Tag: Christmas

GODMOTHERED – Review

So, who could use a little magic? This year, who couldn’t, even with just a few weeks left in 2020? We’re not talking about luck or “good fortune”, but rather the sprinkly, sparkly spells that come straight from witches, pixies, and wizards. Sure, that’s the stuff of faerie tales, but wouldn’t it be great if that mythology had some real-life basis? Sweet, huh? Now other than big blue “motor-mouthed” genies, who’s the big “wish-granter”? Just ask the dazzling blonde rockin’ those glass slippers. She’ll tell you from first-hand knowledge that it’s pretty great to be GODMOTHERED. But would that “fly” today, even using lotsa’ pixie dust?

That question is answered in the new film by taking a trip to another dimension. Where do faerie godmothers come from? Why Motherland, of course. But things are pretty dismal there, as 21st century Earth folk just don’t believe like they used to. The “GMs’ in the magic classes are pretty downbeat, except for the youngest one “in training”, the bubbly smiling Eleanor (Jillian Bell). But she’s even dismayed by the unexpected appearance in class by the “queen mum” and ruler of the land Moira (Jane Curtin). Unless some human is helped, the whole place will shut down and cease to exist. Things seem hopeless, but Eleanor won’t give up. Scouring the “request files” she finds one lonely letter, from little Mackenzie Walsh in Boston, USA. Without Moira’s knowing (she wouldn’t approve), Eleanor, with the aid of her roomie Agnes (June Squibb), dashes through a mystical portal to our world. Thing is, she’s still getting the hang of her wand, so she hitchhikes to “Bean-town” only to discover that her last chance isn’t a child (that letter had been there a while). Mackenzie (Isla Fisher) is the single mother of two young women, Jane (Jillian Shea Spaeder) and Mia (Willa Skye) who’s working as a news segment producer for a struggling TV station. Of course, she thinks Eleanor, in her frilly pink ball gown, is a tad “touched” in the head. Can Eleanor possibly get her “spell-casting act” together and get the Walsh family to believe in magic before that portal closes and Motherland is no more?

After stealing scenes in several studio ensemble comedies (22 JUMP STREET, ROUGH NIGHT, THE NIGHT BEFORE) and headlining an indie (BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON), Bell looks to expand into family flicks as the simple sunny Eleanor. She succeeds for the most part, due to her fearless comic commitment (getting pelted with pumpkin mush while in that pink hoop dress) and slapstick skills (trying to control a wand that seems to have a mind of its own). It’s a smooth stroll from the hard-partying gal-pal to the sweet, clueless, and clumsy conjuror. Luckily the character has a superb straight-man, er…woman, and “reality buffer” in Fisher as the sour, cynical Mackenzie whose tough “outer layer” is slowly melted away by Eleanor’s optimism. She’s got great support at home with the two talented young actresses playing her daughters. Skye’s Mia hasn’t quite shaken her sense of joy and wonder, while Spaeder as big sis Jane is still haunted by the family’s past tragedy which almost stifles her creative musical talents (she’s been given the big solo at the holiday pageant). As for “Mack’s” work “fam”, Santiago Cabrera is an affable encouraging “chum’, who may become something more, as her “roving reporter” Hugh Prince (hmmm…that last name). Much of that applies to Mack’s BFF Duff played with a subtle sense of snark by Artemis Pebdani. Of course, not everybody can be nice and helpful (although both certainly apply to the always fun Squibb as Agnes). Bell’s BRITTANY love interest Utkarsh Ambudkar provides a smidge of comic villainy as Mack’s rating and publicity (“Gotta’ go viral!”) desperate boss Grant. And though she’s tart and intimidating, Curtin as Moira proves to be the “tough love” matriarch that Eleanor needs, though she has a real scary regal vibe about her.

A veteran of two BRIDGET JONES films, director Sharon Maguire does a fairly good job of keeping the story from collapsing under excess whimsy while eliciting great comic work from the cast (would love to see Bell and Fisher teamed again for a more adult romp). Unfortunately, her efforts are often undone by a script that begs too many comparisons to the superior fantasy /modern-day comedy mash-ups ELF and ENCHANTED. Some of the plot machinations are predictable (somehow the station’s ratings skyrocket due to Eleanor’s mishaps) and inconsistent (that wand seems to work correctly when needed for the story). And the attempts at pathos are somewhat heavy-handed, especially in the big musical finale. The various locales around Boston are lovely, as is the “faerie-world” of Motherland (still too many historical problems with that word, though). Big kudos however for the charming “2-D” animated prologue which would be a great medium for a modest follow-up (a bit of a long-shot). Though it’s doubtful that this film could become a perennial fave like the aforementioned flicks, the smallest tykes may be entertained for a bit as their folks indulge in some “cyber-shopping” rather than getting GODMOTHERED.

2 Out of 4

GODMOTHERED streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning December 4th, 2020.

DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH – Review

While you’re still finding bits of the jack o’lantern in the front yard or porch, and probably still munching from the big bowl of “fun-sized” candy, Hollywood is dashing right past Thanksgiving (much like retail stores and the remaining malls) to present us with the first big Christmas themed feature film. Yes, though it’s over six weeks away the multiplex hallways will be filled with some familiar carols. And it’s an animated feature, since the end of the year is a major release time for those, too. It’s been well over a year since we’ve seen a new flick from the fine folks at Illumination, home of the DESPICABLE ME franchise along with SING and THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS. So, is this a story of the Minions getting all merry (you can just imagine their bug eyes appearing in the eggnog pitcher). No, that’s because the Universal-based animation house has a deal with the Dr. Seuss estate (going back to their 2012 treatment of THE LORAX). So Seuss and Christmas can only mean one thing: the return of that grumbling green “meanie” who despises all the icons of yule time. And now he’s come somewhat full circle. The children’s book curmudgeon was first brought to life via 2D cell animation for TV in 1966, then Ron Howard directed Jim Carrey (in terrific prosthetics and makeup from Rick Baker and his team) in a live-action feature in 2000, and now he’s back in animation, computer generated with optional 3D, with the title shortened considerably (perhaps to not give away too much of the well-known plot). The holiday tale is now simple DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH.

The story’s narrator whisks us away to the snow-covered town of Whoville as the citizens happily begin three weeks of preparation and decorating mania in anticipation of the big December holiday. Getting caught up in the frenzy is harried working (in and out of the home) single mom Donna Lou Who (voiced by Rashida Jones). As she catches a quick snooze on the trolley, someone else is just waking up. In cave inside a mountain overlooking the village resides the green, furry, ill-tempered Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch), who’s about to enjoy a breakfast served by his tiny dog, Max. But wait, the shelves and fridge are bare. Ah yes, the holidays cause him to “stress eat”. Now, he’ll have to go into town for supplies. Meanwhile, Donna is also about to have breakfast with her twin toddler boys and her pre-teen daughter Cindy Lou (Cameron Seely), who’s focused on a letter she wants to send to the North Pole, home of, ya’ know. As she dashes off to catch the letter carrier, Cindy nearly collides with the Grinch and Max. He sneers that the letter, no doubt with a huge wishlist, will be lost in Santa’s mountain of mail. Leaving the grocery store, the Grinch tries and fails to avoid the number one Whoville holiday enthusiast Bricklebaum (Kenan Thompson), who believes the green guy is his best buddy. Back at his cave, the Grinch comes up with his own Christmas plans, not celebrating nor decorating, but “stealing” the happy day from the town. This just as Cindy Lou, with the help of her pals, hatches her own plan to get in her request to the jolly ole’ elf. With that December deadline approaching, the Grinch, along with his over-worked pooch, goes through his checklist (sled, costume, reindeer?), and delights in getting revenge against that magical, merry day.

For some inexplicable reason, the filmmakers have insisted that Cumberbatch, yes the definitive modern-day Sherlock (sorry Jonny Lee), perform the lead role with an American accent. Hey, his natural speech worked for Karloff over 50 years ago, so why must the “mean one” sound like he’s applying for Harvard (or any of the Ivy League)? Mind you, the right tone of snark is there in his contempt for the happy goofballs that live below him, but he sounds like a cousin of Dr. Steven Strange with a case of the “hangries”. It’s an odd choice that takes some getting used too. Fortunately, he still has a great chemistry with Thompson who brings the same zany energy to the affable, but clueless Bricklebaum that he has for the last fifteen (wow) years as a regular cast member on TV’s “Saturday Night Live”. With his bushy beard obscuring his mouth, he tosses off hilarious jokes much like the masterful Jack Mercer did as Popeye in countless cartoons (I wonder if they might have been added in post, much like Mercer did). Jones as Donna doesn’t have nearly as much fun as that duo. She’s there to be the dutiful, tired, but noble matriarch who says just the right things to encourage and inspire her daughter. As the said daughter, Seely is sweet, but not saccharine with just the correct dose of spunk without becoming obnoxious. I also couldn’t “get” the use of Pharrell Williams as the narrator with his rather listless line reading. Now maybe if Cumberbatch had told the tale in his smooth British baritone. And they bring in family film superstar Angela Landsbury for one scene as the town’s mayor? Talk about under-utilizing an extraordinary talent! that’s “Mrs. Potts” for gosh sakes!

Directors Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier have delivered a flick that’s most pleasing to the eyes with colors that pop, clever designs (I like how the tiny Whoville shops spin around to show their wares), and characters close to the original Seuss pen and ink sketches. But, as with the 2000 feature, it’s all in service to a story that was told almost perfectly in 23 minutes in 1966. Unlike the last version, we don’t delve as much into the pre-adult Grinch (here spending 12/25 all alone in an orphanage), but we get new characters that “pad’ the tale (or to sell more toys, if you want to be cynical). As I said earlier Thompson is tons o’ fun as Bricklebaum, but he doesn’t advance the plot one lick (of a candy cane). The same could certainly be said of the cohorts of Cindy (certainly much older than two, this time out). Again, more merch and maybe a chance to be more diverse. Then there’s Fred, the lone waddling, beefy reindeer with a Shemp Howard-styled orange tuft of hair. He drifts in and out of the film (because Max has to pull that big sled solo). Plus Fred helps to eliminate one of the greatest images of the story, that being the Grinch triumphantly lifting the massive, stuffed sled over his head. Yes, really! The blame can rest at the screenplay by Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow (it took two), which somehow expands and simplifies the story. Now we get to see the Whovians waking to empty living rooms, along with an explanation of the holiday’s true meaning from Donna to Cindy (that singing circle is not enough). And in one tired gag, the Grinch tries to use a giant catapult (did he have one gathering dust in a corner of the cave, or is the empty Acme Company crate nearby). Oh, and we’re “treated” to a modern take (rap) on those classic, timeless Eugene Poddany tunes (you are so missed, Thurl Ravenscroft). The little ones may be amused by the flick’s first act, but their patience will be sorely tested. Though not a big lump of coal, DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH is not the upgrade that’s on anybody’s wish list.

2.5 Out of 5

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS – Review

Dan Stevens (left) stars as Charles Dickens and Christopher Plummer (right) stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in director Bharat Nalluri’s THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS, a Bleecker Street release. Photo credit: Kerry Brown / Bleecker Street ©

Dan Stevens gives a frenetic performance as Charles Dickens racing to finish writing “A Christmas Carol” in time to publish before the holiday, in THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS. Directed by Bharat Nalluri (MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY), this film has all the Christmas color and Victorian period costumes and sets you could want in a Christmas film. The film is mostly a clever way to retell the famous tale, as characters spring from the author’s imagination while he struggles with his own family issues and races to meet a pre-Christmas release deadline, but it also touches on how his short novel transformed a once-minor holiday into the tradition we know today.

People can hardly conceive the idea that Christmas was not always celebrated as the major holiday it is today, but before Dickens wrote his brief but moving Christmas tale, it was just another minor holiday on the English calendar, nowhere near as big as Easter. The change may have been afoot, with people in England starting to adopt the German tradition of a tannenbaum, a Christmas tree. There was also growing social awareness of, and public debate over, the plight of the poor in the Industrial Revolution, but Christmas was not yet a season of giving and kindness to the less-fortunate.

This story takes place at a low point in Charles Dickens’ (Dan Stevens) career, after his early success was followed by the publication of a few under-performing novels. Dickens is pressed for money, something he conceals from his well-meaning, neglected wife Kate (Morfydd Clark), and feels pressured to prove himself as an author as well, particularly to the irritating William Makepeace Thackeray (Miles Jupp). With the help of his loyal friend John Forster (Justin Edwards), Dickens hits on the idea of a Christmas-themed novel. But his publisher is not interested in a book about that little-celebrated holiday, so Dickens decides to publish the novel himself. That decision means he must not only write it but arrange the illustrations and printing as well as come up with the financing, all in time to release it before Christmas. To add to the pressure, Dickens ne’er-do-well father John (Jonathan Pryce) and mother (Ger Ryan) have turned up on his doorstep, out of cash and asking to stay with him, while the elder Dickens writes an article for a magazine for which he claims to have a contract.

This sets up not only a ticking-clock for Charles Dickens but all kinds of mayhem to beset the author as he struggles with his book and its characters. Dan Stevens gives us a hot-tempered, high-energy Dickens, who always seems on the edge of exploding as he battles writer’s block and rails against every interruption.

Colorful characters are a signature of Dickens’ novels, and one of this film’s delights is how it brings them to life wonderfully and weaves them into its tale. Dickens is taunted bitingly by Christopher Plummer’s Scrooge, glowered at by ghostly Marley (Donald Sumpter) and warmed by the jolly Spirit of Christmas Present, who looks just like his friend Forster. The author’s room fills with characters, and they follow and talk to the author as he wanders London streets seeking inspiration, or at least distraction from his writer’s block. At other more sober moments, Dickens relives the terrors of his childhood, remembering seeing his father sent to debtor’s prison and reliving the bullying he endured working as a child laborer in a boot-black factory.

 

Every writer who has struggled with writer’s block knows Dickens’ pain in that dilemma but the looming Christmas deadline makes it worse. If he does not publish before the holiday, the book won’t sell and his meager funds will he lost. While Dickens struggles to find his characters and his plot, his personal life intrudes, particularly his irritatingly irresponsible father. Jonathan Pryce is wonderful in the role of John Dickens, charming but cluelessly self-indulgent, begging money and them splurging on a new waistcoat, more a child than a parent to his son. Born a gentleman, the elder Dickens never was financially successful, and as his family fell into poverty, his son suffered from his poor money-handling. There is emotional potential in that but much of Dan Stevens’ performance is too one-note, sometimes bordering on hysterical, rather than a more subtle and deeper performance. However, the supporting cast tempers that by providing a little more nuance. Plummer’s Scrooge is particularly good in this respect, incorporating aspects of real people who Dickens encounters, such as a wealthy man who advocates debtors prisons (something Dickens family once experienced) or the miserly business partner of a man being buried at night in a dreary cemetery, who utters the famous “Bah, humbug.”

One might expect the socially-aware Dickens, who drew attention to the plight of the poor, and social ills like debtors prisons, and abusive orphanages, and wrote novels such as “Oliver Twist,” to identify with poor Bob Crachit. But the film draws parallels between the author and his villain Scrooge, played with verve by Christopher Plummer. Dickens had his darker side when it came to his own family (ever hear the phrase “the Dickens” meaning someone is an awful person? That refers to the author’s personal life) In this film, the focus is on Dickens’ dismissive attitude towards his wife and his impatience with his spend-thrift father, played wonderfully by Jonathan Pryce. The bits of Dickens’ personal life mostly serve as background for the developing novel, with a few references to some others of Dickens’ famous novels.

As a clever way to re-tell the perennial “A Christmas Carol,” THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS works pretty well. This polished period film is charming and entertaining for the most part, and delivers all the pretty Victorian Christmas imagery you could wish for. Bringing the story’s colorful characters to life to walk snowy London streets is a charming effect, as is illustrating how the author incorporated people he met into characters in the story. The characters trailing after Dickens, who they dismissively call “only the author,” provide a lot of fun, and the film sports delightful comic moments involving them. All the supporting cast is great, although Dan Stevens’ perpetually panicked Dickens wears on one after a time.

Where the film is less successful is in delivering what the title suggests, an insight into how Christmas came to be the holiday it is, and how it was regarded before Dickens’ novel transformed it. It was a minor holiday and people often didn’t even get the day off, certainly nothing like the biggest holiday of the year it is now, and it would have been nice to explore The holiday was how Christmas was regarded before and after his book was published, something only touched on superficially. The ways in which Dickens’s book changed Christmas are greater than people are often aware, the emphasis on “good will towards men” that we now associate with it, the idea of charity and giving, as well as the decorated tree, festive feast, family gathering, and even having the day off.

The film also falls short in painting a rounded portrait of Dickens himself, his complicated relationship with his father and wife, and his own character flaws. We get passing references and hints, about his difficult childhood and his neglect of his wife (something explored more fully in the 2013 film “Invisible Woman”) but little of that is fleshed out, explored or explained in this film.

As a holiday movie, THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS fits the bill, offering an inventive way to re-tell this beloved story, but it delivers less on the thing the title promises, insight on man behind the novel or on how is book “invented” the Christmas we know today.

RATING: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

 

UNCLE NICK – The Review

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I’m not sure what your holiday traditions are, but in my family, it’s not Christmas until you’ve watched at least one movie that makes you realize your family is not that bad, because it could always be worse. I joking, of course, but let’s say “hypothetically” that I’m not.

For me, ever since I first saw National Lampoon’s CHRISTMAS VACATION at an age probably too early to be watching the film, I’ve had a special place in my heart for Clark Griswold. A man with a good heart and no sense to navigate in the world. Year after year, I watch that film like a big eyed, innocent child all over again, and when Clark finally loses his shit in front of everyone, chugging back the adult egg nog, inside I’m saying “Amen, brother!”

What the Hell am I babbling on about, anyway? In the past, holiday movie traditions have consisted of goodie-two-shoes, proper family friendly classics in black and white and stop-motion animated TV shorts. That’s all well and good, and I even partake in these still, but in today’s jacked up world, we need a little reality in our fiction to keep our heads sane. Give it to us straight.

UNCLE NICK is not a perfect film, by any means, but screw perfection. Who needs that kind of pressure? Written by Mike Demski and directed by Chris Kasick, this is the average Joe’s Christmas movie. For those of us who can do without the do-gooders blowing smoke out their butts in an effort to be politically correct and all-inclusive, and prefer a little punch in our Christmas punch, UNCLE NICK offers a welcome reprieve from the G-rated holiday favorites.

Brian Posehn plays Nick, a middle-aged fat, balding drunk with scarce manners and a dead-end career keeping his late father’s fledgling landscape business afloat. When he’s invited to spend Christmas with his younger brother’s family, he goes instead as an opportunity to hopefully score with his step-niece, if I’m interpreting that complicated in-law familial jigsaw puzzle correctly.

Beau Ballinger plays Cody, Nick’s 31-year old younger brother, who is a failure in life, but gets by on his good looks. Cody married Sophie, played by Paget Brewster, and therefor married her money and big house as well. It’s a packaged deal, so Cody also acquired two step-children. Marcus, played wittily by Jacob Houston, and his older sister Valerie, played by Melia Renee. Valerie would be the 20-year old step-niece who holds Nick’s perverts creepy uncle affection.

Enough of the dilapidated family tree. UNCLE NICK is perhaps the most enjoyable anti-Christmas holiday movie since Billy Bob Thornton dawned the red suit in 2003 for BAD SANTA. It’s not necessarily the utmost best made film, but it’s certainly enjoyable, in it’s own humorously depraved ways. On some levels, the film is like a watered down live-action episode of Comedy Central’s South Park doing an homage to shows like All in the Family and Married With Children. Posehn’s dry, deadpan style plays in contrast to the rest of the cast and in turn works to set him apart as the odd uncle, which in turn plays into the ironic turn of events that occur in the film’s conclusion.

Melia Renee is effective at playing the seductive, rebellious harlot who plays into Nick’s inappropriate delusions, acting as a sort of succubus leading him into temptation. UNCLE NICK is a family-themed movie that is not family-friendly, complete with lewd humor, profanity, some nudity, sex, excessive consumption of alcohol, some expected and arguably warranted fisticuffs and ultimately, a nice little moral twist to the ending, just for the grown-ups who stuck it out to the end of the film, because chances are, we’re the ones who have lived, or perhaps still live, some facet of this holiday family life.

The chemistry and pacing of the performances in UNCLE NICK aren’t always spot-on, but the humor is well-written, snarky but realistic and just plain fun. Marcus doesn’t get much of the spotlight but makes us proud in his role and Cody is far from likable in any way, which is by design. Sophie, surprisingly enough, is the most sane of the family, thanks to Brewster’s level-headed performance, allowing her final revelation in the end of the film to carry more weight.

Documentary filmmaker Errol Morris executive produced the film, which may not mean much to most, but helped draw me into seeing the film. As it turns out, UNCLE NICK showcased an unexpected influence from and/or homage to the modern legend of non-fiction filmmaking, as it begins and ends in a minor portion as an interview with Nick, Errol Morris First Person-style. In addition, the creative placeholder sequences between the segments of the story are filled with baseball scenes depicting the infamous 10-cent beer game between the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers.

Baseball, and more specifically the Cleveland Indians, serve as a running metaphor in the film and a connecting plot mechanism. There are nine segments in the film, as there are nine innings in a game of baseball. Each segment is chaptered as an inning and each of them carries a baseball-themed title that serves as a double entendre for the family’s hijinks. Nick’s sister Michelle, played by Missi Pyle, is equally ill-mannered as Nick but easier to look at and she’s married to Kevin, played by Scott Adsit, who runs and obsesses over his podcast that’s all about the Cleveland Indians.

Once you’ve had your fill of Rudolph and Frosty, but aren’t quite ready for A CHRISTMAS STORY, and you want a reality check instead of A MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, allow UNCLE NICK into your home and prepare for inappropriate white elephant gifts and off-key Christmas karaoke.

UNCLE NICK opens in theaters on Friday, December 4th, 2015.

Overall Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

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Merry Christmas! Holiday Films On Netflix

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The wait is over – It’s Christmas!

Need some ideas for movie-watching over the next few days?

Some of the best loved, as well as the not-so-traditional holiday films, are available on Netflix – TRADING PLACES, WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, SCROOGED, BAD SANTA, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS, THE BELLS OF ST. MARY, ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS, LOVE ACTUALLY and WHITE CHRISTMAS.

And for the younglings – Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mickey Mouse, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, The Search for Santa Paws, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year, Kung Fu Panda: Holiday, DreamWorks Happy Holidays from Madagascar and Santa Buddies.

Grab a cuppa egg nog, a plate of sugar cookies and check out our lineup of the Top 20 Non-Traditional Christmas Movies HERE.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone here at WAMG!

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Top Ten Tuesday: 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide

Welcome to the 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide! What is this? No, it’s not my personal gift wish list made public in hopes that readers will bury me in their affection — although, I wouldn’t be disgusted if you did — no, this is guide to finding that perfect, special gift for the Movie Geek in your life. You know who I mean. We all have at least one friend who obsesses about movies, someone who spouts a movie quote or a director factoid every other breath. What does one buy a person so firmly entrenched in the culture of movies? I hope this guide helps you with your shopping ideas, but don’t expect to find the typical, no brainer ideas — such as gift cards — on this list. Continue reading Top Ten Tuesday: 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide

Blu Monday: Tarantino Paradiso & The Animation Factory

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Continue reading Blu Monday: Tarantino Paradiso & The Animation Factory

Top GIFT Tuesday: WAMG’s Ultimate Geek Gift Guide

With the holiday season rapidly approaching that wonderful climactic ending, where the fruits of our shopping labors render reactions of joy and excitement (hopefully) onto the faces of friends and family, we take a moment to ponder the art of good gift-giving tactics. We Are Movie Geeks — as our name implies — has a soft spot for giving/receiving just the right gifts, so we’d like to offer some suggestions to those out there struggling to find just the right gift for the movie geeks in your life… gifts that will surely have them jumping up and down, giddily giggling like a child on Christmas morning.

Movie Theater Gift Cards

Plain and simple… movie geeks LOVE going to the movies. (duh!) So, what better gift-in-a-pinch for the movie geeks in your life than a gift card to a local theater? Multi-plex chain theater with 3D digital, or small, independent art houses like Landmark, they all offer gift cards. Whether it’s enough for just a night out at the movies with popcorn or soda, or big enough for a lifetime all-access pass to the movies, this is one fail-safe gift to fall back on, anytime.

Movie Magazine Subscriptions

These days, most movie buffs get the film news from blogs and online sources like We Are Movie Geeks, but it still doesn’t compare to walking out the mailbox to find your monthly subscription. Be it Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, or Fangoria, there’s nothing like reading all the latest on upcoming films and seeing the colorful, first-look photos in a magazine. And if it’s a commemorative or double-issue, it’s as exciting as Christmas morning. So when the power goes out and your computer’s battery has died, no other gift comes in handy than a movie magazine.

STAY PUFT Marshmallows

Everyone likes getting sweets in their stocking on Christmas morning, but the traditional chocolate Santa and candy canes can get tedious. So, what can you replace them with to surprise the movie geek in your life? How about putting some “perk” in their party pajamas with these Stay Puft Caffeinated Marshmallows? They’re tasty and they come in this snazzy collectible box, honoring the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from GHOST BUSTERS, from which the idea was inspired.

Movie-Based Action Figures

Todd McFarlane first revolutionized the world of action figures, simultaneously taking the often lame and poorly produced movie-based action figures and turning them into awesome and affordable works of three-dimensional art for movie geeks’ collections. Spawn.com is the Internet home of McFarlane Toys, which includes motion picture, horror and television characters rendered in detailed plastic action figures.

MEZCO is a company that produces cool little Lego-esque action figures called Mez-Itz — amongst other toys — many of which are movie-themed. They’re funky and weird, but fun and cute… even the ones of Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. MEZCO is always adding new ones to the already long list of classics including BACK TO THE FUTURE, A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, GHOSTBUSTERS, HELLBOY, KICK-ASS, THE GOONIES, SCARFACE and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

Graphic Novels

The first impression of many may be to ask “why graphic novels” but, when it comes down to brass tacks, graphic novels are the closest thing to the cinema found in book form. Aside from the droves of original ideas found inside (not all graphic novels are about superheroes), graphic novels employ the same concepts of visual storytelling as the movies, implementing dramatic uses of frames, lighting and shadows, even movement and depth are key in this otherwise two-dimensional media. After all, what are storyboards, if not essentially graphic novels?

Here’s just a few graphic novel titles already adapted into movies to get you started: KICK-ASS, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD, BATMAN: YEAR ONE, SIN CITY, 300, GHOST WORLD, WANTED, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, AMERICAN SPLENDOR, FROM HELL, CONSTANTINE.

Motion Picture Soundtracks

From composers Max Steiner to John Williams, movie scores have a special place in the hearts of true movie geeks. For us, they become a real character of their own with the voices of horns, violins and drums. Music for films provide the emotional bridge into another world up on the screen and we usually know who the composer is from the instant the first few bars of play. There’s always so many scores from which to choose – (including the above pictured special collector’s edition for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Pt1,) from Alexandre Desplat to one of the best this year – Hans Zimmer’s INCEPTION. There’s no better holiday gift than giving a movie geek the soundtrack to their favorite film to add to their already vast collection.

NETFLIX Account

If you don’t already have it, this is a must. It will change your life. The days of paying $4 per movie, plus gas money are over! You can stream them right to your TV or computer, or have a BLU-RAY or DVD shipped right to your door. It’s so EASY! I don’t even know how we MOVIE GEEKS leave our homes. You cannot go wrong with this gift. It says “Hi… Stay inside and get comfy while watching some awesome movies! It’s OK, they are free… I already bought them ALL for you!”. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. No matter what your favorite type of movie is, they have it! It is possibly the most genius invention since pre-wrapped cheese. (And I like cheese…)

PIXARPEDIA

Whenever someone asks me about which films I always rush out to see when they open, I don’t reply with an actor or actress’s name but with a studio: Pixar. Some folks call them the Beatles of feature animation. I’d like to think that they’re the closest we have today to the Termite Terrace gang (Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, Friz Freeling) who made the Looney Tunes shorts during Warner Brothers’ Golden Age. With Pixar you’re always guaranteed a beautifully done work of animation anda very well told cinematic story. Well, here for your movie geek is a celebration of the studio’s feature films so far. You get an overview of the studio’s history, bios of the artists, a time-line, and a chart showing how a film is put together from start to finish. Ah now,I know what you’re most interested in: the visuals! And what lush works of art we have here. You get pre-production sketches and character thumbnail drawings. Did ya’ know that Woody was almost a ventriloquist’s dummy? Of course they show off the wonderful comic strip-like storyboards and paintings that establish the look of the story. The icing on the cake are the large frame blowups that show all the little details and inside jokes (like panels from old Mad comics) that you might miss in the theatres. This gorgeous volume will make your geek happy and counting off the days till the release of CARS 2. Pure dazzling eye candy!

CINEMA TREASURES

Co-author’s Ross Melnick and Andreas Fuchs compiled photographs (many rare) and information about the classic movie theaters that have long since closed, been renovated or are just plain gone. The “Cinema Treasures” book accompanies the ongoing on-line project (cinematreasures.org) to archive the history of these classic movie theaters. Unfortunately, this fascinating and beautifully assembled 204-page book of pre-multiplex cinema shrines is itself out of print, meaning you’ll pay an average of $85-90 to gets your mitts on a copy of this movie geek’s pleasure.

THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN

The book THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN shows us stunning works such as posters for HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, THE THING, BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE GOONIES, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, E.T. and HOOK. It touches on his feelings about the death of creativity in the film industry, which he does have a point, and even showcases never before seen works.Every movie lover will have one of their favorites represented in this book. The thing that I found most interesting about the book is that he is honest. He talks about his opinion on photo-shopped movie posters, studio executives, and all aspects of the industry. Not to mention that it is a beautifully written lament to his career. This is a stunning tabletop book for any movie lover!

FOX 75th Anniversary Collection

Now here’s a gift that’s a bit on the pricey end, but if you want to really pamper your movie geek here’s a ticket to film nirvana. This 76 (!) disc set comes with a hardcover history of this major movie factory and home to stars like Shirley Temple, Tyrone Power, and Marilyn Monroe. It starts with the DVD debut of the 1933 Best Picture Oscar winner CALVALCADE (Although when I think of 33 I think of Kong) through the rest of the 30′s with Temple and Will Rogers then to Fox’s golden age under Zanuck with THE GRAPES OF WRATH,LAURA, and MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. From the Monroe 50′s you get ALL ABOUT EVE, GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES, the Sci-Fi classic THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, and the screen debut of Elvis Presley in LOVE ME TENDER. The 60′s were swingin’ at Fox with THE HUSTLER,THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and another pair of Sci-Fi gems, FANTASTIC VOYAGE and PLANET OF THE APES. The70′s  started with wars on Earth in M*A*S*H* and PATTON and later into space with STAR WARS (and a detour to Transylvania with my fave film of all time YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN). The 80′s are represented by BIG and DIE HARD, and the 90′s with HOME ALONE and another trip to space with INDEPENDENCE DAY. Finally the last decade varies from indies like JUNO, and SIDEWAYS to more Sci-Fi blockbusters like X-MEN and the final film, AVATAR. Whew! That’s enough movie watching to take you to next Christmas!

Kino Ultimate Box Set Collection

Buster Keaton, Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau, Georges Melies, D.W. Griffith, John Barrymore, Wong Kar-Wai, Thomas Edison, Douglas Fairbanks, Michael Haneke, Derek Jarman… just a few of the names that span ages, genres and nations included within this boxed set to end all boxed sets from Kino International. Well, so actually the Kino Ultimate Box Set Collection is really a collection of 29 separate boxed sets, all sold together at a steep 35% discount especially for that most discerning of movie geeks. At a staggering $1578.53 this movie geek’s dream is actually a pretty good deal. There is so much art, so much history and so much cinema in this gift, it’s like a time machine all wrapped up in pretty paper and a bow… go ahead, make a movie geek’s day. You’ve gotta spend that federal tax refund on something, right?

Vintage Movie Posters

They’re unique and colorful and when you enter a movie geek’s home, you can immediately identify their taste in film by the ones hanging on their walls. Sure, vintage movie posters can be expensive, but they’re an investment! I’m not talking about the CASABLANCA repro-poster you can buy at the mall, but the real thing. An original THE MUMMY one-sheet from 1932 sold for $600,000 and the original FRANKENSTEIN six-sheet (only one known to exist) has been appraised at a cool million. This geek has desired an original ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN poster for years and one can be acquired for a measly three or four thousand bucks, so what are you waiting for? I’m clearing some wall space now.

Criterion Collection

For years, the name Criterion has been synonymous with the creme de la creme of quality home video. For the collectors and connoisseurs of great film, to own the Criterion Collection release of a film is the ultimate goal… short of owning an original print, but what’s the likelihood of that? Criterion is a mark of excellence, a stamp of approval that says “watch me and you’ve watched the best version home video has to offer.” So, naturally, to give a movie geek a Criterion Collection film — each identified by it’s own, exclusive number on it’s spine, signifying it’s place amongst the ongoing library of gems, the rare and elusive truffles of motion pictures — to give this gift is akin to saying “I love you more than anything on Earth.” DVD or Blu-Ray (hey, they even did laser disc, back in the day), Criterion offers the best in film on the best in home viewing technology for the time… and, isn’t your movie geek worth the best?

EP3: Feliz Na’Vidad (Guest: Alex Billington from Firstshowing.net)

On tonight’s episode of The Golden Briefcase, the guys are joined by Alex Billington from Firstshowing.net to discuss the new DVD/Blu releases of the week, the new IRON MAN II and KICK-ASS trailers, relive THE WIZARD and dive into a discussion of AVATAR.

The main topic of the episode was Christmas Films! The guys talk about their favorites and argue about their various choices!

Couldn’t make the live show? No worries. We have it all available at your disposal through iTunes or RSS! Just click the links to the right and get your dosage of GBC right to your favorite feedreader!

Live broadcasts are on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm PST/9:30pm EST.

Send show topics, commentary, hate mail, love letters or whatever your heart desires to wamgpodcast@gmail.com! We would LOVE to hear from you!

This week, our show is sponsored by the kind folks at www.fright-rags.com! The BEST in original horror tee-shirts! They are offering Golden Briefcase listeners 10% off their orders using the promotional code: WAMG10. Check out the website for custom shirts featuring themes from new and old horror films alike!

If your company would like to sponsor The Golden Briefcase, please send us an email with something along those lines in the subject line!

Merry Christmas From Stuck Like Chuck!

The holiday season is upon us and that of course means time for Christmas movies and tv specials. We just posted a list of some of our favorites that you can check out here. To help promote Stuck Like Chuck, this month’s video is our very own Christmas special. It is made from a scene cut from the film, as well as some additional footage. In the video, Charlie and Juliet encounter a VERY jolly toy santa and discuss the existence of ghosts, God and the stupidity behind Christmas movies. Enjoy!

And as an extra special treat, I have another video for all of you. Recently, Moviefone, Youtube and Sundance held a contest where people had to make a short film about anything, as long as they incorporated a red telephone and 2 out of 25 indie movie related props. I obviously entered, and unfortunately did not get in the top 10, which will be announced on Saturday. If I had more time and a bigger budget (and some actors instead of some friends) I think the video would have been much better but I am still happy with it. The film is a dark comedy about a guy who decides to right the wrong when a psychic tells him he has less than 24 hours to live. Keep an eye out for a very special movie geeks reference in it. Enjoy!

  
Let me know what you think of the videos. Everyone have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Jerry Cavallaro – www.AreYouStuckLikeChuck.com