Movie Report: "It's a Wonderful Life"

I was slacking a bit this Christmas. We chilled on the movie watching for a bit on Christmas Eve, and popped in some "Robotech" instead.

This meant I didn't get to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" until Christmas night. And I still haven't gotten in a viewing of "A Lion in Winter." I'm such the slacker.

Now I give a lot of "heartwarming" movies a big thumbs down. I don't like the emotional manipulation that comes with a lot of "we're gonna make you cry" stories, especially those that do it intentionally. It goes back to modern moviemakers losing the gentle touch.

"Life," made in 1946, is a film intended to tug on the heart. It was even made by a film company that director Frank Capra created to produce "serious, meaningful" movies. This is the only film Liberty Films ever completed. So much for serious and meaningful.

Interestingly enough, the FBI at the time considered "Life" subversive and possible Communist propaganda.

But if you're going to have a one-hit wonder, "Life" ain't a bad one at all. There's a dark heart to the story -- George Bailey wants to die. He's spent his entire life sacrificing for everyone around him, he's given up every dream he ever had, and even that's not enough.

So if you're thinking its all fluffy angels and bells, watch it again. The sequence of Bedford Falls (Pottersville) without George is a American dream gone wrong -- Norman Rockwell in fishnets.

But that's consistant with a lot of Jimmy Stewart's post-WWII work. He jumps from "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" to movies about suicide and murder and insanity -- "Rope," "Vertigo," "The Man from Laramie."

But as "Life" spirals downward, you know it's going to rise up again, roller-coaster style with hope, happiness and goodwill toward all. And I like its theme of how everyone and everything is connected, and how what seems to be a small change has great effect.

Now, there is the racial and gender stereotyping that is typical of it's time period. (Annie has a couple cringe-worthy moments) If you can let those go, it's hard not to get wrapped up in this movie.