Christmas Movies we watch every Year

Christmas Movies we watch every Year

With Christmas fast approaching we are beginning to plan which Christmas movies we will be watching, not just at Christmas but during the pre-Christmas period. Like many others, our family has its favourites that come out every year. There are the obvious ones with a Christmas theme, the big blog busters and the ones you just wouldn’t want to be without as Christmas approaches.

So, here we are – our favourites, in no particular order:

Love Actually (2003)

This is an absolute ‘must’ in our house and we generally watch it the first weekend in December to get us in the mood. If there is still anyone out there who hasn’t seen it you are in for a treat. It is written and directed by Richard Curtis, who also did Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill. The action revolves around the run-up to Christmas and is set mostly in London and while it is mainly a comedy there are bitter sweet moments. Who can forget the Laura Linney character as she realises that she must put her brother’s needs before her own while everyone viewing is rooting for her to finally get together with Karl, the fabulous Rodrigo Santoro.

There are wonderful performances from Hugh Grant playing the British Prime Minister (if only!) who is entertaining the American President who is more interested in the female staff at No 10 than in the serious business of politics, brilliantly played by Billy Bob Thornton. Emma Thompson is the Prime Minister’s sister and is married to Alan Rickman, a man who has his eye on his office receptionist. There is more than one love triangle and the likes of Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, Liam Neeson, Andrew Lincoln and Martin Freeman, among many others are a delight. A very special mention to Bill Nighy who is just fabulous as ageing rocker Billy Mack, wanting just one more No1.

In the Bleak Midwinter (1995)

This is a great film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, although he does not act in it. Another great British ensemble piece and it includes a lot of the actors who have worked with Branagh in his Shakespeare movies. I believe this film was called Midwinter's Tale in America.

Michael Maloney plays Joe, an out of work, depressed actor who decides to help his sister to save their community church by putting on a play to raise money – unfortunately, the play he chooses is Hamlet and his sister is not impressed. From the moment he starts auditioning actors you know that you are in for a comedy treat and the assemble cast is brilliant – look out for cameos from Joan Collins and Jennifer Saunders. The movie is shot in black and white which gives it an art house feel and it really works.

The Holiday (2006)

This is a real fun Christmas movie and I can’t believe it’s already five years old. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet play two characters who have been disappointed in love and decide that anything is better than spending Christmas at home. They meet up on a house swap website and decide to swap houses for Christmas, which transports Kate Winslett to a mansion in Beverly Hills and Cameron Diaz to a picture postcard cottage in Surrey, England.

This is a romantic comedy, so they soon meet a nice guy each, Jude Law in England and Jack Black in California. Any girl who has ever been deceived by a love rat will enjoy this movie. Cameron and Kate are fantastic and it is always great to see two really good actors side by side. The locations are lovely, there’s great acting from the four main characters and it’s perfect Christmas viewing.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

This is really essential Christmas viewing and I wouldn’t want to be without it. James Stewart plays George Bailey who has had dreams of travel and adventure all his life, but circumstances have kept him in the small town of Bedford Falls where he was born and grew up. Disappointed with his life and about to be engulfed in a scandal he decides to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. Fortunately heaven has seen his troubles and has sent help in the form of Clarence, an angel who has yet to earn his wings.

As George tries to explain that it would be better if he were dead, Clarence takes him all over town and shows him what life in Bedford Falls would be like if he had not been born. It’s a nightmare of a vision of the flipside of the American dream. Will George listen to Clarence? Will Clarence earn his wings? Directed by Frank Capra, this is an absolute gem and it is difficult to believe that it was not highly regarded when first released.

Scrooge (1951)

The fabulous Alistair Sim as Scrooge and a wonderful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Many movies have been made of this tale but this one remains my favourite. Alistair Sim's portrayal of the miserly, hard hearted Scrooge and his total transformation into a better man is an absolute joy and a fabulous performance by the actor. I think Charles Dickens would have been proud of this movie.