Holiday Film News from 6 Degrees
This month; Holiday Film News features some of the upcoming holiday releases, as well as the films that are featured on TCM through November and our recommended viewing list of films for the holidays.
Favorite Film Fests on TCM this November!
In November, Turner Classic is featuring the films of Cary Grant. Some of these films have not been shown in a while and remain ‘must-see’ viewing for those who love movies. Since Cary Grant was one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the Golden Age of Film, he was often cast in roles that required him to be an urbane, suave, sophisticated man of the world.
That is why one of his later films, “Father Goose” must have been a release for him as he is allowed to be shown as someone who is a bit of a misfit and doesn’t heed the rules of society. He certainly doesn’t have to wear the black tie and tux that we so often associate with the image of Cary Grant!
“Father Goose” is shown in a Film Fest night along with another of his classic comedies, “Houseboat.” The Armchair Film Fest viewer will be able to binge watch Cary Grant classics throughout the holidays!
Comedy Rules in November
Comedy rules at Turner Classic in November with not only the classic Cary Grant comedies, but also a treat for the Mel Brooks fans. A night of his biggest comedy hits are shown back-to-back: Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety & Blazing Saddles are his funniest films by far.
The other comedy classics are all about life in the suburbs. Grant stars in “Mr Blandings builds his Dream House, …and Lucille Ball is in Yours Mine & Ours. Doris Day also has a very good comedy with David Niven based on Jean Kerr’s hit book, “Please don’t eat the Daisies’
At the Movies for the Holiday Season 2021
Films to see at the movies or to see on the small screen include the new Spielberg production of “West Side Story.’
November Releases
· Belfast from director Kenneth Branagh is getting a lot of good reviews. This is a coming of age drama set in Northern Ireland during the turbulent period of unrest in the 1960’s. Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds are among the stars.
· Julia Child is profiled in a documentary entitled…Julia
· Tick, Tick …Boom! is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial screen debut. It’s a musical comedy about an aspiring Broadway composer and stars Andrew Garfield
· The Power of the Dog stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a repressed 1920’s rancher who is living with his brother and his brother’s new wife. Jane Campion directs, and Cumberbatch has been getting great reviews for his acting.
· Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road is a documentary profiling the legendary singer who co-founded THe Beach Boys.
· Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time is a documentary about the life of the late Kurt Vonnegut.
· House of Gucci stars Lady Gaga & Adam Driver in Ridley Scott’s bio drama about the life of the famous family members of the House of Gucci. Lady Gaga is also getting rave reviews for her role in this one.
Also in November, King Richard starring Will Smith opens. It chronicles the life of Venus & Serena Williams dynamic and driven father who inspired and coached his daughters. Ghostbusters: Afterlife does not star any of the original cast save for Annie Potts & Ernie Hudson. The reviews and trailer on this one don’t look promising.
December
· Benedetta is a controversial film from director Paul Verhoeven about a 17th century nun who embarks on an affair with another woman.
· Being the Ricardos has drawn some criticism in director Aaron Sorkin’s choice of casting Lucille Ball. Nicole Kidman & Javier Bardem portray the famous TV couple-Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz.
· Citizen Ashe is a documentary about the tennis legend Arthur Ashe.
· Don’t Look Up stars Jennifer Lawrence & Leonardo DiCaprio in what is billed as a ‘disaster-flick satire’ about a comet threatening to destroy the Earth. The star-studded cast includes Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet & Ariana Grande among others. Opening Christmas Eve.
· Mosley is an animated fantasy about a beast and his young son on a quest to find a legendary city.
· West Side Story is Steven Spielberg’s re-imagining of the classic Leonard Bernstein musical.
· Spider-Man: No Way Home opens with Tom Holland returning in the title role.
· Sing 2 is the sequel following up on the 2016 hit musical comedy and the animated cast of animals vying to win a singing competition.
· American Underdog is billed as an inspirational drama about the life of NFL quarterback Kurt Warner starring Zachary Levi & Dennis Quaid
· The Tragedy of Macbeth is directed by Joel Coen of Coen Brothers fame and stars Denzel Washington & Frances McDormand in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous play.
Featured: 6 Degrees presents Friday Flix Required Reading
In our Friday Flix magazine, 6 Degrees highlights a rare interview with Howard Kazanjian, who was the producer of Star Wars & Indiana Jones. Nofilmschool.com caught up with the man whose career spanned 50 years in Hollywood.
6 Degrees of Film has an article on the history and origins of the James Bond character in Medium.com. And RogerEbert.com has a section on the History of James Bond as we begin the countdown to discover who will play the coveted role next. Film Comment also has an article on the one actor who defined the Bond role: Sean Connery.
There is a new book out about how the head of 20th Century Fox helped to create the modern film Studio. 6 Degrees of Film: The future of film in the Global Village, also talks about the various studio bosses who helped to shape the direction that film would take for decades to come.
What to watch/ Stream/ Record this Holiday Season…
There are so many long lists of 50 or 100 films to watch or record for the Holiday Season. It’s hard to believe most people really want to sift through a list that long! The Hallmark Holiday films are often quite formulaic. That means you can pretty much pick and choose your favorites in one afternoon and decide what is worth keeping!
But the classics are a much shorter list. The original It’s a Wonderful Life as well as Miracle on 34th Street are still some of the best holiday films to watch. Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation has been added to most lists. And although it’s dated, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, in all its Technicolor glory is worth watching.
George C Scott’s version of Scrooge is one of the best portrayals. (If you are in a lighter mood, the Disney vault has Scrooge McDuck in the role) Jim Carrey does a creditable job as the Grinch. And if you have never seen a Nutcracker ballet, you can probably find a streaming version for free somewhere. Baryshnikov’s version is worth viewing!
And for those who are looking for ‘the reason for the season,’ the filmed version of “The Nativity Story” from….is one of the better tales to watch with the family.
6 Degrees of Film @ the Movies:
Finally, the weekly magazine 6 Degrees of Film at the movies this week offers some reviews and commentary on current films. Scott Mendelson of Forbes is looking at the long-term box office gross for the new “Eternals” film from Marvel, and telling the company not to worry-it could be worse!
Rolling Stone magazine discusses the new western “The Harder They Fall” and the backdrop of the real-life black cowboys who were the basis of this story. The LA Times has a short list of some of the upcoming Holiday film releases (6 Degrees “Holiday Film News” is out tomorrow with a run-down!)
There are reviews of the action comedy “Red Notice’ from Netflix, “Last Night in Soho” and the new Princess Diana biopic ‘Spencer’ with Kristen Stewart playing Lady Di. There’s a tribute to the late actor Dean Stockwell, who died this week. And Cinemablend.com has a piece looking on the difficulty of casting the right kid for the part of Harry Potter.
Kenneth Branagh’s latest film “Belfast” has been getting a lot of good reviews, and it’s featured in 6 Degrees. And for the kids, there’s “Clifford the Big Red Dog’ out this week. All this and more can be found in this week’s edition of 6 Degrees of Film @the Movies!
