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TOP THREE NON-TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MOVIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS


#3: LESS THAN ZERO
A true '80s film that gives us a taste of what growing up white, over privileged and under supervised does to a person. Clay (Andrew McCarthy) returns from school back East for Christmas break after leaving his two best friends behind. Most of the movie is spent with him running after his ex/not ex girlfriend Blair (Jami Gertz) and his ex/not ex best friend Julian (Robert Downey Jr.) trying to help him out of a mighty mess with drug dealer Rip (James Spader). Stellar performances from all involved, especially (two of) my true loves, McCarthy and Downey. One of the few anti-drug movies that shows the ugly side of the pretty people's world.

Anecdotal note: On vacation in Vegas, my best friend and I are walking through a casino when a short man passes by me looking just like Andrew McCarthy. I tell her and she begins the chase, I follow at a much slower pace. She gets close enough to yell his name and he turns, which eggs her on more and sets him on a moderate jog back to hotel. She, not to be beaten easily, has the nerve to use the hotel lobby phone and asks the operator for his room and then thrusts the phone at me. Not knowing what to say, I ask if it's him, which of course it is, and I tell him we were the crazy girls running after him and beg for him to come to the lobby for a photo. Ever so kindly, he does not accept my offer as he has an "early call" on the set for whatever he was filming, but thanked me for calling. I was on cloud 9 for days. (sigh!) Good times.

#2: DIE HARD
New York cop, John McClain ( Bruce Willis) as he recalls the invitation "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs...” has come to Los Angeles to visit/reconcile with his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and children. Unfortunately there are several determined German terrorists led by a cultured bad guy Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman is brilliant) who try to get in his way. Being the tough as nails cop that he is (aren't all of NY finest like that?) he fights back and practically saves the day single-handedly. With one liners that were repeated far too many times for years after, this action packed, thrilling film has earned many kudos for being one of the best action flicks ever AND it just so happens during... Christmas! Bruce Willis owned this movie and the air around it. Yipee Ki Yay!

However, the #1 non-traditional Christmas movie will always be...

#1-THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT
Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) is a typical almost boring woman except for the fact that she lost her memory. However, that does not stop her from being a mother to her 8 year old daughter and having some sort of a relationship with some guy. One day, out of the blue, a stranger appears at her door seeking revenge and somehow, out of instinct, she manages to save her family and kick his ass before passing out from a blow to the head. It is after that trauma that she and the last private detective she can afford, Mitch Henessey, Skillfully played by Samuel Jackson, ("...everyone knows, when you make an assumption, you make an ass out of "u" and "umption") head out to find some answers; and answers she does find. It turns out that Samantha is really Charly Baltimore, mysterious and lethal government agent who was thought dead; and that's where the fun begins. This is a great action film, but it is also a very funny, very clever film. The humor is dry and sometimes bawdy, but plain old fun. This time, however, the hero is a woman who can and will kick your ass. Geena does a great job of "switching" personalities without it being overly dramatic as Mitch notes, "What I'm saying is, back when we first met, you were all like "Oh phooey, I burned the darn muffins." Now, you go into a bar, ten minutes later, sailors come runnin' out. What up with that?" Samuel's one liners and earnest and funny; well... "in New York (he's) Frank, and in Chicago he's Earnest." The banter between them is as odd of a coupling as it is fun. Charly asks, "Were you always this stupid, or did you take lessons? To which Mitch retorts, "I took lessons". Timothy (Craig Bierko) is a very, very bad man as is my usually beloved David Morse as Luke. Yes, it is filled with language, violence and more violence, but those words and actions are chosen wisely and have purpose. Does this story have a happy Christmas ending??? Show times at my house through Christmas will be: 10:45 am, 12:40 pm, 3:20 pm (matinee prices) 7:05 pm, 9:33 pm and 11:12 pm.Watch the trailer at: http://imdb.com/title/tt0116908/trailers-screenplay-E11906-310

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE: A FINE BROMANCE PACKING HEAT

Richard Stevens: I'm not your driver. I'm your partner.

FBI agent Charlie Wax: Yeah, you're the chess player. I read your file.

Richard Stevens: You play?
FBI agent Charlie Wax: Do I look like I play board games?

From director Luc Besson, we are presented with a sassy, bang bang,  testosterone filled romp through Paris; a love story of a different sort. Meet Richard Stevens (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who lives and works in Paris as an aid to the US Ambassador. But when he grows up, he wants to be a special agent; a secret special black-ops agent. He has been given mysterious assignments little by little and he follows orders like a good soldier without asking too many questions. Them like Sidney Poitier at a dinner party, agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta) drops by. Wax is everything that Stevens is not and then some.  Right off the bat he is one tough motherfucker. I use that term because that is his favorite word and comes out of his mouth at a high rate of speed. He, in his bald glory, is about as bad ass as they come.

HITMAN

HITMAN WELL EXECUTED HIT
"Agent 47: Nika... Nika Boronina: Yes? Agent 47: Stop talking or I'll put you back in the trunk." Agent 47 (Timothy Oliphant) has literally been born and bred to be a top-notch assassin for the government (hense the bar code on the back of his head). One of his most risky assignments goes awry and suddenly he is the #1 target of choice for Interpol, the Russian Mob and other hitmen. So of course he must track down the people who set him up and make everything right in the world. He runs into Nika Boroina (Olga Kurylenko) when she is used as bait for a trap. They make a cute couple. What sets this story apart from the others, aside from it's tight choreography, is the banter of these two back and forth. He is on a fast track to accomplish his work and is surprisingly not the least bit interested in her romantically, although he does have a fondness for her. He doesn't have super-human powers, but he is so well prepared he should get a Scout patch for his efforts. This movie is slick and loud and stylish. There is something just a little off about Oliphant, but I liked him. I think Billy Zane would have been an interesting cast, but perhaps his show of emotion would have been too much for the character. It isn't the most original movie I've seen, however, it is still a good film and the characters and plot are interesting to watch. The way that he understands the reaction to something then he plans for that and uses it for his own actions. It's like he never reacts, he acts. Yes, it's a subtle note, but the one that kept this film above average.
PICK: Loved the characters, loved the action pace and scenes, nicely done.

SHOOT 'EM UP

SHOOT 'EM UP DOESN'T BLOW BLANKS

Toss out everything you know about action movies and hang on tight... SHOOT 'EM UP is an original, high octane, fast paced shoot out that will excite, delight and have you on the edge of your seat through the entire movie. Our hero Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) is one of the most clever, smart and sexy reluctant heroes out there. He likes carrots and dislikes if not hates, everything else, especially bad manners. He is literally minding his own business when he witnesses an injustice and can't sit back and let it happen. By doing so, he inadvertently finds himself on the wrong side of just about everybody with the exception of his on and off again paramour, who plays the Madonna/whore part, Donna Quintano (smokin' Monica Bellucci) and the baby he helped deliver and escape from the bad guys. Who doesn't like a man who saves babies?! Well, a lot of them and we don't know who or what they want, but there is a lot of chasing, fighting and running before we get any answers and LOTS of gunfire (hence the name). There is undeniable chemistry between DQ and Smith. Who knew strained peas could act as an aphrodisiac? The unassuming leader of the bad guys is played so well, by Paul Giamatti, Mr. Hertz. He is the most vile, sick, perverted, nasty creep that has been portrayed so well by a seemingly dorky guy. "Guns don't kill people! But they sure help." His "bad man" work is constantly interrupted by cell phone calls from his wife and he plays the "yes, dear" guy as well. All the characters are multidimensional; the movie ends with no character left changed or newly discovered in some way... or dead. The action is a mix of many different styles that I can not put a word on it except for thrilling. This was a fun movie, albeit graphic and bloody; but it was also sexy, bold, smart and funny. It could have gone overboard, but instead pulled back just a hair and the finished product is fantastic.

BIG Pick: Most unusual action movie, with multidimensional characters. Must see!