Anna and the Apocalypse (dir. John McPhail, 2017) Something about musicals turns me into Royal Tenenbaum watching his eleven year old daughter Margot’s play. “It didn’t seem believable to me… What characters? It was just a bunch of little kids dressed up in animal costumes.” Maybe it’s because I cannot accept the reality breaking premise … Continue reading Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

My Night at Maud’s (dir. Eric Rohmer, 1969) “Idiot.” Maud (Francoise Fabian) says this to Jean-Louis (Jean-Louis Trintignant) when he decides to sleep in a chair, fully clothed, instead of just sharing a bed with her when she insists he stays there after a small Christmas celebration ends. He eventually does join her, but remains … Continue reading My Night at Maud’s (1969)

Holiday Affair (dir. Don Hartman, 1949) Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh) is a single mother to her son Timmy (Gordon Gebert). Her husband died in the war. She is in a relationship with a dependable, upstanding if somewhat boring lawyer named Carl (Wendell Corey). They are making tentative steps toward marriage which is upended by a … Continue reading Holiday Affair (1949)

William Burroughs: Thanksgiving Prayer (dir. Gus Van Sant, 1991) The Junky’s Christmas (dir. Nick Donkin and Melodie McDaniel, 1993) It is difficult to think of a person less likely to associate with the holiday season than William S. Burroughs, but he nonetheless produced two pieces of writing that I always associate with this time of … Continue reading A William Burroughs Holiday Extravaganza

Lady in the Lake (dir. Robert Montgomery, 1947) Philip Marlowe (Robert Montgomery) has decided he has had enough of being a private investigator. The day is terrible and the work is demeaning at best. He instead decides, much like Raymond Chandler himself, to turn to writing. After submitting a story to a pulp magazine put … Continue reading Lady in the Lake (1947)

Christmas Holiday (dir. Robert Siodmak, 1944) Charlie Mason (Dean Harens), recently inducted into the army in the midst of the war and even more recently dumped by his fiancee back home for another man, finds himself in New Orleans on Christmas Eve. He finds himself in a nightclub and meets the singer employed there, a … Continue reading Christmas Holiday (1944)

Blast of Silence (dir. Allen Baron, 1961) Remembering out of the black silence you were born in pain. Easy, easy does it, little mother. You’ve never lost a father. Your job is done, little mother. You were born with hate and anger built in. Took a slap on the backside to blast out the scream … Continue reading Blast of Silence (1961)

Lucky Stiff (dir. Anthony Perkins, 1988) Ron (Joe Alaskey) is a real schlemiel. His fiancee Frances (Barbara Howard) left him at the altar. Not having anything better to do, he attends his honeymoon anyway. At a Lake Tahoe resort, he finds what might be an unlikely rebound relationship in Cynthia Mitchell (Donna Dixon). She invites … Continue reading Lucky Stiff (1988)

3615 Code Pere Noel (dir. Rene Manzor, 1989) An entitled and insufferable child defends his family’s home from an intruder using makeshift traps. No, it’s not Home Alone. 3615 Code Pere Noel, also known variously as Dial Code Santa Claus, Hide and Freak, Deadly Games, and Game Over, predates that abomination by a year. This … Continue reading 3615 Code Pere Noel (1989)

Elves (dir. Jeffrey Mandel, 1989) Kirsten (Julie Austin) has a more difficult life than most teenagers. Her home life is frankly horrifying. Her mother (Deanna Lund) is emotionally abusive. Her German immigrant grandfather (Borah Silver) hits her. Her little brother has some boundary issues. Her only friend in the household, as she says, is her … Continue reading Elves (1989)