Mac's Movies

UK Release Date:  19 January 2024 Certification:  15 Director:  Alexander Payne Cast: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa Rating:   81% Review: Alexander Payne's, The Holdovers is a refreshing piece of cinema. The phrase 'they don't make films like this anymore' is often thrown around but it has never felt more warranted. A clear homage to film of the 70s whilst also tapping into John Hughes' filmography of teenage self-discovery that came merely a decade later.  The Holdovers is fairly grounded plot wise. A teacher at a New England boarding school is tasked with caring for the children who remain at the school over the holidays. Although, what the film lacks in sprawling storytelling it more than makes up for in rich thematic ideals. Presenting the audience with three characters dealing with grief in a variety of ways and exploring the detrimental impact that lingering feeling has on their personas and perspective of life. The anger, guilt...

UK Release Date: 6 April 1947 Certification: U Director: Frank Capra Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Donna Reed, James Stewart, Henry Travers Rating: 94% "Every time a bell rings an angel gets it's wings". Review: As you can see from the attached image It's a Wonderful Life is a Christmas tradition in my family. Each Christmas Eve we go to the Glasgow Film Theatre to watch a screening of It's a Wonderful Life , so although I will try to keep the review honest, I have to admit going to the cinema on Christmas Eve certainly does add to the experience.  Director Frank Capra made his name with a series of movies celebrating the common man and the triumph of the underdog - It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and You Can't Take It With You (1938). It's a Wonderful Life was the first movie Frank Capra released following the end of World War II. An archetypal Capra movie, It's a Wonderful Life tells the stor...

Amidst the multitude of gifts from family and friends, I was fortunate to receive a number of movie related books this year. These were: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die . Steven Jay Schneider. Published by White Lion Publishing (2019). ISBN 9781438050751. Movie Geek . Simon Brew. Published by Cassell (2017). ISBN 9781844039357. The Tao of Bill Murray . Gavin Edwards. Published by Century Books (2016). ISBN 9781780894362. The World According to Tom Hanks . Gavin Edwards. Published by Grand Central Publishing (2018). ISBN 9781538712207. I can't wait to read these books and perhaps share my thoughts on them. 

For the past wee while, I haven't been as active on my blog as I would like, due to the pressure of school work. However I will get back into my blog over the festive season. I will be able to binge watch movies on a daily basis over the holiday period. Needless to say some of these movies will be Christmas movies. I absolutely love Christmas movies. Here are my 10 favourites to date: 10. Nativity 09. Dr Seuss' The Grinch 08. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 07. Daddy's Home 06. The Muppet Christmas Carol 05.   The Nightmare Before Christmas 04. It's a Wonderful Life 03. Elf 02 . How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) 01. Home Alone Home Alone , part of a family Christmas Eve tradition. Home Alone , directed by Christopher Columbus, is simply the greatest ever Christmas movie. With a breakout performance from Macaulay Culkin that is world class and two extremely comedic characters in the form of Harry and Marv (The Wet Bandits), brilliant...