FLAWED FAMILY FUN: MEMORABLE THANKSGIVING FILMS
Every year around this time, I try to watch Home for the Holidays. This is my Turkey Day equivalent to most people's December obsession, A Christmas Story.
If you:
- Have a dysfunctional family, and/or
- Have a sense of humor
Directed by Jodie Foster (who you wouldn't normally equate with 'fun') in 1995, Home for the Holidays is a mixed bag of comedy and poignancy. Family gatherings for holidays are frequently disastrous, and this clan is no exception. And talk about great casting: Anne Bancroft, Geraldine Chaplin, Claire Danes, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Durning, Steve Guttenberg (!), Holly Hunter, Dylan McDermott, David Strathairn and Cynthia Stevenson.
W.D. Richter wrote the screenplay for Home for the Holidays, which only strikes me as odd because his previous work included Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Brubaker (for which he earned an Oscar nomination in 1981). He seemingly took a ten year hiatus, and then returned to the big screen with Stealth in 2005. Now that is what I call a random career.
Although I've only seen it two times, my other favorite Thanksgiving film is Pieces of April. Written and directed by Peter Hedges (who also wrote/directed the current release Dan in Real Life, as well as penned screenplays for About a Boy and What's Eating Gilbert Grape), Pieces of April is Katie Holmes' best work to date. Regardless of how you view her now as Mrs. Tom Cruise, Holmes has quietly showcased her true talent in a variety of other small films with similar independent spirits and stellar casts (The Ice Storm, Go, Wonder Boys, The Gift, Thank You for Smoking). Pieces of April follows Holmes' misadventures as she attempts to host Thanksgiving for her maladjusted family. Co-star Patricia Clarkson earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nod for her portrayal of Holmes' bitter mother. Frankly, Clarkson is golden, and I'd be content just to watch her read the ridiculously lengthy instruction manual for my cell phone.
Gobble gobble. Happy Thanksgiving to my 14 subscribers, 6 or so regular commentators, and all of you other mystery readers!
Spot on about Pieces of April. It's a totally underappreciated movie.
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Sorry Dollface -- but the best "Thanksgiving" movie is 'Avalon.' Barry Levinson epic about an immigrant family (to Baltimore, natch) and how the whole essence of family changed through the 20th Century. I get all VERKLEMPT just thinking about it. And I ain't even Jewish! Who knew!? Best to you and L.
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