Riding on the still festive mood of the Advent Season which stretches 12 days from Christmas till first week of January, LEADERSHIP Flavour recommends a handful of wholesome movies readers can watch together with their loved ones.
Jesus of Nazareth and The Chosen Special Nativity Episode
First, we start with the movie(s) about the man who is the reason for the season – Jesus of Nazareth.
The Chosen, a now Four-Season series by Angel Studios have been in production since 2017. The 28 minutes 40 seconds, The Chosen: Special Christmas Presentation tells the story of Jesus’ birth through the eyes of a young mother labeled impure, and a shepherd boy considered unclean. It also includes never before seen carol performances from father-and-son singers Andrea and Matteo Bocelli, Matt Maher, Brandon Lake, Zach Williams, One Voice Children’s Choir among others. The special episode can be accessed on YouTube.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Shot in 1946, this staple American movie and Christmas classic bombed at the box office at its initial release, but for a matter of forgotten license renewal, which saw TV stations in the US, replaying the movie, until it became the huge seller it is today. It’s A Wonderful Life stars American actor, James Stewart as George Bailey a man who gave up his dreams to travel the world for his family and community, and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody.
Meet Me In St Louis
A 1944 classic starring Judy Garland and Mary Astor, it is the story of a middle-class family in the suburbs in a town called St Louis. Esther (played by Garland) and her family’s idyllic living are uprooted by their father’s promotion to a New York practice office. The movie’s charm lies in the familial ties, antics and the spirit with which they rally to support each other’s happiness, within the Christmas Season and the maiden St Louis Centennial Fair.
Life With Father
Life With Father is A 1947 comedy drama starring some favourite actors of the period like William Powell, Irene Dunne, Jimmy Lydon and Elizabeth Taylor. It is adapted from the true story of author Clarence Day and his family in the 1800s, depicting how Day’s mother (Dunne) navigates the stern rules of her husband (Powell) quite smartly and lovingly until he begins to change his own ways.
Candy Cane Lane
This Eddie Murphy starrer, released in 2023, shows Murphy’s character Chris Carver make a deal with a mischievous elf who casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life. The film also stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede and Saturday Night Life act Chris Redd.
Timothee Chalamet’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
In this retold and tweaked take of Willie Wonka, Timothee Chalamet, plays Wonka who arrives in the big city with dreams of opening a chocolate shop, but his plans are opposed by a host of corrupt villains. A singer Chalamet may not be, but he brings a lively energy different from the dramatic characters he has played to date, and the refreshing plot and an excellent supporting cast makes it worth watching.
A Naija Christmas
If not for the hilarious dynamic between the three brothers portrayed by actors, Kunle Remi, Efa Iwara, Abayomi Alvin, A Naija Christmas is worth seeing to catch Nollywood veteran Rachel Oniga in her last act before her death.
Die Hard I
Some have said this is not a Christmas movie. But the plot starts on Christmas Eve and ends on Christmas Day. How is that not a Christmas movie? Bruce Willis plays John McLane who is visiting his wife in Los Angeles to save his marriage. His efforts at reconciliation is disrupted by a heist spearheaded by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) which leaves his wife and her colleagues as hostages. Watch Die Hard II and III to experience the full effect of the film series.
