I am a sucker for a Christmas movie ‘A Wonderful Life’ comes to mind first. But ‘Love Actually’ is my favourite followed closely by the hilarious ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ with Chevy Chase. New film by writer/ director Tyler Taomina is the latest in a
long string of Christmas films to share the joys of an extended family Christmas. Filled with gaudy tinsel, fairy lights and a groaning table of food, it details a familiar scene families will know so well.
Set in America, ‘Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point’ shares the story of four generations of the Balsano family who gather for what might be the last Christmas in their family home in small – town Long Island.
Boisterous aunts, cousins and one indomitable grandmother drink themselves merry and talk no end – even as they strain to understand each other. As the group loses itself in rowdy celebration, youngsters, Emily and Michelle, sneak away to a suburban winter wonderland ripe for teenage rebellion.
This film is a follow-up to the successful ‘Ham on Rye’ and Tyler Taormina puts his uncanny cinematic stamp on the holiday movie genre. It is sentimental and jumps from one group to another. The kids are all playing video games in the den, the teenagers are monosyllabic and sullen, though surprisingly loving and gentle with their grandparents. The middle-aged parents and grown-up siblings drink too much and argue about family as they organise, cook, and try to keep track of everyone whilst sneaking out to the garage for cigars and more wine.
There’s a lost lizard, an almost car crash, some lost earrings, teenage angst and a missing manuscript but these inciting incidents don’t lead to too much conflict. Taormina keeps that Christmas feeling alive with a nostalgic soundtrack and kitsch setting. The film seems almost autobiographical, as if Taormina was trying to capture his own memories, which I found out later he was.
A huge ensemble cast, including famous surnames like Francesca Scorsese as a charming Michelle and Sawyer Speilberg who plays a disaffected local, take turns on screen with untrained actors and friends of Taormina as the night unfolds. I enjoyed the performances of Maria Dizzia as mother, Kathleen and the Jeff Goldblum – esque Ben Sherman as the dad who steels himself for another Christmas Eve with the extended family.
This film has the feel of a huge Italian family Christmas gathering with all the underlying resentments, jealousy, loyalties to each other and the differing arms of the family. There is also a lot of love.
With a beautiful soundtrack filled with Sinatra and 60’s classics, this film is a flashback to Christmases past although it is set in the early 2000’s. It really had a nostalgic feel particularly because the house and neighbourhood were reminiscent of where we lived in Denver, Colorado in the early 90’s. This comedy drama is quirky and warm but hard to categorise. In some scenes it feels like a home movie and there are so many characters to keep up with it can be confusing. You felt like you were a part of the raucous Balsano family and their Christmas traditions. ‘Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point’ is in cinemas November 14.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
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