Noël à tous les étages (Christmas Next Door) (2021)
Very well made, though somewhat heavy handed, French ensemble drama. Noël à tous les étages features the usual collection of miserably affluent and privileged characters moping through the holiday. From politicians to astronauts, virtually everyone’s feeling the holiday malaise. I’m the most curmudgeonly grouch you’ll ever have the misfortune to meet and I simply can’t relate to the current population of Christmas film universes. They’re either soulless mannequins or the miserable elite. Anywho, if you don’t mind a decent wait for all the fairly unsympathetic characters to, perhaps, find Christmas redemption this is a well crafted film with a terrific cast and worth a watch.
The Snowball Effect (2022)
Dueling weather persons find love at Christmas. The craziest part of the film is the idea that meteorologists are somehow judged by accuracy. Other than that it’s pretty good for what it is, better than most of the Hallmark stuff I’ve suffered though.
BBC Select at Christmas
Thought I'd check out BBC select's holiday selection - not alot here but what's on offer's pretty good...
Christmas in London (2007)
Essentially a tourist information video but still worth a watch to see what was going on in that metropolis back circa 2007
Christmas in New York Inside the Plaza (2020)
2020 documentary looks at Christmas for the 1 per centers, and wannabes, of the Plaza Hotel.
There's something a bit sad about a luxury hotel offering a multi thousand dollar Home Alone 2 package .
Christmas Carols with Lucy Worsley (2019)
Well produced festive middle brow pop history that examines the greatest hits in the Christmas Carol Canon.
Nigellissima - An Italian Inspired Christmas (2014)
Nigella Lawson always does a great Christmas show and while thus isn't my favorite it's quite good, assuming you're a fan.
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Carol's From Kings (1997)
I closed things out with a welcome re view of 1997's edition of Carol's From Kings
Brit box
So the relatively niche BBC Select had some Xmas on offer. Let's check out the American version of Britbox, a BBC / ITV showcase for British TV entertainment.
In the UK December is all about Christmas telly, festive holiday-themed specials, Christmas episodes, and entire series built around Christmas cooking, crafting, and so on. Christmas is also the time for big splashy premiers and specials that often become enduring classics. But not on Britbox.
As of Dec 14th there is no Christmas programing listed on the main menu, though there is a row of "wintry lifestyle delights", none of which mention Christmas in title or thumbnail.
For weeks the Radio Times and all the other UK TV listings are nuttier than a fruitcake about yuletide telly but the highest profile Brit tv outlet in the USA can't be bothered to fill a row with classic Christmas episodes or specials? There's likely plenty of content already in their existing library but now I have to search for it, plus there's no way to discover Christmas themed episodes of series I'm not familiar with.
I'll check back even closer to the big day.
The Darling Buds of May - Christmas is Coming (1991)
Seasonal episode from the first season of the original series adaptation stars David Jason, Pam Ferris, and a stunning young Catherine Zeta-Jones.
A bit of comedy, a dash of drama, and a pinch of suspense make for a satisfying Christmas episode, even if you are otherwise unfamiliar with the series, and if you haven't watched it, you really should.
A Bear's Christmas Tail (2004)
(Don't let the above image fool you, this is not a charming animated special)
What the feck did I just watch? Grotesquely tasteless and a veritable smorgasbord for today's cancel culture-obsessed puritans. From Leigh Francis of Bo Selecta fame (infamy) this edgier-than-thou slog has some funny moments but they are far overrun with the crass drivel that makes up the bulk of it.
Christmas with the Vienna Boys Choir
Part concert, part docudrama portraying the festive goings on around the choirboys at Christmas. Most entertaining,
The Magic Christmas Tree 1964
This mess of a kiddie matinee is hard enough to watch with the bots from Rifftrax slinging zingers, but on its own, it does the Spanish inquisition proud as a torture device.
The Wizards Christmas (2014)
Pretty much terrible.
Christmas Crime Story (2017)
Unpleasant little Christmas set drama, not abysmal but I couldn’t be bothered to finish it.
Christmas Tree & Piano Music (2020)
"Starring...Christmas Trees"
Remarkably low-effort holiday ambiance will dull piano arrangements and stuttering random video elements.
