Top-ten lists of holiday films abound right about now, but what about picking the top three Christmas movies ever made? Lord knows there’s plenty to choose from. Christmas movies are a genre unto themselves: between live-action and animated features, there are literally hundreds of titles out there. Inevitably, some are pretty bad, others amusingly cheesy. Given all this choice and … More Details

First, let’s acknowledge that I laughed as hard at Bridesmaids as most anyone else. It was a consistently diverting, often very clever romp, and I thought Kristen Wiig and the rest of the cast were, on the whole, first-rate. That said, even with the extra smarts and wit that distinguished this movie from so many imbecilic contemporary comedies, Bridesmaids still … More Details

As we kick off Oscar month tomorrow, we also honor the birthday of Clark Gable, who picked up a statuette at the seventh Academy Awards ceremony in 1935. He got it for a movie he did not want to do — a comedy called It Happened One Night – and though he would be nominated twice more, he would not … More Details

I remember several years back hearing that Maxim Magazine had pronounced the ageless Frank Capra chestnut “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) one of the worst Christmas movies ever made. The statement sounded silly, then and now, as the film is still acknowledged to be one of our most touching, even profound Christmas films. Yet with glitzier fare squeezing out this … More Details

Below you’ll find the movies that to my mind, best capture the essence of the holidays, year in and year out. The values and emotions imparted in these timeless films are sure to stoke the spirit of “Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Men” (and women). This leads me to suggest that they belong in every home. Happy viewing! Holiday … More Details

As we head into the Independence Day weekend, I wanted to suggest some classic titles scattered over the decades that each in their way evoke our country’s unique character. Some of these movies are overtly patriotic, portraying seminal moments and figures in our colorful history, while others delve into more complex, troubling periods and events which have also helped shape … More Details

With the passing of British filmmaker Ronald Neame, I decided to revisit the classic Archers’ film “One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing” (1941). Here is an historic film, released when the Brits were at their lowest ebb in the war, and due to its public domain status, it is only available in a muddy print, with the sound so muffled … More Details