Friday, December 23, 2011

The Bishop's / Preacher's Wife (1947 / 1996)

Sometimes angels rush in where fools fear to tread
Christmas is upon us and that means it's time to gather the family around and bask in television's warm glowing warming glow while all the favorite holiday flicks and specials play. Not very many holiday movies have been remade through the years, but Christmas only comes once a year, so AotR is okay for awhile. I suppose the reason why more Christmas movies don't get remade is because any film good enough to be considered a holiday classic automatically becomes off-limits for reinterpretation, lest the treasured tale be sullied. But a few bold fools have rushed in where angels fear to tread and, appropriately enough, these particular films are about an angel. 

Friday, December 16, 2011

It’s a Wonderful(ly Capitalist) Life(!)

I have a guest article over at Commentarama Films examining the conservative message behind the Frank Capra classic It's a Wonderful Life. Here's a taste:

"It’s a Wonderful Life praises a far more substantial vision of free-enterprise than its detractors seem to apprehend. Besides that, the film is also a tribute to family, a salute to Americanism, an homage to goodwill, and an ode to traditional values all wrapped up in a beautiful golden-age Hollywood Christmas card."
Read more at Commentarama Films »