Home Alone
Directed by Christopher Columbus
Written by John Hughes
1990/USA
Hughes Entertainment/20th Century Fox
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] Marley: You can be too old for a lot of things, but you’re never too old to be afraid.[/box]
This movie made me feel like an old, grumpy, prude in between some of the good sight gags. And I don’t like that feeling at all. When did a child cursing, striking, and smart-mouthing their family members become humorous? This is part of why modern comedies have kept me out of the theaters for years. My husband laughed more than I did and I get why it made money. Don’t care to see it again.
The Shop Around the Corner
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Written by Samson Raphaelson from a play by Miklos Lazlo
1940/USA
Repeat viewing/Amazon Instant
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
[box] Klara Novak (Miss Novak): Well I really wouldn’t care to scratch your surface, Mr. Kralik, because I know exactly what I’d find. Instead of a heart, a hand-bag. Instead of a soul, a suitcase. And instead of an intellect, a cigarette lighter… which doesn’t work.[/box]
I try to watch this every Christmas. Every music cue, every line of dialogue, the arch of every eyebrow — all of it is part of me. I unreservedly love this movie. Find more gushing here.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Directed by Henry Selick
Written by Caroline Thompson, Michael McDowell, and Tim Burton
1993/USA
Touchstone Pictures/Skellington Productions Inc./Tim Burton Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] Jack Skellington: [singing] There’s children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they’re busy building toys / and absolutely no one’s dead![/box]
Cute and funny animated musical that I somehow missed over the years. Not going on my annual list.
