Bonesaw's Favorite Christmas Films

Can you feel it? It's that time of year where we get to cover everything with glitter and flashing lights. To help the mood flourish, here's a list of my all time favorite Christmas films so far:

I've been called a real sicko for thinking of The Ref as one of my favorite Christmas movies. It's so real and the cast is amazing. Real in the fact that all the isms and dysfuntionality that rear their ugly heads during the holidays are blatantly portrayed. The cast includes Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey, Dennis Leary, B.D. Wong, Christine Barranski, etc. The dialogue is viscous, bordering on black comedy.

THIS ONE! The 1951 one! The one where Alastair Sim plays Scrooge! UBER-CURMUDGEON! Nobody plays a better Scrooge than this guy. His face is liquid and his voice, positively satanic. Beggars run away from him in the streets. No other Scrooge does the personality changeover better than Alastair Sim. I believe how ugly and horrible he is before the fateful Ghost visits and I believe his transformation when he finally wakes up.

Does anyone know about the dialogue, played-to-the-hilt realism, attitude and personalities in this film? Every exchange has meaning and color and significance. There's no filler, just great content busting out at the seams.

Michael Hordern plays the scariest Jacob Marley. During his first scene as the warning ghost, everytime he moves forward, the camera switches into his point of view. So we're walking step by step towards Ebenezer's frightened, lunatic face. Scares the brains outta me.

The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Ebenezer to a break up with the only woman he ever loved. She says, "I release you. You judge everything by gains" and a young Ebenezer says fine and storms out for good. She collapses and sobs that classic 50s sob. I know honey, doesn't it suck? You'll cry with her. Present day Ebenezer watches all this and clutches his chest. I found myself screaming, "That's right! Grab that stone!"

After Ebenezer's ephipany, he heads over to his nephew's house for dinner. The maid takes his coat, hat and gloves and stares at him in cautious wonder knowing how fantastical it is that he showed up at all. He seems apprehensive to enter the room where the music is coming from. As he's about to open the doors, he turns and looks at the maid over his shoulder. An angelic, compassionate smile glows on her face and she nods to him in encouragement. He warms, lowers his eyes and finds the love and strength to go on in. I get weepy everytime.

Yeah I know it's a black and white, scritchy-scratchy, recorded in mono film. Forget about all the other Scrooges. Just rent it if you can find it.

I know I know. You've seen it a thousand times. It's a Wonderful Life is a true classic and it still feels good. It just wouldn't be Christmas without it.

A modern day classic that ignites delicious childhood memories. You can't help but fall in love with each family member in this film. The father is of course my favorite. Here's a sample of the tapestry of obscenities that The Most Fearless Furnace Fighter on Cleveland Street weaves on a daily basis:

A-ha A-HA! It's a cliiiiiinker! That blasted stupid furnace dam gum it! Oh fer cripes sake open up the damper will ya?! Who the hell turned it all the way down! AGAIN! Oh blast it! Golly-wop-wobber-drog-dam-fraten-houstical-fiefer! You wart-monging-noodle! You shotten-shift-te-festivah! You snort-tunga-lay-mongus-magacell-KAGA!

He's got termites in his smile and garlic in his soul. Boris Karloff narrates! Things sure have changed. When I was a little kid, I loved the Whos down in Whoville. They were so cute and sweet and cuddly and wholesome. Now, I watch this short film and I just wanna stick Cindy-Loo Who right on top of my Christmas tree. I'm relating to the Grinch. I guess my heart is 2 sizes too small. SAVE ME!

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