Going to the cinema, with the passing times, is a true gesture of love towards the Seventh Art. It is then a challenge to the law of gravity dictated by the comfortable sofa at home and, finally, a frontal opposition to the inclement weather. The people of the big screen don't want to give up a solid tradition: a good film, perhaps with the whole family, before or immediately after the Christmas party. But if there's really no way to overcome all the above difficulties, then you can always fix it with a vast choice of on-demand TV where it's easy to find a good "film" for all tastes.
We offer you a brief and personal roundup of titles to choose from
Let's begin rigorously with Italian cinema. Given that we are in bad shape and the offer is rather scarce. First of all, the classic Christmas "cinepanettone" of ancient and consolidated memory is missing and so we have to re-propose what has been offered in recent weeks by three great directors: Carlo Verdone with Life at Carlo's, Nanni Moretti with Three Floors and Paolo Sorrentino with It was the hand of God (Oscar nominee). One might add Superheroes by Paolo Genovese but more for the record and out of respect for the director's other works (see Perfect strangers) because otherwise it would not be worth mentioning. On the first three it must be said that it is a common script already seen: intimism, personalism and retrospection as if it were fresh water. Maybe everything told well by them but without flashes of wit or novelty. Sorrentino can still be found both in theaters and on Netflix. An interesting proposition is instead Diabolik of the Manetti Bros. already authors of a happy Song'e Napule of 2014. The film in theaters today is based on the famous comic strip of the same name and takes up its narrative in its entirety and offers it in cinematic form. A very difficult operation that could even leave those who belong to the generations who were waiting for the day of its release on newsstands to follow the deeds of the famous thief, his partner Eva Kant and Inspector GinKo disappointed. Worth noting is the good interpretation of Luca Marinelli, a promise of Italian cinema.
Finally, for those who haven't seen it yet, don't miss it Come un cat in tangenziale – Ritorno a Coccia di Morto directed by Riccardo Milano with two sensational Paola Cortellesi and Antonio Albanese. This is the happy return of all the characters who made the fortune of the first Cat and this time in an even more refined form. Fun is guaranteed.
Now let's move on to the international offer. Looking forward to the next release (January 1st) of Matrix Resurrections with directing by Lana Wachowski first of all, given the Christmas period, we offer you the 60th film of the Disney: Encantato which, always in the context of cartoons, goes well with Sing 2 – Always louder, both guaranteed fun. If you ever missed it, the best proposition in theaters still is Madres paralelas by Pedro Almodóvar in its most mature and complete stylistic form. Aesthetic, substantial and contemporary with a Penelope Cruz in great shape. Not to be missed. The Christmas blockbuster particularly aimed at young audiences should be Spider-Man No Way Home by Jon Watts, sequel to Spider-Man: Far from Home released in 2019, and the latest product (the twenty-seventh) of the infinite saga of Marvel Superheroes. It is a film for fans of the genre that leaves no room for doubt: special effects, adventure and fantasy galore and satisfaction is guaranteed whatever the script. It is highly recommended for anyone with children at home. And if you are still fascinated by the country-western genre adapted to the present day, there is always the old and consolidated one Clint Eastwood with Cry Macho – Homecoming. Great director as well as actor, he keeps what he promises: his face and his style are always the same and for his lovers it is a film not to be missed.
An unusual proposal that we propose is instead On Bergman's Island by first-time French director Mia Hansen-Løve who wrote and directed it. It is a tribute to perhaps the most important Swedish director in world cinematography, full of quotes from his works and filmed on the island where he took refuge to write and meditate on his works. You can feel the trademark of a very "Nordic" way of making cinema where the formal cleanliness of the images, the dryness of the shots, the script to the minimum terms and the way of acting are the essential characteristics. If you love cinema and if Bergman has left deep traces in your culture of the big screen, this is an unmissable film. Be quick as it may not hold up long at the box office.
If, on the other hand, you haven't been able to get off the sofa or don't feel like popping your nose out of the house, there is always the possibility of accessing the vast library of films offered by the various Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ and its endless series of historic and ever-current cartoons. Among the different OTT platforms you are spoiled for choice between getting drunk on a few series (the so-called "binge watching" being careful not to abuse it, or wandering through the genres and titles of the great cinema of your liking. It should be noted that it also exists the phenomenon of “confusion due to oversupply". In the sense that when you find yourself with the remote control in your hand, the algorithm has already chosen for you and it is easy for you to be offered what the platform's artificial intelligence has already selected in relation to your tastes and preferences.At that point, if you set out with the good intentions of looking for a particular film or series, it is very likely that you will be diverted by a new proposal ... until you fall into the arms of Morpheus, limply lying on the comfortable sofa.However, on these pages we have written about it several times: do not miss the last season of Paper House on Netflix. If you want to choose other titles and if you haven't already seen it, we suggest The Irishman by Martin Scorsese or the thriller The Unforgivable, with Sandra Bollock in distribution for a few days. Can't miss a tribute to Massimo Troisi with I thought it was love… instead it was a buggy as well as the return to a classic Harry Potter always able to please the whole family. And if all this weren't enough, you always have a spare card Youtube, where between a tutorial on how to repair the washing machine or a video clip of your rock band you will certainly find something that can make you spend the holidays peacefully.
Good cinema and good television!
