Christmas Movies, Pt. 6


"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge — they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around." — The Prime Minister, "Love Actually."

What was it about 2003? Three Christmas movies, all different, that endure nearly a decade later. Yesterday I looked at "Bad Santa" and "Elf," today it's a British Christmas movie about love.

Love Actually
Starring: Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightly, and Andrew Lincoln
Synopsis: I love this movie, and have since the first time I saw it. Richard Curtis has made some fun, funny, and enduring comedies, but he really nails it with "Love Actually." It's an unconventional but brilliant Christmas movie. But what really blows my mind — or did last night when I watched it again — is how many people are in it. I picked that picture at the top for this post because that's Andrew Lincoln, playing the shy, quiet, and passionate art gallery manager who is a hopeless romantic that doesn't get the girl. It's a charming performance — and a million miles away from the role that's made him famous, as the gun wielding Rick on "The Walking Dead." But there are plenty of actors in this film who've gone on to big, famous roles in movies and shows. This is a movie with so many fun, warm moments. It's also a movie that celebrates love, for all it's ups and downs, highs and lows, exhilarations and heart breaks. It's not a conventional Christmas comedy, but it's a great film, and a fun one to trot out this time of year.
Rating: R for sexuality, nudity, and language. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

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