Six To See Christmas special

Happy holidays everyone!! If you don’t know what to watch this Christmas weekend, here are six Christmas films to see.

• The Holdovers: a comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson. The film stars Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. Set in the early 1970s and filmed in that style, the film follows Paul Hunham, a disliked teacher at Barton Academy, who’s responsible for supervising students who are unable to return home for the Christmas holidays. During this process, Paul is forced to deal with one particularly rebellious but troubled student, Angus, who is grieving the loss of his father. The Holdovers premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival where it was runner-up for the People’s Choice Award. It was released in limited theatres on October 27, followed by a wide release on November 10. I saw the film during Film Fest Ghent and it was a beautiful story that is perfect for the holidays. You can still watch the film in several theatres or if you want to watch it at home you can rent it.

• Silent Night: if you like more action, this is the film for you. This action thriller film, directed by John Woo and written by Robert Archer Lynn, stars Joel Kinnaman, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres and Catalina Sandino Moreno. It is John Woo’s first American feature film since Paycheck (2003) and features no dialogue. In the film, we follow a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son’s death. The film was released in theatres on December 1 and is still being shown in several theatres or you can buy it if you want to see it at home.

• Dashing Through the Snow: we also have some fun Christmas films that were released this year like this one directed by Tim Story, written by Scott Rosenberg, and starring Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Teyonah Parris and Lil Rel Howery. It follows a separated social worker for the Atlanta police department who despises Christmas due to a painful childhood memory. When sent on a call while spending Christmas Eve with his daughter, he inadvertently evokes the wrath of a local politician but meets a man who helps him understand the joy and magic of Christmas. The film was released on Disney+ on November 17 where you can still watch it.

• Candy Cane Lane: another fun Christmas comedy film, directed by Reginald Hudlin and written by Kelly Younger. The film stars Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Robin Thede, Nick Offerman, Chris Redd, and Jillian Bell. It follows Chris Carver and his family whose local neighborhood hosts an annual contest over who has the best decorated home for Christmas. Desperate to win, Chris makes a deal with a charismatic stranger, Pepper, for the use of magic to make his home the most festive. He soon learns that Pepper is an evil elf who has made similar deals in the past, with her victims being transformed into plastic dolls. Chris must rally his family to stop Pepper from unleashing misery upon his friends and neighbors and break the deal before he loses everything. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on December 1 where you can watch it.

• Best. Christmas. Ever!: another fun romantic comedy film directed by Mary Lambert and written by Todd Gallicano and Charles Shyer. The film stars Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Matt Cedeño, and Jason Biggs. It follows Jackie who every Christmas, without fail, sends a boastful holiday newsletter that makes her old college friend Charlotte feel like a lump of coal. When a twist of fate lands Charlotte, her husband Rob, and their family on Jackie and her husband Valentino’s snowy doorstep just days before Christmas, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to prove that her old friend’s “perfect” life can’t possibly be that perfect. But in her overzealous attempt to expose Jackie, Charlotte nearly ruins Christmas for both families and must team up with her old friend to reassemble the pieces. The film was released on Netflix on November 16 where you can still watch it.

• Exmas: I’m ending with another fun Christmas film directed by Jonah Feingold and written by Dan Steele. It stars Leighton Meester and Robbie Amell in the lead roles as Ali and Graham. We follow Graham who surprises his family at Christmas by being there to celebrate only to discover his ex-fiancee is already celebrating the holiday with his family when he arrives. The film was released on Prime Video and Freevee on November 17 where you can still watch it.