Capra's Its a Wonderful Life is without a doubt one of the all time feel-good movies. It's not feel good in the way that, say, a cheap Lifetime movie is feel good, it's not some phoney baloney optimism like Pay it Forward, it is real, true, and honest. It is also, without a doubt, the greatest Christmas film ever made.
Yes, your inner child says "Not it's not, that would be A Christmas Story, thank you very much!" and your inner cynic wants to laugh the whole thing off and say that Lethal Weapon is the greatest Christmas movie. Both wrong. This film is the best holiday film of all time for quite a number of reasons. Not How the Grinch Stole Christmas, not Die Hard, It's a Wonderful Life.
The film manages to succeed on so many level because it is fearless. From the first act, it deals with subject matter and themes that are much darker than you expect to see in a holiday film. It is because of this courage, the bravery to start at such a low point, that the movie is so triumphantly positive. Heck, the movie's second act starts with an attempted suicide!
Capra starts Stewart's George Bailey at such an incredibly low, sad, dark point that it is truly heroic and triumphant to watch him climb from there. Any director can keep it positive by just never facing the hero with any challenge, but Bailey is beset on all sides by the tyranny of evil men, he's put up against the world and told to make it alone. He starts low and ends on a high note.
The movie ranks alongside Rocky as one of the greatest "happy tears" films of all time. If you're not shedding them by the end of the film, then sorry, but... What the heck is wrong with you? Any real, live human being can't help but at least feel a little moisture in their eyes when the bell rings and the angel gets its wings. It is simply a matter of optimism triumphing over negativity.
Interestingly, the film was a flop on release. The director had always been a popular, money-making film maker, but for some reason, this one just didn't grab the movie-going audience. Of course, the movie has since become one of the most successful of all time on video, DVD, second runs and, of course, cable, but at the time, it almost sank Capra's career.
One more interesting point: They say that Stewart was Capra's only choice for the role of George Bailey, but that's not true! In fact, his "only choice" was Henry Fonda, but Stewart was a second choice, when push came to shove. We can say Fonda would have been great in the role, but it's hard to imagine anyone but Stewart playing the character to such perfection.
The movie had a number of alternative endings written, and one or two of them filmed. Interestingly, the "spoof" ending shown on Saturday Night Live, with Stewart leading the entire town to Potter's house for a good old fashioned whoopin', isn't far off from one of the alternative endings that was actually filmed by Capra's cast and crew!
Yes, your inner child says "Not it's not, that would be A Christmas Story, thank you very much!" and your inner cynic wants to laugh the whole thing off and say that Lethal Weapon is the greatest Christmas movie. Both wrong. This film is the best holiday film of all time for quite a number of reasons. Not How the Grinch Stole Christmas, not Die Hard, It's a Wonderful Life.
The film manages to succeed on so many level because it is fearless. From the first act, it deals with subject matter and themes that are much darker than you expect to see in a holiday film. It is because of this courage, the bravery to start at such a low point, that the movie is so triumphantly positive. Heck, the movie's second act starts with an attempted suicide!
Capra starts Stewart's George Bailey at such an incredibly low, sad, dark point that it is truly heroic and triumphant to watch him climb from there. Any director can keep it positive by just never facing the hero with any challenge, but Bailey is beset on all sides by the tyranny of evil men, he's put up against the world and told to make it alone. He starts low and ends on a high note.
The movie ranks alongside Rocky as one of the greatest "happy tears" films of all time. If you're not shedding them by the end of the film, then sorry, but... What the heck is wrong with you? Any real, live human being can't help but at least feel a little moisture in their eyes when the bell rings and the angel gets its wings. It is simply a matter of optimism triumphing over negativity.
Interestingly, the film was a flop on release. The director had always been a popular, money-making film maker, but for some reason, this one just didn't grab the movie-going audience. Of course, the movie has since become one of the most successful of all time on video, DVD, second runs and, of course, cable, but at the time, it almost sank Capra's career.
One more interesting point: They say that Stewart was Capra's only choice for the role of George Bailey, but that's not true! In fact, his "only choice" was Henry Fonda, but Stewart was a second choice, when push came to shove. We can say Fonda would have been great in the role, but it's hard to imagine anyone but Stewart playing the character to such perfection.
The movie had a number of alternative endings written, and one or two of them filmed. Interestingly, the "spoof" ending shown on Saturday Night Live, with Stewart leading the entire town to Potter's house for a good old fashioned whoopin', isn't far off from one of the alternative endings that was actually filmed by Capra's cast and crew!
About the Author:
The Pistols substituted anger for the Ramones' wit, but they still had the artistic 'edge' that all great rock acts possess. Movie Rental Website ModificationsNow you have an idea of how to download ringtones. Where else can a music lover catch so many top notch superstars performing under a single roof.
No comments:
Post a Comment