A True Christmas Classic

As a child George Bailey (James Stewart) dreamt of becoming an explorer, travelling the world in search of excitement and adventure. But having grown up he is forced to abandon his plans when his father, Peter Bailey (Samuel S. Hinds), suddenly passes away and he is forced into taking over the running of the family business, the Bailey Building and Loan Society, or else selfish and miserly tycoon Henry F. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) will close it down. Stuck in the seemingly dull town of Bedford Falls, in a job he resents, George marries his childhood sweetheart, Mary (Donna Reed), and becomes a pillar of the community as his selfless attitude and compassion for the poor and the penniless win him many friends, especially as all the other financial institutions are owned by Potter who would rather see people starve than for his businesses to lose any money.

But when George's business partner, Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell), accidentally misplaces a large amount of money belonging to the business, financial ruin looks set to befall George. Depressed and distraught, George contemplates taking his own life until prayers from his friends and family results in his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), being sent down to Bedford Falls to give him a glimpse of what life would have been like for his friends and family if he had never existed.

Out of the hundreds of Christmas movies I have had the pleasure, and occasional displeasure, of watching, "It's a Wonderful Life" has to be my all time favourite, an opinion which is shared by millions of people around the globe, both young and old. But why would a black & white film which is now 60 years old and to be honest, extremely sentimental, appeal to so many people. The answer for me is quite simple, it has that feel good factor which leaves you feeling happy and positive about life, no matter what time of the year you watch it.

"It's a Wonderful Life" is based upon the novel "The Greatest Gift", written by Philip Van Doren Stern and basically follows the life of selfless George Bailey as his life fails to turn out how he wants and eventually faces ruin through no fault of his own. With elements of humour, romance as well as dark drama, the story masterfully carries you on a journey as you become involved in the life of George Bailey, ultimately being able to relate to the emotions that he feels through out the movie.

The story itself is cleverly constructed as the film actually starts with the angels above being alerted to George's state of despair from the numerous prayers coming up from his friends and family, where upon the decide to send angel Clarence to show him what life would have been like with out him. But before they do so, we get the first major section of the film, which takes us through George's life from childhood right up until the point where he is contemplating taking his own life. To be honest this, section takes up the majority of the film, probably at least two thirds and really takes us on a journey where we watch George slowly change from being full of life and dreams to a man bogged down with the burdens of responsibility and work. Personally I am able to relate to the emotions which George displays as he sees his dreams disappear, as I am sure many people can and this is one of the many reasons why this film is so popular.

The second major part of the story is where George gets to see what life would be like for his friends and family if he had never existed and this is the point where his guardian angel, Clarence appears. Again this whole element ties in to the thoughts and feelings of many people, including myself, who at times have wondered if friends and family would have been better off if they had never existed. Of course, this is where the film is most powerful as it goes on to demonstrate the important contributions which George has made in the lives of all his friends and family, providing a truly uplifting, feel good element to the film.

What is quite surprising is that for a film which is mainly classed as being a Christmas film, there is very little mention of the festive season in the film. With the majority of the film covering the life of George Bailey, the only mention of Christmas comes from the fact that George reaches the height of his despair just around the Christmas period. Another quite surprising fact, is that most people think of "It's a Wonderful Life" as being a light hearted feel good movie, but in fact it has quite a lost of dark undertones to it. The most notable darkness comes from the fact that the lead character is contemplating suicide, but also the film shows us how the burden of his life was slowly breaking him down.

Now although "It's a Wonderful Life" features the impeccable talents of such stars as Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed, it is without doubt the casting of James Stewart in the lead role of George Bailey that has helped to make it such a popular film. Not only is Stewart absolutely brilliant at providing the light hearted fun side of his character, but his ability to demonstrate the emotions of a man as he becomes depressed and desperate is truly exceptional. One of the most powerful scenes comes when George returns home after finding out about the loss of the funds and you watch him sit there holding one of his children as you can see the despair through his eyes as he tries to figure out a solution, truly magnificent acting.

Of course one actor can not make a film, and the aforementioned Lionel Barrymore puts in a great performance as the miserly old business man Henry F. Potter. You can really feel that his motivation in his life is the love of money and his apparent willingness to manipulate the system whether legally or illegally to get what he wants. Some people would call the character a real Scrooge, which would be quite appropriate as Lionel Barrymore regularly played the character of Scrooge in radio broadcast of the classic "A Christmas Carol", for once a very good piece of type casting. Also making the film so enjoyable is the lovely Donna Reed as George's wife Mary. Again, I can not fault Reed's performance or characterization of Mary as you really get the feeling that all she wants is to have the perfect family and that she truly does love and care for her husband.

It is testament to how popular "It's a Wonderful Life" is that the characters Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street were actually named after the characters Police officer Bert and taxi driver Ernie who are both minor but very enjoyable characters in the film.

"It's a Wonderful Life" is directed by one of the most popular directors of the golden era, Frank Capra and some would say it was his finest film, even though it was a complete box office failure when it was first released. What is quite amazing is that for a film which was made over 60 years ago it does not feel technically inferior to today's mega dollar movies, which can be solely put down to Capra's masterful direction. Not only that, Capra brilliantly holds your attention through out the movie and his ability to build atmosphere through direction really helps to convey the story.


What can I say, I absolutely adore this classic movie, no matter what time of the year I watch it, although it does give you that extra special tingly feeling when you watch it over the festive season. Although the film is heavily over sentimental and paints a rather fake picture of the perfect American way of life, it does so to achieve the desired effect of delivering what is truly an exceptional feel good movie. Also making this so special is the brilliant acting from James Stewart, as well as Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed who really bring all their characters to life. Out of all the Christmas films you can watch and own, "It's a Wonderful Life" is the one which I would truly recommend that you at least watch if not buy this festive season.


Certificate: U
Duration: 130 mins
Year of Release: 1946
Genre: Drama, Family, Romance, Fantasy
Director(s): Frank Capra
Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Frank Albertson, Todd Karns, Samuel S. Hinds, Virginia Patton

Rating: 9/10

Read More......

Patch Adams

Having institutionalised himself with suicidal depression, Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams (Robin Williams) discover his real calling in life when his ability to make the other patients laugh helps lift them from their depressed state. Having left the institution and enrolled at a medical institution in the hope of becoming a doctor, he soon realises that the staid, impersonal approach of his tutors is not what he wants. Trying the patience of his superiors as he brings his own brand of anarchic humour to the hospital wards, it looks likely that he will never be allowed to qualify as a doctor and fulfil his dream.

Whilst “Patch Adams” may be based on a true story, I have no doubt in my mind that having gone though the Hollywood film machine it is one which has been dramatized using a huge amount of poetic licence in an attempt to make what is in essence an appealing drama which suffers slightly from being a little too sweet. Not that this sweetness really spoils the over all appeal of the film, as it still has enough drama about it to keep you watching whilst the visual comedy of Robin Williams will bring a smile to even the hardest of hearts.

The premise of the film as I previously said is based upon the true story of Hunter Adams who discovered that by making people laugh he could aid their recovery from illness. Tie this into the story of his struggle to not only be accepted as a recognized doctor but also his rather different form of treatment and you have an enjoyable and engaging drama which whilst not overly complex has enough about it to keep a viewer engaged in what is going on. In some ways it has a strong resemblance to the formulaic under dog story which Hollywood seem to favour, but never tries to push your buttons like many of these films do. It just seems to coast along at an enjoyable pace allowing you to become involved in what is going on and more importantly allows you to become attached to the characters. What is also good is that for a film which revolves around the world of the medical profession it never bogs you down with the complexities of the medical language leaving you to enjoy the often humorous and touching dialogue. Unsurprisingly there is a small romantic plotline to the film, which although the premise of it is by no means contrived some of the scenes do feel like the writers have pushed the boundaries of believability a little too far.

What is very apparent about the film is that it is full of humour, some from the often humorous dialogue but mostly from some wonderful visual gags. Unlike many films which rely solely on the humour “Patch Adams” manages to incorporate it without it detracting from the enjoyable story. Right from the opening section where we see Patch enter the mental institution it manages to provide some brilliant jokes, such as when Patch is being interviewed by a psychiatrist and realising that he is not being listened to just starts taking the mickey out of the nonsense questions. It is also brilliant to watch the writers use one of the patient’s illnesses as a joke without feeling like they were being derogatory to the person; in fact they turn the situation round to humiliate the medical profession. This combination of effective plot and humour really does work well and whilst at times it does feel a little sickly sweet it manages to be engaging on both fronts to keep the audience happy. It is also very apparent that the film shifts focus about halfway though with the first half focussing heavily on the comedy aspect of the film and the second dramatic. This change of focus is an effective transition which goes unnoticeable until you start looking at the film from a technical aspect.

If ever an actor was destined to play a part it is Robin Williams taking on the medical coat of Hunter Adams. In a return to his anti-establishment type of humour which he demonstrated so well in “Good Morning Vietnam”, Williams puts in one of his most enjoyable performances in years. Whilst he seems to have been give permission to ad-lib and generally go to town with the jokes, you can certainly feel that he manages to restrain himself where necessary so not to spoil the emotional feel of the film. Although at times it was hard to disassociate the actor from the character, his ability to combine humour with a thoroughly engaging dramatic performance is worth watching on its own. To be honest the film is all about Patch and so mainly focuses on his character, but supporting Williams are some brilliant performances from the likes of Daniel London as his best friend Truman Schiff and Philip Seymour Hoffman as a fellow medical student who pours scorn on Patch’s wild antics. There is also a thoroughly enjoyable but small performance from Michael Jeter as a mental patient who Patch helps conquers his fear of invisible squirrels.

When I realised the Tom Shadyac was the director on “Patch Adams” I was quite surprised as prior to this he was better known for more over the top comedies such as “Ace Ventura” and the “Nutty Professor”. It is testament to his ability as a director that he has made a film which whilst is still hugely funny manages to stay focussed on telling what is quite an emotional story. You get a real sense that both Shadyac and Williams felt very attached to the story of Hunter Adams and went that extra mile to not spoil the essence of it.

Although this is based on a true story, “Patch Adams” lacks the grit and realism of other films such as “The Pursuit of Happyness” but this is in fact not a criticism but praise as it makes for a very enjoyable film which still manages to tug at your heart strings. With a good mix of humour and plot, this film manages to captivate the audience as it involves them in the plight of Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams as he tries to achieve his dream despite personal heart ache. Praise definitely goes to Robin Williams who is at his best with the anarchic comedy but also in providing real emotion in the more serious scenes. Whilst some people may be disappointed that this is not a gritty interpretation of the story, I personally find it an enjoyable change from sometimes overly realistic dramas, one which I would completely recommend.


Certificate: 15
Duration: 111 mins
Year of Release: 1998
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Director(s): Tom Shadyac
Cast: Robin Williams, Daniel London, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Monica Potter, Bob Gunton, Josef Sommer, Harve Presnell, Michael Jeter, Harold Gould

Rating: 6/10

Read More......

The Untouchables

With corruption and greed sweeping across Chicago, as they are stuck in the midst of the prohibition gloom, not even the police seem adverse to a bribe at all, especially when the man pulling most of the strings is the ruthless gangster Al Capone (Robert de Niro). Desperate to bring law and order back to the streets of the city, a crack force of agents above corruption, labelled "The Untouchables", is banded together under the guidance of federal agent Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner). Along with old time cop Jim Malone (Sean Connery), new recruit George Stone (Andy Garcia) and nerdy accountant Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith) they set about cleaning up the streets and in particular the underground dealings of Al Capone. Despite their best attempts, Capone always seems to be one step ahead of them as Ness's straight laced tactics fail to make any impact. Forced to play Capone at his own Ruthless games, Ness and his men take the battle to him using his own ruthless tactics to try and capture him.

I have always had a penchant for gangster movies, especially those that are based in era's past rather than in a modern setting, so it is no surprise that I am particularly fond of Brian De Palma's exceptional masterpiece "The Untouchables". With the story based on the attempt to bring one of America's most notorious gangsters to rights, the film is a mixture of truth and fiction which blends together to create one of the most engrossing films to have been made in the last century, yes "The Untouchables" first hit our big screens way back in 1987. That is not to say that this masterpiece has its problems, most notably a couple of unimaginative performances, but as a whole the film rises above these and delivers on nearly every level. This makes it all the more surprising that the only Oscar it won was for Sean Connery's performance as best supporting actor.

As already mentioned, the story is based on a mixture of fact and fiction, set in the prohibition era when the notorious gangster, Al Capone was at his deadliest controlling not only the criminal activities in Chicago but also numerous police men and political figures. The emphasis of the film is the battle between the newly formed "The Untouchables" and the notorious gangster as they attempt to bring him to justice by any means possible. All of this is fine and for the majority of the film the story does remain the focal point as we watch Ness learn that the only way he will capture his prize is to become as ruthless as the gangster himself. But at times the film does seem to stray from conveying the story and begins to dwell on the magnificent work which went into the set and costume design, which to be honest is a pleasure to watch and the realism of it all helps to make the film very engrossing, but it does spoil the film when for the nth time we are left to marvel at the scenery rather than keeping the story moving along.

With the film focussing firmly on the ruthless criminal activities of Al Capone it is no surprise that the film does not shy away from demonstrating this with a couple of major scenes featuring brutal violence. The first of these memorable scenes sees Capone taking out his anger on one of his henchmen during a board meeting where he goes to work on his head with a baseball bat. This is one of the earliest scenes in the movie and really sets up not only the character of Capone but also the way in which the film would progress. The second of the memorable scenes features Elliot Ness interrogating one of Capone's henchmen and in attempt to move matters along, George Malone blows the head off of another henchman who was already dead, but makes it look like he was alive. Although there is a strong emphasis on the violence, most of it is not shown in front of the camera with the results of it being displayed, which is one of the reasons why "The Untouchables" managed to be awarded a 15 certificate instead of an 18.

There are other elements to the story, including Ness's fear for his wife and child as he takes on the deadly gangster and the teacher pupil relationships between Malone and Ness as the grizzled old policeman teaches the federal agent how to beat Capone as well as his own morals on being an honest policeman. All of these add to make the film work really well on all levels.

For anyone who is not aware of the fate of Al Capone, the way in which the film comes to a climax has a nice twist but for those who are fully aware of Capone's outcome it plays out in quite a predictable but satisfactory manner.

To be honest this is where the film is let down and it is through some satisfactory but ultimately plain performances. In the lead you have Kevin Costner as the crime busting federal agent, and all round good guy, Elliot Ness. As is quite often the case, Costner puts in a very solid and reasonably convincing performance but doesn't quite manage to shine as the star of the film. His characterisation is very good and equally matches that of hiss fellow performers. Also making a less than starry performance but still an adequate one is Andy Garcia as George Stone, the young agent plucked from a list of new recruits. At times Garcia's performance looked more like a rabbit stuck in the middle of the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, but this may be due to this being one of his first major film roles and his inexperience does show.

Undoubtedly the star of the film is Sean Connery as the grizzled old beat cop, Jim Malone. Connery rightly won an Oscar for his performance and with out his performance this film would be left some what lack lustre. Not only is his portrayal of a grizzled old street cop convincing it is also enjoyable making it a pivotal reason why "The Untouchables" is one of the best gangster films out there. Also making a very good performance is Charles Martin Smith as the slightly timid and nerdy federal agent Oscar Wallace, whose main role is as an accountant. For those of you unaware of the Capone story you maybe wondering why an accountant is part of this elite crime force, but this character is very pivotal in the story.

Of course you cannot leave out the character of Al Capone who is magnificently played by Hollywood legend Robert de Niro. De Niro may not put in one of his finest performances as the ruthless crime boss, but it is still one which eclipses nearly all of the performances from the other actors in the movie, except for that of Connery. Not only is De Niro's characterisation absolutely brilliant but his presence fills the screen every time he appears.

Although the film does have a couple of minor weaknesses, it is very hard to find any real major fault with how Brian De Palma has directed "The Untouchables" and so it does deserve all the praise bestowed upon it by numerous film critics. As a rule, De Palma has kept the film moving along at a very good pace, apart from the few minor dalliances with the scenery and costumes, you find yourself being drawn into the film as although it is not overly quick it doesn't give you huge amounts of time to deal with what you have seen. One of his major triumphs is to make "The Untouchables" a gangster movie with a much wider appeal than those such as "Scarface" and "The Godfather". He has achieved this by making the film not just about the brutality of the violence but also by making it a very worthy period drama.

For a film which is now over 20 years old "The Untouchables" is still as enjoyable as the first time I watched it all those years ago. Yes it does have a few flaws and it is by no means as good as say "The Godfather" when you compare it against other gangster movies, but what it does do is to make the gangster genre more appealing to a wider audience with it's decent plot, some good performances and exceptional costume and set design. Whether or not this is Brian De Palma's best movie is debatable as his earlier outings with "Scarface" and "Carrie" are equally as good if not better. This is the sort of film which appeal to a wide range of viewers, you of course have the fans of gangster movies, but as a period drama it is excellent and as an interpretation of a true story it is very enjoyable.


Certificate: 15
Duration: 119 mins
Year of Release: 1987
Genre: Crime, Drama, Gangster
Director(s): Brian De Palma
Cast: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe, Brad Sullivan, Billy Drago, Patricia Clarkson, Vito D'Ambrosio, Peter Aylward, Don Harvey

Rating: 8/10

Read More......