Photo by Kleigh Balugo
Although winter is the coldest time of the year, I always found refuge in films that provided me warmth when my heater couldn’t. Classics like Home Alone and The Polar Express are definitely on that list but I found myself watching movies that strayed away from the Christmas subject itself. Regardless of genre, I held these films close to my heart being that they provided me with the holiday spirit when all else failed to do so. Life lessons and nostalgia are common things seen in holiday features so I guess you can say that tradition lays deep within my movie selections.
So, here are a few of my favorite films for the chilly season presented in a knockoff letterboxd review manner!
Running On Empty (1988) dir. Sidney Lumet
Rating: 10/10
I’ve been a fan of actor, River Phoenix, for awhile now and this movie definitely solidified the respect and love I have for him today! The story revolves around the Pope family on the run from the FBI. Phoenix, who plays the eldest son, Danny, is a comfort character to me because despite moving around and changing identities, he remains the same kind hearted boy who places his family’s well being before anything else. Danny’s love for playing the piano also serves as a constant in his hectic life and is explored more within the runtime. If you’re seeking an uplifting film you can shed tears to then this gem is for you.
Paterson (2016) dir. Jim Jarmusch
Rating: 8/10
If you’re ever having a hectic day or week, Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson is a film that can bring you back down to earth. It has such an authentic and soft portrayal of life we don’t often see in mainstream media. Adam Driver plays Paterson whose job consists of driving a transit bus in Paterson, New Jersey. Throughout the film, we watch his daily routine of going to work and going back home to his wife, Laura. It may seem mundane, I KNOW. Believe me that I didn’t expect myself to like this either but I just… did. I think it’s something we can all try to resonate with: finding beauty in the boring days and knowing there’s nothing wrong with living a “normal” life. You won’t always encounter excitement and embracing the dull days will make you appreciate the colorful days coming, a whole lot more.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) dir. David Slade
Rating: 8/10
Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia with a cult classic? Out of all the 5 Twilight films to ever exist, Eclipse just happens to be my favorite! We get to witness the alliance between the Cullens and the werewolf pack, which will be of good use in the future installments. We even get to observe the Team Edward vs Team Jacob debate at its peak, with Bella caught in the middle of it all. It’s always going to be Team Edward for me though…
Kindergarten 