My Favorite 'Holiday' Movies

Probably my fave, between the songs and

the starkness. Spectacular performances.

Even though more 'Hallmark' than I

typically like, it has a good message.

Good story about growing up.

Just stupid-ass funny, which we all

definitely need.

Definitely a great movie, and the heartsick

longing of a world at war, a family separated,

are unfortunately always topical.

Just a fun, dorky, light, chick flick with

some good performances (esp. Ghost of Christmas Past!)

The Real Deal of X-Mas flix, it's the

third in the trilogy for the Friday franchise!

"Stop selling that snatch for Jesus!"

Classic!

My fave of the old claymation, what with all

the politically-charged message and the diversity

bit. Anything with loners, underdogs winning, and

lonely folks coming together works like a charm!

Hilarious...complete with a great Carol

Kane performance, Annie Lennox music,

and all the cheese you can eat!

Yeah, it's always on a list because it really

is that good. The ending is unbelievable,

but the need for it to be true is what affects

people so deeply, and it's the hopefulness

Capra understood so well.

The most-maligned film of all time!
Yes, it's saccharine...yes, it's corny..

but it's a good catharsis for real feelings

and the cast can't be beat...a lot of my

favorites are in this!

The only religious-themed movie (not counting 'Ultimate Gift,'

which is only peripherally such) on my list, but it's well-done.

It presents a world of people as they really are, not idealized

versions, and the message isn't 'beat you over the head'

annoying. Good flick.

Pure crazy and hilarious...awesome cast.

Anyone who's ever been in a bad relationship can

totally relate!

Just a fabulous movie, period,

but since the setting is what it is...perfect!

Okay, so not actually a Christmas movie, but between

the setting and the magic, and the perfect analogy

for what's wrong with religion, I consider it a

great Holiday film!

Still brilliant, even 3 decades later.

I don't care who you are, this

shit is funny!

Both Die hard 1 and 2 are great popcorn

movies that keep you on the edge from start to

finish, and sport Xmas themes in each.

We all wish we'd have a chance to be John

McCain and have an excuse to shoot up

a bunch of crazy bastards about

this time of year!

Another nice, easy, feel-good romantic comedy

when you're in the mood to zone out and get

caught up in fantasy. Damn, Bill Pullman

looked his best right here!

Another super action flick with plenty

of surprises and kick-ass, plus a good

story about identity, politics, and more.

Heh heh. Neil Patrick Harris has his candy cane

pointed at my face! Ho ho ho!
Crazy good times...let the 'inappropriateness'

commence! Only for those tolerant of the

'politically incorrect.'

***

I'm definitely more a fan of the lewd and lascivious,

with a love of raunchy humor and turning tradition

on its ear, but I do also like some of the heartfelt

stuff. Not as much as when I was young and innocent, but...

There are also some great TV shows that handle Christmas

right; 'Happy Endings' is hilarious, so were all of 'In Living

Color' Christmas themed eps.  Anything David Kelly does

with holidays is spot-on (Ally McBeal, Picket Fences, L.A. Law,

etc.) and Ryan Murphy always puts the proper schmaltzy

and rebellious spin on things!

Stock up on the good stuff, and let the movies be

your company! The end results are likely to be

much merrier! Peace~

***

Tea with Mussolini

Another fantastic World War II based film with an incredible cast;
Cher, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, Judi Dench, Lily Tomlin, and
more.

A more sedate --yet still disturbing--take on the war, from the
more upscale, feminine side of things.

Equal parts chick flick and fantasy, it's still an engaging and
heartening film about friendship and life.

Tea with Mussolini on imdb

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Sordid Lives

Sordid Lives is an absurdist, incendiary, equal-opportunity-offender,
politically incorrect, raucous comedy romp that skewers Southerners
with a vengeance! (Well, 'white trash', to be precise, which I typically
equate with Southerners, so..)

If you're a fan of bawdy comedy, John Waters movies, sassy back-talking
strong women, crazy over-the-top hijinks, and can let your hair down long
enough to laugh at what's truly funny, then you'll love this movie.
(This is the movie that spawned the TV series of the same name.)

The above is a fan compilation of some of the best moments of the movie--a
little more heft than a typical trailer. I think it shows off the heart of the film
and the stellar cast quite admirably!

Sordid Lives IMDB info

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Enigma (2001)

ENIGMA is a great WWII movie with a spectacular cast.
It dances around a fictionalized accounting of the breaking
of the Enigma Code (in truth done by yet another fabulous
homosexual!) and of course finds all the human drama points
hit along the way.

Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott (yum!) are so believable and
entrancing, and this is one of those authentic period pieces
that draws you into the action so thoroughly that I forgot I
was watching a film!

Jeremy Northam can do no wrong in my book, and is likewise
his typically smoking-hot self. Great suspense, action, romance,
and drama.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157583/

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The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000)

There was a bit of a heyday for good quality, big cast, gay friendly films
in the mid-to-late 1990s. Among one of the better films was a romantic
comedy called The Broken Hearts Club. It had a stellar cast with pretty
much the widest (yes, even though caricatured in some cases) variety of
gay people you're ever likely to meet in your travels.


It was a great story, ranging 'Steel Magnolias-like' or 'Green
Tomatoes-esque' in their epic storyline over a period of time,
travails, and romances. Originally saw this at the Tampa Theatre
during the Gay Film Fest. Man, I miss those!

A lot of fun, a lot of tears, a great "watch over-and-over" movie
from the second "Gay Nineties." Dean Cain, Timothy Olyphant,
Zach Braff, John Mahoney and more!


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0222850/


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Parting Glances

One of the earliest and better 'positive gay films' as well as

one of the earliest and best screen representations of HIV/AIDS.

"Parting Glances" is the simple love story of 2 gay men in 1980s

New york City; their struggles, their friends, and the community

they live in. It's also, primarily, the story of friendship and

becoming mature in the face of loss and tragedy.

 It's a beautiful, moving story that

has warmth and vulnerability; sadly the only film made by

Bill Sherwood before his death from AIDS. A great

and lasting memory, to be sure.

This film has a tremendous cast, whose easy fit with the

naturalistic dialogue works well. Of special note are

Richard Ganoung (later of "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss",)

John Bolger (super sexy "One Life To Live" and film/TV star,)

Kathy Kinny (Mimi of "The Drew Carey Show",)

and a young Steve Buscemi (his first major film role!)



A wonderfully human film full of pathos and

real friendship. It plays like a fantasy, or a love story.

I guess the difference is whether you're jaded or not.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091725/

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BAGDAD CAFE

A great 1987 character piece with strangeness and wonder, starring
CCH Pounder, Jack Palance, and Marianne Sagebrecht.

Features an incredible soundtrack, perhaps most famously known for
the haunting Jevetta Steele's "Calling You."

An oddball comedy-drama with great performances and a strong
story of friendship, hope, new beginnings, and inspiration.

We can't ever have too many of those, can we?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095801/


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