TBT Holiday Celluloid- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Clark Griswold has found the perfect tree but forgot his ax.  However, he got it down and back to the house.  It is a beaut but we didn’t need the strings.  Well, the windows are broken but we needed to vent the fireplace.

What’s that, Ellen?  Both sides of our family are coming for Christmas?  That’s just swell!  Where will they all sleep?  We’ve got plenty of room.  Plus, I’ve worked extra hard and I’ll get that big bonus.  They’ll smile when I break the news about the swimming pool.  Finally, it might quieten those yuppie neighbors up for a minute. At least, our light display will be the talk of the neighborhood.

Would Clark get his bonus?  Would the yuppies go along with the Griswold holiday cheer?   Will Christmas ever be the same?

One thing was for sure:  Merry Christmas!  Shitter’s Full!

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was written by John Hughes (Planes, Trains, & Automobiles).  Hughes gave viewers the most dysfunctional and hilarious holiday to date.

Chevy Chase had a subdued holiday and one of the best tantrums since Steve Martin’s rental car f-bomb tirade.  Randy Quaid returned as Cousin Eddie and was full of…laughter.  What did ya expect this guy to say?  No, the yuppies (Julia Louis-Dreyfus & Nicholas Guest) were the real neighbors from hell & full of shit.  The extended family included such as legendary character actors as William Hickey, Doris Roberts, & Diane Ladd.

Gather the family, keep the cat away from the tree, and bundle up with laughter. Oh, Santa get Eddie a new Winnepago with a decent septic tank!

Merry Christmas!

Coming of Age Celluloid- Moonlight (2016)

Little was a young, intelligent, and black boy.  He was the constant target of bullying because he’s gay.  However, Paula, his mother, doesn’t appreciate his life choice.  Yet, she worked and spent her spare time smoking crack.

He’s never known his real father.  However, his world was about to change unexpectedly.  Juan was his name and drugs are his game.  He came to Little’s rescue after being chased by intolerant classmates.  Little would tell him that his name was Chiron.

Chiron was surprised that this man and Teresa, his woman, opened their home and hearts to him.  He’d never felt this type of love towards anyone.  However, he did love another and his name was Kevin.  Kevin was his best friend but was unaware of being loved.

Would Chiron’s mother ever accept his sexuality?  Will Juan & Teresa continue to love and support him?  Would he ever tell Kevin his true feelings?

Moonlight was directed by Barry Jenkins.  Jenkins co-wrote this original, coming of age story with Tarell Alvin McCraney.  They have captured a rare side of urban life. Viewers have always seen white and other races as growing up gay.  However, Jenkins & McCraney have created a film that shows the struggles of being black & gay.

We see Chiron’s transition from boyhood to manhood in a new light.  It’s not just cut and paste like lower class to upper class society for most races.  It can be a real beast and hate changes people over time.  The hate can turn a young, innocent boy against himself and most others.  The person may be deemed bad by society. Yet, hope can be found within one person or several people.  They’ll take someone in when no one else wanted them.

Chiron was beautifully portrayed by Alex J. Hibbert (aka Little) & Ashton Sanders (Chiron).  Mahershala Ali did an outstanding job as Juan.  He went seamlessly from pusher to pushover.  Naomi Harris was brutally devastating as Paula.  She could send Satan running back to the Lord in a heartbeat.   Janelle Monae was warm and pleasant as Theresa.  She embraced Chiron in ways that his mother never would.

Jenkins has created a beautiful, urban masterpiece.  It is an unlikely companion to The Infiltrator.  However, Moonlight focused more on the pusher’s psyche.  The Infiltrator showed viewers what took down the drug trade to an extent.

The film will leave viewers talking long after the credits role.  I won’t reveal the ending but it’s a second audible for a film this year.  The previous one was for the surprise ending of Arrival.

This is one of 2016’s Ten Best Films and will probably be a contender at the 2017 Oscars.  Viewers have a new visionary director in African-American cinema; his name is Barry Jenkins.