December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas, all.

Je vous salue, Marie "Godard's controversial take on the gospel story of Mary ranks in my mind as his most sensual work, startlingly direct in its exploration of the aching rift between material and spiritual reality," writes Kevin Lee, introducing a collection of perspectives on Je vous salue, Marie (Hail Mary).

"One of the most unusual putatively-hoiday-themed pictures ever made, Robert Siodmak's 1944 Christmas Holiday features beloved child/teen songstress Deanna Durbin in pretty much her first real adult role, and a doozy it is, too." Glenn Kenny's "Very Special Monday Morning Foreign Region DVD Report."

"For many people the holidays wouldn't be complete without a viewing of It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street or some version of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol whether it features Reginald Owen, Alastair Sim or Mr Magoo. But there's no reason why Preston Sturges's Christmas in July shouldn't became a regular seasonal favorite as well," argues Jeff at Movie Morlocks. And Dave Kehr would probably agree.

"Santa Claus has assumed many guises in the cinema," writes Odienator at Edward Copeland on Film. "Last year, I wrote about some of his naughtier instances. This Christmas, in order to avoid another year of coal in my stocking, I thought I'd talk about one of his nicer incarnations." I'll bet you can guess which one.

Have you been keeping up with the "12 Days of Cinematicalmas"?

Facets Features has been celebrating all month.

Why Christmas, why now? A euro|topics roundup.

At Boing Boing, Jasmina Tešanović sends season's greetings from Serbia.

Kimberly Lindbergs has loads of online listening, browsing and a bit of viewing as well.

Online gazing tip. "'Xmas Tree, Madison Square' circa 1915," at Shorpy.

More online gazing from shahn.

And Jason Morehead has quite an online listening tip.

Online viewing tip #1. Sujewa Ekanayake's got some Tom Waits for you.

Online viewing tip #2. Raymond De Felitta offers "the complete Brats, Laurel and Hardy's brilliantly funny 1930 short comedy where, with the help of a couple of modest in-camera superimpositions and a lot of magnificent oversized sets, they play their own children. This has always been, along with The Music Box, my favorite L&H short and, to me, represents them at their zenith."

Online viewing tip #3. "Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander offers one of the great Christmas movie sequences ever," writes Variety's Anne Thompson.



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Posted by dwhudson at December 25, 2007 7:24 AM

Comments

Merry Christmas, David!

Posted by: Flickhead at December 25, 2007 8:23 AM

To you, too, Ray - and have a great 08!

Posted by: David Hudson at December 25, 2007 8:29 AM

Feliz Navidad, as we say down south!! Your site has been a gift all year long!

Posted by: Maya at December 25, 2007 9:25 AM

Hi Dave, Happy Holidays to you and yours, another great year at GreenCine Daily!

Speaking of which, it's the holiday season over at I Found it at the Movies as well. ;)

http://evandav.blogspot.com

Posted by: Evan at December 25, 2007 10:05 AM

And God (and/or Truffaut) bless us one and all!

Posted by: Joe Leydon at December 25, 2007 10:31 AM

Mele Kalikimaka!

Posted by: Arbogast at December 25, 2007 12:24 PM

Yes, I join the chorus... Merry Christmas, David! And I raise my glass to a happy new year for GC Daily and all cinephiles everywhere. I wish for an amazing 2008 - though 2007 will be tough to beat.

Posted by: Karsten at December 27, 2007 3:05 AM

godard's 80's films have become my favorite period of his films. just on the visual beauty alone, i'd recommend these films. critics and others tend to get over analytical and all tied up in knots with godard. for christs sake go with the flow of these films sometime.

Posted by: tim t. at December 28, 2007 2:06 PM