Careless Winter.
103 Mins. Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Rob Delaney, Peter Serafinowicz, Sue Perkins & Emma Thompson. Director: Paul Feig.
'Last Christmas'. Critics gave this one star. The very next day I decided to watch it anyway. This year, to save me from tears, alone in Tokyo like a Lianne La Havas song, I miss London (I know that's not how the Wham! song goes), so this is something special. Plus I love George Michael like 'Jesus To A Child' (they should have made 'Last Christmas', the Christmas before last, Christmas number one in tribute after his heartbreaking death announced on the previous December 25th. Hey if they can start a successful campaign to get Rage there, they can honour this real pop idol), Emilia Clarke (and spoiler alert (I've been told them all), I've not even see 'Game Of Thrones', not for want of trying (I'm reading as we speak)) and 'Crazy, Rich Asian', smooth enough to be stirred as the new Bond (complete with a great Connery here), Brit born, Henry Golding. 'A Simple Favor' director Paul Feig also makes classic comedies, whether the John Candy land era Michelle McCarthy is milk carton or not (no matter what you say about his female proton pack rebooted 'Ghostbusters'. '2020' will be the one to call like more Bill Murray. But there was nothing strange in the neighborhood of the 2016 remake...try saying that a year later like Trump). And here he reunites the 'Crazy Rich Asians' of stars Golding and a scene stealing Michelle Yeoh as "Santa" this Christmas as he decks the halls with some of your favourites and all the tinsel and trimmings from 'Love Actually's' (we still haven't got over the late, great Alan Rickman giving that office tart a necklace...that's even more evil than Snape) own Great Brit icon Emma Thompson's terrific script. All for a classic Xmas rom-com that may be as schmaltzy as those gaudy Christmas baubles, but still channels that hallmark heart.
She before he. 'Me Before You' star Emilia Clarke is the star on the top of this tree. From 'Thrones' to 'Solo' this queen of dragons and 'Star Wars' star has really come into her own. And here in this 'Notting Hill' classic Brit flick it's about time she starred in something like that this Christmas that's part Nicolas Cage 'Family Man' (and another nostalgic, romantic classic of his we can't name or we'd give the game) and Will Smith's 'Collateral Beauty' without the contrived nature, but all that 'Christmas Chronicles' magic (which will give riding in on an 'Escape From The North Pole', 'Big Trouble In Little Lapland' a Santa saviour Kurt Russell (and his real life Mrs. Claus, Goldie Hawn) sequel next Christmas to all the festive themed coal Netflix is coming out with right now 'The Knight Before Christmas' (and people say this is crap?!)). Part 'Sliding Doors' Paltrow life underground in London, other tube door 'Bridget Jones' esque 'Holiday' favourite with 'Serendipity' poetry, Clarke is in a class of her own. Emilia evokes every emotion. Tears of joy, laughter, unbearable pain of love and loss in life for another lonely Christmas, but she never gives up that fire for this warm winters tale wrapped in Christmas lights with only a few of them going out. As the best dressed 'Elf' this Christmas as funny as Ferrell is our new favourite like smiling. Even managing to pull off a leopard print coat and making it even iconic that only the 'Edge Of Reason' could explain. But when it comes to great British leading men like 007, with a license to chill this fall, 'The Gentleman' of Guy Ritchie's next classic Henry Golding is not only comedy gold, the 'Crazy, Rich Asians' man of last year is a charming, charisma cauldron of good lucks and an even better heart, skin deep underneath. The soul of this story, Henry and Emilia are as linked in love as you will be with this BBC movie under the tree each and every year from now as traditional as the crown of the Queen's speech when it makes it to T.V. and really finds its festive home like next to the fire. One is in love. Mistletoe.
Bird poop lands in Emilia's eye for one of the funniest moments in this movie. But critics have been s###### on this nice Christmas tale like Scrooge. Well bah humbug to them. Forget a cliché. This picture is present wrapped like a scarf with the holiday movie traditions of tis season. And there's nothing wrong with that. Add a legend like Michelle Yeoh at the 'Crouching Tiger' and 'Star Trek: Discovery' no longer hidden in Hollywood or Hong Kong best and some classic cameos from the bake off queen Sue Perkins, 'Guardains Of The Galaxy' and 'John Wick' sequel star Peter Serafinowicz and Peter himself Rob Delaney. Not to mention writer Emma Thompson scripting herself an equal parts hilarious and heartfelt mothering part and this really is a family favourite despite all those forgetting to add this film to their Christmas card list. You know how it goes. It just slips your mind. This is so inoffensive, so why the front for another favourite from 'The Heat' of the 'Bridesmaids' and 'Spy' underrated Feig filmography which just got it's own Bublé like Christmas special coming out of the cave for this fairy lights bright side? A couple of critics forget to put more stars on this tree and then everyone says it's a bad Christmas...although they haven't even opens the advent calender door on it even though how many days are coming(?) like me confusing the lyrics of that truckload of Christmas neon, Coca Cola commercial (I'm sorry it's just that time of the year and egg nog. Did I just see E.T. home with Elliott for the holidays?). THEY HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE MOVIE! Or when they watch it feel some sort of guilt or obligation to join the toilet roll throwing on this Douglas Fir like you'll lose some cool points this Christmas if you choose to put on that ugly sweater and just enjoy this time of year for what it is. This isn't so bad it's good. It's so good it's hard to even see where critics are coming from. And the only thing spoiling this more than some of our arms being folded in the opening as we almost give into the social media status quo is the fact that some reviewers have given away the twist to this punch, adding narrative injury to narcissistic insult. "Once bitten and twice shy". Forgive me, critics have every right to voice their opinion, even if it's scathed a Christmas card as scarlet as St. Nick's wardrobe. But what they don't have the right to do is spoil a movie with more than their this Christmas character like cynicism, but by revealing the actual end of this event for filmgoers to really spoil the party like their Murtle moaning. Where's the apology? Want to know about the end? Well I won't tell. Even if you already know. But know this. I shed more than some tears. And it's not because the festive feeling of the corner Covent Garden shop (like the family European road trip memories of Michael's music plays on repeat in a channel tunnel drive on to Switzerland as that was the only C.D. we had in the car when I was younger. But 'You Have Been Loved', 'Older' never got old like the romantic nostalgia of that album shuffling on to the iPod like 'Jesus To A Child' as I walked to the Godzilla Shinjuku cinema to see this movie even further East in Japan) reminds me of a London trip, falling in love a few months after and years ago for Valentine's were surrounded by the black Bafta Mercedes red carpet of all the foggy towns world renowned movie stars I was only concerned about one leading lady. Bringing joy to a writer out here a million miles away, missing the home he's about to come back to for the holidays in eager anticipation. It's just beautiful. Like the stage of her 'Blinded By The Light' like speech for another movie inspired by music (Springsteen). Like the hidden gems filmed on location in the Big Smoke. Or this movies help to the homeless and all their Boris just walking past talents of the real rough sleepers. Or how it stands up on the bus to Brexit, Britain first bullies beautifully. Or by George what it does for Michael with his music and some cutting room floor unreleased gems as the credits roll like sellotape and wrapping paper. Save me from the jeers because 'Last Christmas' won't when it comes to tears and the real meaning behind the music and what it does for the true star at the 'Freedom' top of this tree. This is for you George. This is heaven sent. Just look up...you won't always get s### on. Wham! Bam! Thank you man. Merry Christmas. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Notting Hill', 'Crazy, Rich Asians', 'The Christmas Chronicles'.
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