1995) sets out to prove. The little porker referenced in the title is a complete scene stealer but a close contender for second place is Ferdinand the duck, voiced by Danny Mann. Neither critter wants to … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 15. Babe

jmamennLeave a comment
Christmas, Film Reviews, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 14. 8-Bit Christmas

Year: 2021 Runtime: 97 minutes Director: Michael Dowse Writers: Kevin Jakubowski (screenplay by/based on the novel by) Actors: Neil Patrick Harris, Winslow Fegley, Steve Zahn, June Diane Raphael, Che Tafari, Max Malas, Bellaluna Resnick By Tom Moore As a huge fan of “A Christmas Story” and an avid gamer, HBO Max appeared to be delivering the kind of Christmas movie I didn’t even know I … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Calendar: 14. 8-Bit Christmas

Tom MooreLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

In Their Own League Advent Countdown: 11. Batman Returns

By Joan Amenn The holidays have arrived in Gotham City but the locals don’t seem to be feeling much in the spirit of the season. Maybe that’s because instead of Santa soaring across the sky, there have been sightings of a giant bat amid the rooftops. Only Tim Burton could create a Christmas story so dark and yet great, campy fun. Danny DeVito gives the … Continue reading In Their Own League Advent Countdown: 11. Batman Returns

jmamennLeave a comment
Christmas, Holiday Countdown

InTheirOwnLeague Advent Calendar: 6. The Lion in Winter

By Joan Amenn Nothing says the holidays like gatherings of dysfunctional families and it doesn’t get much worse than the family of Henry Plantagenet. More commonly known as King Henry II (Peter O’Toole), he springs Queen Eleanor (Katherine Hepburn) from imprisonment to reunite with their ingrateful, greedy children for a Christmas pageant. This is for the benefit of his nobles who more likely than not … Continue reading InTheirOwnLeague Advent Calendar: 6. The Lion in Winter

jmamennLeave a comment