Pull out the red carpet for the 2018 Golden Globe award nominations

The 2018 Golden Globe Awards nominations were just announced this morning in Los Angeles!
Seth Meyer will be hosting the 75th annual awards show on January 7, 2018.  These announcements are exciting, because they're also a sneak peek into who might be nominated and awarded the highly coveted Oscar in the Academy Awards ceremony that follows.

Below is the complete list.  Who do you think will win?  Did your favorites get included in the list?

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a.	Call Me By Your Name
	Frenesy Film / La Cinéfacture Productions / Water’s End Productions; Sony Pictures Classics
b.	Dunkirk
	Warner Bros. Pictures / Syncopy; Warner Bros. Pictures
c.	The Post
	DreamWorks Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox
d.	The Shape of Water
	Double Dare You; Fox Searchlight Pictures
e.	Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
	Blueprint Pictures; Fox Searchlight Pictures

2.     BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a.	Jessica Chastain	Molly's Game
b.	Sally Hawkins	The Shape of Water
c.	Frances McDormand	Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
d.	Meryl Streep	The Post
e.	Michelle Williams	All the Money in the World

3.     BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a.	Timothée Chalamet	Call Me By Your Name
b.	Daniel Day-Lewis	Phantom Thread
c.	Tom Hanks	The Post
d.	Gary Oldman	Darkest Hour
e.	Denzel Washington	Roman J. Israel, Esq.

4.     BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

a.	The Disaster Artist
	Good Universe / Point Grey / Ratpac-Dune / WB/New Line Pictures; A24
b.	Get Out
	Blumhouse / QC Entertainment / Monkeypaw Productions; Universal Pictures
c.	The Greatest Showman
	Twentieth Century Fox; Twentieth Century Fox
d.	I, Tonya
	Clubhouse Pictures / LuckyChap Entertainment; NEON
e.	Lady Bird
	IAC Films; A24

5.     BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

a.	Judi Dench	Victoria & Abdul
b.	Helen Mirren	The Leisure Seeker
c.	Margot Robbie	I, Tonya
d.	Saoirse Ronan	Lady Bird
e.	Emma Stone	Battle of the Sexes

6.     BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

a.	Steve Carell	Battle of the Sexes
b.	Ansel Elgort	Baby Driver
c.	James Franco	The Disaster Artist
d.	Hugh Jackman	The Greatest Showman
e.	Daniel Kaluuya	Get Out

7.     BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED

a.	The Boss Baby
	DreamWorks Animation LLC; Twentieth Century Fox
b.	The Breadwinner
	Cartoon Saloon / Aircraft Pictures / Melusine Productions; GKIDS
c.	COCO
	Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
d.	Ferdinand
	Blue Sky Studios; Twentieth Century Fox
e.	Loving Vincent
	Breakthru Films / Trademark Films; Good Deed Entertainment

8.     BEST MOTION PICTURE – FOREIGN LANGUAGE

a.	A Fantastic Woman	(Chile)
	Fabula, Participant Media, Komplizen Film, Muchas Gracias, Setembro Cine; Sony Pictures Classics
b.	First They Killed My Father	(Cambodia)
	Bophana; Netflix
c.	In the Fade	(Germany / France)
	Bombero International / Macassar Productions; Magnolia Pictures
d.	Loveless	(Russia)
	Non-Stop Productions, Fetisoff Illusion, Why Not Productions, Arte France Cinema, Les Films du Fleuve, Senator Film; Sony Pictures Classics
e.	The Square	(Sweden / Germany / France)
	Plattform Produktion / Arte France Cinéma / Coproduction Office / Det Danske Filminstitut / Essential Filmproduktion GmbH / Film i Väst; Magnolia Pictures

9.     BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE

a.	Mary J. Blige	Mudbound
b.	Hong Chau	Downsizing
c.	Allison Janney	I, Tonya
d.	Laurie Metcalf	Lady Bird
e.	Octavia Spencer	The Shape of Water

10.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE

a.	WILLEM DAFOE	THE FLORIDA PROJECT
b.	ARMIE HAMMER	CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
c.	RICHARD JENKINS	THE SHAPE OF WATER
d.	CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER	ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
e.	SAM ROCKWELL	THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

11.  BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

a.	GUILLERMO DEL TORO	THE SHAPE OF WATER
b.	MARTIN MCDONAGH	THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
c.	CHRISTOPHER NOLAN	DUNKIRK
d.	RIDLEY SCOTT	ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
e.	STEVEN SPIELBERG	THE POST

12.  BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

a.	GUILLERMO DEL TORO, VANESSA TAYLOR	THE SHAPE OF WATER
b.	GRETA GERWIG	LADY BIRD
c.	LIZ HANNAH, JOSH SINGER	THE POST
d.	MARTIN MCDONAGH	THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
e.	AARON SORKIN	MOLLY'S GAME

13.  BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

a.	Carter Burwell	Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
b.	Alexandre Desplat	The Shape of Water
c.	Jonny Greenwood	Phantom Thread
d.	John Williams	The Post
e.	Hans Zimmer	Dunkirk

14.  BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

a.	“Home” — Ferdinand
	Music by:	Nick Jonas, Justin Tranter, Nick Monson
	Lyrics by:	Nick Jonas, Justin Tranter
b.	“Mighty River” — Mudbound
	Music by:	Raphael Saadiq
	Lyrics by:	Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, Taura Stinson
c.	“Remember Me” — Coco
	Music by:	Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
	Lyrics by:	Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
d.	“The Star” — The Star
	Music by:	Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman
	Lyrics by:	Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman
e.	“This Is Me” — The Greatest Showman
	Music by:	Benj Pasek, Justin Paul
	Lyrics by:	Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

15.  BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a.	THE CROWN	NETFLIX
	Left Bank Pictures / Sony Pictures Television
b.	GAME OF THRONES	HBO
	HBO Entertainment / Bighead, Littlehead / Television 360 / Startling Television
c.	THE HANDMAID'S TALE	HULU
	MGM
d.	STRANGER THINGS	NETFLIX
	Netflix
e.	THIS IS US	NBC
	20th Century Fox Television

16.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a.	CAITRIONA BALFE	OUTLANDER
b.	CLAIRE FOY	THE CROWN
c.	MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL	THE DEUCE
d.	KATHERINE LANGFORD	13 REASONS WHY
e.	ELISABETH MOSS	THE HANDMAID'S TALE

17.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a.	JASON BATEMAN	OZARK
b.	STERLING K. BROWN	THIS IS US
c.	FREDDIE HIGHMORE	THE GOOD DOCTOR
d.	BOB ODENKIRK	BETTER CALL SAUL
e.	LIEV SCHREIBER	RAY DONOVAN

18.  BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

a.	BLACK-ISH	ABC
	ABC Studios
b.	THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL	AMAZON
	Amazon Studios
c.	MASTER OF NONE	NETFLIX
	Universal Television / Oh Brudder Productions / Alan Yang Productions / Fremulon Productions / 3 Arts Entertainment
d.	SMILF	SHOWTIME
	ABC Signature Studios / SupahSmaht, Inc / Quantity Entertainment / Groundswell Productions
e.	WILL & GRACE	NBC
	Universal Television

19.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

a.	PAMELA ADLON	BETTER THINGS
b.	ALISON BRIE	GLOW
c.	RACHEL BROSNAHAN	THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
d.	ISSA RAE	INSECURE
e.	FRANKIE SHAW	SMILF

20.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

a.	ANTHONY ANDERSON	BLACK-ISH
b.	AZIZ ANSARI	MASTER OF NONE
c.	KEVIN BACON	I LOVE DICK
d.	WILLIAM H. MACY	SHAMELESS
e.	ERIC MCCORMACK	WILL & GRACE

21.  BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a.	Big Little Lies	HBO
	HBO Entertainment / David E. Kelly Productions / Pacific Standard / Blossom Films
b.	Fargo	FX
	MGM Television / FX Productions
c.	Feud: Bette and Joan	FX
	Fox 21 Television Studios
d.	The Sinner	USA NETWORK
	Universal Cable Productions
e.	Top Of The Lake: China Girl	SUNDANCETV
	SeeSaw Films

22.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a.	JESSICA BIEL	THE SINNER
b.	NICOLE KIDMAN	BIG LITTLE LIES
c.	JESSICA LANGE	FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
d.	SUSAN SARANDON	FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
e.	REESE WITHERSPOON	BIG LITTLE LIES

23.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a.	ROBERT DE NIRO	THE WIZARD OF LIES
b.	JUDE LAW	THE YOUNG POPE
c.	KYLE MACLACHLAN	TWIN PEAKS
d.	EWAN MCGREGOR	FARGO
e.	GEOFFREY RUSH	GENIUS

24.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a.	LAURA DERN	BIG LITTLE LIES
b.	ANN DOWD	THE HANDMAID'S TALE
c.	CHRISSY METZ	THIS IS US
d.	MICHELLE PFEIFFER	THE WIZARD OF LIES
e.	SHAILENE WOODLEY	BIG LITTLE LIES

25.  BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a.	DAVID HARBOUR	STRANGER THINGS
b.	ALFRED MOLINA	FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN
c.	CHRISTIAN SLATER	MR. ROBOT
d.	ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD	BIG LITTLE LIES
e.	DAVID THEWLIS	FARGO

Just Getting Started never quite gets started

Movie Title:    JUST GETTING STARTED

Grade:   D

Rating: PG-13, 1 hour 31 minutes

In a Nutshell:   With a promising beginning, this lazy comedy just doesn’t get started.   It’s a disappointing waste of talent and time.

Surprisingly, this is the first time that Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman have worked in a film together.  I love them both.  

The movie features a playful rivalry between the two as they battle it out for the Alpha male position at a retirement village with Rene Russo as the prize.  Morgan Freeman’s character challenges, “You and I…just getting started.”  Their chemistry is good, but the writing is inconsistent in what could be an entertaining war between the two.

The cast includes other delightful, aging actors, but the star power is much greater than the plot and storytelling.  It’s mostly funny for people aged 60 and over.  Make that 70.

Morgan Freeman’s character sums up his goals, philosophy and this movie when he states, “Sex, booze, golf, and then you die.”

 

Uplifting theme: 

• “Happiness is not a condition.  It’s a choice.”  - Duke (Morgan Freeman)
• Friendship

Things I liked:

• Given that everyone in the audience I sat with probably has some cans of Ensure in their kitchen pantry, I think it’s funny that the movie is produced, in part, by Endurance Media.  Ha ha
• Christmas in Palm Springs includes Santa Claus in board shorts and flip flops, Christmas trees on golf carts, and carolers singing to people in hot tubs.
• Fun cameo performance by Johnny Mathis
• A shout-out for the navigator app “Waze.”  I love that app!  When Google’s navigator got me lost in Panama, Waze saved the day.  True story.

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s just not that funny.  I was so bored that I kept looking at my watch.  Well, I don’t actually wear a watch, but you know what I mean.
• I was surprised that all of the big name stars in the movie would go for such a dumb script.
• If you want to see a better Morgan Freeman “twilight years” movie, rent The Bucket List
• Lots of pointless, boring scenes.
• Sadly, this is Glenne Headly’s last movie.  She died on June 8, 2017.
• Jane Seymour is such a lovely, graceful beauty, but in this movie she plays an over-the-top mob wife who actually looks old and ridiculous.
• You hear the snotty words “Shut up!” MANY times by quite a few characters.  Once might be funny, but over and over is just sloppy writing and makes all of the characters look equally mean spirited.
• Morgan Freeman’s cronies were played by Joe Pantoliano, George Wallace, and Graham Beckel.  Sadly, their talent didn’t add much to this lame comedy.

Interesting lines:

• “A lot of trees have flaws.  So do people.  You can put the bad side of trees against the wall.  What do you do with people?” – Duke Diver (Morgan Freeman)

“That’s deep.” – Jimmy (Nick Peine)

“Write it down.” - Duke

Funny lines:

• “If she falls for a drunk Santa Claus, I badly misjudged her character.” – Leo (Tommy Lee Jones)
• “I need a cup of coffee.” – Duke

“You need a new liver.” – Leo

• “I’m exploring my feminine side.” - Leo

Tips for parents: 

• Tons of jokes about sex.   
• The trio of old women who are included for comic relief constantly throw themselves at the men and are always seen with a glass of alcohol.  Trio of lushes.  Is that like a gaggle of geese?
• Some profanity, including one F-bomb.
• Guns and shooting
• Kids will probably think it’s stupid and just think it’s a movie of a bunch of “old farts.”  Surprisingly, no one actually farts in the movie.

@trinaboice 

Darkest Hour will probably win Gary Oldman an Oscar

Movie Title:  
DARKEST HOUR based on the book:

Darkest Hour: How Churchill Brought England Back from the Brink

Grade:  A-

Rating: PG-13, 2 hours 5 minutes

In a Nutshell:   With a fascinating protagonist like Winston Churchill, you can hardly go wrong.  

Gary Oldman gives a fantastic performance, the best of his career, and will likely be nominated for an Oscar and probably a win.

 

Uplifting theme: 

• Director Joe Wright explained at the Paris Theater premiere in New York City that this is a film about resistance.
• “Conquer we must, as conquer we shall!” – Winston Churchill
• Strength, courage, tenacity

Things I liked:

• I toured Winston Churchill’s War Room underground in London a couple of years ago and was in awe.  It’s a tourist must for history buffs and fans of Winston Churchill’s leadership.
• I love Lily James in anything.  She’s so lovely and talented and beautiful.
• Kristin Scott Thomas is always wonderful.  What a clever woman Clementine Churchill had to be to handle her husband, and all while gracefully wearing pearls.  It makes you wonder how much more you could do with your life if you had someone like Clementine cheering you on.
• A reminder that even the lowest worker in the ministry played an important role in winning the war.
• Some subtle humor and entertaining dialogue
• There is mention of Dunkirk.  Want to know more about that part of World War II?  Watch the compelling movie and read my movie review of Dunkirk here.
• I loved the subway scene.
• Thrilling speeches that give you rich context to their inspired words.

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s a bit slow and stodgy.
• Sadly, Sir John Hurt died during the filming.  The film was dedicated to him.

Funny lines:

• Be yourself.” – Clementine

“Which self would you like me to be?” – Winston Churchill

• “Are we terribly old?” – Clementine

“Yes, I’m afraid you are.” – Winston

• “Will you stop interrupting me while I am interrupting you?!” – Winston
• “So, this is the Underground!” – Winston when he rides the London Tube for the first time.
• “How old is he?” – Winston, while looking at a baby

“5 months.  He looks like you!” – mother on the subway

“All babies look like me.” - Winston

Interesting lines:

• “It must be late there for you.” – US President on a phone call

“In more ways than you could possibly know.” – Winston

• “You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth!” – Winston
• “You are strong because you are imperfect.  You are wise because you have doubts.” – Clementine
• “Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.” - Winston
• "Success is not final.  Failure is not fatal.  It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston

Tips for parents: 

• Children will be bored out of their minds.
• Some profanity.

@trinaboice 

Check out my sons' movie of fake Yeezy shoes and the Legend of the Hype Beast

The first time I went to China on a speaking tour, I took my two youngest sons with me.  We all loved it there, but the thing that got my sons the most excited was finding and buying a bunch of fake Yeezy shoes.

Here in the United States, those Adidas shoes by Kanye West cost well over $1000.  In China, we were able to buy knock-offs for about $20.  The quality was very good and they looked so real.  My sons were in heaven.

Shortly after we returned home, one of my sons started making YouTube videos about Yeezy shoes and, almost overnight, he got over 2000 subscribers!  Now, he posts videos about once a week and is really getting good at it!  As a movie review mom, I have to admit that I'm pretty excited about his newly found film career!  ha ha

Check out his latest production and be sure to "like" it and maybe even subscribe!   Thanks!

It's called "Legend of the Hype Beast."  Enjoy!

Roman J. Israel takes a look at honor and integrity

Movie Title:    Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Grade:   C+

Rating: PG-13,, 117 minutes

In a Nutshell:   Sony Pictures presents a movie that is part thriller, part character study, part legal drama. 

Denzel Washington is why you want to watch this movie.  I loved the topic of the film, which is morality: which is more important to you: your money or your integrity?

The original title of the movie was “Inner City”, which I actually like better, because of the double meaning.  While the movie presents low-income life in a big city, it’s really about the inner struggle within all of us.  Roman J. Israel, Esq. explains it, “The real enemies aren’t on the outside; they’re within.”  He looks at himself often in the movie, something we all need to do…not to question our appearance, but to truly look at who we are.  All rise!

 

Uplifting theme: 

• Integrity, honesty, morality
• The power of money
• The “burden of activism”
• Choices, consequences, and accountability

Things I liked:

• Denzel Washington is solid, as always.  It’s his performance that carries the movie.  You’ll wonder about the gap between his two front teeth.  He has worn caps to fix that gap ever since high school, so for this movie, he decided to remove them. 
• There are many meaningful themes and lessons in this film to spark some interesting conversation with the people you watch this movie with.
• Colin Farrell always draws me in.
• Cool hotel room at the beach with the fire pit on the balcony!
• Some camera angles and sequences are interesting.
• I love symbolism, like that bulldog statue.
• My brother is an attorney.  He's one of the good guys.  I've always been fascinated with people who want to study law and wonder what their motivations are and how they often change.  Such an interesting field, right?

Things I didn’t like:

• The movie promises an intriguing story, but it fizzles before it truly flowers.  It’s directed by the talented Dan Gilroy, who also brought us the thrilling Nightcrawler  Unfortunately, the story could have been so much stronger.
• It's a little slow-moving.

Interesting lines:

• “I’m tired of doing the impossible for the ungrateful.” – Roman J. Israel
• “The lack of success is self-imposed.” – Roman J. Israel
• “The ability to have conflicting ideas in one’s head takes energy.” - Roman
• “Let us be enraged about injustice, but let us not be destroyed by it.” – Bayard Rustin
• “The world is for wonderful things.” – Roman J. Israel
• “Every weapon is a tool if you hold it the right way.” – Ana DiFranco
• “I believe because of my beliefs.” – Buddha
• “An act doesn’t make a person guilty unless a person’s mind is guilty too.” – Roman    (Do you agree with that statement?  It’s pretty controversial, don’t you think?)
• “Let us pardon each other’s folly.  That is the first law of nature.” - Roman

• Tips for parents: 
• Some profanity and 1 F-bomb.
• Most children will be bored.  Teens might be interested.
• Interesting themes to talk to your kids about.

@trinaboice 

Stronger better earn Jake Gyllenhaal an Oscar nomination

RELEASED on DVD on December 19th.

Movie Title:   Stronger (2017)

Grade: A-

Rating: R, 119 minutes

In a Nutshell:   Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance is outstanding, as always.  He’s truly fantastic in everything he does.  I'm such a fan. I'd love to see him get an Oscar nomination for this role.  He deserves it.  He really makes you feel.

This dramatic, true story spotlights emotional honesty as one of the many heroes from the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 attempts to regain his life.  The fantastic Jake Gyllenhaal plays Jeff Bauman, whose

If you like this kind of #BostonStrong movie, there is another one very similar called Patriot's Day.  In fact, both movies were filmed at the same time.

#BostonStrong !!

 

Uplifting theme: 

• Tenacity, perseverance
• Strength of every kind
• family, loyalty
• "You helped me as much as I helped you." - Carlos (Carlos Sanz)   I was super impressed with Carlos' humble spirit.
• "I just want to see the world from higher up." - Jeff (Jake Gyllenhaal)  I'm interpreting that line in a couple of different ways.  He says it when he realizes he wants to be a better man, as well as get out of his wheelchair and walk.
• Hope

Things I liked:

• Fantastic camera angle in the scene where they take off Jeff’s bandages.
• It doesn’t feel like an acted movie, but more of a realistic documentary.
• I’ve been to Boston twice and absolutely love it there.  It just broke my heart to see the iconic city in so much pain.  I will never understand evil people who hurt others.
• It's not just about a man's rehabilitation from a terrible injury, but also the transition from being a regular guy to a national hero.
• Director David Gordon Green hired real medical personnel to act in certain scenes, which is pretty cool.  My twin sister is a nurse.
• There is an incredibly touching, powerful scene towards the end of the movie that will make you weep or even sob.
• Miranda Richardson was really great.
• Tatiana Maslany also did a fantastic job.  The relationship between Jeff and Erin was really interesting and showed the ups and downs of a relationship under stress and extremely unusual circumstances.
• Both Jeff Bauman and Jake Gyllenhaal got to throw the first pitch at Boston's Fenway Park in 2016.  Cool.
• Blue collar grit.
• I love it when they show pictures of the real people the movie is about at the end of the film.

Things I didn’t like:

• I felt so bad for the Costco manager who was simply trying to help and Jeff’s family jumped all over him.  I understand that they were grieving and in shock, but still…a little kindness goes a long way.  The family is extremely dysfunctional and not pleasant to spend time with, but their fierce love and loyalty are inspiring.  By the way, the real Costco supervisor is an Extra in several scenes in the movie.
• So much profanity.  Seriously, can't anyone speak a single sentence without using vulgar language? 

Tips for parents: 

• A LOT of profanity and crude language, including F-bombs.
• Some nudity during a pre-marital sex scene, mostly a women’s chest.
• Some bloody, gory images of Jeff’s legs.
• Lots of people smoking and drinking.

@trinaboice 

The Man Who Invented Christmas delivers a meaningful Christmas spirit

Movie Title:  The Man Who Invented Christmas

Grade:  A-

Rating:  PG, 104 minutes

In a Nutshell:   I admit it.  I loved this movie, because I'm an author.  

I have a particular fondness for movies that peel back the curtains on the life of a successful author and reveal the painful writing process, including writer’s block, muses, and taking notes of people’s names (I do all that too.)  In this case, Charles Dickens is the author and the book that he struggles to write in less than 6 weeks is the famous, beloved A Christmas Carol: Original illustrations by John Leech.

I love that he was inspired by life around him.  Charles Dickens’ father warns, “We must not disturb the poet when the divine frenzy is upon him.”  True THAT!  When I’m writing and “in the zone”, it makes me crazy when I get interrupted, so I got a kick out of watching Charles Dickens deal with the constant knocking at his door.

Based on the book, this family friendly film is perfect for almost all ages and will leave you with the desire to do something kind for someone this Christmas season.  In fact, after A Christmas Carol: Original illustrations by John Leech was released in 1843, charitable giving immediately surged.  I hope this movie gets the same reaction.

 

Uplifting theme: 

• “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.” –
• “Christmas…the hope that our better natures will prevail.” - John
• Are you fettered by chains that you have made in life?  Jacob asked, “Do you know the link of the chain you bear yourself?”
• Poor vs. rich

Things I liked:

• Dan Stevens and those blue eyes!  If you wanted to see more of him since you first discovered him in Beauty and the Beast (2017) (Theatrical Version), you’ll love watching him star in this movie as Charles Dickens.
• Christopher Plummer was perfect as Ebenezer Scrooge. 
• The set pieces, furniture, and costume designs are really great.  I loved the details like the oil lamps for street lights.  Speaking of sets, some of the pieces from the TV series Penny Dreadful: Season One were used to make this film.  Despite the fact that you really feel like you’re in 19^th Century London, most of the filming was done in Ireland.
• Some well-placed humor.
• The audience laughed when Charles Dickens’ publisher said, “There’s not much of a market for Christmas.”
• While A Christmas Carol addresses the spirit of Christmas more than particular Christian beliefs, Charles Dickens’ book The Life of Our Lord: Written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849 where he bears testimony of the Savior of the world and shares his Christian beliefs.
• We don’t often see PG live action movies, so this was refreshing to see playing in theaters.
• I love how the characters in Charles’ books come to life for him and through him and are a part of the cast in the film.  In fact, Charles explains, “Get the name right and the character will appear.”  I write non-fiction and have always been fascinated with how the writing process works for fiction authors who create characters and worlds.
• There are several references to Shakespeare and, in fact, most of the cast in the film are trained Shakespearean actors.  In real life, Charles Dickens adored “The Bard” and acted in some of his plays.  Many of them had also previously worked on other adaptations of A Christmas Carol.

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s a little slow moving.
• Neither the title of the movie nor the original book are properly explained during the movie.
• Some of the flashbacks were shown at odd times and might be a bit confusing for children.
• While a biopic of sorts, some of the story is fiction.  We honestly don’t know as much about Charles Dickens’ writing process as we would like to!

Interesting quotes:

• “Debt is an ogre.  If you’re not careful, it can eat you up.” – Charles Dickens
• “People will believe anything if you’re finely dressed.” – John Dickens (Jonathan Pryce) 

Funny lines:

• “I’m the author here!” – Charles Dickens

“Allegedly.” - Scrooge

Tips for parents: 

• If your kids have never heard or read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, then you’ll want them to become familiar with it first.
• Kids will be surprised to learn that Christmas wasn’t always so commercial as it is now.
• Kids also won’t know about “debtors’ prison” in England, where people were sent when they couldn't pay their bills.  That always seemed strange to me, because there would be no possibly way for them to earn the money they owed while in prison!
• Work houses in England are also mentioned several times.  Poor and destitute people were encouraged to go to work houses to live and earn money.  The conditions and stigma were so terrible that people would rather die than go there.
• I heard profanity twice. One of those times was the British swear word “bloody.”
• Some words your kids may not know are “nappies” (British word for “diaper”) and “necromancer” (conjurer).

@trinaboice