Monthly Reel for December 2014

It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life

‘Tis the Season

by Michelle Keenan

As I write this (a week before Thanksgiving), I have yet to be struck by the faintest murmur of holiday spirit or an iota of Christmas cheer.

It seems impossible that we can be so close to wrapping all those presents and another year. For those of us in the movie reviewing business we’ll be compiling our Top Ten lists for the year and voting for the best films of 2014 in just a couple of short weeks.

The good Professor Kaufmann and I will be sure to report those findings in the January Reel Takes, but in the meanwhile we’ve still got an interesting array of films for your viewing pleasure this month.

Chip gives his take on Christopher Nolan’s dimension-bending Interstellar, while I share a few thoughts about Michael Keaton’s comeback role in Birdman, Jon Stewart’s directional debut with Rosewater, and Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of Steven Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Hunger Games fans will likely have flocked to see Mockingjay Part I by the time this issue comes out, which is good seeing as it was not available to us for review before deadline.

In area screening news, the Hendersonville Film Society is off until January, but The Asheville Film Society has a full docket this month, including a couple of titles for the season, Bob Hope’s, The Lemon Drop Kid and Bing Crosby’s Holiday Inn.

Pack Memorial Library will show a series of free holiday films the first three Thursday’s in December at 3 p.m., including Frank Capra’s classic It’s a Wonderful Life to kick off the series on December 4, 2014. Fresh off their successful Asheville Cinema Festival, Tom and Susan Anton will be hosting a free night of short films December 2, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Grace Center in Mills River. You can find out more about the films at the library and the Asheville Cinema Society shorts in the “What to Do” guide.

If your ‘what to dos’ include heading to the cinema with your sweetie or family, we’ve also included a list of highlights for holiday movie season.

Until next time, we wish you glad tidings, good movies, and happy holidays.