It's a Wonderful Life

I watched a movie called It’s a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra, released in 1946. It stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers and Lionel Barrymore. It is a story of a man, George Bailey, played by James Stewart, who gives up his own life to help out others but when things get to be too much, he contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve. He is being watched by a guardian angel, Clarence, played by Henry Travers that saves George’s life but ultimately shows him what the world would be life if he were never born, as per George’s pleading. It is a movie that has been parodied a lot since release and has been a staple of Christmas since falling into public domain, some TV stations showing all day marathons. This movie has a lot of different opinions about how terrifiying it can be or how cool it can be. I personally find it to be an interesting movie because there have been times when some of us have wondered what the world would be like if we hadn’t been born. Think about all the lives that weren’t touched (or in George’s case saved) by not being there. Showing an alternative to even the small town of Bedford Falls, where the story takes place when George exists versus the Pottersville that George doesn’t exist in, shows how much one person can make a difference. I will admit that it does have a dramatic flair and there are some comedic bits in it but overall it is very dramatic. I mean, the main character wants to commit suicide, quite unheard of in 1946 and in a “Christmas” movie, no less. Then again, it just brings a kind of reality to the seasonal affective disorder or how things generally get around Christmas time, which I feel like should be applauded because this ultimately is an uplifting movie if you stick with it.
The acting is superb. Jimmy Stewart is really on point here as being the sympathetic George Bailey and how sensitive he is to other people and how he wants only to make their lives better. Donna Reed is amazing as well as his wife, again being very sympathetic a character and believable as someone that George would fall in love with because she is smart and beautiful. Lionel Barrymore is the absolute worst person in the movie as Mr Potter, George’s boss and the main banker in the movie. Henry Travers is great as Clarence because he plays it very unassuming and generally big hearted, not really overacting at all or diminishing any of his scenes.
Overall, this is a Christmas classic and for good reason. It has many of the ups and down of a Frank Capra movie and it engages the audience just enough to get you hooked. It might also make you think about our own life and how much you matter or at least matter to someone else. This is important because that is also the power of movies.

Lethal Weapon

I watched a movie called Lethal Weapon, directed by Richard Donner, released in 1987. It stars Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan and Darlene Love. The story is about two mismatched cops, one with a death wish after his wife gets killed (off-screen) and the other about to retire, who get caught up in an intricate drug ring linked from one of their friend’s daughter. This movie is both complicated and simple in story and execution. It has a lot of complex relationship issues as Riggs, played by Mel Gibson, fluxuates between causal to manic and Murtaugh, played by Danny Glover, is on edge and trying to keep up through the entire movie. It is a different kind of cop movie and really revived the genre to take it seriously again as an action set piece, where before it was becoming comical and out of date with Dragnet being somewhat out of date and some of the detective/police shows before it. Though there is a hint of comedy in Gibson and Glover’s performance. You get the sense of comradery between these two men, especially as things get deeper and deeper into the plot. It is a great mix of comedy, drama and action. In the director’s cut on DVD there is a cut scene where there is a sniper in a school and Riggs goes in to check it out. In this sequence you really see how down and out Riggs has become since his wife was killed, which is what makes him act out like he does. It is an intense scene and though I think they should’ve kept it in the movie, the conversation between Riggs and Murtaugh after the roof jumper scene makes it more poignant and much more intense for both characters. The music by Michael Kamen, David Sanborn and Eric Clapton is perfect for this kind of film, filling it with musical stings and tension hooks and action pieces that add to whatever is happening on screen. The use of Jingle Bell Rock by Buddy Helms is an interesting choice as well, though being that it takes place during Christmas, it is perfect to set the tone. Gary Busey is actually very toned down in this movie as Mr. Joshua, the mercenary that works for General (RET.) Peter McAllister, played by Mitchell Ryan. Both of their performances are top notch and add such a cool criminal element to the movie, not overdone or overacted like in some movies They chew scenery but in little bites not to where it becomes hammy. Darlene Love plays Murtaugh’s wife, Trish and they have a family which is showcased from the beginning, showing the vast difference in both the men. By adding this element into the plot, it isnt heavy handed or shoehorned at all, which is done very well. Christmas does play a part in the plot as well though it comes in here and there and isn’t the main focus.
Overall this is a great movie. I am not just saying that having watched it many, many times and can quote it from often. I think this movie is very of its time but still has a timeless quality. It still holds up because it is character driven and not mindless like many buddy cop movies tend to be like. You like Riggs and Murtaugh and you want them to get along and succeed in killing all the bad guys. The sequels did tend to go over the top in some cases but this first one establishes a lot about the two men who are opposites but can still work together and get the job done. And still manage to be friends during the course of it.