I adore Christmas. I always have and can pretty much guarantee I always will. I love every single bit of it. The shopping, decorating, pageants, music, the Nutcracker. Every damn cheery thing. Even egg nog. But, of all, I think I love the movies the most.
Christmas is just a naturally nostalgic holiday. Memories get stored up around Christmas trees. We harken back to our childhood, still get excited about the potential of gifts, even use words like "harken". So it really is only natural that holiday movies become part of the nostalgia landscape.
You should know that I am very picky about holiday movies. My list is an elite one that not many modern movies break in to. The Hallmark Channel actually offends me with their dime a dozen holiday tales with C-list stars. Holiday movies are a beautiful genre with quite a bit of prestige. Ok, so not many Christmas movies are going to win Oscars, but there is an art to balancing humor, seasonal cheer, worn out storylines and schmaltz. So, since I love lists, I present my top 10 holiday movies:
10. Home Alone - Not really a great movie, but falls in my personal nostalgia category as it was released in 1990, making it somewhat new when I was at movie viewing age. There are a lot of classic scenes and a great holiday theme of family and obnoxious kids.
9. The Santa Clause - Yet another of my childhood favorites. A classically 90's Disney produced movie held a lot of charm that modern movies seem to miss. Humorous elves, nodding reindeer, pretty much all win. I'm gonna ignore that sequels were made to this. It ruins the charm.
8. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - One of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Sure, the whole thing ends up far fetched, but if you can't laugh at the squirrel scene, you're dead.
7. One Magic Christmas - One of those odd 80's movies that most people haven't seen, but is really a great flick that airs on the darker side of Christmas movies. Has one of the best movie Santas I have ever seen and a great performance by Harry Dean Stanton. Plus, you can always accuse someone of being a Ginny if you're tired of calling them a Grinch.
6. Elf - I laughed until I cried when I saw this movie in the theater and it still makes me giggle immensely. Amazing casting in all parts. A simple, sweet hearted movie that throws us all back to childhood and dares people to be a bit unorthodox in their Christmas cheer.
5. it's A Wonderful Life - Harry! Harry! Iconic is about all that can serve as a descriptor. Really, only a small fraction of the movie centers around Christmas, but the worth of a man's life is a reminder that can be applied any day of the year. Sometimes I wish more people would take this movie to heart.
4. Holiday Inn - I love dancing flicks and I adore Bing Crosby, so this movie is simply awesome. Features on of the finest dance scenes I have ever seen in Astaire's 4th of July solo dance. The debut of White Christmas makes it invaluable right there, but throw on killer singing and dancing talent as well as a home run performance by Louise Beavers, and you have classic awesomeness.
3. Miracle On 34th Street - The Maureen O'Hara/Natalie Wood one. Don't give me that crap from the 90's. Remaking some movies is simply a sin. I mentioned the One Magic Christmas being one of the best movie Santas. Well, Edmund Gwenn takes the cake there. So many priceless scenes including a wonderful childhood performance by Wood.
2. A Christmas Story - Um, I don't really think I need to expound on this one. If you are alive on Christmas day and anywhere near TBS, you know why you need to watch it every year. It is so weird and so funny and so wonderful all at the same time. It takes us all back to a time that some of us never even lived in, yet it represents that beautiful memory every kid has of the one toy they dreamed of for weeks and weeks, pushing and shoving, fretting, until there is was. That Christmas memory, which would now be labeled as being consumerism at its best, it golden for most kids. Plus the awesome scenes interjected are priceless: Leg lamp, Chinese Christmas dinner, Randy in the cupboard (there seriously was something wrong with that kid), the bunny pajamas. See ya Christmas Day on TBS....
1. White Christmas - I warned you previously that I adore Bing Crosby. I know this is a very untraditional movie to have at #1, but I refuse to waver. I have always adored it. It is Crosby at his finest, Danny Kaye in a beautifully awkward humorous state, Rosemary Clooney oozing class and Vera Ellen kicking everyone's ass dancing. This movie sums up an awful lot of my regrets about living in this era. This is a kickback to a world of nightclubs, dancing, trains, post-war patriotism, beautiful costuming, genuine singing talent (ok, I know, that wasn't Vera Ellen's real voice, but she didn't sing much) and just simply a great holiday flick. Plus, I've always wanted one of those Santa dresses in the end. To die for.
Honorable Mention: Christmas in Connecticut, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Prancer.
So there ya have it. If you haven't seen any of these, give them a shot and most of all, enjoy your holiday season. Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Eve of Greatness?
I was overwhelmed today in a way that hasn't happened since I was young. We are upon Breeders Cup Eve. Sure, we have survived the first day of Breeders Cup races spotted with longshots (Shared Account) and strong winners (Unrivaled Belle). My TwinSpires account reads positive, so I'm officially happy, but there is an anxiousness and yearning beneath it all.
Tomorrow holds a card of wonderful races. The Mile, featuring champion Goldikova. The Sprint, featuring various speedy thoroughbreds going all out for the goal. The Turf, where Europe meets America in a clash of the titans descending from Northern Dancer. And then there's the Classic.
Any other year, I would view this race as the meeting of the handicap and three year old champs. This is where sophomores come to grow up and older horses come to prove themselves. But in the background, there comes a dark beauty. Think Angelina Jolie meets Grace Kelly. She could kick your ass and seduce you with her grace all at the same time. I can't really elaborate upon her charismatic features. 60 Minutes and every turf writer in America has taken the opportunity to try to capture her persona, but you really have to be there to understand. It's more than these silly dances moves, or even her solid race record. It's the heart-stopping finishes, the weird awareness of the wire and the extreme confidence that this mare holds.
Zenyatta is THE story in this year's Breeders Cup. If she wins tomorrow, it will be the greatest culmination of a career since Seabiscuit came out of nowhere to skim the boots of Red Pollard in the Big Cap. We're talking 20 for 20. A perfect mare beating the boys. A two time winner of the Breeders Cup Classic. A Zenyatta. She is in a class of her own now isn't she?
And the winners in all of this? Horse racing. As horse racing fans, handicappers, turf writers and basic followers, we continue to be in search of that one thing that still makes us cheer. It's easy to become hardened to the spectacular two year old performances at Saratoga, or the deep closing Kentucky Derby winners or the record breaking sprinters. In fact, I think a racing fan is the hardest to impress. We've seen it all, done it all and beat it all. That is, until Zenyatta.
Then she came and horse racing suddenly started whispering through the cynicism to wax poetically, to give in to the belief that she was larger than life and to believe that a big ol' mare who drinks beer and listens to airplanes fly can beat the best colts in America. This is the stuff history is made of. And, folks, history is upon us. Tomorrow, a mare with a perfect record will enter the 8 hole in the Churchill Downs gate. The world will take a deep breath as she breaks (most likely last). And hopefully, somewhere down that long, legendary stretch of Churchill Downs, she will find a legendary full stride and beat all comers to become the best mare of all of racing history and potentially the most charismatic horse to approach the starting gate. Yes, horse racing, this is your time. Revel in it. This is the hour to enjoy Zenyatta.
Tomorrow holds a card of wonderful races. The Mile, featuring champion Goldikova. The Sprint, featuring various speedy thoroughbreds going all out for the goal. The Turf, where Europe meets America in a clash of the titans descending from Northern Dancer. And then there's the Classic.
Any other year, I would view this race as the meeting of the handicap and three year old champs. This is where sophomores come to grow up and older horses come to prove themselves. But in the background, there comes a dark beauty. Think Angelina Jolie meets Grace Kelly. She could kick your ass and seduce you with her grace all at the same time. I can't really elaborate upon her charismatic features. 60 Minutes and every turf writer in America has taken the opportunity to try to capture her persona, but you really have to be there to understand. It's more than these silly dances moves, or even her solid race record. It's the heart-stopping finishes, the weird awareness of the wire and the extreme confidence that this mare holds.
Zenyatta is THE story in this year's Breeders Cup. If she wins tomorrow, it will be the greatest culmination of a career since Seabiscuit came out of nowhere to skim the boots of Red Pollard in the Big Cap. We're talking 20 for 20. A perfect mare beating the boys. A two time winner of the Breeders Cup Classic. A Zenyatta. She is in a class of her own now isn't she?
And the winners in all of this? Horse racing. As horse racing fans, handicappers, turf writers and basic followers, we continue to be in search of that one thing that still makes us cheer. It's easy to become hardened to the spectacular two year old performances at Saratoga, or the deep closing Kentucky Derby winners or the record breaking sprinters. In fact, I think a racing fan is the hardest to impress. We've seen it all, done it all and beat it all. That is, until Zenyatta.
Then she came and horse racing suddenly started whispering through the cynicism to wax poetically, to give in to the belief that she was larger than life and to believe that a big ol' mare who drinks beer and listens to airplanes fly can beat the best colts in America. This is the stuff history is made of. And, folks, history is upon us. Tomorrow, a mare with a perfect record will enter the 8 hole in the Churchill Downs gate. The world will take a deep breath as she breaks (most likely last). And hopefully, somewhere down that long, legendary stretch of Churchill Downs, she will find a legendary full stride and beat all comers to become the best mare of all of racing history and potentially the most charismatic horse to approach the starting gate. Yes, horse racing, this is your time. Revel in it. This is the hour to enjoy Zenyatta.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Meet my child
I have a friend who tells me "The weird thing that happens when you have kids is that your dog becomes a dog again". It's easy to laugh and nod like you don't really know what she's talking about, because no one really wants to admit that their dog is basically a hairier and periodically louder version of a child. So I have to admit: Mine is.
My dog is absolutely adorable and absolutely a giant pain. This is the creature who will throw his toy AT you if you don't throw it quickly enough. The same animal that gallops around the kitchen barking at the way the light filters through the tree in our yard. He follows me everywhere, tears up boxes if he gets the chance, has been known to destroy couches, carpet, wooden chairs, and pretty much anything that gets in his way when he's in a mood.
But like I said, he's adorable, so he gets away with all of it and he has me totally wrapped around that devastatingly cute oversized paw. And I feel sorry for him. Especially when I leave him, despite the fact that I usually only leave him once a week, surround him with his toys, feed him an extra Beggin' Strip and know he will spend the morning curled up asleep in his climate controlled environment. But I still feel bad. So when I returned home earlier this afternoon, I had to drop off groceries and then run back into town to run two quick errands. I would only be gone another 5 minutes, but when I took one look at my wiggly little puppy so excited to see me, I had immediate guilt and knew he simply had to come with me.
That's really when I realized this relationship goes far beyond guilt and indulgence. I spent the short drive discussing with him how I don't understand school zones, how his day was, why people insist on cutting in front of me, and warnings not to lick the transmission seal my husband so lovingly left in my cup holder. All of this are interjected with reminders that he needs to stay in his seat or get back on his side. And then there's the howling. My dog is not a hound, in fact, he is a terrier, however, we learned early on that this creature has a great talent of howling. Lately, though, we can only get him to do it if we howl AT him and hold him closely, so he can't run around barking instead of getting a good howl out. Luckily, he can't go anywhere in my truck, so we have some of the best howling sessions there. I took full advantage of our little drive and wholeheartedly threw my head back and let one rip only to be joined by my dog's (adorable) high pitched "A-roo, a-roo, owwwwwwwww!!!!!". Then I realized I'm driving. And I have my eyes closed as I howl. And I can actually howl without throwing my head back. And I could have just let him doze in the passenger seat.
But where's the fun in that?
My dog is absolutely adorable and absolutely a giant pain. This is the creature who will throw his toy AT you if you don't throw it quickly enough. The same animal that gallops around the kitchen barking at the way the light filters through the tree in our yard. He follows me everywhere, tears up boxes if he gets the chance, has been known to destroy couches, carpet, wooden chairs, and pretty much anything that gets in his way when he's in a mood.
But like I said, he's adorable, so he gets away with all of it and he has me totally wrapped around that devastatingly cute oversized paw. And I feel sorry for him. Especially when I leave him, despite the fact that I usually only leave him once a week, surround him with his toys, feed him an extra Beggin' Strip and know he will spend the morning curled up asleep in his climate controlled environment. But I still feel bad. So when I returned home earlier this afternoon, I had to drop off groceries and then run back into town to run two quick errands. I would only be gone another 5 minutes, but when I took one look at my wiggly little puppy so excited to see me, I had immediate guilt and knew he simply had to come with me.
That's really when I realized this relationship goes far beyond guilt and indulgence. I spent the short drive discussing with him how I don't understand school zones, how his day was, why people insist on cutting in front of me, and warnings not to lick the transmission seal my husband so lovingly left in my cup holder. All of this are interjected with reminders that he needs to stay in his seat or get back on his side. And then there's the howling. My dog is not a hound, in fact, he is a terrier, however, we learned early on that this creature has a great talent of howling. Lately, though, we can only get him to do it if we howl AT him and hold him closely, so he can't run around barking instead of getting a good howl out. Luckily, he can't go anywhere in my truck, so we have some of the best howling sessions there. I took full advantage of our little drive and wholeheartedly threw my head back and let one rip only to be joined by my dog's (adorable) high pitched "A-roo, a-roo, owwwwwwwww!!!!!". Then I realized I'm driving. And I have my eyes closed as I howl. And I can actually howl without throwing my head back. And I could have just let him doze in the passenger seat.
But where's the fun in that?
Monday, November 1, 2010
Breeders Cup Week
What used to be an eight race championship day has, in the past few years, developed into about 30 races and half the competition. Much like the oversaturation of baseball deep into October (Oh wait....it's November? And the World Series is still going? Nothing like a sport season lasting as long as a pregnancy), the Breeders Cup has been split into so many specialist divisions that we have lost the impact of the championship vibe. So, I don't find it is surprising that I have yet to feel real excited about the two day event. I don't recognize the majority of the runners in races such as the Turf Sprint, Juvenile Turf, Dirt Mile, Marathon, etc.
But one thing remains: The Classic. The epitome of what is good in horse racing. The best of the best coming together for a 10 furlong race for immortality. Or a stud career. Either way, by winning this race, you join a select group of horses who have proved something at the end of a late autumn day, beating all comers and placing themselves in an elite position to be remembered every year after. Even the Arcangues and Raven's Passes of the world get mentioned around this time. But it isn't time to look back when we have a race like this year's edition looming.
Zenyatta. Lookin At Lucky. Quality Road. Blame. Haynesfield. We have names here and some real talent. Back on the dirt and back to competitive. So, don't allow yourself to become muddled in unrecognizable names and races and focus upon the greatness that could be this year's edition of the Classic.
But one thing remains: The Classic. The epitome of what is good in horse racing. The best of the best coming together for a 10 furlong race for immortality. Or a stud career. Either way, by winning this race, you join a select group of horses who have proved something at the end of a late autumn day, beating all comers and placing themselves in an elite position to be remembered every year after. Even the Arcangues and Raven's Passes of the world get mentioned around this time. But it isn't time to look back when we have a race like this year's edition looming.
Zenyatta. Lookin At Lucky. Quality Road. Blame. Haynesfield. We have names here and some real talent. Back on the dirt and back to competitive. So, don't allow yourself to become muddled in unrecognizable names and races and focus upon the greatness that could be this year's edition of the Classic.
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