
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 3
All humbug, all the time, for just a click or tap.

All humbug, all the time, for just a click or tap.

All the tinsel too bright and cheery? Click or tap for some holiday anti-cheer!
No, you’re not losing your hearing.

Click or tap for a taste of the cynicism of the season! The perfect antidote to all the fa-la-la-la-la!

My choice is the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the question. If you’ve seen the 2005 ITV miniseries Secret Smile, you probably know what line of dialogue I’m talking about.

Elegantly gloomy but ultimately unsatisfying gothic rural horror that is all too-static mood. Tom Hughes makes a valiant go of a descent into madness, but the character is little more than his misery.

Today I launched Festive Cheer, in which I recommend a fun, merry, classic, or otherwise worthy movie to stream this holiday season. One per day through January 2nd, for paying supporters only. First one’s free!

As a movie professional, I am duty bound to say — and it really is true — that I never regret watching even the worst, most unredeeming of movies. There is always something to learn, even if it’s just how or what not to do onscreen.

The deep, honest emotion undercutting the performative toxic masculinity of these young men is beyond charming and vitally essential, but the melodramatic randomness of the plot ultimately lost me.

I’m very curious to hear what you all have to say about this, because the streaming environment has gotten a bit out of hand: there are so many services, and it would be absurd — and expensive! — to subscribe to all of them.