Christmas Classic: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

If by chance this modern classic isn’t a fixture of your Bluray collection then you can catch it on Netflix. It isn’t the best adaptation of Dr. Suess’ story but this update of the Grinch still holds up today. With great commentary on consumerism, fantastic set design, and two great lead performances from Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen.

Family: Paddington

Paddington is the perfect film to warm you up on these cold nights. Following the eponymous bear as he moves in with the Brown family and is hunted by Millicent (Nicole Kidman) this movie is some of the purest, good-natured fun to have been released in the last decade. There’s a lovable character at its centre (Ben Whishaw provides Paddington’s beautiful voice), pitch-perfect comedic timing, inventive set-pieces, and a heartwarming message about taking care of those in need no matter where they come from. Paddington is a good-natured pallet cleanser for all the cynicism of modern filmmaking. 

Drama: Boiling Point

No film captures the intensity of working in a restaurant during the Christmas run-up better than Boiling Point. Clashes with customers, interpersonal team drama, and personal issues intruding into work play out brilliantly and flowingly in this extraordinary drama shot entirely in one take. It will definitely give everyone a newfound appreciation for what hospitality workers have to put up with.

Animation: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

This hotly anticipated stop-motion reimagining of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale of a wooden puppet who wants to be a real boy from horror master Guillermo del Toro and stop-motion mainstay Mark Gustafson does not disappoint. The stop-motion is a marvel, the voice acting is outstanding and it takes the classic tale in interesting new directions. Plus its central exploration of family, faith, and how fascism perverts them makes for perfect viewing right now.

Romance: I Believe in Santa (14th December)

Sometimes we all want a bit of festive cheese. I Believe in Santa focuses on a woman (Christina Moore) who has to come to terms with the fact that her partner (John Ducey) is obsessed with her least favourite holiday, Christmas. And still believes in Santa. Undoubtedly the film will be sickeningly saccharin but hey, occasionally we all need a bit of Christmas schlock.

Mystery: Knives Out & Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (23rd December)

Finally, for those who love watching a mystery tale during the holidays, you’re in luck. Both Knives Out and its sequel Glass Onion will be arriving on Netflix just in time for Christmas. Both movies revolve around unconventional mysteries being investigated by Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. Rian Johnson’s series (Netflix has ordered another sequel) revels in the genre’s trappings and not only subverts what’s expected but updates the genre in very satisfying ways. And both films feature great performances from absurdly talented casts. Please give them a watch so we can encourage Johnson and Craig to make as many sequels as they want.

That does it for our seasonal Netflix recommendations. We hope our suggestions provide some enjoyment for you. Please feel free to recommend anything we should add to our watchlist. And from our family to yours we hope you all have a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Also Read: Best Christmas Movies of the Past Decade

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

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Today we will look at four movies that either actually shot all of their action in one take or edited the footage to make their film appear like one continuous shot. And we will look at how this presentation style enhances each film.

Russian Ark (The Surreality of History)

One of the few films to actually capture all of its action in one unbroken take. Russian Ark, filmed in the Hermitage Museum and featuring hundreds of extras, uses the oner to create a surreal atmosphere. Which helps to facilitate its free-flowing exploration of Russia’s past. As we cross through various rooms we see Tsars and Tsarinas, lavish balls, intimate meals, beautiful artworks from centuries ago and characters from different times discussing Russia’s place in the pantheon of global history. It’s a fascinating art piece whose camerawork evokes the beauty of dreams. And acts as a unique ode to the vastness of Russian history.

Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Theatrical Beauty)

This Best Picture winner concerns an ex-superhero actor (Michael Keaton) trying to reclaim the spotlight by starring in a play. Along the way, he encounters troubles with family, fellow actors as well as others behind the scenes, critics, audiences, and himself. The continuous-looking shot (achieved through great editing) fits thematically with the theatrical centre of Birdman’s plot. The brilliantly flowing camerawork, courtesy of Emmanuel Lubezki, adds a level of real grace to proceedings. Additionally, it encapsulates the frantic pace and energy of live productions. And when combined with brilliant performances from Keaton, Emma Stone and Edward Norton along with brilliant effects, Birdman becomes a compelling look into the mind of someone obsessed with film and plays.

Utøya – July 22 (Realistic Immersion)

Utøya follows Kaja (Andrea Berntzen) as she experiences the 2011 Utøya island terror attack. Aside from the opening, which shows the events leading up to the Utøya attack, the rest of the film is done in one take. Utøya uses its camera to place us firmly alongside the teenagers and their desperate position on the island. Putting the human face of that tragic day on full display. Persistent gunshots really foreground the danger the characters are in. And every moment without a cut is a constant panic as we watch everyone wrestle with what to do next. The oner is used effectively to allow us to feel the terror of the situation. An arresting film that everyone should see.

Boiling Point (Humanist Immersion)

Like Utøya Boiling Point uses its single take to immerse us within a particular setting. This time we follow restaurant staff during a busy pre-Christmas shift. But Boiling Point uses this technique to also allow us to get to know the characters. We spend time with everyone who is working. Including servers dealing with terrible customers, pot washers sneaking off for a cigarette, new employees adjusting to their stations, and the constantly stressed kitchen staff. By the end we have spent so much unbroken time in the restaurant with the team that we have an attachment to them. And while an edited film could achieve similar goals the one-shot approach helps us to experience the place and stress of the moment like the characters. It is the most accurate depiction of what working in the service industry is like.

Those are four films that have used the one-shot (both pseudo and actual) in ways that have made their narratives better. Make sure to add these films to your watchlist if you haven’t already. And please tell us about any oner films we may have missed.

Also Read: The Perfect Batman: A Look At The Actor & Director Duos Behind The Films

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

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